1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,520 Speaker 1: Let us pray. And he received them at their hand 2 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:08,000 Speaker 1: and fashioned it with a graving tool. After he had 3 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: made it a molten calf, and they said, these be 4 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 1: thy gods, o Israel, which brought thee out of the 5 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 1: land of Egypt. Exodus thirty two four. Dear God, as 6 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: you begin to bless me and enlarge my territory, I 7 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:28,080 Speaker 1: will not forget that you are my God. Unlike the 8 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: children of Israel and Exodus thirty two, I will not 9 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 1: serve the idols of this world, but instead will hold 10 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:40,559 Speaker 1: fast to your instructions and commands. I will not go 11 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:43,599 Speaker 1: backwards and live in a way that represents the limiting 12 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:49,920 Speaker 1: and ungodly mindsets of slavery. I declare that I will 13 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: remember the promises of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, then live 14 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: in a way as to secure them for myself. Drunkenness 15 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 1: will not cloud my judgment. Then devotion to man made 16 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:07,399 Speaker 1: idols will not sever my devotion to you God. I 17 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 1: decree that I am on the Lord's side. I confess 18 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 1: that I will stand for what's right when standing for 19 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: what's wrong seems enticing. I acknowledge that my life isn't 20 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 1: my own, but it's yours to bring glory to your name. 21 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 1: Thank you that despite my downfall, like the Israelites in 22 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 1: today's story, you will not leave me or forsake me, 23 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 1: even when I wrestle with my sin and shortcomings. In 24 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: Jesus name, Amen, Listening to these daily prayers strengthens your 25 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: relationship with God. Continue hearing from the Lord by listening 26 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 1: to today's Bible in a Year brought to you by 27 00:01:53,760 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 1: Bible in a Year dot com. 28 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 2: A God we can see. In our last story, we 29 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 2: learned about God's promises to bless his people and be 30 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 2: with them. He descended in fire, lightning and smoke on 31 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:24,920 Speaker 2: Mount Sinai to give Moses a word for the people. 32 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:29,239 Speaker 2: He gave them the ten Commandments. Then he asked them 33 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 2: to build a tabernacle so he could dwell with his people. 34 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 2: In this story, we learn about the Israelites already breaking 35 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 2: the first commandment. Their impatience leads them astray, and they 36 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:44,640 Speaker 2: betray the God that had just delivered them out of slavery, 37 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:47,519 Speaker 2: as inspired by the Book of Exodus. 38 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 3: Hello, I'm Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible 39 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:57,119 Speaker 3: in a Year. In our previous episode, we learned that 40 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 3: God brought the Israelites to the foot of Mount Sinai 41 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 3: and spoke to them there, promising blessing if they obeyed 42 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 3: his commands. God gave us the Ten Commandments, instructions all 43 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 3: related to Him and how to know him and how 44 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 3: to live with one another. Today we'll hear how quickly 45 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 3: they fail to keep the first of those commandments. Listen 46 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,239 Speaker 3: to their words to Erin as Moses delays up on 47 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 3: top of the mountain. Where have they placed their trust? 48 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 3: Today's reading provides a stark contrast between the leadership of 49 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 3: Moses and that of Erin, highlighting why God called Moses 50 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 3: instead of his brother. Finally, we'll discover there's a price 51 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 3: for sin against God. Yet even in the midst of 52 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 3: judgment and punishment, God's grace and mercy will come through. 53 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 3: Let's listen now to today's story. 54 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:52,800 Speaker 2: Moses had ascended back up to Mount Sinai to hear 55 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 2: from God on behalf of the people. The thunders still 56 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 2: rolled down the mountain like waves crashing on a shore. 57 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 2: The people took note of Moses's delay to come down 58 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 2: from the mountain, so they turned to Erin for guidance. 