30 January | EVERYONE
“So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped. Then he said, ‘If now I have found grace in Your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray, go among us, even though we are a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance.’” Exodus 34: 8,9
It was not Moses’ sin. He had made unspeakable efforts to lead his people to the land of freedom. But they were tied to their past, to their ancient traditions, including idolatry. For this reason, they made a golden calf and worshipped it, while Moses, on the mountain, received the stone tablets with the eternal principles of the law.
Moses was human. He carried the deteriorated character that is the fruit of sin. Outraged when he came across the calf idolized by the people, he broke both tablets in a fit of rage.
Everyone might think that God's plan had been suspended, but nothing humans do can override God's plans. He commanded Moses to prepare two tablets of stone like the ones he had broken and take them with him to the mountain to write anew the eternal principles of his law. Moses did so, and when he reached the summit of Sinai, he saw God’s glory. Contemplating that majestic vision, the leader of Israel fell at the feet of the Creator and confessed the sin of his people; but he did so in a strange way, including himself among those guilty of that sin (see today's text).
The people had been stubborn, but Moses took upon himself the sin of the rebels in his prayer. One day Jesus, who never did anything wrong, would also take on our sin, identify with our rebelliousness, and die on the cross the death we deserved. Oh, unmerited grace! Glorious love!
Take Action
Strengthen your connection with Jesus today to learn more about his loving, understanding, nature that has no limits. Then you will understand the forgiving attitude that God expects you to show in your life. Sing "Moses’ Prayer" (if possible, with your family).