Then he spoke of exterminating them,
but Moses, his chosen one,
Withstood him in the breach
to turn back his destructive wrath.
Jesus stands in the breach for us. We need him to do so for we have become depraved and chased after idols.
Go down at once to your people
whom you brought out of the land of Egypt,
for they have become depraved.
Golden calves are obvious to us. Our idols tend to fly a little under the radar. But when Moses is up the mountain with God and we feel like we're on our own, or like no one is holding us accountable, do we continue to do what is right before God? Is it only external pressure like this that keeps us in line? God wants more from us than that. He doesn't want us to show in public that we prefer him and then when we are hidden and we think no one sees to choose other things instead. He wants the idols removed even from their places in our hearts.
Jesus knows that we need mercy. He knows, too, that we don't always want it to the degree that we need it. This is why he is so strong in asserting who he is. John the Baptist testifies to him. The mighty deeds of Jesus testify to him. The Father himself speaks his testimony over the Son. We need to recognize this testimony because if we do not accept who Jesus is we cannot receive the mercy he offers.
You search the Scriptures,
because you think you have eternal life through them;
even they testify on my behalf.
But you do not want to come to me to have life.
The promise of God saved the people of Israel in the Old Testament. It kept them alive and granted them mercy when they failed in the desert. Even now that same promise, most perfectly fulfilled, gives us life in Jesus Christ. Let us recognize in him the one who always keeps his promises, who delights, always to show mercy.
For if you had believed Moses,
you would have believed me,
because he wrote about me.
But if you do not believe his writings,
how will you believe my words?
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