The Glory of the Gospel - Saved by The Actions of One
Exodus 34:8-9 (ESV) And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. 9 And he said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”
How do you respond to knowing God? How do you respond to His compassion, grace, love, faithfulness as well as his just, righteous and certain judgment on the wicked? Hopefully the way Moses does. Having asked to see God's glory and being put in place by God to partake of as much of it as he could, Moses bows, repents and asks for God's blessing knowing full well, the only way the nation will survive is if God forgives them and comes with them, "for it is a stiff-necked people".
Then Moses prays YET AGAIN for the people of Israel. Moses has now prayed 5 times since the golden calf. He is learning how heavy the responsibility is to lead and feed God's people. He is also foreshadowing the Great Intercessor who prays for us today - Jesus Christ. We need prayer. The more Moses knows of God, the more he prays for guidance, the more Moses knows of humanity, the more he prays for forgiveness. Moses' call to do what God has called him to do has performed one incredible work in his life - he has become DEVOTED to time with God!
1 Timothy 2:8 (NLT) In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.
And notice the response Moses gets from God:
Exodus 34:10 (ESV) And he said, “Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been created in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the LORD, for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.
How do you respond to knowing God? How do you respond to His compassion, grace, love, faithfulness as well as his just, righteous and certain judgment on the wicked? Hopefully the way Moses does. Having asked to see God's glory and being put in place by God to partake of as much of it as he could, Moses bows, repents and asks for God's blessing knowing full well, the only way the nation will survive is if God forgives them and comes with them, "for it is a stiff-necked people".
Then Moses prays YET AGAIN for the people of Israel. Moses has now prayed 5 times since the golden calf. He is learning how heavy the responsibility is to lead and feed God's people. He is also foreshadowing the Great Intercessor who prays for us today - Jesus Christ. We need prayer. The more Moses knows of God, the more he prays for guidance, the more Moses knows of humanity, the more he prays for forgiveness. Moses' call to do what God has called him to do has performed one incredible work in his life - he has become DEVOTED to time with God!
1 Timothy 2:8 (NLT) In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.
Exodus 34:10 (ESV) And he said, “Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been created in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the LORD, for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.
When God makes a covenant it is a HUGE deal. The following people got covenants: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, the Priesthood, David and the new Covenant people who follow Jesus. It is not a small thing for God to say, "Let's agree together." And God keeps His covenant! He follows through with what He says He's going to do. So in this moment, Moses received absolutely amazing news for he and the people he would lead.
But notice this: God makes this agreement with Moses alone who ALONE intercedes for the people. Yet when God responds with His promises to bless it is the whole nation of those Moses saved who get the benefits! Notice again the words: "Before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been created in all the earth or in any nation."
Christian, this is OUR HOPE! We have failed God. We have formed our idols and sought after our sinful ways. YET - Our great mediator has come up to the holy mountain and made his appeal and presented the final sacrifice for sins on our behalf. God accepts His mediation and humility and God promises to bless ALL THOSE WHOM JESUS SAVES! This is the Gospel! This is why it's not of works! Our salvation is rooted in our Federal Head before the Father who satisfied the law's requirements, bore the law's punishment and intercedes for our salvation.
Don't you see how much better God is than all other options? Don't you see how he moves from teaching Moses the good things He will do for them to warning them NOT to make covenants with anyone else?
Exodus 34:12 (ESV) Take care, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you go, lest it become a snare in your midst.
The other nations cannot do for them what God can do for them. And the same is true for you and I. Thomas Chalmers spoke of the "The Expulsive Power of a New Affection" in that our hearts need to be awakened to what is its truest desire - the goodness, presence and purpose of God so that all other desires no not hold us captive (become a snare). He writes: "The only way to dispossess [the heart] of an old affection is by the expulsive power of a new one."
The revelation of God in this moment is our introduction to this new affection. A God who graciously gives to those who trust and believe in His Son! Let your heart explode in praise for it has come to know it's truest hope, it's fullest dream, and it's highest love.
Amen.
But notice this: God makes this agreement with Moses alone who ALONE intercedes for the people. Yet when God responds with His promises to bless it is the whole nation of those Moses saved who get the benefits! Notice again the words: "Before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been created in all the earth or in any nation."
Christian, this is OUR HOPE! We have failed God. We have formed our idols and sought after our sinful ways. YET - Our great mediator has come up to the holy mountain and made his appeal and presented the final sacrifice for sins on our behalf. God accepts His mediation and humility and God promises to bless ALL THOSE WHOM JESUS SAVES! This is the Gospel! This is why it's not of works! Our salvation is rooted in our Federal Head before the Father who satisfied the law's requirements, bore the law's punishment and intercedes for our salvation.
Don't you see how much better God is than all other options? Don't you see how he moves from teaching Moses the good things He will do for them to warning them NOT to make covenants with anyone else?
Exodus 34:12 (ESV) Take care, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you go, lest it become a snare in your midst.
The other nations cannot do for them what God can do for them. And the same is true for you and I. Thomas Chalmers spoke of the "The Expulsive Power of a New Affection" in that our hearts need to be awakened to what is its truest desire - the goodness, presence and purpose of God so that all other desires no not hold us captive (become a snare). He writes: "The only way to dispossess [the heart] of an old affection is by the expulsive power of a new one."
The revelation of God in this moment is our introduction to this new affection. A God who graciously gives to those who trust and believe in His Son! Let your heart explode in praise for it has come to know it's truest hope, it's fullest dream, and it's highest love.
Amen.
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