Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.
So God said He would destroy them, but Moses, whom God had chosen, stood in the gap before Him to turn away His anger, so that He wouldn't destroy them.
This verse shows how Moses interceded for the Israelites, standing between them and God's righteous anger to save them from destruction.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Exodus, after the Israelites escaped from Egypt, they quickly turned to idolatry by worshiping a golden calf while Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments. God was furious and intended to destroy the people, but Moses interceded, standing as a mediator between God and the Israelites to avert His wrath. This event is later recalled in Psalm 106 as an example of God's mercy despite human failure.
Explore Similar Verses
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.