Saturday, February 11, 2006

On the second half of Exodus...

Reading thru Exodus 20-40, a few things have really struck me.

20-33, God has redeemed His people, and now calls them to a holy life. He gives the Israelites specific commands, including having no gods before Him, and not making graven images. The people are afraid to hear God speak, so tell Moses to go speak to God, and then pass on what He says. So Moses goes up into the mountain, and he's away for ages.

And the people get restless. While God is telling Moses how the people are to give their silver and gold for the building of the tabernacle, they are giving their gold to Aaron, to make them a graven image. He makes them a false god, an idol. God Himself spoke to them in ch 20, yet here they are in ch32 worshipping a golden calf, offering it sacrifices, giving it credit for redeeming them from Egypt.

So God tells Moses what the people have done. He tells Moses to stand back - He'll destroy the Israelites, and just make a people for Himself from Moses. Moses pleads with God, not on the basis of any worthiness in the people, but rather on the basis of His glory, and His covenant. Firstly, His glory - what would the Egyptians think of a God who redeemed His people only to kill them in the wilderness? Secondly, His covenant - God cannot go back on His word to their ancestors.

So God says ok, I won't destroy them. I'll give them the land I've promised them. BUT I won't be there with them. (In this bit you get the dreadful reference to God blotting people out of His book, 32v33, reminding us there's more than just temporal things at stake here). The Israelites at last seem to get it. They mourn. God has promised them a land flowing with milk and honey, but if He isn't with them, they won't be satisfied (33v15,16). Which really struck me - do I long for God more than material comfort? Does the thought of Him removing His presence terrify me?

So God promises to go with them. And they respond by abeying everything He has commanded with regards to the building of the tabernacle - in ch39,40 there are loads of references to the people and Moses doing all that God commanded. And when they do that, God comes and dwells amongst them, in the tabernacle. They make a house that is fit for the King. Now under the new covenant, God dwells in me. Am I fit for the King to dwell in me? Do I pursue holiness in my life, to bring Him glory?

I've loved studying Genesis and Exodus over the past few months, seeing how God sets a people apart from Himself, not because they are worthy, but because He seeks to show Himself as glorious to the whole world, and to show grace and mercy to these people. And when He redeems this people, He calls them to live lives worthy of the One who redeemed them, and continues to provide for their every need. God hasn't changed, He still saves people according to His grace, and for His glory. He still calls us (me!) to a holy life, to show the world how great our God is. What a massive challenge!

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