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By Mike Caton

Exodus 32:32, “But now, please forgive their sin – but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.”

Moses’ request to God for the Israelites is simple; forgive their sin. Think about it. Do they deserve to have their sin forgiven? Are there any extenuating circumstances regarding their sin? Is there any reason they ought to be forgiven? The answer to all of those questions is a solid no. Those folks chose to rebel against the Lord. They rejected the God who brought them out of Egypt and wanted Aaron to make them an idol, some other god to go before them. They had rejected Moses as their leader as well, the man God chose and who had been their leader from the beginning. There is really no reason for God to forgive them or for Moses to plead for them.

But that is also the case with us. We probably have not demanded a golden calf be made for us to worship, but we have all rejected God. We have all put something instead of God as the priority of our lives. And we probably do that every day. Maybe it is a job, our family, our pleasure, money, power, really this list is endless. But we have decided that we know more than God does about what is good for us. And there are leaders we have rejected along the way as well. Men and women who have honestly tried their best, given their all to helping us along the way, and we turned our backs on them. Many of them probably put a smile on their faces, kept doing the best they could, and moved on. But unless you have been that leader, you have no idea of the pain that causes.

And look what Moses does here; he says if God will not forgive his people, Moses wants to be blotted out of the book as well. There can be no doubt as to the love and commitment Moses has made to God’s people, to his people. We so desperately need leaders and followers and just regular folks with that kind of commitment. It is easy to be a leader when things are going good, when everyone is happy. But when things get tough and the people are out of line, it is harder to love them, and even harder to lead them. Really this goes to the commitment Moses has to the Lord and carrying out the mission God gave to him. May we be that committed to the Lord as well.

Father, help me love folks like you love them. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Mike Caton is the preacher at Mount Olive Church of Christ in Belhaven. He volunteers at the Ponzer Fire Department and works as a full time AEMT with Hyde County EMS. Follow Mount Olive Church of Christ on Facebook for daily devotions.

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