after receiving the initial laws of god verbally from moses (including the 10 commandments), the...
Post on 04-Jan-2016
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After receiving the initial laws of God verbally from Moses (including the 10
Commandments), the Israelites promised on three different occasions to obey
whatever the Lord said (Ex. 19:8; 24:3,7).
Exodus 24: 15-1815 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud
covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. 17 To the Israelites the glory of the LORD
looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. 18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
For the first time, the Israelites were
without the steadying hand of Moses and were receiving no
revelations from God.
This would obviously lead to much anxiety and uncertainty for
the community.
“When Israel left Egypt, they left behind much of
what gave them security. But they had Moses.
When Moses disappeared for forty days, so did
Israel’s sense of security and the Israelites were distraught.”
- Chuck DeGroat, “Leaving Egypt”
How the Israelites responded in impatience and fear to this period of “silence” from God is not that unlike the ways
that most people do.
We often reach out for something familiar that we can use to cope with our anxiety or pain.
Instead of patiently waiting on God’s timing and trusting His heart
during these “silent” times in our lives; it is much more common for us (like the Israelites) to seize control of the situation in a concrete way.
Sadly, our impulse to jump in and control things is based on
very flawed thinking:If I don’t see God
at work in my life right now… He isn’t.
This was the case for Israel, too.
Exodus 32
The Story of the
Golden Calf
During the creation of the golden calf idol and the “Festival” afterwards, Aaron
permitted the people to break at least
the 2nd, and likely the 1st and the 7th
Commandments, too.
Ezekiel 20:7I said to them,
“Each of you, get rid of the vile images you
have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am
the LORD your God.”
God obviously is aware of what is happening down
below with the people and informs Moses about it.
Moses descends, sees the “orgy” of worship to the
golden idol, smashes the tablets of the law
(as symbolic illustration), and destroys the idol.
Exodus 32:26Moses stood at the
entrance to the camp and said,
“Whoever is for the LORD, come to
me.” And all the Levites rallied to
him.
The High Cost of the “Great Sin” in Exodus 32:
1.) Forced to drink the golden idol “powder” in their water supply by Moses
2.) 3,000 killed by Levites
3.) A plague from God
4.) An angel would now escort them, not the LORD.
Exodus 33: 4-64 When the people heard these
distressing words, they began to mourn... 5 For the LORD had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people.
If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now
take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.’” 6 So the Israelites
stripped off their ornaments at Mt. Horeb.
As God continues to re-shape and mold Israel to fit the new identity & mission
that He has called them to; He will show them amazing patience and grace, but He will also hold them accountable.
“God never permits His people to sin successfully.” - Charles Spurgeon
Yahweh
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