Theological Commentary: Click Here
This chapter
is a favorite chapter for the people who consistently argue that human beings
can change God’s mind. I’m not saying that
I disagree with them here. However, I
tend to argue that this chapter, like so many others in the Bible, has a bit of
a deeper meaning below the surface. This
chapter is about so much more than Moses’ ability to change God’s mind. Let’s probe into it, shall we?
What Moses
is doing in this chapter is being a mediator.
Please note that this is actually a skill that God desires of Moses. God appointed Moses to be their leader. God wants Moses to be their representative
for them in His presence. Therefore, the
first thing that we can learn about this chapter is that Moses is being
obedient to God.
Furthermore,
when Moses stands up for the people and argues for them, he is demonstrating
his love for them. Moses is doing more
than being obedient to God; Moses is demonstrating God’s character to the
people. Moses is showing love for a
people when the easier path would be to let God do what he has planned.
What Moses
teaches us is more than just being able to alter the mind and will of God. Moses teaches us what it means to be a
leader. A leader advocates for the mercy
of those who are under them because he loves them. A leader balances this with obedience to God. Put this way, what Moses is doing here is
giving us a foretaste of the greatest spiritual leader of all time. Moses is foretelling Christ.
Think about
it. Doesn’t Christ argue for His enemies
when He says, “Forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing?” Doesn’t
Christ look to the Father and ask to have this cup lifted from Him yet submit
to the ultimate will of the Father? This
chapter is not as much about Moses’ attempt to change God’s mind as it is about
laying down an example of great spiritual leadership, the kind like we will
ultimately see in Jesus Christ.
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