Ever since, God had destroyed the world with a flood, he had been preparing some special people for himself. These were not to be like other people but he was going to teach them how to live and even show them his power through miracles!
After many years of testing them and building up their endurance (through trials, tribulations, slavery and temptations), God called his people to meet him in the desert. God gave them Moses, a leader who wanted the best for them. The people loved him at first, when they witnessed the miracles he did to set them free. But when they reached at the Red Sea, they started shouting and insulting him, for they knew it was over for them. God, to prove them that he was with them, parted the waters for them so that they could walk across the Red Sea. He destroyed the army of Egyptians. Nothing could stop them, as long as God was with them. He didn’t only save them from the hand of pharaoh, but proved himself as “Jehovah Jireh” by providing water in the desert and sending them food from heaven.
One day, God called Moses up into a mountain to teach him. Moses was to go back and tell the people God’s will and establish God’s law so that they would know how to live.
This was the beginning of a new nation, the nation of Israel. Now, the rest of the world could watch at Israel and see how God wanted men to live. Moses was very excited that God himself was going to teach him on how to lead the people. As he climbed the mountain, he thought of the big mistake he had made by choosing men to help him to lead the people. Ever since he had done this, it seemed like the people didn’t respect him anymore. Now that the helpers and leaders were many, it seemed like; the people were no more agreeing. Moses thought about how glad everyone would be at his coming back with fresh words of God from the mountain.
When God had finished teaching Moses, he gave him two pieces of stones with his instructions and notices written on them. Then, God suddenly said: “leave Me alone! Your people at the foot of the mountain have made a statue and are saying it’s their god! I will destroy them and make another nation with you, Moses!”
Moses really loved the people. He didn’t want God to destroy them. He knew that it wouldn’t help to argue with the Lord. He then carefully begged God to change his mind, showing how shameful it would be if after saving the Israelites from Egypt, he killed them in the desert. Moses was sincere and so convictive. He didn’t want God to make another nation. This showed that Moses wanted nothing for himself but only that God hears his request. And indeed, God changed his mind and in his infinite love, punished the Israelites but didn’t destroy them. (Exodus 32)
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