We do well to remember that the forgiveness of our sins comes at a great cost to God. Here are two among many scriptures that highlight that truth.
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God (Romans 5:8-9).
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).
After the sin of the golden calf, the people repented, but atonement for their sin was still necessary. Moses sought to ransom or deliver the people from divine judgment by offering himself as a substitute.
So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin; they have made for themselves gods of gold.
But now, if you will only forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of the book that you have written” (Exodus 32:31-32).
God refused Moses’ offer of himself as the atoning sacrifice. Instead, the principle of sin and death operated with regard to the people.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).
We can praise God that our sin should bring about eternal separation from God, but by the grace of God He gives us eternal life through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus.
God’s Presence and Absence
God told Moses it was time to leave Mount Sinai and head in the direction of the Promised Land. However, He told Moses He wasn’t going, along with the people.
Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey, but I will not go up among you, or I would consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people” (Exodus 33:3).
We do well to look at our churches and ask if God is absent for the same reason.
The Tent of Meeting
The distance of Moses’s tent from the rest of the Israelites symbolized God’s distance from the people.
When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise and bow down, all of them, at the entrance of their tent.
Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend (Exodus 33:10-11).
When Moses entered his tent, God’s presence became known through the pillar of the cloud. Recognizing the Lord’s presence, the people would worship Him by bowing down at the entrance of their own tents.
What a privilege it was that the Lord spoke to Moses “face to face, as one speaks to a friend.” We would do well to seek such a relationship with God.
My wish for each of my readers is to have a daily place where they meet with God. I also hope they actively seek God’s presence in their places of worship.
Let’s pray that God will always be near us as we serve Him through our prayers and worship.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 