The Lord
relented in the punishment he
had threatened to inflict on
the people. Exodus 32:7-11,
13-14.
If we say
something stupid or do
something inappropriate in the
presence of people we love, we
hope they will forgive us.
When we
are with those we love, we
relax. We speak more easily the
thoughts of our heart, and we
do more readily the impulsive
deeds that bring relationships
to life. Sometimes we act with
the spontaneity that love
enjoys, but with the
inappropriateness that loves
does not tolerate. We say
something insulting. We do
something crude. We give in to
the temptation to love someone
else.
The
best relationships tolerate
mistakes. If someone loves us
completely and wholly for who
we are, that person will accept
us, mistakes and all. Our
misdeeds are a part of us; to
love someone is to love the
person that commits errors of
judgment.
Moses
reminds God of this. While
Moses was on the mountain
receiving the law from God, the
people grew tired of waiting
down below. They removed their
jewelry and threw it into a
fire. Out came something
resembling a golden calf. So
they worshiped it. They
worshiped something that was
not God. In the spontaneity of
the moment, at a time when
religious fervor ran high, the
people made a terrible mistake.
Moses
reminds God of the covenant
promised to all the descendants
of Abraham, Isaac and Israel.
And God relents. God does not
punish the people for their
sin.
No
matter how stupid our mistakes,
God will forgive us.
