Message Notes

A VERY COMPLEX PRAYER

1. Some prayers are easier than others

a) Thanksgiving

b) Praise

2. Some prayers are very complex

3. Prayer for the Restoration of God’s presence is very complex

THE PRAYER OF MOSES

Five parts may be noted:

1. Part 1

a) To ask God to not destroy

b) To turn away the anger of God   (Exodus 32:11-13)

c) God relented

2. Part 2

a) Assessing the gravity of sin   (Exodus 32)

b) Confronting the nation with their sin

You have committed a great sin   (Exodus 32:30)

c) Confession of a great sin   (Exodus 32:31)

d) The need to seek atonement   (Exodus 32:32)

e) Wrong understanding of atonement corrected   (Exodus 32:33-34)

i) Moses cannot offer his life as an atonement

ii) God plagued the people (Exodus 32:35)

3. Part 3

a) Moses pleads the grace of God   (Exodus 33:12, 13)

b) He pleads that God would take sinful Israel as His people   (Exodus 33:13)

c) God replies favourably:

i) My presence will go with you

ii) I will give you rest   (Exodus 33:14)

4. Part 4

a) If God’s presence is not with Israel   (Exodus 33:15)

b) Do not bring us up from here   (Exodus 33:15)

c) Grace is evidenced

i) Not with words

ii) But when God’s presence is with His people   (Exodus 33:15)

iii) Separated to be God’s people   (Exodus 33:16)

d) God’s reply

i) You have found grace   (Exodus 33:17)

ii) I will do this thing you have spoken   (Exodus 33:17)

iii) And I know your name   (Exodus 33:17)

5. Part 5

a) Moses’ plea to see God’s glory   (Exodus 33:18)

b) God will show Moses a part of His glory   (Exodus 33:19-23)

c) The fulness of His glory cannot be seen   (Exodus 33:20)

d) God declares His glorious name   (Exodus 34:1-7)

e) Moses pleads for grace, for God’s presence, for pardon, for God to receive Israel as His inheritance despite being sinful   (Exodus 34:8-9)