The Golden Calf – Exodus 32
- When Moses delays in returning from Mount. Sinai, the Hebrew people go to Aaron and demand that he make gods for them because they don't know what's become of Moses. Aaron tells the people to bring him their gold jewelry. When they do, he makes a golden calf.
- Aaron builds an altar before the golden calf and declares that the next day will be a feast day for the Lord. They offer burnt and peace offerings and have a feast.
- God tells Moses to go down to the people because they have corrupted themselves by making a golden calf. He tells Moses to leave Him so He can destroy the people and make a great nation from Moses.
- Moses implores God to remember His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God relents in His desire to destroy the people.
- Moses leaves God's presence with the two tablets. When he and Joshua near the camp, they hear the people singing and then find them dancing. Moses throws the tablets at the bottom of Mount Sinai, breaking them, and then burns the calf, grounds it to powder, and makes the people drink water mixed with the powder.
- Moses questions Aaron, and Aaron explains what happened. Moses stands in the camp and calls to him all who are on the Lord's side. All the sons of Levi gathered around him, and he sends them out to kill their "brother," "companion," and "neighbor." They do as instructed, killing about three thousand men.
- The next day, Moses addresses the people with their great sin and then returns to the top of Mt. Sinai to try to atone for them. God sends him back so he can lead the people to the place He had told Moses about, sending an angel before them. He warns Moses that when He comes, He will visit their sin upon them. He sends a plague on the people.
The Command to Leave Sinai – Exodus 33
- God tells Moses to take the people and depart for the land He had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He states He will send his angel before them and will drive out the peoples there, but He won't go among them because they are stiff-necked and He'd destroy them.
- The people mourn, and take off their ornaments as God instructs.
The Tent of Meeting
- The tent of meeting is set up outside camp, and when Moses goes out to it, God descends as a pillar of cloud that stands at the entrance to the tent as He speaks with Moses inside. The people stand in the doors of their tents and worship. Joshua remains in the tent of meeting when Moses returns to the camp.
Moses' Intercession
- Moses asks that God not send them to Canaan if He will not go with them. God agrees to go with them, and Moses asks that He show him His glory.
- God tells Moses that he cannot see His face, but there is a place where he will put him in the cleft of a rock, cover him with His hand, and pass by him.
Moses Makes New Tablets – Exodus 34
- God tells Moses to cut two stone tablets like the first ones and He will rewrite them. Moses does as instructed and goes up onto Mount Sinai early in the morning. The Lord descends as a cloud and proclaims His grace and mercy but that He must "visit" iniquity on those who deserve it. Moses bows down to worship and asks that if he has found favor in God's sight, that God would go in the midst of them and forgive them.
The Covenant Renewed
- God tells Moses he is making a covenant with the people, and tells him He will drive out the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites from their land. The Hebrews are not to make a covenant with them, but to tear down their altars. He tells them not to make any idols of cast metals, and instructs them to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread, consecrate the firstborns to Him, keep the Sabbath, and bring God the first fruits.
- Moses writes all this on the tablets. He stays on the mountain top for forty days and nights.
No comments:
Post a Comment