Yesterday I spoke from Exodus 32-34 and asked the church to let this story challenge their preconceived notions of what God is like. No matter how you slice it, this is a bizarre story that can’t be easily categorized or tidily summed up.
This story shows that while God’s primary personality characteristic is not wrathful anger, God is not a pushover either. Nor is he a dispassionate judge exercising his legal rights; his emotions are very much involved. God is not quick to extend forgiveness in this story. That bothered me at first, but then I realzied that if forgiveness is easy, then sin is not that big a deal. Imagine how you would feel if you caught your spouse in bed with someone else—on your honeymoon. That’s what’s going on in Exodus 32. God reacts like a jilted lover trying to recover from the ultimate betrayal.
I love the way Moses talks God down from wiping out Israel. He has to work pretty hard to get God to step back into the covenant. Today I realized that Moses’ boldness with God in Exodus 32 and 33 is not something new. He was equally bold in Exodus 3 and 4 when he told God that he didn’t want the job of leading Israel to freedom. In both instances, God gave into Moses’ argument. The way I read it, God’s decision to name Aaron as Moses’ partner was a concession to Moses’ hesitancy to appear before Pharoah.
So I ask you what I asked the congregation yesterday: How does this story challenge your image of God?
And another thing: When we read this story we usually say, “I can’t believe Israel did that! They were at the Red Sea and still they started worshipping an idol. I would never do that!” Why do we think we’re better than the ancient Israelites? We act as if the Red Sea miracle would keep us from sinning. If the Red Sea didn’t keep Israel from stupidity, why do we think it would work such magic on us?
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
Wade, thanks for sharing this powerful message with us! This is the kind of post I have been missing from you! 🙂 Your bloggin congregation sits on the edge of our office chairs and computer stations at our homes waiting for you to share with us.
No pressure!
In HIM,
DU
Thankfully I have gotten to the point where that story fits in my theology. It didn’t always. But certain life lessons have helped me understand a loving, merciful, passionate God who wants all men to be saved, even though many of them won’t be.
I went before a judge a while back for a traffic ticket I thought I didn’t deserve. I was the last one called in the room to stand before him, so I got to witness how he treated everyone. There were all kinds of people in there that I knew were guilty as charged, some arguing, some demanding to be thrown in jail because they were not going to pay that stinking ticket, some admitting mistakes. To my amazement, people I would have thrown the book at were given leniency. He worked with most of them, counseled them, corrected them, and let many go with just a warning. He finally called me. I had an airtight case, I was a minister, I was well dressed (most weren’t), I was a good person….. Bam!! $175.00 fine. No leniency, no mercy, no nuthin.
……..something about the old “take heed lest ye fall” keeps coming to mind.
I wonder if God wasn’t testing Moses … trying to stretch him beyond being a simple shepherd into being shepherd of God’s flock. Would Moses have gone to the woodshed for those people in chapter 3? Maybe not. But by chapters 32-34 he stands by them with his very life.
God offers to start over and rebuild Abraham’s house through Moses exclusively. Moses won’t give up his compassion for his people for a moment of egotism. Sometimes I think God sounds harsh with us, playing a sovereignty card or a righteousness card, to see if we’ll try to trump with a card from the compassion suit.
The Dealer knows the deck. He knows who holds which cards. He knew Moses’ hand and He knows ours.
Viewing God in this light, I’m reminded of the relationship between Peter and Cornelius. The “teacher” truly listened to the “student” and as a result, they both learned from each other. How awesome is it to realize that God truly listens to us, and moreover learns from us as we learn from Him! One person truly can make a difference.
I thought it was a sin to play cards….. 🙂
In addition, we live in a society structured around “golden calves”. (Money, lust, greed, power, materialism, etc.) Still, do we not also recognize miracles today? Can we profess to be Christians and not acknowledge the interactive, miraculous work of God’s hand eternal? I will make the assertion that people have “Red-Sea-experiences” everyday. Do we see them? Sometimes… and when we do, is the ultimate intent to keep us from sin? What would daylight be without night? I suspect we’ll know someday… but not today.
I used to ask God to show himself to me, as if some sort of vision of him would really cement my faith and I would no longer have to struggle with doubt or commitment. Then I read this story. Not only did this huge failure come on the heels of the plagues and the parting of the Red Sea, what I came to realize is that Israel committed this sin while camping in the shadow of the presence of the Lord. They weren’t far away from Mt. Sinai. Every day they woke up and heard the thunder rumbling from the mountaintop, they saw the smoke enveloping the summit. For weeks they lived in plain sight of a manifestation of the presence of God. They were daily witnesses to his power. And I think it scared them. I don’t think they missed Moses…I think after being intimidated day after day by the sheer bigness of God, they felt a need for a God they could control, a non-threatening God…something nicer, something docile…like a cow. I think the whole episode of the golden calf is not an excercise in stupidity, I think it’s an excercise in trying to control God. And I think God’s behavior is an answer to that: “I cannot be controlled. I am wily and unpredictable and irascible. My ways are not your ways. So follow me, trust me, but don’t try to dictate my behavior.” So maybe seeing God is asking for the wrong thing, maybe I’d find it threatening. Now I just ask for strength for the journey.
Wow… great thoughts Wade. I love the imagery of authentic relationship between God and His lover… mankind. Great stuff brother.
Great thoughts Wade! Thanks.
I find my self saying Israel. And look at what they did. But, then I get that twing in my mind. Then Israel changes to “me.” Look at what I did!
I know for a fact I would do the same things. Probably worse. Hind sight is so 20/20.
Brad, you so bad.
Hush up and deal.
Wade,
Thank you for this post. It is very good to be reminded that God is not an idea; he is a person. And, that he is the holy person. When I consider his holiness and his love at the same time I shudder at the thought of my sins against him.
God bless,
Matt