EXODUS 32
30 The next day Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” 31 So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. 32 But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.” 33 But the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book. 34 But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them.”
35 Then the Lord sent a plague on the people, because they made the calf, the one that Aaron made. – Exodus 32:30-35
EXODUS 32 MOSES’ ATTEMPT TO SAVE THE ISRAELITES
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When the Israelites sinned against God with the golden calf
Moses wanted to compensate for their sins to God
He asked God for the forgiveness of their grievous idolatry
Telling God to blot him out of the book of life for their sake
But the Lord didn’t grant it because those who sinned have to be punished
Moses’ attempt to save the Israelites was an overstepping of his boundary.
I think it was not appropriate for Moses to ask forgiveness for those who sinned against God. Even Jesus himself didn’t do this. When one of his disciples asked him for an assurance for a place in his Father’s house, Jesus’ answer was that it wasn’t up to him but it is his Father who knows whom he chooses.
Moses have overstepped his role as someone that God appointed to lead the deliverance of the people out of Egypt. It wasn’t up to him to make atonement for sins that is grievous to the Lord. It’s as if he was taking the place of Jesus and wanting to sacrifice his life for sinful people. He cannot atone for their sins because he too was a sinful man. Only a sinless man like Jesus can appease God’s wrath against sin. Even the act of asking God forgiveness for other people whom he was leading was I think arrogance and sinful because he wasn’t a savior. He was just someone God used to bring them out of Egypt.
REFLECTION
- What do you think of Moses’ attempt to save the Israelites in this account?
