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Exodus 32:1-14 – Praying through the Bible #35 – A Prayer that is a Puzzle
Pick up one piece in a 10,000 piece jigsaw puzzle, and what do you see? Nothing. Stare harder, and you imagine things that will later prove ridiculous or at least obviously wrong. There is only one way to know for sure, and two ways of doing this. First, (cheat?) look at the picture on the box. Second, slowly and meticulously, through trial and error, put the puzzle together. If I didn’t hate puzzles, I would choose door #1.
Exodus 32:1-4 is one of those small puzzle pieces. In it, by itself, God looks irresponsible, vindictive, and shortsighted. In it, God comes out “small” while Moses appears “big.” And right there we have a clue as to how magnificent our God is! The scene is Mt. Sinai with Israel building a Golden Calf reminiscent of an Egyptian god. This just 3 months after God demolished doubt as to who is the Almighty God (Ex 32; 19.1). God’s righteous anger shows us anger is an opportunity to let others shine, or to sin; to judge righteously or sinfully.
God says to Moses, “For your people you bought up from the land of Egypt has acted corruptly (32.7).” Seeing only this puzzle piece, “I thought Israel was God’s people.” God says almost as a sigh, “I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked people (32.9).” Having a few other pieces of the puzzle, “Didn’t God already know this?” God commands Moses, “Now leave Me alone, so that My anger can burn against them and I can destroy them (32.10).” And I wonder “Why would Moses need to leave God alone?” Finally, “Then I will make you into a great nation (32.10).” But, holding a piece of the puzzle from Genesis, “Moses is from Levi, and Jesus comes from Judah, did God forget this?” In this God looks…weak, impulsive, plus a few other unflattering attributes.
Moses looks great in comparison. He compassionately prays for the wrongdoers by interceding (32.11). This once unconfident man evidences wisdom by pointing out how the Egyptians will mock if God annihilates Israel (32.12). Israel’s impassioned leader pleas for God to “turn from Your great anger and change Your mind about this disaster planned for Your people” (32.12). Very boldly, Moses “reminds” God, “Remember that You swore to Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel by Yourself” (32.13). Seeing only this piece of the puzzle, Moses appears more magnificent than God.
Seeing Moses foreshadowing Jesus, we see a bigger picture. Seeing God willing to “look bad” for the sake of Moses’ growth, we see a bigger picture. Realizing how bad Jesus was willing to look on the cross, mocked and counted among thieves; to save us from destruction, remembering God’s promised forgiveness, we see the whole picture.
Prayer Challenge: How often do we judge others, even God, seeing only part of the puzzle? Pray to be less judgmental and more doubtful of our own assumptions. And thank God who does not care how He looks if it results in our salvation, for that is to His ultimate glory.
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