How Can It Continue?
Opening Prayer
Lord, continue Your excellent purposes for Your people, regardless of their failures.
Read EXODUS 32:25—33:6
25 Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. 26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him.
27 Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’” 28 The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. 29 Then Moses said, “You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day.”
30 The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.”
31 So Moses went back to the Lord and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. 32 But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.”
33 The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. 34 Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin.”
35 And the Lord struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made.
33 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ 2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”
4 When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments. 5 For the Lord had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.’” 6 So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb.
New International Version (NIV)
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Meditate
“We do not have a high priest who is unable to feel sympathy for our weaknesses… Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence” (Heb. 4:15,16).
Think Further
The exodus and the covenant-making at Sinai defined the identity of God’s people, recalled often in praise, prayer and prophetic messages. Central in the Sinai account are chapters 32–34, setting the pattern for the future. What kind of God is the Lord? What happens to his purposes for his people when they are “stiff-necked” (33:3)? What does the continuing covenant relationship involve?
God purposes to continue with his people (32:14), but how? He first acts (25–29) to bring “out-of-control Israelites under control again” (John I. Durham, Word Biblical Commentary: Exodus), to stop the public disgrace Israel was bringing upon the Lord (25). As Moses speaks boldly to God (31,32), he is more concerned for Israel than himself, an example consummately embodied in Christ. God denies Moses’ self-sacrificing request (32,33) because forgiveness is included in 34:7. Instead, he tells Moses to lead the people forward: the promise of the land still remains (32:34; 33:1-3a). There is one qualification, however: it would be too dangerous for God and “stiff-necked people” to be together (33:3b,5). Instead, an angel is provided (32:34; 33:2). We end today’s reading here, but more is to come: God’s presence will be the central issue of chapter 33.
The narrative remains relevant. We are reassured of the continuity of God’s purposes for his people. The writer to the Hebrews warns in the light of Christ’s priestly ministry, “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31; 12:4–11). He also affirms fatherly discipline. When God’s people turn to other gods and his name is dishonored, there are consequences. Paul wrote, “not all who are descended from Israel are Israel” (Rom. 9:6), but for those who are “for the Lord” (32:26) the journey ahead continues.
Apply
What are groups for which you intercede? How might you take into account God’s commitment to his people and their discipline?
Closing prayer
Lord, we thank You for Your provision of forgiveness, without which no one would stand (Psa. 130:3).
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