The Merits of Moses

Exodus describes the tablets on which the 10 commandments were craved in this way.
And Moses turned, and went down from the mountain with the two tables of the testimony in his hands, tables that were written on both sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.
And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables (Exodus 32:15-16).
There were two tablets on both sides of which, God wrote the 10 commandments with His own fingers (Exodus 31:18). Unfortunately, the Israelites were growing impatient and forced Aaron to make them a golden calf.
God was upset. He had done so many things only to free an ungrateful people out of their bondage. God told Moses what had happened down the mountain and His intention to annihilate this people and make another nation out of Moses. Moses did not think this a viable option for God. Firstly, destroying Israel would give God a bad reputation. Moreover, Moses did not have the confidence that his descendants would fare any better than this "stiff-necked" people. In the end, he managed to dissuade God from destroying the Israelites. But when Moses came down from the mountain and saw the horrible scene, he smashed the 2 tablets.
And as soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses' anger burned hot, and he threw the tables out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain (Exodus 32:19).

Dare you, in your anger, to smash the handicraft of God? Perhaps Moses wanted to create a scene and pave the way to butcher those who worshipped the golden calf. He was successful, but at the expense of a holy relic. OK, let the conspiracy theory fantasize for a little while.
The two tablets were irrefutable proof of the existence of God. Did Moses want to wipe out this piece of evidence of God's presence? Without these two tablets, men have to go a much longer way, through a much harder spiritual struggle before they would accept the existence of God.
Perhaps Moses was too progressive. He did not think that laws should be craved on stones but should be on our hearts. The idolatry he saw was ample enough proof that he was right. Therefore, he smashed the stone tablets.

In different ways, Exodus shows that Moses was the Saviour of Israel. He was also a skilful negotiator with God, dissuading Him from destroying Israel. Exodus 33 tells us a similar incident.
God probably was afraid that He would not control His wrath and annihilated the Israelites. He decided to send an angel to accompany them instead.
And I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you in the way, for you are a stiff-necked people (Exodus 33:2-4).
Wasn't an angel good enough to escort them? Anyway, let's see how Moses persuaded God to change His mind and continued accompanying the Israelites.
Moses said to the LORD, "See, thou sayest to me, 'Bring up this people'; but thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.'
Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found favor in thy sight, show me now thy ways, that I may know thee and find favor in thy sight. Consider too that this nation is thy people." (Exodus 33:12-13)
Do you see Abraham here?
Based on the favour he found in God's sigh, Moses asked for more. He wanted this favour to extend beyond himself to include the Israelites. Time and again, Moses defended Israel before God. I think Moses was smart. He knew that God had chosen the Israelites despite their imperfection. God had to honour His promises to Abraham. Therefore, defending Israel is the best strategy. We have to take a long-term view.
And he said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."
And he said to him, "If thy presence will not go with me, do not carry us up from here.
For how shall it be known that I have found favor in thy sight, I and thy people? Is it not in thy going with us, so that we are distinct, I and thy people, from all other people that are upon the face of the earth?" (Exodus 33:14-16)
Moses was not satisfied with personal gain --- having God to go along with and getting rest. He insisted on identifying himself with the whole nation. Repeatedly, Moses said "I and thy people". God yielded.
And the LORD said to Moses, "This very thing that you have spoken I will do; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name." (Exodus 33:17)
God had chosen well. Moses had done well. He was able to discern the bigger picture and focussed on the welfare of the whole people instead of personal gain.

Dear Lord, You have chosen Your servants well. I pray that I may serve You satisfactorily in my station of life. Amen.