Stiff necked people and God's grace (15th April 2012)

Scripture Reading: Exodus 32:1~7

1. When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, "Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him."

2. Aaron answered them, "Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me."

3. So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron.

4. He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt."

5. When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, "Tomorrow there will be a festival to the LORD."

6. So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.

7. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt.

 

 

 

Sermon: Stiff necked people and God's grace

Few days ago, I took into the elevator of my apartment with my boy, Samuel. In the elevator, there was a Korean Airline stewardess living upstair. She wore tight suits uniform and perfect make-up. She said to my boy "you are so adorable" He was very shy hiding my back. After she got down at 1st floor, I asked him jokingly, "Do you want mom to be pretty and slim like her?" "Yeah", as soon as I said, he answered. I was astonished, so I asked again " you want me to be pretty like her" "Yeah" no hesitate to answer it. I felt betrayed. Why? I always was with him, when he was playing, eating, sleeping, even when he got poo, I washed him and changed nappie. But he liked to look beautiful like her more than mom. Whenever he loves to see very nice, he changes his mind to it. I was very disappointed. At that time, God asked me "how about you?"

Shown by today word of Lord, the Israelites who had been suffered in Egypt were saved from slavery by ten disasters. Moreover, when Egyptian army followed to attack them in Red sea, God saved them from the army who fell into the sea. While they walked in the desert, God protected them by cloud poles in daytime and fire poles in night time. Like this, they were protected by God almighty, however, while Moses was empty for receiving Ten Convenant, they betrayed God. This is to make a golden calf as a idol instead of serving God. Who saved them? God! Surely God! But, they called the idol as their savor which saved them from Egypt. So God was annoyed and thought to destroy them. Fortunately, Moses begged to God for forgiving them hanging in his life. God changed His mind to give them another chance.

Why the Israelites got fail to believe in God?

Firstly, they were lack of endurance. Look at verse, "When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain" Why Moses was long to come down? He was receiving words of God for the people. Even he was fasting for forty days to receive covenants. Didn't they know? Yes! they knew very well. But, Moses was late to come down, so they did not pray for him and could not endure.

We are not different from them. Without endurance, we often got sin in front of God. We don't know when Jesus Christ comes again but we can not fell into sin.

Secondly, they were always concerned about "us". See on verse 1 again "Come, make us gods who will go before us." in this short sentence, there are twice used word, "us"! It means their faith was people-centred one. Why people exist in this world? It is to glorify God. That is to say, people are for God, yeah! God is not for people. If it happens reversed, there must be serious problems.

Thirdly, they thought Moses led him from Egypt. By verse 1 again, "As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him" Who led them from Egypt? they said "Moses" a person. What is their wrong thought? they thought a person Moses who led them till now. Let's get straight! Really Moses led them from Egypt? Moses who killed a person and stayed in desert fro 40 years was able to do lead them? Who truly led them? Not Moses, God led them from Egypt.

Fourthly, they want to serve their god by their own way. Following as verse 3 to 4, "So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt"

Making the idol is worshipping another gods who God gets annoyed. It presents they worshipped God by their own ways. Ignoring God's words, they made god which they wanted, and worshipped god which they hoped.

Sometimes, we do not want to follow God's word. Rather, we say "if God is really god, God must do or must be..." This is a great sin in front of God. We serve Him by His own way, We worship Him by His words because we are His servants and His own children.

Now, I hope we repent our greed and disobedience in front of our Lord. And pray for asking forgiveness about our centred living.

 

Let's pray.

 

Oh! Our Lord! Please forgive our selfish mind which we want to worship you by our ways. We want to live by your ways and your centred life style. Make us your joy in this world. In Jesus name we pray Amen.