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The Beginning of the End
mediation for sinners. But the Lord did not permit Moses to bear the
guilt of the transgressor, as Christ did. “Whoever has sinned against
Me,” He said, “I will blot him out of My book.”
In deep sadness the people buried their dead. Three thousand had
been killed by the sword; soon after, a plague had broken out in the
camp; and now the message came to them that the divine Presence
would no longer go with them in their journey: “I will not go up in
your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked
people.” And God commanded, “Take off your ornaments, that I
may know what to do to you.” In penitence and humiliation, “the
children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by Mount
Horeb.”
By divine command, the tent that had served as a temporary place
of worship was taken “far from the camp.” This was further evidence
that God had withdrawn His presence from them. The people felt the
rebuke keenly, and to the conscience-stricken multitudes it seemed
to predict greater calamity.
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But they were not left without hope. The tent was pitched outside
the camp, but Moses called it “the tabernacle of meeting.” All who
were truly repentant and wanted to return to the Lord were told to go
there to confess their sins and seek His mercy. When they returned
to their tents, Moses entered the tabernacle. The people watched for
some sign that his intercessions for them were accepted. When the
cloudy pillar came down and stood at the entrance of the tabernacle,
the people wept for joy, and they “rose and worshiped, each man in
his tent door.”
Help From God, a Necessity
Moses had learned that in order to lead the people successfully,
he must have help from God. He pleaded for an assurance of God’s
presence: “Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight,
show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find
grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.”
The answer was, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give
you rest.” But Moses was not yet satisfied. He prayed that the favor
of God might be restored to His people and that the visible evidence
of His presence might continue to direct their journey: “If Your