Last week we looked at the story of The Golden Calf and how the people allowed an inanimate object take God's place of priority and worship in their lives. Now in Exodus 33, the fallout of idolatry and sin continues for the Israelites.
The Lord said to Moses, "Depart; go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, 'To your offspring I will give it.' " God then promised Moses to send an angel before the people to drive out the current inhabitants of the land (Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites). The Lord continues, "Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people." (Exodus 33:1-3)
Following the Israelites idolatry, God sent a plague on the people in Exodus 32:35. This plague (if in the form of a disease) likely would have taken several days or weeks to run its course so these verses start out as a reminder to the people of the big picture - the general purpose of the exodus - to continue on after the plague was over. God told Moses to "Depart, go up from here." This was to let the people know that they had only temporarily stopped at Sinai and this was not their permanent destination. The Israelites belonged in the land that God had promised to Abraham.
Though the people had turned from God and disobeyed his commands, He had not forgotten his promise of leading the people to their home. God promised to send an angel ahead of the people to fight for them. God was still planning to keep his promise even though the Israelites did not deserve it. However, this promise came with a catch. God was no longer going to be present with the people. Previously, the Lord's wrath had burned hot against the people and He worried that if He was present with them that He may consume them. But God was not turning his back on them and leaving them alone, He was sending an angel with them.
Think about the spiritual truth that we see reflected here. God being God keeps his promises. But God being God cannot stand the presence of sin. The sins of the Israelites has separated them from God and He was no longer able to be present with them. Have you ever had a friend, child, or co-worker make you so mad that you just couldn't talk to them right then? You needed space and time to cool off before responding with anger and hostility? I know I have. There are times where we just have to walk away, to get out of a situation and allow cooler heads to prevail. God had the grace, patience, and compassion necessary to allow the Israelites to continue on to the promised land and protect them even though He could not be with them.
We sometimes allow ourselves to become so consumed with God's amazing grace that we view our sins as minor mistakes and not that big of a deal. But our sin is a direct rebellion against God and cuts us off from a right relationship with Him. The problem of sin is one that we must not take lightly and in order to remedy it we must look to the only one you can cure it - Jesus Christ.
The Lord said to Moses, "Depart; go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, 'To your offspring I will give it.' " God then promised Moses to send an angel before the people to drive out the current inhabitants of the land (Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites). The Lord continues, "Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people." (Exodus 33:1-3)
Following the Israelites idolatry, God sent a plague on the people in Exodus 32:35. This plague (if in the form of a disease) likely would have taken several days or weeks to run its course so these verses start out as a reminder to the people of the big picture - the general purpose of the exodus - to continue on after the plague was over. God told Moses to "Depart, go up from here." This was to let the people know that they had only temporarily stopped at Sinai and this was not their permanent destination. The Israelites belonged in the land that God had promised to Abraham.
Though the people had turned from God and disobeyed his commands, He had not forgotten his promise of leading the people to their home. God promised to send an angel ahead of the people to fight for them. God was still planning to keep his promise even though the Israelites did not deserve it. However, this promise came with a catch. God was no longer going to be present with the people. Previously, the Lord's wrath had burned hot against the people and He worried that if He was present with them that He may consume them. But God was not turning his back on them and leaving them alone, He was sending an angel with them.
Think about the spiritual truth that we see reflected here. God being God keeps his promises. But God being God cannot stand the presence of sin. The sins of the Israelites has separated them from God and He was no longer able to be present with them. Have you ever had a friend, child, or co-worker make you so mad that you just couldn't talk to them right then? You needed space and time to cool off before responding with anger and hostility? I know I have. There are times where we just have to walk away, to get out of a situation and allow cooler heads to prevail. God had the grace, patience, and compassion necessary to allow the Israelites to continue on to the promised land and protect them even though He could not be with them.
We sometimes allow ourselves to become so consumed with God's amazing grace that we view our sins as minor mistakes and not that big of a deal. But our sin is a direct rebellion against God and cuts us off from a right relationship with Him. The problem of sin is one that we must not take lightly and in order to remedy it we must look to the only one you can cure it - Jesus Christ.
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