A Prayer about Praying God’s Promises Back to Him
Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever. Exodus 32:13
Merciful Lord,
When we have blown it again,
help us to remember how badly the Israelites had blown it.
You had brought them out of slavery in Egypt,
you had provided manna for them in the wilderness,
you had promised to make them a great nation
and to bring them to a land flowing with milk and honey.
Moses left to meet with you,
and the next thing we know,
the people are asking Aaron
to “make us gods who shall go before us” (Exodus 32:1).
And Aaron, Moses’ brother,
the one you provided for Moses’ help,
collects gold and fashion a golden calf.
Holy Lord, do we really comprehend
what an affront to your holiness this was?
Moses did.
He understood that he and his people deserved your wrath.
And yet, he prayed your promises back to you.
He did not collapse in self-contempt
as some of us may do when we’ve blown it again.
Instead, he reminded you
of your power
and your might
and your plan.
(As if you needed to be reminded.)
On that basis,
he asked for your mercy.
On that basis,
he asked for your continued presence.
On that basis, he asked you to show him your glory (Exodus 32:18).
Not only did you respond
by giving Moses a glimpse of your glory
that would not destroy him,
you gave us Jesus,
the very living presence of your glory.
Because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection,
when we have blown it,
we can “with confidence
draw near to the throne of grace,
that we may receive mercy
and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
What great good news this is!
Amen.
Read Exodus 32-34.