An Offer God Won’t Accept

Many years ago I made a proposal to buy the adjoining property right next to our church in an Argentine city. I talked to the owner, and she expressed interest in selling the land. Sometime later, everything seemed to be in order for the transaction to take place without a hitch. On the appointed day, the owner traveled from a distant city with her accountant and lawyer. I came with another pastor and an accountant and with my down payment in hand. The legal papers were all drawn up. All that lacked were the signatures of the seller and the buyer. Then suddenly, without warning, the lady changed her mind and decided not to sell the property. We asked her why, and she said, “I don’t know why; maybe I’ll need this property later on.” It was upsetting to us, but especially to the pastor who had accompanied me. He pressured the owner to reconsider, but she became more firm in her position. We walked out of the meeting asking ourselves what just happened.

Something similar happened to Moses when he made a proposal to God. Moses put the offer on the table, and everything looked ready, and then without warning, God rejected Moses’ offer. The setting for this happens after Israel sinned by making a golden calf and worshipping it. Moses destroyed the idol and at God’s command eliminated the instigators of this idolatrous orgy. Then Moses said to the people, "You have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin" (Exodus 32:30).

Moses laid out his offer to God in this way, "Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin — but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written" (Exodus 32:31-32).

Moses was beginning to understand the concept of atonement. He hoped he could somehow provide substitute atonement for the people. However, God flatly turned Moses’ offer down; The Lord replied to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin" (Exodus 32:33-34). Why did God flatly turn Moses’ offer down?

Moses couldn’t atone for the people’s sin because he himself was a sinner. Though Moses grew to become one of the most exemplary people in the Bible, he was still a sinner. Early on he had murdered a man, and he had a temper. God, however, used Moses’ life to show us more about Jesus. The more we study the Old Testament, the clearer the picture of Jesus becomes.

Philip Ryken provides a good example of understanding the relationship of Moses to Christ. Imagine Moses as an extra who fills in for the star of a movie during the filming process. While the star is off doing more important things, the extra stands in for the star. The techs adjust the lighting, sound and camera so that when the star finally appears and the director is ready to film the movie, everything will be ready. God is the Executive Director who used Moses to teach us about Jesus and his ultimate role as our only savior who alone could atone for our sins. No matter how much Moses wanted to make atonement for the sins of the people, he couldn’t because he was a sinner. That role belonged to the sinless Son of God, who at the right moment in history, when God called for “Action,” would appear and die on the cross for sinners. ^[1]

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[1] Philip Graham Ryken, Exodus, Crossway Books, Wheaton, IL 2005, P. 1016.

A Longing Heart

What does a longing heart look like? Sometimes it is someone who has spent their whole life longing for real friendship but never finding it. They go through several marriages and multiple relationships looking for the satisfaction they long for, but it always seems to elude them. Others long for recognition but don’t receive it. Still others long to feel safe and secure, but their longing is never fulfilled. Some long to be someone different because they are unhappy with themselves. No matter what the longing, every human heart longs for something.

I would like to introduce you to a man named Simeon who had a longing heart. This same man found his longing fulfilled. Luke records: “Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required” (Luke 2:25-27).

Simeon had been waiting a long time to see the Messiah. He never gave up hope, and then one day it happened. Joseph and Mary went to the temple to dedicate their newborn son to God. As they made their way to the appropriate place, at the very same moment in the hustle and bustle of the crowd, there was an old man moving toward them. They had no idea what was about to happen, but God had ordained that they should have a divine encounter. Suddenly, they met for the first time. They had never met before, and yet it was as if they had known each other all their lives.

God had chosen Simeon for this very important encounter. This old priest learned from God that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. Many would have doubted, but not Simeon. He held on to this conviction and hope all his life. This had been the longing of his heart. Most would have expected a Messiah to come riding atop a black stallion, but Simeon expected otherwise.

Simeon approached the young couple with a sense of excitement, all the while putting them at ease. They felt as if he had been waiting for them—believe me, he had. They felt his excitement as he reached out to Mary for the child, and she handed her baby to him. He took the child and suddenly broke into song and prophecy.

Luke 2:29-32 

"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you now dismiss your servant in peace.

30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,

31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people,

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles

and for glory to your people Israel."

As he held the baby Jesus, he began to praise God in song, and his song laid down for Mary and Joseph the purpose of the Christ Child. Simeon experi­enced a profound peace of soul as he held the Messiah in his arms. He was ready to go home to be with his God forever. This child in the arms of Simeon represents his longing heart fulfilled. You and I are not unlike Simeon; we, too, can embrace the Christ and experience a longing fulfilled. In fact, it is the only way it will ever happen.