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Exodus 34 – Praying through the Bible #34 – A Prayer for a Second Chance Again
Everyone deserves a 2nd chance, a 22nd chance, and even a 222nd chance; until God decides no more. God not only is the giver of grace, He is the only one qualified to decide when the last chance is. No human sinner is authorized to arbitrate the end of grace because we don’t know how many times we will need it. Anyone want to set a limit? While no one deserves a 2nd chance based upon God’s holiness, everyone does from us based upon our own sinfulness. Who are we to say no to another sinner?
After the idolatry debacle, and throwing the two tablets at the foot of the mountain, Moses again ascends God’s earthly home to receive the Law. After God descends, Moses prays, “My Lord, if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, my Lord, please go with us. Even though this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wrongdoing and sin, and accept us as Your own possession” (Ex 34.9). What can we and Israel learn?
First, Moses is praying again, and again, and again. This is the 4th prayer since Israel sinned at the foot of Mt. Sinai (32.11-13; 32.31; 33.12-18; 34.9). Nothing new will or can be said. Is there any other time in Moses’ life where he prays so often? No matter how disappointed we are, we need to unceasingly pray for them and ourselves (1 Sam 12.23). The more problems, the severer the sin, the more are needed our prayers.
Second, God’s commandments are not going to change after giving grace. In Exodus 34.1 Yahweh says, “I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets.” When wanting a 2nd or 22nd chance, we shouldn’t demand lesser requirements. If anything it might be harder due to well-deserved consequences. No complaining allowed.
Third, God always expects us to do what we can. While Moses did not sin in breaking the 10 Commandments, God did require Moses to “cut two stone tablets like the first ones” (34.1), and “be prepared by morning” (34.2). It wasn’t God’s fault they got broke.
Fourth, Moses begs for another chance for Israel, but not on their merits of which they had none. “If I have indeed found favor in Your sight” (32.9). Sometimes we need to take a chance when giving a chance, vouching for others based upon our credentials.
Fifth, getting extra chances, no matter how many, is not getting anything; it is giving everything. Moses wanted Yahweh to “go with us” and “accept us as Your own possession” (34.9). When given grace by God, we are giving ourselves to God.
Sixth, all through this prayer, Moses shows reverence for God and confesses sin (34.8-9). Grace is given because of Who God is, not who we are. We don’t deserve it.
Prayer Challenge: This reminds me of God in the flesh teaching about how hard forgiveness is, “Not seven, but 70 times seven” (Mt 18.22). Pray for strength that we will be as gracious as God, because God has been gracious to us, again and again.
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