"Forgive--Or Blot Out My Name"

Exodus 32:30-33

Rev. Barry Gritters

Exodus 32:30-33                                                                                                                                     June 1, 2003 PM
     A. The church traverses the wilderness. Israelis now camped at Sinai. They have sinned a great sin.
     B. Moses understands the sin is not resolved. He will "perhaps make an atonement" So he prays to God:

THE CHURCH IN THE WILDERNESS
(#9) "FORGIVE...OR BLOT ME OUT OF THY BOOK"
I. The Need

     A. Moses realizes that the matter of the golden calf is not yet finished.

          1. It's true that he had:

               a. Interceded for them, on three grounds:

               b. Had the Levites bring judgment into the camp in the death of 3000 of them.

          2. However, the matter was not yet resolved

     B. The people committed a great sin. They had sinned before, but not like this sin.

          1. First, because of the circumstances of the sin: they had just seen God

          2. Second, because of the nature and character of the sin: it was sin against the covenant

     C. Applications:

IL The Request

     A. Moses pleads, first, for forgiveness.

          1. To forgive here means to "lift from them the responsibility to pay."

          2. The difficulty of this request, Moses recognizes.

     B. So he says: "If not, then blot me out of thy book..."

          1. Moses' prayer here means:

          2. Moses prays here as a wonderful Old Testament shadow

          3. Moses' prayer here is a sentiment reflected in the body of Christ more generally

III. The Answer

     A.