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Who's the Man? - Part 2: God Sees

In Moses' absence, we have seen the Israelites quickly turn away from God and begin to form idols to worship instead of remembering the commands and promises of the one true God.  So what happens next?  What happens once we begin to idolize something and place it over God in our life?

In Exodus 32:7-10, as the people are worshipping the golden calf at the base of the mountain, the Lord says to Moses, "Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves.  They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them.  They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped and sacrificed to it and said, 'These are your gods, O Israel!' "  The Lord continues, "I have seen this people and behold, it is a stiff-necked people.  Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you."

A lot of times, when Thomas is being bad or whining, I will tell Britt that he's "your son."  I don't want to be associated with him acting out or anything.  Notice how God referred to the Israelites in verse 7, as "your people" while talking to Moses.  God wasn't doing what I do, shifting blame to someone else.  He was assigning leadership and responsibility of getting the people back on track to His chosen leader, Moses. 

Imagine the shock that would be on the Israelites face when they learn that Moses knows of their idol worship.  Haven't we thought before that what we did that we may be ashamed of would remain hidden, that no one would find out.  Even if we manage to hide it from those closest around us, we can never hide anything from God.  Hebrews 4:13 reads, "And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account."  You may hide your indiscretions from your parents, your friends, your boss, maybe even from the million people with a camera phone, but cannot hide anything from God.

God was clearly angry with the disobedience of the people.  He said that his wrath burned hot.  I compare that to our saying today that it makes our blood boil.  He was mad, hurt, and upset.  But God's plan to consume (destroy) the people was not a knee-jerk reaction.  Our all-knowing God was well aware of the Israelites propensity to turn from Him.  God would have been completely justified to give the people what they deserved (destruction) for not giving Him what He deserved (worship).  But thankfully the story doesn't end there.  Sometimes life's not fair and that can actually be a good thing.

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