משך חכמה — ולא אבה ה' השחיתך

Q — Is "לא אבה ה' השחיתך" the RESULT of Moshe's tefillah or its CAUSE?

A — The cause. Per Brachot 32a, "הרף ממני" revealed to Moshe that Hashem's true will was NOT to destroy Israel — which is precisely why Moshe "stood and strengthened himself in tefillah." Reading the verse: "וישמע ה' אלי... BECAUSE לא אבה ה' השחיתך." Hashem's response to Moshe's prayer flowed from the fact that, beneath the threat, He did not actually want to destroy them.