“Yet now, if You will forgive their sin--but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.”
Exodus 32:32
God was supremely displeased with Israel. He had delivered them from slavery in Egypt—with many signs and wonders. God manifested His presence n a special manner as He gave them the Ten Commandments (that included a prohibition against idolatry). While Moses was up on the mountain receiving the rest of God’s law, the people grew impatient, requesting that Aaron make for them a golden calf (Exodus 32:1), which Aaron did (v.2-4).
To say God was displeased is a gross understatement. In (v.10) God spoke of His intention to destroy Israel and to make a new nation from Moses. In (v.11-13) Moses interceded for his people, appealing to God’s grace for the sake of His name.
In (v.30) Moses told the people he would continue to intercede for them, which he did in (v.31-32). Note that Moses was willing to be condemned by God if He would not otherwise forgive the people’s sin (v.32).
In this, Moses was a type of Christ, being willing to be cursed to save his people. Moses, however, could not be cursed for His people as Jesus was to save His people (Galatians 3:13). Why? Because unlike Jesus, Moses was also a sinner. He therefore needed a Savior just as much as Israel (or anyone else) does.
Moses was a deliverer—a great deliverer. But Moses was not The Great Deliverer. Only Jesus could be that because being God and Man, Jesus is sinless!
Thank the Lord not only for being willing to be cursed for those He came to save, but for actually doing so, and then rising from the dead to be our living Savior who continues to intercede for His people.