We have seen that Exodus is about God making Himself known. God said He would destroy the nation and start over with Moses. In Moses’ first intercession on behalf of the Israelites, Moses responds that the Israelites are God’s people, that if God destroys them, it will affect His reputation among the Egyptians and, third, that God had promised to bless Abraham’s family. So, God relents from His anger.
Now, we want to examine the other efforts on Moses’ part to intercede for Israel. All of this is done in light of God’s self-description in Exodus 34:6-7.
MOSES’ SECOND PETITION – 32:31-32:
Beginning in verse 30, Moses tries to intercede for Israel. He offers to assume Israel’s fate, seeking solidarity with his people. But the Lord will not allow Moses to stand in the place of Israel – 32:32-34. Why not? Moses can’t stand in Israel’s place because Moses has his own sins need to be atoned. Who is it who does stand in Israel’s place? Clearly, Jesus needs to stand in man’s place.
MOSES’ THIRD PETITION – 33:12-18:
Read 32:34, then 33:2-3, 5. God refuses to go with Israel! In verse 2, He promises them they’ll arrive in Canaan. His withholding of His presence from Israel is an act of mercy; it is for their good.
Now, we have Moses’ third petition in verses 12-13. Yet again, Moses uses God’s own nature in His appeal to God – Moses tells God that God had told Moses, “you have found favor in My sight.” Moses uses God’s nature in his appeal to God. Moses has two petitions to offer to God: 1.) he wants to know the Lord’s ways; 2.) that the Lord would reinstate Israel as God’s people.
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MOSES’ FOURTH PETITION – 34:9:
God declares His willingness to forgive in verses 6-7. It’s what Moses had petitioned back in 32:31-32. But now, this petition is based on the character of God that He Himself has revealed. So, 34:10 naturally follows. God reaffirms His covenant with Israel. When Moses petitioned God based solely on Moses’ own character, His petition was not answered. Yet, when Moses grounded his petition in the nature and purpose of God, the Lord responded favorably.
JESUS’ DEATH ON THE CROSS, ATONEMENT FOR OUR “GOLDEN CALVES”:
First, Moses believed that his standing in place of Israel would spare the Israelites and preserve the Lord’s honor. Isn’t that what Jesus’ death did for us?
Second, Moses showed solidarity with God and solidarity with Israel. Moses served in the function of a priest on this occasion – he represented the people to God and he represented God to the people. And, of course, he represented God to God as he uses God’s own nature to appeal for forgiveness and pardon. What makes Jesus the only Mediator between God and man?
–Paul Holland
