February 16th

February 16th -- Exodus 32:1-29 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2032:1-29&version=NLT)

The Gold Calf

So, despite all the reasons and logic against this, the Israelites build a gold calf. This is after being told not to worship idols and it is because they doubt Moses, even though God had used him to deliver them from Israel and keep them alive thus far. They go ahead, though, and turn all their jewellery into a big gold calf and begin to worship it, saying it was what got them out of Egypt.  They sacrificed and celebrated.

Moses, up on the mountain at that time, gets sent back down by God. He knows that they are worshipping an idol, and He says basically he will destroy them for it because they have been so stubborn and rebellious, still. He basically tells Moses he's wiping everyone out except him, who will be the start of a great nation.

Moses, however, pleads with God. He reminds God of the promises He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, about their descendants taking this land and being numerous. God agrees, after Moses pleading, not to go through with the disaster.

Moses then goes back down the hill with two stone tablets. Moses is so angry when he sees what's going on that he smashes he tablets and burns the calf (and then grinds it into dust and scatters that into the water). Moses asks Aaron, of course, what happened. Aaron basically says they insisted on having a god soe he gave them one.

Now, Moses calls over "all who are on the Lord's side", and all the Levites come. He informs them of God's command, which is to go through the whole camp with swords and kill everyone (family and friends included), causing the deaths of 3,000 people. The Levites ordain themselves and recieve a blessing by doing this, as God commanded.

Really, you gotta' feel bad for Moses and the Levites in this situation. Moses is the bearer of terrible news (you have to go kill everyone) and the Levites have to carry out that awful command. I can't even imagine how horrible that would be - taking the life of someone I love. I haveno idea how they had the strength to do that. Also, I see know why the Levites had such respect....

Also, as much as we look at the Israelites and go "YOU'RE ALL IDIOTS WHAT ARE YOU DOING????" We repeat their actions every day. Our "idols" are sometimes money, food, friends, our body, or even a significant other. We continually put things before God, yet He still loves us. And so why doesn't He just strike us down, then? Moses interceded for Israel. Well, we, thank goodness, had Jesus intercede for us when He died on the cross bearing each and every one of our sins. May I just say that's good, because otherwise we'd be in some serious trouble. I mess up more times than I can count every day, so I would hate to see what God would do to me for it without Jesus having died for me. It really puts a new perspective on this story, I think, when you look at it that way...

Well, I believe that will be all. God bless!

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