Having made a covenant with God in Exodus 24, the people abandon their covenant obligations in Exodus 32 by making and using an idol, rejecting Moses and indulging in gross sexual immorality, perhaps amongst other things. They have not merely sinned. They have broken the covenant such that they deserve death, as God says. They are Covenant Breakers not just sinners.
UK contract law can provide an illustration.
If I understand it correctly, which I very likely don't, in older law, their actions might have been seen as a "fundamental breach".
Today it might be specifically called a "repudiatory breach". That is, not that one party explicitly announces their rejection of the contract (necessarily) but that the actions of one of the parties are such a serious breach of contract that the wronged party is entitled to terminate the contract (and to receive damages). That is what God considers doing, but Moses persuades him to have mercy and stick with this people, although they face serious punishment.
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Some jottings on a sermon by Vaugan Roberts on Ex 32-
Vaughan Roberts, St Ebbes, 16 Jun 2002
A
Terrible Betrayal
http://www.stebbes.org.uk/talks/results/taxonomy%3A98?page=2
covenant breaking
– a fundamental breach of contract which allows one party to walk away
Ex 24 – the
signing ceremony
Ex 25-31 detailed
instructions for the tabernacle – the climax of the covenant is that God
himself might be with them and live amongst them
Ex 32 a massive
anti-climax, an awful shock
Will God walk
away from his people?
Perhaps he won’t
draw near after all
(1)
God’s covenant is threatened by a terrible
sin
V1
How could they do
this after God’s gracious rescue, the miracles, the Passover, all they had
experienced?
They forget all
about God in v1.
They say Moses
has brought them up out of Egypt.
What folly to
think you could make a god!
V5 – Aaron
appeases his conscience / rationalises
Aaron knew the 1st
to commandments well enough
We are so easily
just like this
God has made it
clear that we are to approach him through his Word, his written word the Bible
and the incarnate Word the Lord Jesus Christ
(2)
God’s covenant is maintained through a
faithful mediator
Vv9-10
(i)
God
listened to Moses as he prayed
Moses prays on
the basis of God’s name, his reputation, what will people say?
For the sake of
your name, please don’t do it!
The priority of
the honour of God’s name
He prays on the
basis of God’s Word, his promises
(ii)
God drew
near to him
[29 minutes in to recording - includes readings]
(3)
Some jottings on a sermon by Dick Lucas on Exodus 32
The 9 O clock
Service Sheffield 1986 – an alternative form of service that allegations of
sexual and emotional abuse
(1)
The quick descent (v1, v8)
Moses was up the mountain for 6 weeks
Our natural inclination to idolatory – not just a primitive thing
Mental as well as metal idols
The last words of 1 Jn: “little children, keep yourself from idols!”
Idolatry is a constant danger
Cf. Galatians – “I am astonished that you are deserting the gospel so
quickly”
Ex 32 not just irrelevant history. This could be repeated in any
generation
Self-indulgent religion
(2)
The weak leader (vv22-24)
Cf. Genesis 3 – blaming everyone else
Aaron a great
leader, v important, Moses’ right hand man, the spokesman to pharaoh and the
people, 1st high priest
Dean Liddle Sermon
on the death of Aaron preached at St Paul’s in 18**
He crumbles and
compromises on this terrible day
Aaron tried
damage limitation (vv5-6)
He was faced with
intolerable pressure
Vv21, 25
This great man
was at fault
He wanted to
please the people, he gave way to pressure
Perhaps he wanted
to find a middle way, which was impossible
Avoiding
confrontation
Wanting to be
popular
The C of E?
Strong leadership
(3)
The faithless festival
V19 – Moses’ indignation
(i)
Synchretism
(vv5-6) – compromise – unifying different religious systems
John Hick. The uniqueness of Jesus downplayed
Calf / bull / strength / john bull – English strength
Substitutes a man-made religion for God
(ii)
Sensuality
(v6b, v25) – casting off of all restraint – sexual dancing
(iii)
Shouting
(v18) – “sound” 3X – Acts 19:34 – shouting for hours, great is Artemis of the
Ephesians
Sone jottings on a sermon by Rico Tice on Exodus 32
All Souls, Langham Place
We have other more subtle sacred cows!
(1)
What motivates idolatry?
V1 - insecurity
They gather round Aaron, justle him, physical threat
Idolatry is an attempt to establish our own security
Where do we look for security and reassurances, identity and safety?
(2)
What characterises idolatry? How is it
expressed? What is it’s essential quality?
Vv2-5 – idolatry
involves the abuse of the imagination
Little boy
painting God
But teacher says,
“no one knows what God looks like”
Boy: “Well, they
will when I’ve finished!”
Intended to be an
image of Yahweh, a way of worshiping the true God
Breaking the 2nd
commandment not the 1st
“I think God is…”
“The God I
believe in…”
“My God would
never send anyone to hell…”
We must submit to
God’s revelation of himself, not just have our opinions
Real theology is
the science of Biblical study not the art of religious invention and
theological imaginings
Christianity is a
declared, revealed religion, it is given to us from above, not made up by us
Our conscience is
bound by the Word of God
We must allow God
to tell us what he is like
(3)
The consequences of idolatry
V6 – a breakdown
of moral order
Without the true
God, true morality goes out of the window
Who says so?
(4)
The response to idolatry (from Moses)
(i)
V11 –
prayer – intercession
The one man Moses
turned by judgement from his nation by praying
(ii)
V15 –
indignation
We too easily put up with things when we ought to get angry for the
sake of God’s honour
(iii)
Vv31-32
– identification, compassion, Moses loves the Israelites
He’d rather see himself perish than see them be destroyed
3 arguments to use with God in prayer
Found in Exodus 32 (I think the headings are like those used by James Jordan but my notes don't make it totally clear from whom I nicked this bit!
(3) Moses and his effective prayer (vv11-14) cf. Abraham at Sodom
3 arguments: Appeal to (a) God’s people – save your own (v11)
(b) God’s name – defend your reputation (v12)
(b) God’s oath – keep your promises (v13)
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