Commitments – how loyal are you?
Perhaps you are like the sons of Israel.   They told Moses (and God) … “All the people answered together and said, ‘All that the LORD has spoken we will do.’”  Exodus 24:3

Have you made a commitment to someone, now you want to back out on your promise?  Perhaps it is your marriage, your job, or another promise which was pleasing to the LORD God.

Moses went up on Mount Sinai, because God called him to come up.  He was gone 40 days and 40 nights.  The people at the base of the mountain got to wondering about Moses, “was he coming back?”  Maybe he had a heart attack, or a stroke, or a wild animal attacked him.  Would you have wondered if Moses were coming back?

In Exodus 32:1 the people knew Moses was delayed in coming down the mountain.  He was gone five weeks!  The LORD God was giving Moses commands for the best good of the sons of Israel during that time.

The people had Aaron make them a god to worship, a gold calf from their earrings.  They were having a party!  And while this was going on at the base of the mountain, God was telling Moses, who was on top of the mountain, what was going on down at the foot of the mountain.  God called them “obstinate people.”  Exodus 32:7-9

  The LORD was angry with the sons of Israel.  Worshiping a gold calf!  He gave Moses the opportunity of a life-time.  God would make Moses into a nation and replace the sons of Israel.

How did Moses react?  He was committed to the LORD.  Moses was also committed to the sons of Israel.  He did not make excuses for them and their choices.

What did Moses do?  He reminded the LORD God what God did for them by bringing them out of slavery in Egypt.  Moses also reminded the LORD of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-Israel.  Exodus 32:11-13

The results of Moses’ intercession for those ‘obstinate people’ is found in Exodus 32:14.
“So the LORD changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people.”

Intercession for others reveals a commitment to the LORD God ~ He is able to work mighty wonders on their behalf.

Commitment – even when we are experiencing what we term “being left on our own by the LORD.”  What the sons of Israel thought and acted on – was totally wrong!

~ Take it to heart ~

3 “Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
5 “Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.”
(NASB) Psalm 37:3, 5