59 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 2: We do not know what has become of Moses, he 60 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 2: is the one who brought us out of Egypt. Quick 61 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 2: make God for us to protect and nurture us. Arin, 62 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 2: just as confused and desperate as the people, agreed. He 63 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:26,119 Speaker 2: said to them, take off all your rings, ear rings, 64 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:29,479 Speaker 2: and necklaces of gold, and bring them to me. So 65 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 2: all the people began to lay down their possessions at 66 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 2: the feet of Erin. They willingly gave up what was 67 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 2: precious to them, yet all for a fabrication, a false 68 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 2: sense of security. Arin, using fashioning tools, constructed a golden 69 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:48,839 Speaker 2: calf with his own bare hands. He brought the calf 70 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 2: before the people, erected high into the air so everyone 71 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:57,840 Speaker 2: could see. Applause roared throughout the camp, Dancing and revelry 72 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 2: began to spread the These are your gods, people of Israel, 73 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 2: These are the gods that brought you up out of 74 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:09,039 Speaker 2: the land of Egypt. The people cried out, paying no 75 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 2: mind to God's first encouragement to them, when he said, 76 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 2: I am the Lord, your God, who brought you out 77 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 2: of the land of Egypt and out of slavery. In 78 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 2: the distance, God was meeting with Moses. Yet this was 79 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:27,719 Speaker 2: not hidden from his sight. When Aaron saw how happy 80 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 2: the calf made the people. He built an altar for it. 81 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:34,799 Speaker 2: He hosted a large feast to celebrate their new God. 82 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 2: They rose up early the next day to give peace offerings. 83 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 2: As the day dragged on, they feasted like gluttons, filling 84 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 2: their bellies with meat and wine. The strange days of 85 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:51,760 Speaker 2: drunkenness slithered around camp as people rose up and dancing 86 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 2: in orgies. Their laughter was not joyful praise, rather inebriated 87 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:01,280 Speaker 2: and lustful cackles. They paid o my to their created 88 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:06,480 Speaker 2: God by creating their own worship, satisfying every selfish desire 89 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:09,839 Speaker 2: they could come up with. The newly freed slaves of 90 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 2: Israel began to look a whole lot like their old masters, 91 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 2: the Egyptians. The stench of their idolatry carried through the 92 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:21,600 Speaker 2: canyons up to the mountain where God met with Moses. 93 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 2: In the quietness of his prayers to God, Moses heard 94 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:29,719 Speaker 2: his voice change. The Lord said to Moses, go down 95 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 2: to see your people, For they have corrupted themselves. How 96 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 2: quickly they have turned from My commandments high and lifted 97 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:40,920 Speaker 2: up among them is a golden calf for whom they 98 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:46,280 Speaker 2: have sacrificed and worshiped. Moses's eyes widened. Though the people 99 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:49,719 Speaker 2: may have lost their fear of God, Moses surely did not. 100 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 2: He had remembered all the Lord was capable of, and 101 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,239 Speaker 2: how kind he had been to all the children of Israel. 102 00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 2: God continued and said, I have looked upon my people, 103 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 2: and behold, they are a stubborn people. Leave this place, 104 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 2: for my wrath will descend upon them like wildfire. From 105 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 2: you alone, I will build my nation. These words disturbed Moses. 106 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 2: He fell before God and said, Lord, why does your 107 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 2: wrath burn hot against your people? You have brought them 108 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 2: out of slavery with your might. The Egyptians will say 109 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:30,200 Speaker 2: you lured them out of slavery just to kill them. 110 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 2: Please turn from your anger and have mercy on them. 111 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 2: Tears began to flow from Moses as he begged God 112 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 2: to spare them. Remember your promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 113 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 2: Moses implored. His prayer was not long, but it was strong. 