S139P2 – Profiles in courage: Moses
Exo. 32:30-32
The next day Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” 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 forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.”
We explored the courage that Noah would have had to exhibit to remain faithful to God in the midst of such wickedness around him. The thing about Noah’s story is that the wicked people in his midst did not follow the Lord. They were people of the world. In this passage, we see that Moses also lived among wickedness, but it was not exactly the same. The sinful people in his life were God’s own people. In fact, it was his own brother Aaron who was left in charge over them when they decided to create that golden idol. The one who had to lead these disobedient children, to rebuke them against opposition, to stand alone for truth, and to face God and plead for mercy on their behalf would have had to be brave.
Moses had a different brand of courage because that was what he needed to get through his lot in life. This was the man between God and Israel. He was a sort of mediator, and we see him mediating here. He was pleading with God to forgive Israel for her sin, and he even offered himself for punishment in her stead. First, he had to face a multitude of people and rebuke them for their sin. After standing alone against them, he then had to stand alone before a holy God to seek forgiveness for them. We cannot imagine today the kind of pressure he would have felt in this position. He was their shepherd on Earth, but they were not good at following him, and this would be a regular pattern for years to come.
Sometimes the greater challenge is not remaining faithful to God before the world but remaining faithful to him before the Church. We can be pulled into patterns of behavior or speech that are ungodly but that have become acceptable for one reason or another. Perhaps our brothers and sisters are not creating golden calves for worship, but sin can be subtle, especially in a time when morality is relative. Let us contend for the courage that keeps us firm when those around us become comfortable with compromise. Father, give us the courage of Moses to stay true to your word when we are led toward compromise by those who know better.