Deuteronomy chapter 9

vs 21

And although it doesn't say it here, he made them drink it. And I think the big lesson of this story is that people, when faced with the reality of God burning a mountain within their visual range, will ask someone to make them an idol they know is false because it is more comfortable.

vs 22

Ouch. The situations that occurred at these places don't even get named, but the point is it wasn't just one time.

vs 23

In court, they'd call this a "pattern of behaviour", and it would mean you're probably going to gaol. This one is particularly bad though, because it is the result of a promise of God to his people, who then turn around and refuse to claim the promise he has made. Cold.

vs 24

What a damning verse. Worth memorising.

vs 25

Even with the verse before, Moses knows that he can't just stand by and watch God wipe out these people. His reason may be partly because he thinks it's the "right thing to do", but I think overall he is concerned with the glory of God. We get to see his reasons more fully below, as he gives them.

For Moses, it's particularly close to him - he was there, it was his job to lead them (not a job he asked for), and so no doubt he feels responsible for them as a people. And he gets held to an incredibly high standard - he slips up once that we know of, and for that he is assigned to the same punishment that all the others of his generation suffered. Once is enough.

vs 26

So the first argument is that it would be inefficient. God has already brought them up from Egypt, why destroy them afterwards?

vs 27

It's not that God ever forgot his promises. He could still fulfil them, just not through this group of people. But Moses asks that their wickedness be overlooked. He prays for them almost like a father Job over his children, although this father knows his kids have been bad. He asks God for forgiveness, because I guess he knows that it is part of God's nature.

It's kind of funny, because we often mock Muslims because their Allah is described as gracious and compassionate, and then tells people to chop limbs off. But God here shows his grace and compassion by simply killing off an entire generation of people, but letting their kids live.

vs 28

It is very relevant to note that Moses thinks God has a care for what other nations think. Moses at least knows that God wanted Israel to be an example to all people, which included the gentiles.

vs 29

And the fact is Moses knows God didn't bring them out in the desert to kill them all. He still remembers the mighty power of God in their release from Egypt, even if those who were the slaves don't. Crazy stuff.