Day 10: Taking God to Task

Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people, ‘but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favour with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favour with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” (Exodus 33:12,13)

Seeking Soul while Abraham teaches us to agonize for the city; on day ten of prayer, Moses reminds us to be a voice for the people by “Taking God to Task” for the course of His people, whom he has created after His image. As you read the book of Exodus, You almost wish you would skip chapter 32. In this chapter, we find the children of Israel turning from God to worship the golden calf. They had waited too long while Moses got stuck on the mountain with God.

They got tired of waiting; they wanted to move on, but they could not go on without a leader and God. So they fixed a plan: First, to enthrone Aaron as a tentative leader to take the place of Moses, and second, to make a golden calf to substitute God. In essence, they plot a coup against Moses and God. Soul, when Moses returns, he chooses to deal with the rebellious crowd with his understanding. It is here that Moses separates the “hypocrites” from the “true worshipers.”

According to Exodus 32:26, Moses stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him. And the Levites separated themselves from the rest and, from that day, were chosen to be servants of God. Moses commands the Levites to kill all men who prostituted with the idol; about 3000 people are instantly killed, including brothers, neighbors, and friends. As if that is not enough, God strikes the Israelites with a plague to punish the sin of rebellion.

In this chapter, Beloved Soul, we encounter Moses, the great intercessor. A great man to derive some prayer principles from today. While they were on the mountain, God hinted to Moses that he would want to eradicate the Israelite community and begin a whole new generation through Moses. Yet Moses pleads for their survival without knowing the gravity of his people’s idolatry. Moses descends from the mountain and cannot contain his anger at the extent to which the Israelites had fallen from Grace. He is so mad at them that he takes on himself to punish those who had worshiped the Golden Calf. Moses grinds the golden calf into dust and forces the digressers to drink Golden Calf Powder Juice.

After the death of the 3,000 people, Moses hurried back to the mountain to have an audience with God. He pleads passionately with God to disregard the people’s sins because, according to Moses, he had already inflicted sufficient punishment. He bargains with God to remove his name from the Book of Life and spare the children of Israel. Another example, Seeking Soul, of how God can choose to answer our prayers! In this case… God says no, he who sins is the one I will remove his name from the Book of Life! Every man for his soul.

God is about to dispatch His people, Israel, for the final quest into the promised land. They are standing between their slavery past and their free future. Seeking Soul, as we begin this year in prayer, I believe that’s where most of us are in life. We are standing between our past and our future, waiting to hear that ultimate word of God, whether to proceed and how to proceed. Soul, the beginning of the year, comes with its packages of uncertainties, expectations, and anxiety.

Dear Soul, shifting from the bloody scene of Exodus 32, Exodus 33 is a conversation between Moses and His friend God.  A calculated prayer where Moses seeks God’s attention by “Stating his case and listening to God’s intentions. From verse two, God initiates the conversation with a series of promises: the company of an angel the eradication of all enemies. and the inheritance of the Promised land

BUT WITHOUT THE PRESCENCE OF GOD.

God says, “But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.” (Exodus 33:3). Seeking Soul, Moses Takes God to Task in three significant areas we can learn today:

1. THE PROMISE: Do not settle for a promise without God’s Presence. Seeking Soul, every single moment, life offers a series of opportunities and favors. The fact is that not all opportunities that come our way are meant for Good! Remember, all that glitters is not gold, and if the deal is too good, think twice. Prayer precedes all. Moses tells God, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.” (Exodus 33:15). Pray for discernment and against every distracting spirit that takes God’s people from his ordained purpose.
2. THE PRESCENCE: Seeking Soul, “Without holiness, no one will see God.” Whoever seeks the Prescence of God must be ready to abide by the standards of God. God states His position to Moses, “But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.” (Exodus 33:3). Seeking Soul, the Prayer of a righteous person prevails. I challenge you to stand in the gap like Moses and appeal to the mercies of God for all in need. Moses says to God, “Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people” (Exodus 33:13 KJV)
3. THE POWER: Answered Prayer demonstrates God’s Power. Seeking Soul, the conversation shifts a notch higher; this time, it is Moses presenting his case. Remember, Moses and God were so close to each other that the bible records:  And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. (Exodus 33:11a KJV) The persistent faith of Moses, the priest, and the prophet is seen here. Moses declares to God, “For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? Is it not in that thou goest with us? So shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth (Exodus 33:16 KJV). Dear Seeking Soul, Pray that the power of God will be revealed in families, churches, communities, and the marketplace and that those who see God at work will worship him for His great deeds.

Seeking Soul, Your work is an evangelistic tool to the world around you. How will you represent God wherever you are, so that those around you may experience the “Promises, Prescence and Power of God?