November 3 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Exodus 32:30–35

Devotional

The people of Israel sinned when they worshipped the golden calf that they themselves had fashioned. Atonement was needed. Moses said, “And now I will go up unto the Lord; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sins.” And then the mediator of the old covenant again climbed the mountain to be the mediator between God and the people. In order to spare the guilty people, Moses devised a plan and submitted his proposal to the Lord. Perhaps this would remove the anger of God and save the people. We find this proposal in the contents of his prayer when he says to the Lord: “Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.”

The prayer of Moses actually contains two plans. “Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin.” This is the first plan, which Moses submits before the Lord. If God is willing to forgive their sin, then the people can be spared and remain in existence. Then in due time they can set forth on their journey to the Promised Land.

“Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin.” With this, Moses seems to say: “Lord, wouldn’t this be possible? Three thousand have already been slain. Is it possible that this is enough? Would it be in agreement to Thy counsel that those remaining people would not be blotted out of Thy book? Wilt Thou forgive them this sin?” These appear to be the thoughts of Moses. However, he is not sure of his first plan for he knows well that there must be grounds for forgiveness of sins by the Lord. That is why he also points out his second plan to the Lord when he says: “And if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book.”

“If the three thousand have not silenced Thine anger, oh Lord, then here, take me in place of this guilty people. I am prepared to be cast away from Thee forever. Let this people live and I will die for them. Give them Thy blessing; I will bear their curse. Do preserve these people, but let me perish.”

In greatness Moses stood before Pharaoh. In greatness Moses led the nation of Israel through the Red Sea. In greatness Moses was patient with his people. In greatness he continually made requests to God to save the people. But never did Moses show such greatness as when he ascended the mountain of God to mediate for the lives of the Israelites. A man can ascend no higher than to give his life for the guilt of another. Selfsacrifice and love can go no deeper. Moses asked for death, even for eternal death, to ensure that his people who deserved death would be permitted to live. The mediator of the old covenant stood on the highest peak of God’s mountain because of love. He was willing to bear the guilt of another. Moses loved his people even unto death. Nowhere in the Old Testament do we read another prayer like this prayer.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.