Some people continue to make the biggest deal of Moses. According to their interpretation of the sacred text, he is the one who leads his people out of bondage, takes them to God’s holy presence, and presents them as righteous saints, before graciously instructing them, and leading them successfully into the Promised Land.
Well my friends, as the next generation says, “You do you.” You can have Moses and his “Non-Gospel” atonement and system of conditional acceptance. Instead, I’ll take what Moses was prefiguring, what he was pointing to, what he was preaching. Yes, weary worshiper, you can have Moses and his burdens. I’ll have Jesus and his light yoke.
Moses’ Education
The LORD invites Moses to climb his sacred mountain. There, Moses enjoys the most traumatizing, fascinating, and glorious month of his life. Upon Mt. Sinai, he converses with the holy LORD, receives his divine commandments, dines in his sacred presence, and experiences as much as he can handle of his Shekhina glory.
However, as Moses is learning more and more about God and his ways, things take a sour turn. The Israelites have been waiting for Moses return. Now, after his considerable delay, they assume the worst and reason he is not coming back. Therefore, certain representatives approach Aaron and make their request, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us.” Sadly, at this point in his ministry, Aaron plays the role of a pathetic pastor. Instead of doing that which is right in the eyes of God, he endeavors to please the majority. He takes their jewelry, fashions an idol, constructs an altar, then encourages the Israelites to prostrate themselves before their new golden calf.
This they did in the name of the LORD.
This they did in the face of the LORD.
Consequently, the LORD informs Moses, “ … Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it … I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.” (Exodus 32:7-10)
Clearly, the LORD is not pleased with “Moses people.” God’s wrath burns hot. Moses has not done sufficient work.
Moses’ Atonement
Hearing God’s judgment and sentence, Moses immediately goes to work. He does his best to serve as Israel’s minister, mediator, intercessor, representative, priest, advocate or savior. Zealously Moses begs, pleads, prays, and seeks to propitiate or turn away the wrath of God.
Moses’ Success
For a time, Moses proves to be the man. God does not send flood, fire, brimstone, plagues, hail, locusts, frogs, serpents, or his angel of death. For the time being, God seems to relent from his promised judgment, and Moses appears to be a successful mediator and savior.
Moses’ Failure
At this point in the story, Moses collects God’s engraved tablets of stone, reconnects with Joshua, and the two of them begin making their way down God’s sacred mountain. As they draw near Israel’s camp, Joshua and Moses witness the sinful chaos for themselves.
Seeing their stiff-necked rebellion, he is not filled with compassion, mercy, grace, longsuffering patience, and forgiveness. No, Moses loses it. He explodes with anger, throws down God’s law, wildly attacks the golden calf, then commands his people to drink it all. He can’t even save his people from his own wrath, much less the wrath of God.
Moses then sees the anger of the LORD well up. He learns he is to become the LORD’s agent of death. He is to stand in the gate of the camp, gather those on the LORD’s side, command them to strap on their swords, and lead them throughout the camp executing brothers, companions, and neighbors. At the end of this day, 3000 people experience the earned, condemnatory, unsatisfied, judgment of the LORD. Any atonement, propitiation, intercession, mediation, representation, or reconciliation, it was temporary, partial, insufficient, and unsuccessful. Moses was a failure as the savior of his people.
Moses’ Atonement
The following day, Moses puts away his sword and puts back on his priestly demeanor. Somewhere he meets with the LORD, and in their dialogue he hopes to make some sort of acceptable atonement for Israel’s sin. Before God’s face he pleads, “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.” (Exodus 32:31-32) Moses heart is in it. Israel’s earthly savior, he is doing his best.
Moses’ Failure
Following Moses’ prayer, the wrath of God flares up again. The LORD responds to Moses with, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book. But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them.” (Exodus 32:33-34)
Chapter 32 ends with the LORD sending forth a judgmental plague as certain sinners receive what they deserve and perish on this day of judgment.
Chapter 33 continues with the LORD moving them on from his holy mountain. They cannot ascend to the top. They cannot even abide at its base.
And as one continues reading the story of Moses and his people, one sees this is not the last time God pours out justice and judgment upon Moses and his stiff-necked people. He can’t save himself. He can’t save them. Much less can he save you and me.
Moses’ Savior
But my friends, what Moses can do is point his people and his readers away from himself to another — to a better covenant kept by a better savior.
Hebrews 3:1-3 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses — as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.
Jesus is the Chosen Savior of the LORD.
Jesus is the Loving One who loves you before you love him.
Jesus is the Compassionate One who sees you in your enslaved condition and cannot look away.
Jesus is the Faithful One who honors the Father by marching into the place of enslavement to save his own.
Jesus is the Powerful One who mocks demons, rulers, and all false gods as he actually redeems his people.
Jesus is the Sacrificially Cursed One who receives the Father’s piercing and plaguing for stiff-necked sinners.
Jesus is the Acceptable One who climbs and dwells in his Father’s presence.
Jesus is the Purifying One who brings you up the mountain with him — based upon his own acceptability.
Jesus is the Instructing One who presents God’s Law, not as a means to acceptance, but as sweet divine counsel.
Jesus is the Better Savior.
Jesus is the Initiator of the Better Covenant.
When the Righteously Indignant Father sees Jesus, he is propitiated. His wrath is not inflamed but turned away.
When the Righteously Indignant Father sees Jesus, he is pleased with all those wearing his Son’s gifted righteousness.
In and with Jesus, there is no insufficient, partial, temporary, and unsuccessful atonement.
In and with Jesus, there is no condemnation or penal judgment.
In and with Jesus, there is only love, compassion, mercy, and grace.
Yes, my religious friends, I guess you can continue to make a big deal of Moses, the Israelites, and their contract of blessing and cursing. But not me! I’ll take Jesus and his righteous representation. I’ll take Jesus and his freedom. I’ll take Jesus and his light yoke. I’ll take Jesus, his Gospel, and all his undeserved benefits — just like Moses is today.
Unfathomable Grace 