As I continue in my devotional readings tied in with DA Carson’s devotional book, today I read Exodus 32, very much a lowlight in the history of God’s people. While Moses is on Mt. Sinai receiving the Law from God, the Israelites are down below, degrading into open idolatry and other sinful practices. In a remarkable show of “spineless wimpiness” (as Carson calls it), Aaron gives the people what they ask for by creating a golden calf as an idol to be worshipped. Later he claims to Moses the thing just appeared out of the fire, again showing lack of spine in owning up to his sin.  The Israelites degrade into revelry and corruption as they worship the idol.

God alerts Moses to the problem, and what I’d like to primarily draw our attention to is the interaction between God and Moses. God is ready to wipe out the whole nation, and start again with Moses, building a people for Himself. Moses, in a show of courage and national loyalty, tries to stop God from levying this destruction. However, he NEVER defends the Israelites, or diminishes their sin. Truly they deserve destruction. Yet Moses focuses his argument on defending the glory of God among the nations. In Ex.32:11-13, Moses “reminds” God of His reputation among the nations, particularly Egypt, suggesting that wiping the people out would lower the image of God in the minds of the nations. God cares so much about being worshipped and exalted by the nations, as well as the covenant he had made with Abraham, that he relents and does not destroy all of Israel (v.14) (although he does kill many of them – v.35).

Let us remember, friends, that what we all ultimately deserve is God’s judgment, but by His grace and because of His glory He relents, forgives, heals and shows undeserved grace by adopting us into His family through Christ. God’s glory, not justifying ourselves, should be our focus as we walk through life and seek to make a difference in this world. May we walk through life balancing fear and confidence, acknowledging God’s glory as the prime mover in our life. Pressing on, by His glory. Eric