Much of God

"The Lord said to Moses, 'I have seen this people, and behold, they are an obstinate people. Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation.' Then Moses entreated the Lord his God, and said, 'O Lord, why does Your anger burn against Your people whom You have brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, "With evil intent He brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth"? Turn from Your burning anger and change Your mind about doing harm to Your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Yourself, and said to them, "I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever."' So the Lord changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people." -Exodus 32.9-14

God has seen the act of idolatry that Israel has committed, and He is angry. He's put up with so much from this group of people, but this act is the last straw. After everything that He has done for them, after all they have seen Him do, they make a golden calf and worship it declaring it to be the god who brought them out of Egypt.

Alone on the mountain God says to Moses, "I'm going to wipe them out and start over with you. The things I promised to Abraham I promise to you, and will fulfill in you. I will make you a great nation." Most people wouldn't have thought twice. They would have said, "Go get them God, they deserve it. I won't let you down." But Moses is not most people. Instead of jumping at the opportunity for greatness, he talks to God, and changes His mind.

Moses is being offered the chance for greatness, the head of the chosen nation that will bring the greatest blessing the world has ever known, and he turns it down. He looks out for God's character and reputation above his own. He is more concerned with God looking good than himself. Moses is the leader we should strive to be like. How many of us could do what he did?

Men, what is your focus, to make God look good, or yourself? Over the past few weeks I've started to think about songs I've forgotten. By this I mean those worship songs that were so popular 10-15 years ago and we thought we'd be singing them forever but we haven't heard them in almost a decade. There is one called "Much of You" and it reminds us that our purpose is not to draw others to us, to bring glory to ourselves, but instead to make much of God.

Moses sets the example of making much of God. He is being offered greatness, but instead turns it down so that God may be glorified for His mercy. He is living to make much of God. Let the same be said of us. Make much of God.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor