The Lord's words to Moses on Mt. Sinai conclude like a new creation. As the Lord breathes his Spirit into his human creation for image-bearing in God's world in Genesis 1 and 2, so the Lord breathes his Spirit into Bezalel for God's image-bearing in his new tabernacle world (Exodus 31). As the Lord concluded his original creation in Genesis by establishing a sabbath rest space, so we find reminders for sabbath observance at the close of Exodus 31. All is completed, and just as in Genesis, God will truly dwell with his people.
But just as with the original creation, God's creating precedes a fall. Here the fall takes the form of the making of the golden calf. As Eve gives the fruit to a willing Adam, so the Israelites call on a willing Aaron to create a monstrosity - a false god out of the very gold they had given so willingly to the tabernacle construction project. The gold they give 'from their hearts' represents their hearts. As the gold is melted to take on the image of a false god, we see the heart of darkness at the center of God's creation.
Moses plays the part of God's servant, which will be reprised throughout the biblical canon, most notably and representatively in Jesus. Moses intercedes for his people:
"But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. "LORD," he said, "why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.'" Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened." (Exodus 32:11-14)
Isn't that magnificent? I find this to be an enviable prayer for a few reasons:
1) he didn't separate himself from the evildoers. When he speaks of 'your people,' he includes himself. How easy is it to pass the buck? Moses doesn't allow himself to think of himself as separated from his people. He speaks to God on behalf of those to whom he is joined, and indeed he does this at...well, let's just call it a low point for Israel.
2) he tracks the larger narrative. There's always a bigger story than what is going on in the moment. Moses imagines a scenario where the Egyptians get the last word, remarking on the ridiculous deity who delivered his people from slavery only to destroy them in righteous indignation. Of course this could never be. It is a farcical version of the grand narrative of deliverance and new creation.
3) he recalls to God his yet-to-be-fulfilled promises. See the advisory, royal ambassador relationship Moses inhabits with the Lord, displaying command of the major threads of God's redemptive story arc. He's seen the Lord's mighty hand rise against the obstinate, carrying forth everything he has said. When Israel appears singularly unworthy of God's continued care, Moses trusts God's promise and word, as yet unfulfilled. He hadn't "received what had been promised." (Hebrews 11:39) But he displays faith, reliance, trust, allegiance to God's promise to make a people, to make descendants.
Oh, if the body of Christ prayed like this! We would each pray as prophets, as priests, as kings and queens, making intercession for our fellow members, those who stand in esteem and those who are fallen in shame! We have promises to claim. We have a wonderfully complete larger narrative we are part of. Most importantly of all, we have no need to scapegoat those around us, but pray to God from the top of the mountain, from within the veil, from within Christ, as though we were standing at the foot of the mountain, out among the broken idolatrous nations, as though we were among the greatest sinners. This is how Moses prays. This is how Jesus prays. This is how the body of Christ prays.
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