Daily Devotions
Exodus
"Therefore He said that He would destroy them, had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach, to turn away His wrath, lest He destroy them." Psalm 106:23
Text: Exodus 32 : 9-10
A TERRIBLE INDICTMENT
The revelation of what Israel had done terrified Moses! He knew all too well the consequences of their sin of idolatry! How frightening to hear the terrible indictment made against Israel.
“And the LORD said to Moses,
‘I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people!
Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot
against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you
a great nation.'”
EXODUS 32:9-10
All that God had said about Israel was true! There was no denying the awesome truth of God’s declaration!
1. ” I have seen this people”
With divine omniscient eyes, God could see through the hearts of the nation of Israel- right to the very core of their soul!
2. “Indeed it is a stiff-necked people”
The phrase “stiff-necked” was well chosen. It well described the stubbornness of the children of Israel!
3. “Now therefore, let Me alone…”
In this phrase was that window of hope! All was not lost yet, even though Israel came so close to the brink of destruction! Did Moses understand the full implications of this phrase?
4. “That My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them”
a) God’s wrath
God’s wrath would have been totally justified. Israel had broken the covenant God gave to the nation. The people had broken God’s laws with full knowledge that they were doing wrong! All that God had done for them had been set aside as if they were trivial matters.
b) Destruction- a very real possibility
“That I may consume them…” what a terrifying phrase to hear! God could do it too!
5. “And I will make of you a great nation”
God offered to start all over again, this time with Moses as the progenitor. Would Moses accept this offer from the Lord?