EXODUS 32
7 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’” 9 And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. 10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.”11 But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’” 14 And the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people. – Exodus 32:9-14
EXODUS 32 MOSES INTERCEDES FOR THE ISRAELITES
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When the Israelites made the golden calf, it angered the Lord
He wanted to annihilate the Israelites for making an idol
But Moses interceded for the people of God
He reminded God of covenant promise to them
So, the Lord yielded to Moses’ request
He spared them the disaster they were to receive.
The Israelites deserved all the punishment for building that golden calf, and yet, when Moses implored God to spare them from his wrath, God listened and didn’t do as he planned. We often do not realize how God values our prayers. Because Moses had a big role to play in God’s salvation plan, he found favor from God.
REFLECTION
- Share whom you have interceded for and prayed to God for mercy and favor?
