Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.
Now therefore let me alone. Such an expression could not have occurred in the patriarchal age-the time of Theophanies. But there was now a great progress made in the manner as well as the measure of revelation; and although God still made Himself known by symbols, as to the people at large, in a pillar of cloud and fire, He no longer had contact with them, except through Moses, whom He allowed to reason and expostulate with Him, and carried His condescension so far that on this occasion, as if afraid of being over-persuaded, He, as it were, making an effort to shake off an importunate suppliant, cried out, "let me alone,"
That I may consume them, х 'ªkaleem (H3615)] - eat up, devour them (cf. Exodus 15:7; also Psalms 106:23).
Make of thee a great nation. Care must be taken not to suppose this language as betokening any change or vacillation in the divine purpose. The covenant made with the patriarchs had been ratified in the most solemn manner-it could not, and never was intended that it should be broken. But the manner in which God spoke to Moses served two important purposes-it tended to develop the faith and intercessory patriotism of the Hebrew leader, and to excite the serious alarm of the people, that God would reject them, and deprive them of the privileges they had fondly fancied were so secure.