Sermon - AudioEx 30-32 - Audio
Ex 30-32 - Daily Reading
Daily Insights - Please Comment
Step 3 made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. AA Big Book pg. 59
Step Three is about making a decision to turn our lives over to the God of our own understanding. Why does Step 3 say "God as we understood Him?" Because when one first gets into recovery, the last thing a person needs to debate is theology. The mind of the addict/alcoholic is so broken it really cannot understand much about God, so AA makes it easy by removing any negative pre-conceptions a person may have about God or negative experiences with the church that may have caused bitterness. Intellectualizing about God (for or against) and why I drink is a classic defense mechanism a person will use to keep from addressing their addictions (Many Christians will deflect attention away from their own character defects by hiding behind theology as well. This is one reason why Bible studies can be superficial). A wide-open conception of God as you understand Him can be helpful in terms of getting sober and initially healing. It also plays well in a culture that has made "tolerance" more important than truth. However, a wide open conception of God is insufficient for salvation and the worship of the one true God that brings about complete healing. None-the-less Step 3 begins to open the door to the realization that there is a God, and it's not me!
We certainly hope our friends in recovery can move forward to embrace Christ. As we share the love of Christ with our recovering friends it is really important that we check our motives and remove attitudes of superiority and condescension. For it is readily apparent to the long-time AA member that the love, honesty, and transparency of their 12 Step fellowship easily surpasses the spirituality of many churches. None-the-less, any god created in any person's mind is nothing more than the creation of an idol, with limitations and weaknesses that easily break down under closer scrutiny. As we share God's truth in Jesus and humbly admit our own brokenness we can invite recovering people to consider the claims of Christ.
Surprisingly, the theology of God as we understand Him seems to be well received in the church, too. If we are honest, we Christians are also very good at assigning to God the character qualities that meet our personal preferences and deficits. Pastor Larry's helpful sermon on Sunday contained a song called, "Your Own Personal Jesus." The call of Exodus is to remember that we did not find God, but that He found us. The Bible is not only the story of God seeking out a people, but it is the story of a holy God informing His chosen one's what He is like, how worship is to proceed, and how life is to be lived.
In the book of Exodus God's people have been redeemed from slavery. Chapters 30-32 continue to reveal what God is like and what it means to follow Him. "The God of our understanding," must be allowed to shape and inform our understanding of the deity. When we do this, life, recovery, and worship will be filled with blessing and good things.
Chapter 30 begins describing parts of the sacrificial system of worship. These sacrifices and offerings served as stewards of God's people waiting for their fulfillment in Jesus and his work on the cross. Unlike the sacrifice of Jesus, they could not provide permanent forgiveness.
A wonderful footnote on vs. 12 comes from the ESV Study Bible. The fact that the ransom is explained as averting a plague warns Israel against allowing a census to replace their dependence upon the Lord. Pride in numbers appears to be the reason for the adverse judgment on David's census (see 2 Sam. 24:1-17; 1 Chron. 21:1-17).
Perhaps we take pride in counting the new members at EGM or celebrating the accomplishments of "our" ministry. In doing so, we make the mistake of loving our own righteousness more than the mercy of God, and seeing others as being more deficient and defective than we are.
Chapter 31.12-17 keeping a Sabbath was to become a regular (weekly) part of life. This day was set apart for worship and renewal of body, mind, and spirit. It was seen as essential to keeping one's covenantal promises. In 2009, we are far more concerned about weekend parties, games, and vacations than regular worship. The Lord's Day had become the Lord's hour if it fits into our "important" schedules. Our desire as parents to raise a great athlete, dancer, or singer is more important than raising a sold-out follower of Jesus. God takes lack of regular worship as a serious affront to who He is and what He has done in our lives. We truly need a renewal of Sabbath worship to strengthen the vitality of God's people and witness to a hedonistic culture. We are in danger of losing our children when we say worship is important, but let it be replaced casually and flippantly with sports, entertainment, and leisure. I wonder if the concept of Sabbath has any connection to being prepared to worship God by being on time for services. Are the first ten minutes of worship throw away? If I were to have lunch with President Obama, Governor Granholm or Congressmen Hoekstra would it be ok to be ten minutes late? Your comments are welcome...
A couple of years ago I was sitting between a busy writer and a leading orthopedic surgeon who had been sober for many years. The topic for discussion was, "The Importance of Meetings." As the discussion moved toward us the writer complained that meetings were difficult to attend on a regular basis because of how 'busy' his life had become. I passed and when the surgeon began to speak, he said, "I would first of all like to thank Bob (the writer), for taking time out of his busy schedule to be with us today. If meetings are the life-blood of sobriety how much more important is worship for Christians. Would God say of you or me, "I would like to thank _______ for taking time out of their busy schedule to be with Me today."
Ex. 31:12-17 Sabbath. This section explicitly reminds Israel of what the instructions about the tabernacle signify: remembering the Sabbath by keeping it holy is integral to Israel's life as the people who are sanctified (or "made holy") by the Lord (see 20:8-11; 35:1-3). This passage grounds Israel's Sabbath observance both in creation (31:17; cf. 20:11), which Israel shares with all mankind, and in God's special choice of Israel ("sanctify," 31:13; "covenant forever," v. 16). The form of the fourth commandment in Exodus (20:8-11) stresses the first, while that in Deuteronomy (Deut. 5:12-15) stresses the second. This section shows that there is no tension between the two emphases. ESV Study Bible
In Chapter 32 We see that "God as we understand Him" was practiced in Israel with consequences. In chapter 32 the people are all too eager to substitute God's self-revelation for a god created in their own minds and with their own hands. All of this occurs after the rescue from Egypt! Israel shattered the second commandment by making a golden calf. The behavior of the people and Aaron represented a complete abandonment of their previous commitment to obey God's Word. This incident contains a warning to those who believe they have progressed so far in the Christian faith or recovery that they are immune from failure. No matter how far we have come, we are never safe from the danger of sin and relapse.
