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Exodus 32:1-34:35<\/strong><\/span> Today Exodus chapter 32 verse 1 made me think about spiritual \u201cboredom\u201d \u2013 \u201cWhen Moses failed to come back down the mountain right away, the people went to Aaron. \u201cLook,\u201d they said, \u201cmake us some gods who can lead us. This man Moses, who brought us here from Egypt, has disappeared. We don\u2019t know what has happened to him.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I guess what made me think in this verse was this \u2013 Moses was gone only 40 days and 40 nights, up Mt. Sinai. Granted, the Israelites were in the middle of nowhere, so this actually might be quite a long time for him to be gone in these circumstances.\u00a0 But, my thought is this \u2013 Do you think maybe the Israelites had somehow gotten \u201cbored\u201d with God?\u00a0 And I ask this because I wonder if maybe we today get \u201cbored\u201d with God or \u201cbored\u201d with our faith?\u00a0 And if so\u2026\u00a0 why?\u00a0 Why did the Israelites get bored?\u00a0 Why do we get bored?\u00a0 What makes me nervous about getting bored with our faith is that what we see take place later in this chapter to the Israelites I think can happen to us \u2013 we can pursue false Gods and indulge in dangerous sins.\u00a0 Typically, I find faith in God and a relationship with God to be the most adventurous thing on earth!\u00a0 However, I will admit that there have been seasons in my walk where I somehow got bored with my faith.\u00a0 And I think if I honestly look back at those seasons, I think the boredom came because I stopped moving forward in my relationship with God.\u00a0 I let my faith kind of stagnate as a status quo.\u00a0 I started to get distracted by worldly things.\u00a0 And I got spiritually bored.\u00a0 And this was not good. So \u2013 I wonder \u2013 what\u2019s our cure for boredom in our faith?\u00a0 What keeps our faith fresh?\u00a0 Part of me thinks that daily spiritual disciplines are part of the answer.\u00a0 Reading the Bible every day.\u00a0 Really praying every day.\u00a0 Giving thanks to God every day.\u00a0 How about for you?\u00a0 What do you do to keep your faith fresh?\u00a0 If you have any spiritual disciplines or habits you are willing to share with others please post up in the Comments section below!\u00a0 Thanks. <\/span><\/p>\n Today in verses 7 & 8 about the golden calf \u2013 \u201cThen the LORD told Moses, \u201cQuick! Go down the mountain! The people you brought from Egypt have defiled themselves. They have already turned from the way I commanded them to live. They have made an idol shaped like a calf, and they have worshiped and sacrificed to it. They are saying, `These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of Egypt.\u2019\u201d<\/em> What about us in our lives today? Are we so different from the Israelites? Do we make our own versions of \u201cgolden calves\u201d today? Do we have idols that we worship? Money? Career? Popularity? Relationships? Addictions? Our Intelligence? Technology? Do these idols stand in the way of our worship of God? Do they stand in the way of our relationship with God? Do these idols defile us? Do we think sometimes that these idols have actually \u201cbrought us out of Egypt\u201d \u2013 instead of God? Will we give up these false idols and return to worshipping only God the Father, Son & Holy Spirit\u00a0with all of our hearts, minds, soul and strength? Will you give up your \u201cgolden calf\u201d at the feet of Jesus today?\u00a0 Below is the painting \u201cThe Adoration of The Golden Calf\u201d by Nicolas Poussin from 1633 \u2013 <\/span><\/p>\n Verse 30 stood out for me in this chapter as Moses interceded to God for the people of Israel after their sin \u2013 \u201cThe next day Moses said to the people, \u201cYou have committed a terrible sin, but I will return to the LORD on the mountain. Perhaps I will be able to obtain forgiveness for you.\u201d\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0<\/em>And today, we have one more powerful than Moses who intercedes for us to God \u2013 and that is Jesus.\u00a0 Our High Priest.\u00a0 The Suffering Servant.\u00a0 The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Commentary on Exodus chapter 32 at bible.org is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.\u00a0 Commentary on Exodus chapter 33 at bible.org is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.\u00a0 Below is a portrait by artist Guy Rowe of Moses speaking to God, what looks to be the \u201cstiff-necked\u201d people, and the broken tablets from today\u2019s readings.\u00a0 It seems like 32:31-32 might be the fitting verses for this image below \u2013 \u201cSo Moses went back to the LORD and said, \u201cOh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin\u2014but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.\u201d <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Exodus chapter 34 verses 6 & 7 are beautiful and we will hear these words repeated again later in the Old Testament a few times: \u201c\u201dI am the LORD, I am the LORD, the merciful and gracious God. I am slow to anger and rich in unfailing love and faithfulness. I show this unfailing love to many thousands by forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>How do these words resonate with you?\u00a0 Do you believe God is merciful and gracious?\u00a0 Slow to anger?\u00a0 And rich in unfailing love and faithfulness?\u00a0 Have you asked God for forgiveness for your sins and rebellion?<\/span><\/p>\n Verses 33 through 35 in today\u2019s readings tell us: \u201cWhen Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. But whenever he went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he removed the veil until he came out again. Then he would give the people whatever instructions the LORD had given him, and the people would see his face aglow. Afterward he would put the veil on again until he returned to speak with the LORD.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And today\u2019s guest commentary on these preceding verses is from none other than Paul!\u00a0 This is the Bible giving commentary on the Bible. Here is Paul in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians chapter 3 verses 7 \u2013 18 (read this carefully\u2026 read this twice\u2026 this is good\u2026.) \u2013 \u201cThat old system of law etched in stone led to death, yet it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses\u2019 face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. Shouldn\u2019t we expect far greater glory when the Holy Spirit is giving life? If the old covenant, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new covenant, which makes us right with God! In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new covenant. So if the old covenant, which has been set aside, was full of glory, then the new covenant, which remains forever, has far greater glory. Since this new covenant gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory fading away. But the people\u2019s minds were hardened, and even to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, a veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses\u2019 writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away. Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom.\u00a0 And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0Not a bad commentary, eh?<\/span><\/p>\n Below is an image for verses 29 & 30: \u201cWhen Moses came down the mountain carrying the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn\u2019t aware that his face glowed because he had spoken to the LORD face to face. And when Aaron and the people of Israel saw the radiance of Moses\u2019 face, they were afraid to come near him.\u201d<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on Exodus chapter 34 titled \u201cA New Beginning\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong>\u00a0 Our readings today reminded me of this Maverick City song with Kirk Franklin called \u201cMy Life is In Your Hands:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
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