< Exodus 32 >

This turn from God to pleasure and idolatry echoes the warnings of Jesus that when he ascended to heaven some disciples would say: “My lord delayeth his coming” Matthew 24:48Waiting for response for Matthew 24:48 and begin to misbehave, and so he strongly exhorted all his disciples to remain loyal, despite apparent delay in his return: “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” Matthew 24:44Waiting for response for Matthew 24:44

The Apostle uses the people’s behaviour as a warning to the disciples of Christ not to fall away into disobedience and fleshly lusts during Jesus’ absence, as Israel did during Moses’ time away 1 Corinthians 10:6-11Waiting for response for 1 Corinthians 10:6-11

Moses interceded on behalf of the people, expressing his willingness to be excluded from the book of life in their stead. There is a book of life in which names are written, Philippians 4:3Waiting for response for Philippians 4:3 i.e. God remembers us for good, with the promise of eternal life. If we do what he asks us then our names will remain in the book and Jesus will be our mediator, as Moses was for Israel 1 Timothy 2:5Waiting for response for 1 Timothy 2:5 Revelation 3:5Waiting for response for Revelation 3:5