Exodus 32:30-35

Exodus 32:30-35

[30] And it came to pass on the morrow,  that Moses  said  unto the people,  Ye have sinned  a great  sin:  and now I will go up  unto the LORD;  peradventure  I shall make an atonement  for  your sin.  [31] And Moses  returned  unto the LORD,  and said,  Oh,  this people  have sinned  a great  sin,  and have made  them gods  of gold.  [32] Yet now, if thou wilt forgive  their sin—;  and if not, blot  me, I pray thee, out of thy book  which thou hast written.  [33] And the LORD  said  unto Moses,  Whosoever  hath sinned  against me, him will I blot out  of my book.  [34] lead  the people  unto the place of which I have spoken  unto thee: behold, mine Angel  before  thee: nevertheless in the day  when I visit  their sin  upon them. [35] And the LORD  plagued  the people,  because  they made  the calf,  which  Aaron  made. 

What does Exodus 32:30-35 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

To make atonement ( Exodus 32:30) means to obtain a covering for sin.
We see Moses" great love for the Israelites as their mediator in his willingness to die for them (cf. Romans 9:3). Being blotted out of God"s book may refer to physical death. Alternatively the book could refer to the register of those loyal to Yahweh and thereby deserving His special blessing (cf. Psalm 69:28; Isaiah 4:3; Ezekiel 13:9; Daniel 12:1; Malachi 3:16). [1] God explained a principle of His dealings with people here. Individual sin brings individual responsibility that leads finally to individual judgment (cf. Ezekiel 18:4). God was not saying that everyone will bear the punishment for his own sins precluding substitution, but everyone is responsible for his own sins. He chose not to take Moses" life as a substitute for the guilty in Israel since this would not have been just. Moses being a sinner himself could not have served as a final acceptable substitute for other sinners in any case.
God promised Moses that He would not abandon His people for their sin ( Exodus 32:34), but when their rebellion was full (at Kadesh Barnea, Numbers 14:27-35) He smote those of them who remained ( Exodus 32:35). [2]