So to add onto yesterdays post, there is more to the scripture in Exodus 32 than the two verses I picked out. We left off where God was angry and wanted to destroy evil and make a great nation out of the good. Moses was not too stoked on any destruction however, and pleaded to God to avoid destruction of the sinful people. "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?" (Verse 11). Moses is appealing to God's magnificent strength and power in prayer. He is asking God to re-consider his actions based on the fact that God was the one who wanted to bring them out of Egypt.
To continue, "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?" (Verse 12). Moses is asking God, pleading with him, to continue on the path of revealing his glory. He is asking God to protect his name and have mercy on his people. He is saying, "God, you have already done so many great things here with promises for the future, will you prevail in showing your promises are true to this sinful nation?" These people don't know better. They want to see God's glory and God wants to be asked for his glory to be revealed.
Over and over again in the Old and New Testaments, the idea of "pleading" a case and bringing arguments to the table are reinforced. The Lord even says, "Come now and let us REASON together" (Isaiah 1:18). God wants a relationship with you. He wants you to plead with him in prayer and use what you know about his character to contend your case. However, to be able to reason with someone, often trust has to be a factor. Doesn't it make sense that God would only take your argument seriously if he had a personal relationship with you? Moses was extremely close to the Lord...although he was sometimes hesitant of his ability to do everything God asked of him and even sometimes "whined" a bit. However, he still took many leaps of faith and followed instructions.
Moses asked God to remember his promises with Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Promises to bless a nation and make their descendents as "numerous as the stars in the sky." Moses is asking God to follow through on his covenant with the people. He is asking God to do what he instructs others to do, follow through with their oaths. In an interesting way, Moses is asking God to be the positive example.
Because of Moses's strong argument, which appealed to Gods power, reputation, character, and promises, God did not act on his plan for destruction. As it says, "Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened" (verse 14). God has heart, and he wants us to fight for what we know is right. He wants to be in continual dialogue with us, and loves to see compassion spring forth from our actions and words. However, to do any of this and to get God's attention in the area of reason, we have to be in relationship with him. We have to not only believe in him, but KNOW him. There is a difference between trusting an acquaintance and trusting a lifelong friend. Which one would you listen to first?
No comments:
Post a Comment