Friday Thought – August 14, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘they are a stiff-necked people. Now 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.’” (Exodus 32:9-10)

God’s patience with Israel had run out. Despite all that He had done for them, they often grumbled and complained, didn’t trust Him, didn’t want to follow Him, or turned away from Him. God was ready to destroy the people of Israel and start over with a new people descended from Moses.

Moses’ response was to intercede for his people.

“Moses said, ‘why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt? 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. 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.’” (Exodus 32:11-13)

Moses did not appeal to God on the basis of the innocence of the people. That argument wouldn’t hold water! Moses appealed to God on the basis of the honor of God’s name. The Egyptians and others would ridicule God if He destroyed Israel. Moses appealed to God on the basis of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to make a great nation of them.

“The Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.” (Exodus 32:14)

God listened to Moses and did not destroy Israel.

God didn’t want to destroy Israel, but He did want to see how much Moses was committed to the people he was leading. Moses loved his people and came to their defense, even before the face of God. That’s a powerful mark of good leadership. A good leader cares for those he leads. He is committed to those he leads. He will intercede those he leads.

His, by Grace, Steve