Exodus 32:1-29
Exodus 32:1-29 (see also Deut 9:7-21) May
25, 2003 PM
A. God has just
confirmed His covenant through blood (sermon #7). Graciously He covenants with Israel
B. While Moses
receives the law of the covenant in the mount, something strange is taking place below.
THE CHURCH IN THE WILDERNESS
(#8) "THE SIN OF THE GOLDEN CALF"
I. Israel's Terrible Sin
A. What was the sin of the golden calf?
1. The sin was the sin of idolatry, violation of the first commandment.
2. Involved, as always is true with departure from the true God, were other sins:
B. This was a terrible and serious departure from God.
1. There are no excuses for this sin, although attempts are made:
a. "It was really Aaron's fault; he knew better..."
b. Or: "How could the people know better when Moses was gone so long? They needed something to see..."
2. This was a serious sin and failure:
a. So soon after...
b. They dishonored themselves before the nations
c. They brought dishonor to God
II. Moses' Intercession
A. First, God spoke to Moses in the mount, explaining the people's sin (vss. 7-10)
1. God explained to Moses Israel's sin
2. Then, He called Moses to stand aside so He could destroy the people
3. Finally, God offered to make of Moses a great nation instead of Israel
B. This was God's trial of Moses' faithfulness to His calling.
1. God would not actually have done so
2. What aggravated the trial is how God referred to Israel, and how God referred to Moses' work
C. Moses' faith has the victory in this great trial
1. Moses pleads three things:
2. And God "repents" of the evil He had thought to do
3. As type of Christ Himself:
III. God's Chastening Judgments (see Psalter 266:5)
A. The history: Moses comes down, breaks the tablets, destroys the image, and sends out slaughtering Levites
B. The applications: God's judgments still today fall upon the church that departs