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Exodus 32:1-35 – Praying through the Bible #36 – A Prayer of a Peacemaker
“Blessed are the peacemakers for they are like the Son of God.” Not an exact quote, but fitting since brokering peace can cost us personally. It did for Jesus; will it for Moses? Geographically, we are at Mt. Sinai, the place of the Ten Commandments and the Golden Calf. Israel is worshiping Yahweh (Ex 32.5-6a); but their worship is more like a party (Ex 32.6b). Beginning properly with burnt and fellowship sacrifices, they soon degenerate into “playing.” Some suggest this involves sexual offerings to God like the pagan fertility cults; but it could be limited to dancing, even salacious dancing (32.19).
At Yahweh’s behest, Moses descends from the Mountain. First, he throws the tablets, smashing them at the base of the mountain (32.19). Symbolically, Moses breaks the written agreement that Israel is literally breaking. Facetiously, Moses is the only one to break all 10 Commandants without sinning! Then, he burns the hideous image, grinds it into fine powder, mixes it with water and strangely forces Israel to drink (32.20). Why? Maybe as a sign of something to come.
“Gold is insoluble in water…. In fine powder it assumes a colloidal condition, and added to water results in a coloration that appears to be solution. As the particles are made finer the bulk is greatly increased and acquires an ‘apparent’ specific gravity permitting its suspension in water, giving the liquid a deep red color….From this you will see that gold in ‘dust’ size will color water as ‘blood,’….” (M. R. DeHann, The Chemistry of the Blood, p.55)
More follows, both hilarious and serious. Who cannot smile at the excuse of Aaron that when he threw the gold into the fire, as if by “spontaneous generation,” “out came this calf!” (32.24). Looking inwardly, do our excuses make God not smile, but sad? Then real blood flows, death follows, as 3000 men are executed for their crime against God (32.26-28). Possibly these refused to drink the libation “blood sacrifice” of gold and water. That Levi responds to Moses to execute their own kind again leads to symbolism as they are “dedicated” (32.9), and will be the tribe of priests offering sacrifices to God.
Then Moses ascends to God (32.31) on Mt. Sinai to mediate. In prayer, he confesses Israel’s sins, not ignoring or whitewashing (32.31). Then He offers to sacrifice his own salvation by having his name erased from God’s book of the saved if God refuses to forgive the offenders (32.32). God’s response is, “Whoever has sinned against Me I will erase from My book. Now go, lead the people…. But on the day I settle accounts, I will hold them accountable for their sin” (32.33-34). Moses foreshadows the coming Mediator (1 Tm 2.5), being a peacemaker, willing to be cursed and not be blessed.
Prayer Challenge: How much are we willing to suffer for others for their sake? Start praying for people as if our salvation is mixed with theirs. And thank God for the blood of the covenant we drink in communion with one another and Jesus.
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