While Moses went up on the mountain to receive the tablet of testimonies, the Israelites started freaking out (Exodus 32). This happens to us all the time. We are waiting on God, and His answer seems to be taking too long for our liking. What do we do? We forget about Him and decide to put other “gods” before him (thus, breaking the first and second commandments).
God does things on His time. Who do we think we are to question that?
God knew what they were doing, and he was prepared to wipe them all out and start the whole Abrahamic line over with Moses. However, Moses intervened on their behalf, as Christ interceded for us. We deserve to die for ignoring our Savior, just as those Israelites should have been destroyed for their sins. Thankfully, Jesus Christ paid for those sins with his life.
When Moses came down from the mountain, the noise from the ungodly acts committed by the Israelites made Joshua think they were under attack. This was not a “joyful noise.” Moses finally put his eyes on their actions, and was so full of anger that he literally broke the Ten Commandments.
Moses confronts Aaron, and the priest did what we all do. He told Moses that he took some gold, threw it into a fire, and “there came out this calf” (Ex. 32:24). He didn’t admit that he’s the one who crafted it, but it just kind of happened.
How often do we do this? We refuse our personal responsibility and blame a circumstance instead. “This isn’t what it looks like.” “I have a sickness.” “Alcoholism is a disease.” “I was abused as a child.” “My parents hate me.” “I was too drunk.” “One thing led to another.” “Her outfit made me do it.”
YOU are responsible for your actions. YOU are the one who makes the choice. Only on the rarest occasions do we find ourselves “at the wrong place, at the wrong time.” If you drink, stay away from bars. If you cannot resist sexual temptation, stay away from dance or strip clubs. If you have difficulty with self-destructive behavior, then don’t put yourself in those sorts of triggering situations.
These poor sinners were naked while dancing and shouting (verse 25). The implication is that there was some serious sexual sin happening at this event. It was a wild party with naked people dancing, probably grinding up on each other, having a “good time.”
Verse 25 says “for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies.” I imagine that if Instagram was a thing, there would be pictures posted on social media, just as the modern Christian cannot seem to help but publicly display their drunken, half naked posts from night clubs or pool parties.
The modern Christian feels no shame among their enemies. That is a problem.
Moses then asked God to blot his name out of the book of life, rather than blot the names of the Israelites who remained loyal to God after the drunken orgy was finished. It is incredible that Moses would risk such a thing for his people. Would you do this for your friends or family?
John 15:13 says “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Would you be willing not just to die, but to give up your eternity for others?
Of course, God being the perfect judge, refuses the offer. In verse 33 He says “Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.” This is where knowledge and understanding of dispensationalism comes in. Any Christian reading this verse may very well believe it is possible to lose salvation. However, this verse applies to a dispensation, or time, that pre-dates Christ’s crucifixion.
The Old Testament method of salvation was of Faith AND works. This is why they were required to offer sacrifices at the tabernacle. Christians have the luxury of eternal security. Jesus Christ removed works from the equation when he suffered and shed his blood for us. His blood is our atonement for sins. He paid our debt.
Unfortunately, we so often take this gift for granted. We treat Christ like a rich relative who bailed us out when at our worst moment, whom we repay by never calling or seeing again until we find ourselves in trouble once again. We want a one-sided relationship with God. One in which only we benefit.
Then, when God decides he won’t help us anymore, we blame HIM for it. We pass this hatred to our children so that we rob them of what could have been a great relationship. I know there are members of my own family who were saved as children or teenagers and refuse to allow their own children to go to church. They will go to Heaven regardless of turning from Christ, because of eternal security, while they do all they can to ensure their kids will go to Hell.
It is a case of spiritual child abuse, and we watch this happen without acting against it. If I saw a family member beating or molesting a child, I would have child protective services there in an instant. Yet, I am silent when these kids are spiritually abused.
Shame on us. Shame on me.
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