Israel made a golden calf while Moses was getting the plans for all the holy vessels for them. It is afflicting, but withal exceedingly beautiful, the intercourse of God with Moses, consequent upon the people making the golden calf–how, in the midst of all the ruin, faith, under grace, can have closer fellowship than when there was no ruin. Moses never had such close fellowship with God as when the people made the calf; and it was while the calf was in the camp.
The way in which God meets Moses is beautiful, “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest” (Ex. 33:14). And then Moses grows bolder still and says, “If Thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence” (Ex. 33:15).
There is another thought: the ground that God gives for destroying the people is precisely what Moses takes for God’s going with them, when once grace has come in. In chapter 32:9-10, the Lord says, “It is a stiffnecked people: now therefore let Me alone, that My wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them.” And then, in chapter 34:9, Moses says, “Let my Lord, I pray Thee, go amongst us; for it is a stiffnecked people.” So God’s reason for consuming me would be my sin; and my reason for asking God to be with me, now that grace has come in, is that sin is in me.
What infinite mercy!