|
The God of Second Chances! - Exodus 32-33-34 / Jonah March 26, 2006
Story 1. A calf is made (4) Ez 20:8 - they did not cast away the detestable things of their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt Ez 23:8 - And she did not forget her harlotries from the time in Egypt Ps 106:20 - they exchangd their glory for the image of an ox that eats grass 2. An altar is made - sacrifices (5) 3. A feast of dedication...”a feast to the Lord” (5-6) - sacrifices (burnt and fellowship offerings) - immorality ...just warned about idolatry (20:23) ...entered into a covenant with God (24:7) ...covenant broken - worthlessness of law to save (knowledge of sin, but not the cure)
I. “Why did you sin?”
A. The delay of Moses - 39 days + his going to and staying on the mtn were commanded by God… …otherwise, he would have stayed - people’s impatience - taking too long to get to the prom land
“Misinterpretations of God’s delays are the occasion of a great deal of wickedness.”
* weariness in waiting often betrays us to many temptations “do not grow weary of doing good...” (II Thes 3:13)
B. Not knowing what happened to Moses (1 end) Bottom line = outright disobedience, unfaithfulness
II. “Go Down” (7-10) God tells Moses... A. They have corrupted themselves (7) ...their own choice...”bandwagon” not excusable B. They have turned aside from the way (8) C. They have turned aside quickly (8) ...after God did grt things D. They have made a calf and worshipped it (8) Story ...11-18 - Plea not to destroy Israel...meets Joshua ...Moses’ anger (19-20) - righteous - breaking tables sym of losing God’s favor - melting the calf symbolic of the futility of idols …melt, crushed to powder, put in water, made people drink
III. The Cover-Up - Aaron attempts to cover-up in three ways A. “Do not let the anger of my lord burn” (21-22) - ignores God’s anger B. “The people are prone to evil” (22) - transfer of guilt - brief history of Aaron - brother of Moses - with Moses on the mountain - “silver tongue” in Egypt - involved with the plagues in Egypt - entrusted with the care of Israel in Mo’s absence ...was destined to be a priest * a great man can fall - pressure from others (2.5 million) Two pitfalls - “I’m ‘untouchable’“ …“that’s the way I am” C. “Out came this calf” (24 end) - does not own up to his guilt ...not my responsibility, not my fault
Many ways to cover-up -- EX - David with Bathsheba 1. Sends for Uriah 2. Gets Uriah drunk 3. Kills Uriah
“Sin needs to be exposed in order to be dealt with.”
Mat 10:26 - there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known Ps 90:8 – You have placed our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence. Ec 12:14 - For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.
Judges 1:27-36 (places not conquered) ...2:1-5…consequences
You can hide sin from others, but not from God EX - 1799 Nancy - American ship going to West Indies, carrying contraband... throws incriminating papers overboard...court...falsified papers... almost cleared Lt. Hutton of British Ferret appears...captured shark ...found papers inside
IV. Consequences - (25-29) A. Immediate - 3,000 killed that day by the Levites - many more than 3,000 were involved, but prob only the leaders were killed publicly B. Long-term - punishment...plague? pestilence? (34-35) God’s vengeance, wrath is slow...but sure! EX - David...one year later...Nathan
Idolatry looked at here... but applicable to any area - - lying cheating two-facedness lusting disobedience/disrespect/dishonor to parents / authorities / boss fellowship devotions
Preacher who called sin “that abominable thing that God hates” …man from congregation “don’t use such hard language...use error, mistake, fault” poison...the more harmless the name, the more dangerous the dose
Admit and confess your sin!
THEN…Moses RETURNS to seek God’s face!
Ex 32-33-34 – “God of second chances” EXODUS 33:17-19
Many OT stories focus on God’s grace!
The OT is not (just) about God punishing… The NT is not (just) about God’s grace.
God is described as gracious more than any other attribute.
Jonah 4:1-2 – Jonah knew that God would be gracious to Nineveh – who do I think does not deserve God’s grace?
…not just to hoard… Christ came to extend it! …Your kingdom come, Your will be done…really??
Veggietales!!!!!!!!
Grace = showing overflowing kindness regardless of the initial action - slow to anger, giving people space
Jesus’ first appearance was at a party!! John 2:6-9 - grace of generosity – do the math on the amount of wine He made (about 3,200 6oz glasses) generosity of spirit, not just of the bill-fold…driving in traffic… …publicly, celebrate in others the things you tend to be most jealous of
The last third of John’s book dealt with the grace of the cross.
When did I last extend grace to someone who had deeply hurt me?
Jn 1:14 – Jesus is summarized in one verse – 32 words
Jesus – full of grace and truth… a target for me to shoot for
Truth – not “telling the truth” but “being true” – integrity Be a person marked by Christ’s grace
The early church was known for its grace - handicapped kids and/or girls – placed on dung heaps, left to die …the early church raised those kids! - first and second centuries in the Roman empire… 2 famines …the early church went to help the dying, hungry
THE BAR
Intentional commitment to show God’s grace – grace moments
The world would be a better place if more people were like Jesus
Marvelous “Grace, Grace, God’s Grace”
|