The Life of Moses (19)

Moses, the servant of the Lord, had received many benefits from Him. The name “Moses” means “drawn out of the water,” but the greater benefit was that he had been drawn out of the power of Satan and from the dominion of the power of darkness. He had become a child of God and was placed in the school of grace where there were many exercises. He was in that school as a shepherd in Midian being prepared for his future task. Moses often prayed for his people, and although he could not be a mediator of reconciliation, he was still a mediator of intercession. Moses had requested that the Lord, not just an angel, would go before them, and the Lord had granted his request. Still not satisfied, he had asked for more. His burning heart desired to see God’s glory. His petition could not be granted, for man cannot bear the full vision of the radiance of God’s glory.

Renewing of the covenant

However, the Lord granted his request as far as it was possible and thus proved to him that which He had promised in Exodus 33:17: “And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in My sight, and I know thee by name.” The next chapter tells us of the renewing of the covenant after the sin of the golden calf. The Lord descended in a cloud and proclaimed His name: He proclaimed the immutability of His being in the name LORD and His power in the name God. He also expressed some of His attributes:

a) He is merciful and gracious.

b) He has compassion on His chosen people, and His favor is bestowed freely.

c) He is long-suffering and slow to anger.

d) He is abundant in goodness and kindness. His favor is a mercy on the basis of a relationship; it is based on a covenant.

e) He is truth, or faithfulness, which means stability, certainty, verity, trustworthiness, being right, sure, true. The Lord never breaks His covenant. He maintains His love to thousands. He forgives iniquities, which are evil, perverted, fouled; transgression which is rebellion; and sin, which is missing the mark.

Have we learned already to know our own iniquities, transgressions, and sins? He will by no means clear the guilty, but in Christ, through the place of reconciliation and atonement—which He as their Substitute took for them— peace with a Triune God is restored. No wonder that we read in verse 8, “And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.” He prostrated himself, fell down flat, and did reverence. True worshiping is always in the dust. He had heard that the Lord was gracious, and now he used the opportunity to pray for forgiveness for himself and for the people.

Moses’ prayer

He asked for forgiveness—that is literally lifting up, taking away from the sinner, putting it on God’s Son. Christ has borne, made satisfaction for, and carried the sins of His people away.

Moses made use of the opportunity, perceiving that God’s speaking ceased and the Lord was about to pass on, lest He would be gone and Moses would lose the favorable opportunity. This contains a lesson—let us not neglect the time of grace, while peace and pardon are proclaimed to be found in the perfect work of Christ.

In his prayer, his worshiping, we see two things: humility and adoration. Moses did not say, “Now I have had a wonderful experience, it was so good for myself. I am a special person and I am going to talk about it.” No, he remained a poor sinner, and it is remarkable that when he prayed for his people, he included himself in it. He said in verse 9b, “and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Thine inheritance.” That means protect and defend, keep and preserve us for Thee. That was a humble request.

The people of Israel had transgressed God’s commandments and the Lord said to Moses, “thy people.” They had broken the covenant by their sin. It is by the grace of God that a discovered sinner learns to know that his name is now Lo-Ammi, that is, “not My people.” They learn that they are worthy to be cast away.

The Lord’s promise

However, the Lord said as a solemn promise, “Behold, I make a covenant” or renew the covenant. This means:

a) He would forgive their sins.

b) He would go along with them.

c) He would introduce them to the land of Canaan.

d) He would drive out the inhabitants before them.

That is what God would do. Israel’s obligation was:

a) To avoid all idolatry.

b) To not make covenants with the idolatrous nations and to have no fellowship with them.

That the Lord confirms the covenant bond will be seen “before all thy people.” This means it will plainly appear to be the Lord’s doings and not those of men.

The Lord would do marvels, something very distinguished, a marvelous thing. It was “a terrible thing that I will do with thee.” God would do such things that would frighten the nations around them or would cause reverence. The nations around them would experience that the God of Israel rules as, for instance, Og, the king of Bashan, Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Balak, king of Moab.

How good and faithful the Lord is for a foolish and often rebellious people. Why did He make such a difference with other nations, and why would He give unto Israel the inheritance in the land of Canaan? Why did the Lord not consume those who provoked Him? The only answer is because it pleased Him. That is what the sinner learns by the enlightening of the Spirit. He does not break His covenant, He does not alter what He has spoken, and there are times when the enemies will see it. The world will fear when God’s Church, though poor and needy in themselves, will receive the victory. Oh, that wonder of free and sovereign grace. He did not do it for their sake but for His great name’s sake. May that name be known, loved, and glorified, also in our families.

(To be continued)

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