Exodus 32 & 33

30 April 2019

Key words / phrases:- Idolatry, false teachings / corruption of Word, sin, waiting upon God, impatience, taking things own hands, leadership failure, judgement, chastisement, intercessory prayer


Backdrop

  • Often people ask - Is Old Testament still relevant? Yes it is - 100%!
    • Some also wonder if the God of the Old testament is same as the God of the New Testament!
  • Many have problem with the God of the Old Testament. They say - He is very picky or cruel or how can He be so exclusive? Are you well-equipped to respond to all these mis-conceptions about God of the Bible?!
  • Yes, when I read about the "holy" & "just" aspect of the God of the Bible, in Old Testament, it is quite scary to me. Many expect a God who is lovey-dovey, all-tolerant, all-accepting. Many have hard time accepting a God who absolutely hates sin, brings judgements because of sins, and would also send some to fiery Hell because of their sins (unless their sins are atoned for).


Potential Discussion Questions:-

- Does God seem very intolerant or harsh here? Why did God make such a BIG deal about people worshiping a golden calf? Is it hard to love such a God? Many say God of the Bible is very intolerant. How do you respond?

So far, in the study of the Old Testament, we have been predominantly seeing the holy and just aspect of God. Regardless of time, God is always absolutely / 100% intolerant to sin. That also reflects the just aspect of God - else people will say life is not fair! In today's time, Christians are blessed to be able escape God's absolute punishment for sin because of what Jesus did on the cross (Christians can still expect some discipline from God because of sin). Non-Christians will have to give an account of their sins in the final day of judgement, where severe judgement awaits them for their un-atoned sins.

Yes, I would say in the times of "Exodus" I would have had hard time "loving" God a lot. I would rather be following God out of great fear. Down the line, when people will know another huge aspect of God - One who would die for them - they will starting following God much more out of love than fear. Then they will also have experienced tons of "forgiveness" through Christ (remember Jesus did not let the woman to be stoned because of her sins - John 8:1-11). Remember Jesus said "But he who is forgiven little, loves little" (Luke 7:47).

Having said these, we should always remember that sin always has great potential to bring trouble. Satan and his army of fallen angels will also try to add greatly to the choas & trouble, when given foothold via sin in one's life (recall "spiritual warfare"). Sin is worse and much more deadly than cancer. Cancer can cause physical torment (temporally) & death, but un-atoned sin leads to eternal torment & hell. Jesus doubled down on "how bad sin is" by remarking "And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire" (Matthew 18:8).

So back in those times, say here in Exodus, whenever God is bringing judgement on people, because of their sins, it is for the good of people, as again, sin has potential to bring great trouble. God is not intending to suffocate people or to be dictatorial, but rather intending to keep people free from potential "spiritual slavery" because of sin. The Israelites had just been rescued from intense slavery in Egypt. God did not want them to go back to any sort of "bondage", especially because of sin.

Also, here what may seem to many a simple and innocuous thing (worshiping a golden calf), was quite offensive and deserving of great judgment in God's eyes. Hence we must try to look through God's eyes (i.e., through His Word), as our ways are not God's ways (Isaiah 55:8-9)!


- What are “similar” kinds of sins in today’s time? What happens (God’s response, etc) when these kinds of sin are committed in today’s time?

Sins that were committed here:-

  • Idolatry - Specifically they violated the second (Exodus 20:4) of the ten commandments. They also demanded for "other gods" violating the first (Exodus 20:3) of the ten commandments
    • The Israelites FAILED to wait upon the Lord, and started to take things in their own hands. This is a great lesson for us, as often we will find ourselves in similar situations when have been "waiting" for a while and doubts have started to creep in - "Has God abandoned / forgotten me?", ""Had God given up on me?", "Maybe there is no God ... ", etc. The doubts sometimes leads to taking "things in our own hands". But, at all times, we must continue to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
    • In today's time, idolatry is quite rampant and takes many forms in our society. For some money becomes god, for some it is social status or career ambitions, etc.
  • Sins of Aaron - a very big deal - big leadership failure! Remember Aaron was appointed as the high priest (The supreme religious leader of the Israelites). He was supposed to represent all the Israelites to God and God to Israelites. He could have prevented this sin to happen by leading people to truth. He was very much in the position to do so, as the spiritual leader as well as a stand-by leader (while Moses was away) of the flock. Instead, he failed as a leader, very miserably! He also lied to Moses big time (Exodus 32:2-4 vs Exodus 32:24). Aaron was such a broken man & a leader. Yet, God first choose such a broken man for the highest religious position, and then gave him a second chance after this fall.
    • We should always pray for our leaders in the Church, that they may not fall! Do not assume that your Church leaders are super-Christians. They always need a lot of prayers, and the congregation owes them a lot of prayers.


