The God of the Exodus sends his “messenger” to condemn the wickedness of the people of Israel. The angel of the Lord confirms the Lord’s promise. God has failed us! The Israelites have not learned from their mistakes and have made covenants with other gods. When the people hear the messenger’s sentence, they can do nothing but weep and mourn. The episode shows the entire community gathered together as at the beginning of the book, but for a different reason. They are assembled to hear their judgment. Israel turns to other gods; calamities strike them, and then they cry out and beg for the Lord’s presence, who, as always, responds in favor of his people.