Exodus 32:34Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

To ensure that sin is not overlooked lightly and that forgiveness does not lead to greater harm, God informs Moses of His intention to annihilate the Israelites. This serves a purpose: when Moses intercedes on their behalf and their transgression is absolved, this act of mercy will hold greater significance for the people, and Moses will be esteemed more highly for his prayers. "Behold, My angel shall go before thee," indicating that an angel will precede you in My place, "and in the day of My visitation by his hand I will visit their sins upon them." This declaration not only offers encouragement but also serves as a dire warning to the Israelites. "And behold, I will send My angel before thee—be cautious of him, for My name is in him" (Ex. 23:20-21). Since he is carrying out the work of God, the divine name is associated with him.

It is noteworthy that the Almighty, the Creator of all people, while attentive to their pleas, was slow to administer justice; nonetheless, He declared, I will take my seat on that day and will hold them accountable for their transgressions. This resonates with the words of the apostle: ‘You do not know that the goodness of God leads you to repentance; because of your hardness and unrepentant heart, you will gather your anger in the day of wrath and the revelation of the righteous judgement of God, who will repay everyone according to his deeds (Rom. 2:4-6).

“Go therefore, go, come down, lead this people where I have commanded you” Here, the Lord seems to embody the role of a guide for children. Through Moses, the Lord acted as the spiritual mentor for the people of the Old Testament (cf. Gal. 3:24-25), and He personally leads the New Testament believers, engaging with them directly (cf. 1 Cor. 13:12).

In these two verses, there are two phrases concerning the people that must be considered together to grasp the significance of the Lord’s judgement: “whoever sins before Me, I will blot out of My book” (33). This is in reply to Moses’ remarks. The Lord reminds Moses that He alone is the judge and instructs him to carry out his responsibilities to the end, specifically to guide the people. The second phrase is, “In the day of My visitation, I will visit them for their sin” (34). These expressions, when combined, point to the fate of that generation which, having tried the Lord ten times (Num. xxv. 40; 22-23), was sentenced to not enter the promised land and to perish in the wilderness. The Lord distinguishes between the nation and the individuals who have sinned. Even in punishing the wrongdoers, He does not withdraw His favor from the nation, which still has a glorious future ahead. For further insight on the angel, refer to the notes in the following chapter.