⁷ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. ⁸ They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’

⁹ “I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. ¹⁰ Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”

¹¹ But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? ¹² Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. ¹³ Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’” ¹⁴ Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

I am amazed at our propensity to get ourselves into messes; Wrong places at the wrong time, poor decisions leading to even poorer results, following our passions instead of using our heads, stubbornly living out our will instead of following what we know is right.  The results: a mess!  A mess that brings hurt, loss, disappointment, damage, unfulfilled hopes, and brokenness in our lives and the lives of others.  In these scriptures we see the people of God worshiping a Golden Calf, purposely corrupting themselves, turning from what the Lord commanded. (Exodus 32:8). 

In Jesus’ account of the lost sheep who wandered off—perhaps determining the greener pasture was worth ignoring the leading of the shepherd—we see our propensity to do our own thing. (Luke 15:4).  We are compared to a horse or a mule without understanding their real need of a bit and a bridle. (Psalm 32:9) Lent is a time to remember the condition we find ourselves left to our own ways.

These days of preparation are for more than dwelling on the messes.  These days are for us to dwell on God’s solution for you and me.  As we walk these days to the celebration of the Resurrection, we walk with the confidence of the overcoming Lord. 

While the Israelites were following their own corruption, Moses is calling on God to withhold His wrath from the wandering people whom He loves. Exodus 32:14 tells us that, “The Lord relented from the disaster He had spoken of bringing on His people.”  I am so grateful for the God who RELENTS!  Rather than being content with the ninety-nine who were playing by the rules, the good shepherd leaves those well-behaved sheep and according to Luke 15:4 goes into hunt mode, seeking that one sheep, finding it, and bringing it home rejoicing that his persistence paid off.  I am thrilled for a Good Shepherd who, with PERSISTENCE, searched for me!  With his care and guidance, we stay near Him corralled by His favor in our lives.  We see that in our surrender to Him, “Steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in God.” (Psalm 32:10) I cherish His STEADFAST LOVE for me!

This season, consider again the RENTLESS, PERSISTENT, STEADFAST LOVE OF GOD for you and for me.  Psalm 15:11 is our calling: “Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.”

Author: Virgil Askren

Other Lenten readings for today:

• Psalm 32
• Luke 15:1-10