114 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 2: Moses reflected the merciful heart of God and his prayers, 115 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 2: and they pleased God. Moses was truly a leader able 116 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 2: to reflect God's heart and desire. Moses could have easily 117 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 2: dine nothing, but instead he interceded for his people. God 118 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 2: looked upon Moses. He was pleased and relented. Moses hustled 119 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 2: down the mountain, eyes piercing with an internal fury. Moses 120 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 2: had two tablets of the testimony of God in his hands. 121 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 2: The ridings of God for the people were engraved in stone. 122 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 2: Joshua was waiting at the base of the mountain for Moses. 123 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 2: When Joshua heard the celebration from camp, he ran to 124 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 2: go meet Moses and said, there are sounds of war 125 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 2: in the camp. Moses and Joshua came near to the 126 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 2: camp and saw the calf risen high among the people. 127 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 2: Moses peered across the sea of drunk faces. They danced 128 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 2: to the music. They caressed those that were not their 129 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 2: wives or husbands. They drank their wisdom away. Moses watched this. 130 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 2: He was right in front of them, yet unseen because 131 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 2: of their drunkenness. In that moment, a deep anger came 132 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:04,080 Speaker 2: upon Moses, an anger that had not been awakened since 133 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 2: he was a young man, strangling the Egyptian taskmaster. In 134 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 2: an outburst of rage, Moses threw the stone tablets at 135 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:14,840 Speaker 2: the foot of the mountain. The sound echoed across the 136 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 2: canyon and the dancing and music ceased. The people turned 137 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:22,960 Speaker 2: their heads and stared up at Moses. Silence fell upon 138 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:26,360 Speaker 2: them all. Moses walked into the crowd of people and 139 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 2: took the calf from the altar without saying anything. Moses 140 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 2: dragged the calf past the people towards the bonfire in 141 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 2: the middle of the can He threw it into the 142 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 2: fire and watched it melt. With his back turned towards 143 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 2: the people. He scooped up its ashes and scattered them 144 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:47,440 Speaker 2: in the water nearby. He took a cup and filled 145 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:49,560 Speaker 2: it with the water and gave it to the people 146 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 2: to drink. The bitter taste of the gold dusted water 147 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:56,800 Speaker 2: was a reminder of where they had come from. They 148 00:09:56,800 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 2: had just escaped the bitter gripes of slavery, and they 149 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 2: not to make themselves slaves again. Moses looked to Arin, 150 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 2: who had remained silent. What did they do to you, Erin, 151 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 2: Moses said, with his eyes filling up with tears. Why 152 00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 2: have you brought sin upon all of them? Erin was frantic, 153 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:21,319 Speaker 2: seeking to justify his actions. He was a brilliant communicator, 154 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:25,320 Speaker 2: and just as his ancestor Jacob Aaron could talk himself 155 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:30,319 Speaker 2: out of almost any situation. Don't burn with anger, Moses. 156 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:33,960 Speaker 2: You know the people are set on evil. They wanted 157 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:37,199 Speaker 2: the false gods. I tossed their god, and the fire 158 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:41,079 Speaker 2: and the calf just appeared. Aaron lied, and just as 159 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:46,840 Speaker 2: Adam did eons ago, he deferred the responsibility. Moses looked 160 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:49,200 Speaker 2: at the people and saw that Arin had allowed them 161 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:52,959 Speaker 2: to divide and become loose with one another. Arin had 162 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 2: once been his mouthpiece, but now Moses had to speak. 163 00:10:57,080 --> 00:10:59,200 Speaker 2: He stood at the base of the camp and shouted, 164 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 2: who is on the Lord's side? If anyone is on 165 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 2: God's side, come stand by me. Out of the vast crowd, 166 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:11,240 Speaker 2: the sons of Levee came forward from the group. Moses 167 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:13,840 Speaker 2: then commanded them to kill those who had caused the 168 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:17,679 Speaker 2: most dissension. With swords in their hands, the Sons of 169 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:22,320 Speaker 2: Levee killed about three thousand men that day. The silence 170 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 2: was cut, and screams oozed out of the camp like blood. 171 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:29,720 Speaker 2: Moses spoke to the sons of Levee and said, today 172 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:32,840 Speaker 2: you have been ordained into the service of God. Each 173 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:36,960 Speaker 2: one of you will have a blessing this day. The 174 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:40,320 Speaker 2: sun rose the next day, and a gentle breeze came 175 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 2: in through the canyon. The people were silent, and Moses 176 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 2: paced the camp, gathering them to the base of the mountain. 