Moses was away for too long – 40 days on Mount Sinai
• The people couldn’t wait any longer, and so they decided to make themselves a new god – a golden calf
• Even before Moses step down from the mountain, the Lord told him what was happening at the foot of the mount.
Having been delivered from Egypt by a God who did many wonders
• Who opened up the Red Sea, who led them personally, by a pillar of cloud and fire
• A God who revealed Himself as the one and only true God
• The people had – in just a couple of days – dismissed Him from their minds and fallen back into idolatry
Don’t leave God out of your mind and heart
• Saturate your thoughts often with His Word and His works
• Come to church regularly, attend Christian events
• If we dismiss Him from our lives, it would not take you more than 40 days to replace Him
I’ve seen quite a number of my Christians friends, no longer attending church today
• For various reasons - because of their career, family, children, relationship issues
• Don’t let the things of this world crowd God out of our mind
And don’t think you are strong enough. Don’t think “It won’t happen to me.”
• The Israelites saw and experience miracles practically every day since they left Egypt, yet that couldn’t stop them from worshipping a golden calf.
• We need the grace of God. We are saved by grace, and KEPT by His grace.
Moses was shock and was really angry at their fickleness (32:19)
• He threw tablets God has given him out of his hands
• His horror was even greater because he had just been with God – the one and only true God who had just spoken to him!
• It’s like moving from the immediate Presence of God and into the devil’s territory!
And the most amazing thing we see is Moses’ subsequent response – 32:30-32
• He wanted to pray for their atonement
• Verse 32: “Please forgive their sin – but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.”
Moses may have been outraged, but he still deeply loved the people.
• He was a man torn between two loves – a love for God and a love for His people
• It seemed to be two incompatible loves.
In fact, he had already asked God for mercy earlier on, when he was still on top of the mountain.
• See Exo 32:9-13 9"I have seen these people," the LORD said to Moses, "and they are a stiff-necked people. 10Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation."
• 11 But Moses sought the favour of the LORD his God. "O LORD," he said, "why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, `It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: `I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’"
This was truly amazing, considering the fact that this people did not give him an easy time.
• They had been a source of endless tension and worry to Moses.
• He had to put with their nonsense, to feel their ingratitude, to be burdened with their endless complaints.
• They cheered him when things were fine, and turn on him when the least obstacle arose.
• What a relief it could have been to be rid of this whole undisciplined mob and to begin again with a new lot – himself and his own children.
Yet the thought never seems to have penetrated his mind.
• His response to God was immediate and sincere.
• He was determined in his mind even to give his life if need be in gaining God’s mercy.
Two things dominate his prayer:
1. His deep concern for the people he led, and
2. His passionate jealousy for the reputation of his God
He is our example today. These ought to be our concerns today.
We wonder – is this the same Moses who saw the burning bush?
• Who had so strongly resisted God’s call?
• Who said he cannot speak well and do not know how to face Pharaoh?
• Now we see a man who dares to challenge the wishes of God.
• Look at the end of verse 12: “Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people.” Almost like telling God what to do!
It was a passionate plea.
• It was a cry from the heart. No proper protocol was appropriate.
• His utmost concern is that the people be spared from the consuming fire.
• Have you ever prayed like that? Have I? Are we supposed to pray like that?
You see, it is not a method, or how to “pray correctly” thing…
• It comes from the depth of his heart
• We cannot work ourselves up artificially to get the same feeling or say the same words.
• It must come from within. Moses has a deep love for the people, and a deep respect for the glory of God.
Moses’ prayer (32:31-32) is beautiful and moving.
• He did not downplay what the people had committed.
• He freely admits the horrendous sin – v.30 “You have committed a great sin.”
• There are no excuses for sin. Yet Moses’ prayer is not one of criticism or condemnation.
He is simply laying the cards on the table.
• He is right. He is too keenly aware of God’s all-seeing eyes to do anything less.
• If He sees everything and knows everything, you might as well be honest with Him. You don’t need to re-package yourself, or make excuses for your sins when you come to God.
Moses is also aware that God has the right to do whatever he pleases.
• Yet he prayed, “But now, please forgives their sin…” (v.32a)
We must adopt Moses’ attitude in prayer
• We do not condemn, but we dare not close our eyes and ignore them.
• Be aware of the same things – nothing to hide from God; He knows it already.
• And pray with courage.
Then comes the acid proof of a true intercessor – “…but if not, then blots me out of the book you have written.” (v.32b)
• Moses will stand or fall with his people.
• The end of Israel would be the end of everything for Moses.
• They may be fickle. They may be sinful. But they have become Moses’ people just as much as they are God’s people.
• It’s like two lovers – “If he dies, I do not wish to live on…”
Do we distant ourselves from those who have done wrong? Made mistakes?
• It would be good if more Christians viewed churches in the same way.
• Rather than distancing ourselves from fallen Christians or churches that have done things differently, we need to stand by them and pray.
Everything depends on the stance we choose to take.
• Is these people or the church “they” or is it “we”?
• Do we love them in spite of what we see? Are they still God’s people and ours?
Actually, Moses expresses the very heart of God
• It is not a human attempt to defy God in His judgments; it is a reflection of God’s very heart. God is merciful. This is clear because Jesus came!
• If prayed sincerely, this is a prayer that delights God.
• Yet it is a prayer that He never answers. His response to Moses makes this clear - 32:33 “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book.”
Today, we want to develop these TWO LOVES – a deep love for people, and a love for God.
• You see, the love for God’s people is not really at odds with our love for God’s person. The two loves were not distinct but one.
• Pray that we’ll grow to have such a heart.
Let’s ponder these questions:
• Bro/sis, have you ever been really concerned about people in need of God’s help?
• Have we been going through Christian formalities totally unconcerned by what has been happening in the lives of people around us?
• Are we motivated by the well-being of the people we serve? Or are we the least bothered?