- In what ways, Churches tend to get corrupted in today’s time?

Infiltration of false teachings / beliefs / practices in Church bodies, has been quite common, historically.

....

- Here Moses disciplined people for sin in big ways (He had 3000 killed). How Church members are disciplined for sin in today’s time?

When one commits a sin, one is called to confess, repent, and seek forgiveness. I.e., 1 John 1:19 (“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”). The forgiveness is available because Jesus took the punishments for sins, onto himself, on the behalf of those sinners who receive His forgiveness. God can still bring discipline for the sin (Hebrews 12:6 “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”). Also sin that is not dealt with, can lead to banishment from Church body as well (1 Corinthians 5:11-13). Un-dealt sin can cause hindrances in one’s relations with God (i.e., prayers not being answered) along with other negative consequences. If sin continues to prevail in the Church body, then Jesus can bring judgement on the Church as we see in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 2:4-6,14-16,20-25, 3:1-3,15-18). Finally during the day of judgement, those who have received Jesus as their savior will be ultimately be cleared of all their sins (say even un-repentant / un-dealt ones), but rest will be thrown into the lake of fire because of their sins (Revelation 19-22)

    • There is one very important change in how sin is dealt with, among God’s people, since the days of the Old Covenant. There were severe physical punishments (such as death, stoning) for God’s people when one committed certain sins. Those kinds of punishments do not exists any more. John 8:1-11 illustrates that and explains why. Jesus did not let the woman caught in adultery to be stoned, because all were in-fact guilty of sin (John 8:7) and deserved death (Romans 6:23, Romans 3:23, Luke 13:1-5), not just the woman caught in adultery. Jesus received all those punishments, onto Himself on behalf of the sinners, at the cross for those sinners who receive His forgiveness. However God may still discipline one who commits sin (Hebrews 12:6).
    • To add to above, there is also one pair of very significant change, which greatly affects how God responds to sin in TODAY's time - Moses was often interceding for mercy and forgiveness on behalf of the Israelites (e.g., Exodus 32:11-14, Numbers 11:2, Numbers 16, etc.). Moses was far from being perfect and sinful himself. We are now very very fortunate to have a perfect, sin-less being (Jesus), who is interceding for us, at God's right hand - Romans 8:34. Also Aaron was the high priest (one, who along with other priests performed atonement rituals for the sins of Israelites) supporting Moses. He was also grossly imperfect and sinful. Now Jesus is our perfect, sin-less high priest. Israelites affected by sin in Numbers 16 (i.e., v47-49) would have wished Moses & Aaron were much faster & better in interceding & atoning for their sins - Fortunately, now we have Jesus as, both, our intercessor and high priest who is PERFECT & BEST in both these jobs!


- Did Moses save the people by being smart with God? So praise Moses?!

I believe God was the one who put in Moses's heart to intercede for Israelites.

- Any more lessons / insights? (i.e., parallels of Moses's intercession, etc)

  • Charles Spurgeon comments “What a great future was thus opened up before Moses! He might become another Abraham, and in him should all the nations of the earth be blessed. "
    • So Moses was tested here! Lure of a "new great nation THROUGH HIM" vs life of these people. Moses choose to love these people.
  • Here Moses interceded for his people. Today, we are called to intercede for people, as well. Also God was the one who put the prayers in Moses's heart. God does not want to execute His plan of redemption by Himself. He calls His people to partner with Him (He gave His people "The Great Commission"). I believe in today's time God puts intercessory prayers in the heart of Church body. Also, we now have Jesus who is now interceding to God for God's people, seated at God's right hand in heaven (Romans 8:34). That is just good news, as unlike Moses or Aaron, Jesus is perfect in all respects and sinless.
  • God came down from heaven to lead His people through the journey in wilderness into the promised land. Likewise, today God - The Holy Spirit (who also came down from heaven) is leading God's people (Church) through the journey on this grossly broken earth to the promised new heaven / earth. Holy Spirit is our comforter as well, in line with Exodus 33:44.
  • In line with Exodus 33:16, can people see Church folks today and distinguish them from rest because Church folks are supposed to have the super-natural God working in their midst?