Monday 27 July 2009
- Bible Book:
- Exodus
"As soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses' anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets from his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain." (v.19)
Background
When Moses went away to receive God's teaching, the people wereunable to maintain the risk of faith without his leadership. Theyliterally domesticated God, reducing God to the manageable shape ofthe golden calf. The result of this sin was horrible lawlessness.And lost from obedience to God, they were imprisoned by the forceof their own desires, nearly destroying their society.
But Moses came down from the mountain and interceded on theirbehalf with God. He pre-empted God's assumed punishment. Thoughthere were horrible consequences, God forgave. The pattern of sin,harmful results, intercession and forgiveness was complete.
This pattern describes a cycle individuals and communities mightrecognise. Faced with immediate risk, fear of evil, or insecurityabout the future, our world still throws up false idols: money,medical expertise, status, religious affiliation - even familyties. When God seems far away, people may ask these to give thesafety and security that only God can provide. Even something thatis a blessing in its place (and these examples surely are) willstrain and fail if asked to play a God-shaped role.
The fallout when an idol fails (in the end they do not do the jobof insulating against evil or death) can be no less destructivethan the chaos Moses found on his return, and the massacre hebrought about. It is no surprise that people still needintercession, and forgiveness.
Today's passage shows a powerful moment in Israel's history, asGod, again, comes back to the people. But the placement of today'spassage is also important. The story of sin in
Those assembling the book of Exodus (likely during Israel's laterexile in Babylon in the 6th century BC) may have placed today'sstory in relation to other passages to emphasise God's past renewalduring their own time of adversity. Taken like that, the point ofthese passages is not about human behaviour at all, but rathertestimony to God's strong love. This may be a relief to readerspuzzling over what lessons such bloodthirstiness might have forus.
To Ponder
What idols do you think have the most powerfulhold on our society today?
'It is only in obedience to God that humans aretruly free.' What does this mean to you?
What would full freedom mean to you, in practicalterms?