And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: Now therefore let Me alone, that My wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.
And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear. And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.
And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. (Exo 32:9-10, 17-20, 25-26)
GOD is angry, His righteous anger is stirred for this cause of egregious sIn against His Holiness and His character. The people have made an idol, called it God, and worshipped it, taking His Name in vain, and then committed all sorts of sins against one another. They have not kept themselves Holy before the Lord, and He is ready to destroy them. Even though GOD is right to, and has the authority to, Judge the people of Israel, Moses pleads with GOD for mercy. Then he goes down from the mountain, and Joshua joins him, they see all that is going on, and Moses gets angry. There's a whole lot of sinnin' goin' on, and Moses destroys the calf, punishes the people then calls for those who will stand with GOD, for righteousness, and for judgment.
GOD is serious about sIn. He is serious about the character and behaviour of His people. Those called by His Name, are to be Holy, for He is Holy. In all things, we are to exemplify Christ, to live the Gospel we preach, and to lift Him up. We are to worship GOD alone, for He is GOD. We are to remember the Name of the Lord for there is no other Name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. We act according to His instructions in righteousness, so that others will see Jesus in us, the hope of Glory, and come to faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary.
GOD has a plan and purpose for His children. We are left here as His ambassadors. We are called to be His disciples. We are commanded to be His messengers. We are commissioned as the people of GOD to minister to the hurting and in need as GOD gives the increase. We are to discipline one another in love and in His Word that we might grow thereby. We are to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to all who will hear. As we go, we are to take His message of love, mercy, and judgment to this lost and dying world, that they might believe, and believing have life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD is Holy and Judges sIn, but in His mercy GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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