| April 27, 2009
Text: Exodus 33
RECALL OF EXODUS 32
1. The worship of the Golden Calf Exodus 32:1-10
2. First Intercession of Moses Exodus 32:11-14
3. Relenting of the harm threatened to fall upon Israel Exodus 32:14
4. Anger of Moses when he saw the golden calf and the worship offered to it Exodus 32:19-25
5. Armed battle with the idolaters Exodus 32:26-28
6. Second Intercession of Moses Exodus 32:31-32
7. Punishment for idolatrous worship withheld for the moment Exodus 32:32-34
8. Plaguing of the people (undisclosed form of punishment) Exodus 32:35
SOLEMN WORD OF ADMONITION Exodus 33:1-6
1. The Plan of travelling to Canaan to proceed Exodus 33: 1-3
2. The Promised Land would be given to Israel Exodus 33:2-3
3. The Presence of the LORD would be withdrawn
"I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you in the way" Exodus 33:3b
4. The Problem declared
A stiff-necked people Exodus 33:3c, 5b
THIRD INTERCESSION Exodus 33:12-23
1. Reviewing relationship with the Lord Exodus 33:12
a) Preliminary
b) Premises reviewed
i) Sent to deliver Israel Exodus 33:12a
ii) Given knowledge of God's name Exodus 33:12c
iii) Found grace in God's sight
2. First Plea of the Third Intercession
a) Pleading God's grace Exodus 33:13a
b) Pleading to be shown God's way Exodus 33:13b
c) Pleading for a deeper knowledge Exodus 33:13c
d) Pleading even more grace Exodus 33:13d
e) Pleading for Israel- to continue to be called God's people Exodus 33:13e
3. God's Answer to the First Plea of the Third Intercession
"And He said, 'My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'" Exodus 33:14
4. Second Plea of the Third Intercession
a) The subject of God's Presence Exodus 33:15a
b) Plea for God's Presence to be with His people Exodus 33:1a
i) Understanding of the significance of God's Presence
ii) Confirmation of God's grace promised
5. God's Answer to the Second Plea of the Third Intercession
"So the LORD said to Moses, 'I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name." Exodus 33:17
a) Second plea granted
b) Grace is confirmed
c) Acknowledgment of Moses' name
6. Third Plea of the Third Intercession
"Show me Your glory" Exodus 33:18
a) Meaning of this request to see God's "glory"
b) Significance of this request
c) Note the special relationship Moses already enjoyed with God Exodus 33:9, 11
7. God's Answer to the Third Plea of the Third Intercession
a) God's glory will be revealed to Moses Exodus 33:19a
i) Goodness
ii) Grace
iii) Compassion
b) Proclamation of God's name Exodus 33:19b
c) Protection of Moses when God reveals His glory Exodus 33:20-22
i) Hidden in the cleft of the rock
ii) Covered by God's hand
d) The full face of God cannot be seen or Moses would perish Exodus 33:20
"And Moses turned and went down from the mountain, and the two tablets of the Testimony were on his hand." Exodus 32:15a
THE TWO TABLETS OF TESTIMONY
"The tablets were written on both sides; on the one side and on the other they were written. Now the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God engraved on the tablets" Exodus 32:15b-16
1. Supremely Invaluable tablets
a) They were from the Lord
b) They were written by God Himself
2. Symbolic significance
a) Content of the Tablets
b) Context of the Tablets given by God
A BRIEF CONVERSATION
Joshua: "There is a noise of war in the camp" Exodus 32:17b
Moses: "It is not the noise of the shout of victory, not the noise of the cry of defeat, but the sound of singing I hear!" Exodus 32:18
ANGER OF MOSES
"So it was, as soon as he came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. So Moses' anger became hot, and he cast the tablets out o his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain." Exodus 32: 19
1. At the sight of the golden calf Exodus 32:19a
2. Fury of Moses Exodus 32:19b
3. Destruction of the Two tablets from God Exodus 32:19c
ENGAGING AARON
"And Moses said to Aaron, 'What did this people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?" Exodus 32:21
1. Interrogation of Aaron
2. The sin of idolatry was too grave to be overlooked!
ANSWER OF AARON
"So Aaron said, 'Do not let the anger of my lord become hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. For they said to me, 'Make us gods that shall go before us;
As for this Moses, the man who brought us out of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.' So I said to them, 'Whoever has any gold, let them break it off.'
So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out." Exodus 32:22-24
1. An attempt to placate Moses
2. An unacceptable answer
a) You know the people
b) They are set on evil
c) They pressured Aaron to make a golden calf
AN IMPORTANT QUESTION
"And Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, 'Whoever is on the LORD's side- come to me." And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him." Exodus 32:26
1. Choosing sides
2. Choosing the Lord's side
AN IMPORTANT THOUGH SOLEMN COURSE OF ACTION
"And he said to them, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Let every man put his sword on his side, and go in and out from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and let every man kill his brother, every man his companion, and every man his neighbour." Exodus 32:27
1. A spiritual battle that must be fought
2. Physical resistance expected from idolaters
a) Brother
b) Companion
c) Neighbour
CONSECRATION AFTER BATTLE
"So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And about three thousand of the people fell that day.
Then Moses said, 'Consecrate yourselves today to the LORD, that He may bestow on you a blessing this day, for every man has opposed his son and his brother."
Exodus 32:28-29
1. Consecration
a) Cleansing
b) Sanctification
2. Blessing
a) Because the Lord's name was honoured and defended
b) Because the sin of idolatry was opposed vigorously
PRAYER AFTER DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM OF SIN
"Moses said to the people, 'You have committed a great sin. So now I will go to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.'" Exodus 32:30
1. Correctly noting the gravity of the sin problem created
2. Incorrect pleading with the Lord
"Then Moses returned to the LORD and said,
'Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin- but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.'" Exodus 32:31-32
a) Moses' offering of himself
b) Moses' approach out of place
GOD'S REPLY
"And the LORD said to Moses, 'Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book. Now therefore, go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. Nevertheless, in that day when I visit for punishment, I will visit punishment upon them for their sin.' So the LORD plagued the people because of what they did with the calf which Aaron made." Exodus 32:33-35
1. Punishment of evil idolaters
2. Plaguing of the people
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