The Daily Word: Thursday, February 11th, 2021
Exodus 32:1-33:23
Matthew 26:69-27:14
Psalm 33:1-11
Proverbs 8:33-36
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. So now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” – Ex. 32:30
God’s people messed up. They messed up badly! The first thing God told them was, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Ex 20:3). So what did Israel do as soon as they had the chance? They demanded that Aaron make them a golden calf: an idol they could worship instead of God.
How insulting to God! And this was the best Moses could offer them in response: “So now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” Perhaps! Imagine being one of the children of Israel, wondering if God would forgive your sin or strike you dead. Imagine being Moses, wondering if God was still willing to fulfill His promise to make Israel a great nation, or if He would just exterminate them altogether. Imagine being Aaron, wondering what penalty he was going to have to pay for caving to the will of the people and building the golden calf!
Thank God we no longer live in the age of “perhaps!” On this side of the Cross, Jesus has separated you from your sin, “…as far as the east is from the west” (Ps. 103:12). You don’t have to send someone to God to see if He will forgive you any more! When you confess your sins, God is “faithful and just to forgive” them and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 Jn. 1:9). There is no more perhaps because of the Cross. When you have Jesus, forgiveness is a guarantee.
For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. – Heb. 10:14
Prayer:
Father, thank You for perfecting me! I am far from perfect; but Jesus is perfect, and I am hidden in Him! Thank You that I don’t have to wonder if You will forgive me. I get to know that I am forgiven, in Jesus’ name!
© Michael D. White, 2021. All rights reserved.