Today's Reading - Exodus 31-35
Background
The key story in today's reading is the Golden Calf saga. Moses is on the mountain receiving the law of God and Aaron is cowed by the people to build an idolatrous image and worship it. Moses returned and broke the tablets to represent that the people broke God's law. God dealt with them, then sent Moses back up the mountain to start again.
Devotional - More Faithful than Our Failure
There are ignorant people who claim that the God of the Old Testament was mean, harsh and cruel, and they contrast him to the God of love revealed in the New Testament. Such nonsense. Yes, the God of the OT is holy, giving his law and expecting his people to obey it. He punishes evildoers and protects his people from their enemies. All of that is true. But to overlook his love and kindness is willful folly.
You need look no farther than Exodus 34 to settle the issue of God's love and mercy. Eight words in that passage tell us all we need to know. about the God's nature.
It is crucial that we remember what was going on leading up to Exodus 34. Israel had insulted God in the worst way - by turning to the worship of an idol while Moses was on the mountain receiving God's law. As Moses came down from the mountain and saw the offensive worship, he broke the tablets signifying that Israel had broken God's Law. And God was upset by their sin, make no mistake about it.
But look at verse 1 and see what God said to Moses.
"Cut two stone tablets like the first ones."God does not give up on people when they fail. He may discipline his children and that discipline might be harsh, but he never leaves and he never forsakes. His gifts and call are irrevocable. The One who begins the good work will carry it on to completion.
When Israel failed, God did not give up on them. He did not throw them away. He did not run out on them. He did not find another people to love. He did not pour out his wrath on them to destroy them. No, he did not. He renewed his covenant and gave his people another chance to get it right.
I can remember one time when I was repenting of the same sin for about the 3 millionth time, I thought, "God, you must be ready to give up on me." That is human thinking; stupid thinking! God does not give up on his children. Throughout Israel's history, they were consistently disobedient and unfaithful to him. But in spite of all that, God was consistently faithful and merciful to his chosen nation.
Now, isn't that good news? You messed up yesterday and the day before. The day before that, too. Oh, our sin is nothing to take lightly. It is offensive and must be resisted, and it often carries consequences with it. Grace ought never be an excuse for careless, unholy living. But we can be confident that God is faithful. He was in the Old Testament to Israel. He was in the New Testament to the church. And he is today in our lives. Confess. Repent. Seek renewal in Christ and walk in the power of the Spirit!
When you mess up, God's faithfulness overwhelms your sin. He wears you down with his grace as the process of sanctification continues, and he slowly transforms you to be like Christ. When you fail him, he says to you,
Cut two stone tablets and let's try this again!
Father, I do not want to be unfaithful to you; not for a day, not for a minute. But I have been and you know that. And I will be, and you know that. I hate my sinful waywardness. But I rejoice that I am secure not in my own righteousness but in yours. I revel in your faithfulness and rely on your grace and mercy daily.
Think and Pray
Do you obsess about your failures and sins?
Do you sometimes think that God must have given up on you?
Remember that God, who does discipline his children, also loves them unconditionally and restores them. He never gives up on us!
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