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God had been gracious to the Israelites. He freed them from their slavery and provided for them along their journey but the life of trusting God was hard. And then the Israelites treated God with contempt. Basically they despised God and that was the wrong thing for them to do. God was ticked off and he was prepared to strike them down with a plague and to start all over again with Moses. Hadn't they learned ANYTHING from what they saw in Egypt? Maybe the passing of time dulls our memories. I know mine does.
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Moses had delt with the grumbling Israelites for a long time too, so he could have joined in with God and said, "Let's do it!" But here is where Moses stepped up to the plate and showed what he was made of. I am not sure where Moses got the guts to disagree with God, but he reminded our Creator of the promise he made to them in theses verses.
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"18 ‘The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’ 19 In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.â€
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I am amazed at Moses' guts and the heart he has for his people, even though they didn't deserve it. Moses was a real leader and a shepherd for God's people. I am not so sure how I would have responded if I were in the same situation. He is a leader that I could respect and follow( or be like for that matter) because it seems that he prays for the people he is leading.
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One thing was clear is God's power and might. He had, and still does have, the power to destroy the earth and everything in it, including us. We can't underestimate God's power. And what I love about him is that he doesn't use that power to destroy us, instead he has patience, love, and forgiveness for us. I thank God for his patience for us. I especially thank him for his patience for me. I know my sins and how I have grieved him and yet he sent Jesus for me. Thank you Heavenly Father for your love for me.
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