God's Power Magnified

God’s power magnified.  There are several instances in today’s reading when the Israelites complain and rebel against God.  During those times, God states to Moses that He is going to strike them and destroy them (Numbers 14:12).  I believe this is just as much a test for Moses, as anything, and a typification of the perfect Deliverer, Jesus Christ the Son of God who was to come, as Moses replies to God and begs Him to forgive the people.  As Moses pleads with God and reminds Him of how the nations have witnessed what He has done for Israel in delivering them from Egypt, he then begins to remind God of His own character.  Moses states, “So now, may my Lord’s power be magnified just as you have spoken.  The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in faithful love, forgiving iniquity and rebellion.  But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, brining the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generation.  Please pardon the iniquity of this people” (Numbers 14:17-19).  I think this is so amazing.  It would seem that the Lord’s power is magnified, not in the destruction of the people, but in the pardoning of them!!  We serve a mighty God who is able to destroy, and will punish sin because He must. He is a holy God.  But, His power is magnified in His long-suffering and forgiveness of sin.  Oh, the might power God displayed at Calvary, as the Son of God laid down His life, so that man might be saved!