Changing God's Mind

Exodus 32
11 But Moses tried to pacify the Lord his God. “O Lord!” he said. “Why are you so angry with your own people whom you brought from the land of Egypt with such great power and such a strong hand? 12 Why let the Egyptians say, ‘Their God rescued them with the evil intention of slaughtering them in the mountains and wiping them from the face of the earth’? Turn away from your fierce anger. Change your mind about this terrible disaster you have threatened against your people! 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You bound yourself with an oath to them, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven. And I will give them all of this land that I have promised to your descendants, and they will possess it forever.’”

14 So the Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people.

Since God knows how everything turns out in the end because God operates outside of linear time, how is it that Moses could “change” God’s mind regarding the “terrible disaster” God threatened to bring on the children of Israel. I would submit that it wasn’t God’s mind that needed some changing here, but Moses’ mind that had to be prepared to lead this stubborn people to where God wanted them led. Remember, this is the same Moses who tried to weasel his way out of this when God appeared in the burning bush. This is the same people who will grumble, complain, make idols, and test Moses’ patience at every turn. No, I submit that God’s mind wasn’t the one being worked on here; it was Moses’. God is the Master Psychologist after all. Moses needed to love these people enough to plead their case, not just in front of Pharaoh, but in front of the Lord God Almighty! Only a powerful love for those people could compel Moses to do such a thing. Isn’t that the kind of love Jesus has for His people today? Isn’t that the kind of love I should have for people? Do I love people strongly enough to try to “change God’s mind” about them. Now, that IS a goal worthy of pursuing!

Covenant Meal

Exodus 24
9 Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel climbed up the mountain. 10 There they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there seemed to be a surface of brilliant blue lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself. 11 And though these nobles of Israel gazed upon God, he did not destroy them. In fact, they ate a covenant meal, eating and drinking in his presence!

I ate a covenant meal this morning: unleavened bread representing the body of Christ, and a cup of the fruit of the vine representing the Blood of Christ. My covenant meal represents a covenant with God that is superior to the one eaten by Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and the seventy elders of Israel as described in Exodus 24. I do, however, like the reverence described in this passage. These men saw God and yet He did not destroy them. While my eyes have not physically seen God, I have seen God at work in and through people. People like Don Boswell (who led me to Christ), Brent & Lisa Baker, Jeff & Peggy Sagstetter, Steve & Tami Jones, Greg Bartolucci, Anne Martinelli, (and so many others) and most importantly, Peggy Blount. I see Jesus living through these folks, and today I renewed my commitment to the New Covenant established through the Perfect Sacrifice known as Jesus.