Norwegian 2018 (Bibelen - Guds Ord Hverdagsbibelen (Hermon Forlag))
Da ba Moses med stor inderlighet at Gud skulle spare folket. Han sa: «Herre, hvorfor vil Du la Ditt folk utslettes under din vrede? Det er jo det samme folket som Du med stor kraft og Din mektige hånd har ført ut fra Egypt! Hva vil egypterne si til det? De vil si: ‘Han hadde onde planer da Han førte dem ut av Egypt: å drepe dem i fjellene. Ville Han bare utslette dem fra jorden?’ Vær så snill og ikke gjør det Du nå har tenkt å gjøre mot Ditt folk! Husk de løftene Du ga til Abraham, Isak og Jakob, Dine tjenere! Du sverget ved Deg selv og sa til dem: ‘Jeg skal gjøre deres slekt stor – de skal bli så mange som stjernene på himmelen. Jeg vil gi deres etterkommere det landet som jeg har lovet dem, og de skal eie det til evig tid’.»
What Does This Mean?
In Exodus 32:11, Moses pleads with God to not be angry at the Israelites, whom God delivered from Egypt. Moses reminds God of His great power and the promise of deliverance.
Explained for Children
Imagine you're playing with your friends, and they do something naughty. Your mom is really upset, but you tell her, 'Mom, these are my friends, and you've been so nice to us all this time, bringing us ice cream and toys. Don't be mad at them, please!' That's kind of what Moses is doing here, asking God not to be angry with the Israelites.
Historical Background
The Book of Exodus was written by Moses around 1440-1400 BCE. This verse captures Moses' intercession when the Israelites had made a golden calf to worship, showing the historical context of God's relationship with His people and Moses' role as a mediator.
Living It Out Today
In modern scenarios, this verse can be applied when someone is trying to mediate between a wronged party and those who have made a mistake. For example, a manager interceding for an employee who has made a serious error, reminding the boss of the employee's past good work and the effort required to bring them to the company.
Moses was pleading because the Israelites had made a golden calf, showing a lack of faith, and God was angry, potentially planning to destroy them.
What does Moses remind God of in his plea?
Moses reminds God of His promise and the great power He used to deliver the Israelites from Egypt, appealing to God's mercy.
How can we apply Moses' example in our lives?
We can learn to intercede for others, especially those who have made mistakes, reminding the higher authority of past good deeds and the effort to improve.
What does this verse teach us about God?
This verse shows God's capacity for anger but also His willingness to listen to intercession, highlighting the importance of prayer and mediation.