What Provoked Moses?

 

What Provoked Moses?

Meek – quiet, gentle, not willing to argue or express your opinions in a forceful way

Numbers 12:3 “(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)”

Exodus 32

     We all know the story.  God, Moses, mountain, people, golden calf, and a bunch of dancing.  Seems like Moses was up and out of sight for a little longer than expected.  God was laying on him the peculiarities of the tabernacle.  Moses without a pen kept it in his noggin.  Perhaps an angel would remind him later.

      Previously, God lit down upon the chosen piece of rock.  His holiness set the mountain on fire as He spoke to the people directly.  Moses, keeping individuals away from Mount Sinai, ran danger tape and threatened to shoot anyone with arrows if they crossed.

     Before that, manna met them in the morning when hungry bellies complained to Moses.  Furthermore, quail came into camp.  Everyone ate their fill.  When the sun burned hot, God gave them water to drink.

     But wait.  Wasn’t the hoard satisfied to see the sea split and salvation offered with a dry path?  Furthermore, the pillar of fire and cloud confirmed His presence with them.  Ten plagues worked to open Pharaoh's clutching hand one finger at a time.

Exodus 32:9 “And the Lord said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.”

     God was willing to do the Noah thing again.  Wipe the garbage off the desk and start again with Moses.  Totally justified.  God was provoked.  He revealed the degree of His anger and the seriousness of their sin.  They deserved annihilation.

James 3:1 “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” (NKJV)

     Hence, the more we are shown and understand, to that standard we shall be held.  God shows mercy on ignorance but draws a line with educated violators.  They had seen enough.  The stiffnecked were not willing to turn and listen to God so they made for themselves a god out of golden earrings.

     Moses hit the deck.  Prostrate before impending wrath, he plead with Him to protect His name among the Egyptians.  God relented of the evil He intended.  All was fair until Moses made his descent to camp.

Exodus 32:17 “And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp.18 And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear.”

     Perversion incited meek Moses like a hot prong under his skin.  Unlike God, he abandoned self-control throwing tablets to pieces.  God’s relent, contrasted with Moses’ wrath, revealed His character once again.

 

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