Again a twofer because I've been having too much fun laser tagging and packing and birthday-ing. :)
I think the Israelites really depict us well, at least, I think they depict me rather well. They go from praising the Lord who rescued them from the hand of their overlords, the Egyptians, to whining and complaining. I'm pretty good at that. I'm pretty good at forgetting how good and awesome and amazing God is pretty quick. I mean, so what if he's brought me through 5 surgeries. So what if he's given me an amazing community of friends to uphold and uplift me wherever I wonder. So what if he's provided me with the income and means to live life every day. Today I'm tired, I'm packing again and my future is uncertain (at least to me). So I forget and so God reminds me of all the good He's done and will continue to do.
God was definitely frustrated and indeed angry with the Israelites. I mean they forgot what he'd just done, they gave up on him when Moses was gone for a while and decided to give their allegiance to a golden calf (that just came out of the fire that way according to Aaron - yeah right, Ex. 32). They heard the LORD speaking to them from heaven. They consecrated themselves to him and just as quickly abandoned him. The LORD is ever patient. His desire is that he still wants to meet with his people (Ex. 30). He wants to be among them, which is why he gives them such explicit instructions about his dwelling place, the Tabernacle.
He almost backs away. He almost gives up on the Israelites, but Moses becomes the Mediator, the Intercessor for his people (sound familiar?). I love the intimacy between God and Moses. God says to Moses on several occasions, "I know you by name" (NRSV looking at ch.33 here). That is a powerful statement because it means that God intimately knew Moses, his character, his flaws, his strengths, his hopes. God knows Moses and he's willing to give the people another chance because Moses, whom he deeply knows, is willing to intercede for these people who choose to remain aloof from Him.
Moses, unfortunately was flawed. He was as grumbly and complainy as his own people at times. Now we can take comfort and great hope in the fact that we too have an Intercessor and a Mediator. This is one whom God knows deeply and intimately because it is his Son, Jesus Christ. It is that ultimate communion of the Trinity that reaches out to bring us into his community. God still wants to meet with us, despite our stupidity, and Jesus is there to speak a good word, despite ourselves. I am so glad because despite all my flaws, I'm still like the Israelites, gaping after Moses as he goes to meet with God, I wish I could go too. I want to know God too, sometimes I'm just too scared or too caught up in myself. Forgive me and I am amazed that despite all of that, you know me LORD, you know me by name.
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