Ex. 32:4 These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. The plurals "these" and "gods" may indicate that Israel considered the calf to be another god alongside the Lord (see Aaron's proclamation of a "feast to the Lord" in v. 5). Whatever the people may have thought, their words and their actions are clearly out of accord with both the first (20:3) and second commandments (20:4-6). This incident also prefigures one of the most disastrous acts in Israel's later history, when Jeroboam I speaks the same words before two golden calves, which he sets up for the specific purpose of creating an alternative to worshiping the Lord in Jerusalem (see 1 Kings 12:26-28). RSV Study Bible
7 comments:
It's very interesting to me the importance God placed on "things". He is saying that the alter, the cup, the bowl, the lamp stand etc etc. are holy and to anoint them with an oil made with precious spices. We go the opposite extreme and say that we should not put any value on material things or on earthly things. How and when did this all change? Should we put more value on the holy earthly things of God?
If God calls us to rest does that mean all out rest? At what point do we blend relaxing with rest. For me being outside in nature, wether that be raking leaves of camping is very relaxing. If it should be the extreme and we should only "rest" then why does EGM have all these different ministries going on on the Sabbath? (youth group, wonder years, etc.) Not to be belittling EGM but just wondering.
The question about rest is a good one. I like how the catechism describes the purpose of Sabbath.
The Heidelberg Catechism:
Q. 103 What is God's will for you in the fourth commandment?
A. First, that the gospel ministry and education for it be maintained, and that, especially on the festive day of rest, I regularly attend the assembly of God's people to learn what God's Word teaches, to participate in sacraments, to pray to God publicly, and to bring Christian offerings for the poor.
Second, that every day of my life I rest from my evil ways, let the work in me through his Spirit, and so begin already in this life the eternal Sabbath.
I thought I had put this on the blog today. I too will do different activities on our day of worship besides "sleep." Although I do enjoy a power nap:) I think activities become problematic when they begin to interfere with the over-all purpose of worship.
tk
At the start of chapter 31 we see how God specifically imparts "knowledge" and "skills" even in the already skilled or knowledgeable. This is a good reminder that the obvious gifting or "skills" may not always lead to the most obvious task.
In chapter 32 Moses pleads with God to not direct His anger at the people. Yet when he comes down off the mountain he becomes angry at what he sees He breaks the tablets.
Wasn't he concerned God would be angry at him for breaking the tablets?
Moses instructs those who are "for the Lord" to kill many, about three thousand. I always thought he pleaded with God to spare them. The a little while later God smites them again.
Was it Moses' intent to carry out what he asked God to turn away from?
Were all of the men killed except the sons of Levi?
Why did God smite the people after Moses had three thousand killed?
Hi Rebecca,
Love your questions, thanks for posting.
Hey Rich,
Great thoughts and questions. One of the cool connecting pieces in the first part of chapter 31 has to do with the word "ability" ESV in verse 3. This word is the same as the word for "wisdom" in the book of Proverbs. It's a reminder that God wants to bring us practical wisdom for how we live in his good but fallen world.
When it comes to Moses, rather than being angry at him for breaking the tablets, Moses' reaction is exactly the right one. The breaking of the tablets symbolizes the breaking of the covenant, which the people have done. It will take an act of grace on God's part to restore that which has been terribly broken.
When it comes to the punishment by God on the people notice first that Moses implores God not to destroy the people. God is saying he will destroy/wipe out Israel and start again with Moses. Moses begs God not to take this drastic action. He goes so far as to remind God of his covenant promises (remember it is God recalling his covenant that calls on him to rescue Israel in the first place). God relents of destroying the whole nation, but he will make it clear later on that he still is a God who punishes the guilty.
I don't think it was Moses' intent to carry out what God said he would do, that would be an end to all of Israel. Instead, following God's constant call to "purge the evil from among you" Moses takes appropriate action (painfully appropriate). Not all are killed, because as we see in other places, it is not everyone who causes problems but what the Bible often calls the "rabble". Enough squeaky wheels to cause a lot of pain, but there are many others who just silently do nothing and don't take part.
It is a rather odd thing that after Moses' punishment of the people that God also punishes. Some have argued that the plague of God actually refers to what Moses did. Others see this as God punishing those missed by the Levites and as a punishment on a community that could have done something to stop the breach of covenant, but did not.
One last note. 3000 people are killed at the time of what the first rabbi's view as the first Pentecost. In the first pentecost in the NT, 3000 people come to faith. It is a picture of restoration.
Larry,
You previous comment..."One last note. 3000 people are killed at the time of what the first rabbi's view as the first Pentecost. In the first pentecost in the NT, 3000 people come to faith."
I'd like to read more about the "First Pentecost". Resources?
If this is a foreshadowing if you will of the Acts Pentecost, you might conclude then that God's wrath was included in Moses' simply based on the number, "about three thousand" which was carries out by the Levites?
Post a Comment