Love for a people is not always manifested in yielding compliance to their wishes. This is shown in the conduct of Moses and Aaron. Aaron's love for the people—if it could be called love—led him to yield to them without reproving them; but, when he was reproved, he endeavored to excuse himself by censuring the people, although his own sin was so great that if it had not been for the intercession of Moses, he would have been destroyed. Deut. 9:20. But Moses, "meek above all men," sternly reproves the people, "Ye have sinned a great sin." But is this because of his anger?—No; but his love. He continues, "And now I will go up unto the Lord; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin." Ex. 32:30.201And then the "man of God" goes up to meet with the Lord, to plead with him for poor, rebellious, foolish Israel. He is persistent; for forty days and nights he pleads with God. He says: "I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned." Deut. 9:18. The desire of his soul swallowed up all else. He pleads God's mercy and goodness, his love and promises. The Spirit of his great Antitype breathes through the prayer; he will give his very life for the people. Ex. 32:32. His prayer is heard. Aaron was moved by motives wholly selfish; Moses by motives wholly unselfish. Aaron's seeming kindness was destruction to the people. Moses' reproof was their salvation. "Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness; and let him reprove me, it shall be as oil upon the head; let not my head refuse it." Ps. 141:5, Revised Version.