Law of God
177
spare neither brother, companion, nor neighbor. Those who engaged
in this work of slaying, however painful, were now to realize that they
were executing upon their brethren a solemn punishment from God.
And for executing this painful work, contrary to their own feelings,
God would bestow upon them his blessing. By performing this act they
showed their true feelings relative to the high crime of idolatry, and
consecrated themselves more fully to the sacred worship of the only
true God. The terror of the Lord was upon the people, and they were
afraid that they would all be destroyed. As Moses saw their distress he
promised according to their earnest request to plead with the Lord to
pardon their great sin.
“And it came to pass on the morrow that Moses said unto the
people, Ye have sinned a great sin, and now I will go up unto the Lord,
peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin. And Moses
returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great
sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive
their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou
hast written. And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned
[285]
against me, him will I blot out of my book. Therefore now go, lead the
people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee. Behold, mine
Angel shall go before thee. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will
visit their sin upon them. And the Lord plagued the people, because
they made the calf, which Aaron made.”
Moses manifested his great love for the people in his entreaty to the
Lord to forgive their sin, or blot his name out of the book which he had
written. His intercessions here illustrate Christ’s love and mediation
for the sinful race. The Lord refused to let Moses suffer for the sins of
his backsliding people. He declared to him that those who had sinned
against him, would he blot out of his book which he had written; for
the righteous should not suffer for the guilt of the sinner. The book
here referred to is the book of records in Heaven, where every name is
recorded, and their acts, their sins, and obedience are faithfully written.
When any one commits sins which are too grievous for the Lord to
pardon, their names are erased from the book, and they are devoted
to destruction. Although Moses realized the dreadful fate of those
whose names should be dropped from the book of God, yet he plainly
declared before God that if the names of his erring Israel should be
blotted out, and be no more remembered by him for good, he wished