The two prayers in Exodus 32 are both by Moses and both are intercessory prayers on behalf of the people of Israel. The Israelites, though having just been brought out of Egypt after the plagues and God’s parting of the Red Sea, have already forgotten the care of the Lord and think that Moses has abandoned them. So they go to Aaron demanding that they be given gods to worship (perhaps this is the influence of all those years of being around Egyptian polytheism). For some reason, Aaron gives in to their demands and makes an idol in the form of a golden calf. God, of course, sees this going on and tells Moses what the people have done and says that he is going to destroy the nation because they have forgotten him and made an idol. But Moses intercedes for the people, not because any merit of their own, but he speaks to the covenant faithfulness of God. He speaks of God’s mighty deeds in Egypt (32:11) and how destroying the nation will destroy the Egyptians’ view of God and any respect they may have had for him if he brings them out of Egyptian bondage just to kill them in the wilderness (v.12). Moses also brings up God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Though wiping out the people and starting from scratch through Moses would still be in line with the covenant, forgiving the sin and continuing with this people would be a testament to God’s mercy and longsuffering. God hears Moses and relents from the destruction.
Moses then goes down the mountain and sees the idolatry himself and is so angry that he smashes the tablets he just received from God. The people have already broken their covenant with God and will continue to do so throughout their history and this sin of idolatry will eventually be their downfall. As angry as Moses is about the sin of the people, he goes back to God and prays for God’s forgiveness (v.30). Moses doesn’t just want God to forgive them, but he takes responsibility for their sins as their leader (v.32). If they are punished, he asks to be wiped out along with them and doesn’t try to separate himself from them. We see this quality in many leaders in Israel’s history like Nehemiah and the greatest example of Jesus. Again, God listens to Moses and relents from the destruction, though he still inflicts punishment as a consequence of their sin.
What can we learn about these prayers and the parties involved? First, with Israel, we see a foreshadowing of their downward spiral because of idols and constantly forgetting the one true God. Next, we see the character development of Moses from his time in Egypt, to his years in Midian, to now as the leader of Israel. While in Egypt, he “interceded” for a Hebrew who was being beaten by an Egyptian, but went about it the wrong way by murdering the man. Then in Midian, he makes excuses for why he can’t be the leader. Now, because of the Lord and his guidance, Moses goes humbly, but boldly, before the Lord, interceding for Israel. As for the Lord, we see that his people have already failed to trust him and he knows they’ll continue to do so. Would he have wiped out the people if Moses hadn’t prayed on their behalf? We don’t know, but we see that God immediately gives them another chance (and another, and another, etc.), not because of the good deeds of Israel or even their repentance, but because of Moses’s prayers and intercession and because God is faithful to his covenant. God wants his people to turn back to him and will gladly take them back.
The fact that Moses goes to God in prayer for the people is the best example of how to help someone who has turned against the Lord. We need to bring our worries to God and trust that his goodness and faithfulness will prevail, no matter how far gone people seem to be. God didn’t need reminding of who he is and what he’s done, but it is beneficial for us to dwell on his mighty deeds and who he is. We may not necessarily need to or should take responsibility for the sins of others every time, but we can learn from the compassion Moses had for Israel and the desire for lost souls to return to the Lord. Prayer is the perfect way to bring our worries, requests, and praises before the Lord, whom we can boldly and humbly come before (Hebrews 4:16).