Scripture to Read: Exodus 32:29–35
Moses called the people to repent and dedicate themselves fully to God. Then, the next day, Moses went back up to Mount Sinai to pray and ask the Lord to forgive the people’s sin. As Moses is talking to God in Exodus 32:31–32, Moses says this: “Alas, this people has committed a great sin, and they have made a god of gold for themselves. 32 But now, if You will, forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have written!” Moses was willing to be blotted out of God’s Book of Life to see the people of Israel forgiven. Moses probably thought that the blood of sacrificed animals was not enough to be able to cover the people’s sin of idolatry. But God’s answer to Moses was, “No,” for no one, not even Moses, was great enough to pay the penalty for the people’s sin. In Exodus 32:33, God told Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.” God had already used Moses to remove three thousand that sinned against God and for that time, that was enough. The Good News, though, is that there is One, our Lord Jesus Christ, who is Greater than all. Christ’s blood does not cover our sin, but His blood cleanses us of all our sin (Colossians 1:13–14, Colossians 2:13–14) so that our names are written in His Book of Life. It’s also our privilege to come to God the Father through Christ because His Holy Spirit lives in us, for Christ is our Mediator.
Challenge & Application
· Why, though Moses’ heart was in the right place, could Moses not pay the price for the people’s sins?
· What has Christ done for you, and how does that affect your relationship with God the Father?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!