Exodus 32–34

When Moses is slow to come down the mountain, the people once again complain and convince Aaron to make an idol for them. It doesn’t take the people long to violate the first and most important commandment. Pretty shocking how quickly they’ve turned away after all that they’ve experienced through the plagues and the Red Sea, water and manna and quails in the wilderness, the defeat of the Amalekites, not to mention the LORD’s appearance on the mountain in smoke and fire.

The LORD is ready to judge, but Moses intercedes for the people, and the LORD relents. But when Moses sees the people’s idolatry and becomes angry, his response is like the LORD’s. He shares the same zeal as the LORD. He is jealous for His God.

The LORD tells Moses to go up to the land, but He will not go with the people lest He destroy them on the way because they are a stiff-necked folk. But once again, Moses intercedes with the LORD, praying that His presence will accompany them into the land. If not, then they won’t go. Super important. Without the LORD’s presence, the land is just a piece of real estate. The LORD’s presence gives purpose to that piece of property and to that group of people.

I think there’s something similar there for us. There are lots of things in this life we could pursue, things that the world would tell us give us some kind of purpose or meaning (fame, fortune, family, friends, etc.). And many of those things are not bad in and of themselves, but without the LORD, those pursuits are in vain. Treasures on earth of no lasting value. But when we pursue the LORD in this life, it pays eternal rewards. A treasure in heaven of inestimable value. 

I love the way the LORD reveals Himself to Moses. “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and faithfulness; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

Do you know the LORD? You can today. It starts with recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior and believing that Jesus is the Savior whom God promised. He lived a perfect life and died a sacrificial death. He was raised to life on the third day, proving that He had conquered both sin and death, so that by believing in Him, we can be saved—not because of anything that we have done, but because of what Jesus did. The Innocent who died for the guilty so that the guilty could be declared innocent.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Exodus series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X or Threads: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.