He had led them out of Egyptian bondage and all the way to the foot of that sacred mount where he now conversed with the Lord. They were in the midst of a long and difficult journey to the land flowing with milk and honey that their God had promised to them. While Moses was away, however, they had turned their back on God and on Moses, His representative. God told him now of the golden calf they had fashioned and the ways they defiled themselves and then said "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" (Exodus 32:10). If Moses has ever wanted an out, this was his chance. Israel had chafed, questioned, and murmured over and over. Now they deserted God and Moses so dramatically - and right after such a witness as pillars of fire and freestanding walls of water. Now God offered to destroy them. Then He would still raise up, of Moses' posterity alone now, a chosen people in the promised land.
Moses' response is the lesson - and I believe what God intended from this circumstance. His pleading for them in their weakness, is one of the most beautiful and incomprehensible of all of scripture in my humble opinion. After a stern rebuke of the people which included broken tablets, burning/grinding/and then drinking the ash of the idol, and a battle. He returns to the Lord saying, "Oh these people have sinned a great sin and have made them gods of gold.” — and then this “Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of the book which thou hast written"
What?!! did he really just put his own exaltation on the altar?! … and for them? Certainly that's not how it works - God explains that, and I assume Moses knows that already too - but this statement shows an absolute all in devotion to these people and their eternal welfare. I'm not familiar with a clearer mortal echo of the Savior’s premortal purpose and utterance, "Here am I, send me!" -- And I suppose that is the point. Moses gets it - these are his people! In essence, he doesn’t want heaven, nor the promised land without them. That’s stewardship.
In an age where lots of little things are sharpened and made into wedges to divide people, I hope for this! “Who is my neighbor?” The Savior was asked. He responded with the parable of the Good Samaritan. He taught that my neighbor is the person I differ from, maybe the one I have most trouble with. My responsibility to them is to both love and lift them. Can I, will I intervene on their behalf like Moses and the Son of God who taught it to Him?
Loving and lifting is hard - it reminds me of my parents honestly. They initiated the “buddy-system” when we’d fought with a sibling too much, and Tuesday family game nights where the openly stated purpose was to “help Drew learn to handle losing without losing his temper,” early morning scripture studies, and family prayers. They were, and are, fully invested in me and helping me come to Christ. This kind of Christlike love, kindled in homes could bring so much needed warmth and light to communities! So…who’s my neighbor?
