The Israelites weep and complain. Moses and Aaron try to convince them that the land the Lord has brought them to is a good land. They want to stone Moses and Aaron to death.

The Lord protects Moses and Aaron with the glory cloud, but the people don’t take the hint and don’t repent. They want to choose another leader to take them back to Egypt.

The Lord offers to wipe the Israelites out and start fresh by making a nation out of Moses. Moses intercedes and God lets the people live.

When Abraham prayed wanting to save Lot, Abraham called on God’s character and the righteousness of those in Sodom.

Moses doesn’t rely on anything from the Israelites, but solely on God’s character and reputation.

Moses doesn’t want anyone talking bad about his God. Moses says that if everyone is wiped out, the Egyptians will say God wasn’t able to bring them into the Promised Land.

Moses prays and asks the Lord to be true to His word, saying, “Let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying, ‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty.”

Moses could have gotten the honor, but instead he wanted God to have the honor. God relents, but doesn’t clear the guilty. They are told they will never enter the land.

Does your life, your words and actions, honor or dishonor God?

As an example, I cringe when a Christian says God wants us to protect ourselves. Why? Doesn’t that say He can’t or won’t protect us, so we have to do it ourselves? Why do we need protecting in the first place? Is He not in control? Does He not care what’s happening to us?

I want to honor God with my whole life. I want to live like I believe God is who He says He is. I want to live like He’s sovereign, in control. I want to live like He is powerful, able to do anything. I want to live like He is love, caring about me down to the number of hairs on my head.

When people look at me and see me laughing without fear of the future, I want them to honor the God that gives the gift of faith and teaches us to trust.