Sun.’s Devo -THe Golden Calf

Read: Exodus 32:1-33:23; Matthew 26:69-27:14; Psalm 33:1-11; Proverbs 8:33-36 Moses who had been like God to them had disappeared on the mountain and the people thought he wasn’t coming back down. Man needs something to worship. The people went to Aaron and told him to make them some gods that could lead them so they could get going. This was a test for Aaron and he failed it in flying colors. He gave in to pier pressure and told them to each donate one of their golden earrings. They had left Egypt wearing the expensive coats and jewelry of the Egyptians. *** Aaron took this gold and crafted a golden calfs with an engraving tool. He told them that these were the gods that brought them out of the land of Egypt. He built an altar in fromt of the calf and proclaimed a festival. They celebrated like the pagans did in Egypt. *** God told Moses to go back down to the people quickly because they had corrupted themselves and turned against his ways. He told Moses exactly what they had done. God wanted to blot them all out and start over but Moses interceded for the people. He reminded God of his promises to Abraham. Isaac, and Jacob. The Lord changed his mind and Moses went down holding the two stone tables the Lord had written on. *** Joshua heard the noise and told Moses it sounded like war in the camp but Moses said it was the sound of a celebration. When Moses saw all their dancing and drinking he took the stone tablets and threw them crashing to the ground at the foot of the mountain. He took the calf and burned it and ground the powder, mixed it with water and forced the people to drink it. He turned to Aaron and asked him what the people did to make him do such a terrible sin. Aaron told him the pressure they had put on him and how he threw the gold into the fire and the calf jumped out. (What a whopper!) *** Moses saw how out of control the people had gotten and how much it amused their enemies to see it. He told the ones who were on the Lord’s side to join him. All of the Levites gathered around him. He told them to take their swords and kill everyone who was at the party. They killed 3,000. When it was over he blessed the Levites for obeying the Lord. *** Moses went back up on the mountain the next day and prayed tot he Lord for them. He begged him not to erase their name from his book but the Lord said he would only erase the names of everyone who had sinned against him. God sent Moses back to lead the people and told him that God’s angel out lead them. *** He sent a great plague upon the people because they had worshiped the calf. *** God said that the angel of the Lord would lead them and drive out the Canannites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hives and Jebusites. He wold not go with him because they were so rebellious and stubborn he knew he would end up killing them, but his angel would go with them. When the people heard this they mourned and stopped wearing their jewelry and fine clothes. *** The Tent of Meeting was set a distance from the camp and when the people saw Moses walking toward it they would stand at the entrance of their tent and watch until he went inside. They would see the pillar of cloud that came and hovered at the entrance while the Lord spoke to Moses inside. The people would bow by their door in worship. When God was finished talking to Moses, he would return to the camp, but Joshua would stay behindt the Tabernacle. *** God told Moses that he would personally be with him and give him rest. Everything would be fine for him. Moses told him that he would not leave that place unless he promised to be with them. God said he would do it for Moses’ sake. Moses asked for a sign. He wanted to see God’s glorious presence. God said he would make all his goodness pass before him and call out his name “Yahweh” before him. Moses was not to look directly into his face. He would hide Moses in the cleft of the rock and shield him from seeing him until he had passed, then he would let him see him from behind. *** In Matthew, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times and the rooster crowed. When he heard it crowing, he remembered what Jesus had told him and what he had told Jesus and he left weeping bitterly. *** Very early in the mourning, the leading priests and elders planned Jesus’ death. They bound him and took him to Pilate. Judas realized that Jesus had been condemned to die and was filled with remorse so he tried to give the 30 pieces of silver back to the elders declaring he had betrayed an innocent man. They told him that was on him, they didn’t care. Judas threw the coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself. The priest used the money to buy the potter’s field and made it a cemetery for foreigners. *** They stood Jesus before Pilate and asked him if he was king of the Jews. Jesus replied, “you have said it.” But when the brought all their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent. Pilate asked Jesus if he had a defense against all they were saying but Jesus said nothing. Pilate marveled at this. *** We need to remember how Jesus defended himself and use that as an example to follow. He didn’t answer unless God told him to. He let God avenge him and if he didn’t then he would face the consequences. He totally depended on God. *** Lord, thank you that our names are written in your book. May we hide under the shelter of your wings and trust in your hand to save us.