7 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’” 9 And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. 10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.” 11 But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?” ~ Exodus 32:7-11
When the people of Israel were in the wilderness, they turned from God to idols, even though they had just witnessed the very power of the LORD their God. So, His anger burned against them, and He threatened to destroy them and start over with Moses. It wasn’t because God just overlooked their sin that the people of Israel were spared. It was because Moses stood in the gap, begging the LORD to have mercy on them. Moses brought a case to God as if he was in a courtroom. This is what God is looking for.
God is looking for a Moses to stand in the gap and plead a case for our loved ones and/or ourselves. Sometimes, God tests our faith and our commitment to ourselves and our loved ones by condemning them or us because of our or their own actions. When God threatened to destroy Israel because of their idolatry in the wilderness, only the plea of Moses brought the mercy of God. This is what God is looking for. The firm, unwavering love of someone. God isn’t looking to destroy His people. God doesn’t even take pleasure in the destruction of the wicked. God takes pleasure in the redemption of His people and the salvation of the wicked. Therefore, when it seems like the LORD has turned against you or your loved ones, plead your case. This isn’t God’s desire that any perish; it’s His desire that we each withstand the test. Therefore, plead your case so that you might save your life and life of your loved ones.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Withstand the Test.