So - in today's reading God does not seem very loving. God tells Moses to take Israel [the "chosen people"] and to "Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey [the land God promised Israel]; but I will not go up in your midst, because you are an obstinate people, and I might destroy you on the way." Really? What the heck is going on?
The book of Exodus tells us that God rescued Israel and brought them out of the brutal slavery they suffered in Egypt. Moses, the leader God put over Israel, has been on Mount Sinai the last 40 days praying and receiving God's instructions. Problem is while he was away all hell broke loose among the people of Israel. They decide they want a new leader; they decide they want a new plan; they decide they want a better life than God had provided so frankly they want a new god. Moses' brother, the priest, is given the job. He is told to make a god out of gold and jewels - which he does. The people throw a massive party (with all the trappings) to celebrate and worship their new God. While on the mountain God reveals to Moses what has been happening back at camp. He sends Moses back to the people. God is angry - after all these people had witnessed - after being rescued from a living hell they freely and easily turn from God. This is not the first time humans turned from God thinking their own way is better; sadly it will not be the last.
Exodus 33
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, andJacob, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give it.’ I will send an angel before you and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite. Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, because you are an obstinate people, and I might destroy you on the way.”
When the people heard this sad word, they went into mourning, and none of them put on his ornaments. For the Lord had said to Moses, “Say to the sons of Israel, ‘You are an obstinate people; should I go up in your midst for one moment, I would destroy you. Now therefore, put off your ornaments from you, that I may know what I shall do with you.’” So the sons of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments, from Mount Horeb onward.
Today we thank God for His mercy - it is in His loving nature to provide each of us every opportunity to know Him, to trust Him and to love Him. But to love God looks like something - it looks like the surrender of our self and our pride filled sin - to love God is to be transformed into His child; His likeness. In this reading we see it is God's nature to be faithful; it is God's nature to be merciful; it is God's nature to Love us; but we also see that these truths about God should not be twisted into a blank cheque to do what we want or into a get out of jail free card to excuse us of our crimes. If we choose to be apart from God and to worship other people or things there are consequences.
Today, let us shift our focus. Today let's lay down our idols and the ideas that separate us from God. Today let's take up the faithful promise of God to be our God. Today let us know the mercy and forgiveness in Grace that reveals God's Love. Today let us focus on God alone. Today let us be His people and claim the promise He will be our God. Today let us be blessed.
"We don't worship sacred cows and throw wild "sin parties" celebrating #demons, false teaching and other deities" in #UnitedStatesofAmeria #USA #Canada #Europe.
#Take a look at exhibit #1. Is this a Truth filled #ideology widely accepted and adopted? (mobile device users click here)
"Just love yourself and you're set" #LadyGaga
Click Here
Sadly, market penetration for this song, video and its ideology has been estimated at almost one billion plays/views. #Nonsense does #Mission very well.
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