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(A)I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are, continued the Lord to Moses. 10 Let me alone, then, that my anger may burn against them to consume them. Then I will make of you a great nation.

11 [a]But Moses implored the Lord, his God, saying,(B) “Why, O Lord, should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a strong hand?

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Footnotes

  1. 32:11–13 Moses uses three arguments to persuade the Lord to remain faithful to the Sinai covenant even though the people have broken it: (1) they are God’s own people, redeemed with God’s great power; (2) God’s reputation will suffer if they are destroyed; (3) the covenant with Abraham still stands. The Lord’s change of mind is a testimony to Israel’s belief in the power of intercessory prayer.

“I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked(A) people. 10 Now leave me alone(B) so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy(C) them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”(D)

11 But Moses sought the favor(E) of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?(F)

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