Genesis 32
Golden calves - something I have preached about extensively. How often I have preached about false gods; yet, it seems sometimes like it falls on deaf ears. Just recently delivered from slavery by God and the people are busy creating their own - another god. Moses is up on the mountain. They can't see him. They want a god they can see. So in Moses' absence with the help of Aaron, the people build themselves a false god. Had they looked to Moses as their god? Had they been worshipping their leader Moses all along? Moses is not their god. He is only an instrument God uses to save the decendents of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel.
Interesting verse I hadn't noticed before: The LORD tells Moses, "Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation." (vs. 10, NRSV) Does Moses say "Yes! God is going to destroy those who do not know him and make ME a great nation!" No, he doesn't. Moses reminds God of his promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Moses does not succumb to the temptation to put himself before the people. Moses will not make of himself, his own false god. He is a servant. He is not a god.
I'm thinking about how often people will attend a congregation or special services because they are enamored by the pastor. Sometimes when a new pastor comes, their ministry is sabotaged by the people comparing him/her to the last pastor. Or maybe they just leave the church because this new pastor is not quite as charismatic or friendly or charming as the last. Remember, what a poor speaker Moses was? Why did the people follow him out of Egypt anyway? Was it because of the miracles they saw or was it a mob effect that caused them to travel out into the dessert? Then once Moses was out of their site, they were looking to make themselves a god they could worship. Really, deep down, had these Israelites been worshipping Moses all along? Did they really ever have a clue who God really was?
The fact remains is that we are not so unlike those Israelites. We need to be careful that the shepherd whom God has appointed to care for the flock has not been exalted to the point of being a false god. We need to be careful that we haven't lifted ourselves up to the point of being our own gods. There is only one God and we are not Him!
Note: Sorry - just can't cover everything in this brief blog. Last chapter - Moses received the 10 commandements on the tablet. This chapter he broke them in anger.
Golden calves - something I have preached about extensively. How often I have preached about false gods; yet, it seems sometimes like it falls on deaf ears. Just recently delivered from slavery by God and the people are busy creating their own - another god. Moses is up on the mountain. They can't see him. They want a god they can see. So in Moses' absence with the help of Aaron, the people build themselves a false god. Had they looked to Moses as their god? Had they been worshipping their leader Moses all along? Moses is not their god. He is only an instrument God uses to save the decendents of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel.
Interesting verse I hadn't noticed before: The LORD tells Moses, "Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation." (vs. 10, NRSV) Does Moses say "Yes! God is going to destroy those who do not know him and make ME a great nation!" No, he doesn't. Moses reminds God of his promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Moses does not succumb to the temptation to put himself before the people. Moses will not make of himself, his own false god. He is a servant. He is not a god.
I'm thinking about how often people will attend a congregation or special services because they are enamored by the pastor. Sometimes when a new pastor comes, their ministry is sabotaged by the people comparing him/her to the last pastor. Or maybe they just leave the church because this new pastor is not quite as charismatic or friendly or charming as the last. Remember, what a poor speaker Moses was? Why did the people follow him out of Egypt anyway? Was it because of the miracles they saw or was it a mob effect that caused them to travel out into the dessert? Then once Moses was out of their site, they were looking to make themselves a god they could worship. Really, deep down, had these Israelites been worshipping Moses all along? Did they really ever have a clue who God really was?
The fact remains is that we are not so unlike those Israelites. We need to be careful that the shepherd whom God has appointed to care for the flock has not been exalted to the point of being a false god. We need to be careful that we haven't lifted ourselves up to the point of being our own gods. There is only one God and we are not Him!
Note: Sorry - just can't cover everything in this brief blog. Last chapter - Moses received the 10 commandements on the tablet. This chapter he broke them in anger.
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