177 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 2: He looked to them and said, your sin was an 178 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 2: intense sin. I am going back up to the Lord, 179 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:58,319 Speaker 2: and perhaps there is atonement for what you have done. 180 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 2: So Moses left and the people watched him ascend back 181 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 2: up the mountain. Moses spoke before God and said, they 182 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:11,440 Speaker 2: have sinned greatly against you, Gods of gold. Moses cut 183 00:12:11,520 --> 00:12:15,200 Speaker 2: himself off and clenched his fist, his eyes closed and 184 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 2: his face held back tears. Please forgive them, Moses whispered, 185 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:24,000 Speaker 2: But if you do not kill me instead of them. 186 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:28,520 Speaker 2: Moses trembled as he said these words. If a simple 187 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 2: sacrifice would not suffice, Moses wanted to stand between God 188 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:36,440 Speaker 2: and them as atonement. There was a gentle silence between them. 189 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:39,920 Speaker 2: The Lord said to Moses, whoever is sinned against me, 190 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:44,200 Speaker 2: I will require something from them, and then he sent 191 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:47,760 Speaker 2: Moses back down the mountain. God would not blot out 192 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 2: his people. He promised Jacob that his seed would spring 193 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 2: forth a mighty nation and all nations would be redeemed. 194 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 2: He would not waver from that promise. Hundreds of years prior, 195 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:02,440 Speaker 2: Jacob wrestled with God and the dead of night. Jacob 196 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:05,080 Speaker 2: was flawed and filled with sin, but he clung to 197 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:09,559 Speaker 2: God for blessing. So he renamed him Israel, which means 198 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:13,680 Speaker 2: wrestles with God. Now the people of Israel would continue 199 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 2: to sin, be flawed, but cling to God for blessing. 200 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 2: They would continue to wrestle with God, and He would 201 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:24,680 Speaker 2: still bless them. A great plague fell upon Israel that day, 202 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:28,080 Speaker 2: Yet in the midst of their punishment, there was hope 203 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 2: and mercy. God would not depart from them. 204 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 3: We opened today's reading with Moses on the mountain alone. 205 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:42,320 Speaker 3: He spent forty days and nights hearing from God on 206 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:45,600 Speaker 3: that mountain, and in that period of time, the people 207 00:13:45,640 --> 00:13:49,640 Speaker 3: began to worry. The Israelites could still see God's consuming 208 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 3: fire on the mountain top. He had not gone missing 209 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 3: in action, but they began to doubt if Moses would 210 00:13:56,360 --> 00:13:59,959 Speaker 3: ever return. As we've already seen in their short time, 211 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:02,840 Speaker 3: I'm out of Egypt. God's people were quick to complain, 212 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:07,840 Speaker 3: and a grumbling, complaining heart can quickly become a wandering 213 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:11,760 Speaker 3: and even sinful heart. The people tell erin to make 214 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 3: them gods, little g to protect them and to provide 215 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:18,280 Speaker 3: for them. Barely a month has passed now since God 216 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 3: told them not to have any God before them, any 217 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 3: other kind of God, lest they break his commandments. But somehow, 218 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 3: in their sinfulness, they wanted a God again, little g 219 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 3: that they could see and touch. Even if this God 220 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 3: was a fantasy. Erin doesn't resist. He gathers all the 221 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 3: gold he can find from them and fashions a golden cap. 222 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 3: They build an altar and begin to worship this counterfeit 223 00:14:45,640 --> 00:14:50,880 Speaker 3: phony God. One sin bursts another, and soon the people 224 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:56,320 Speaker 3: engage in all manner of revelry, seeking to gratisfy their flesh. 225 00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 3: They've all but forgotten the greatness and the glory and 226 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:04,160 Speaker 3: the holiness of God. But God has not forgotten them. 227 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:08,040 Speaker 3: He isn't blind to their sins. He tells Moses what 228 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:10,440 Speaker 3: these people have done, and that he wants to burn 229 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 3: with anger against them and even destroy them. Moses doesn't 230 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:19,200 Speaker 3: excuse the actions of his people, but he does intercede. 231 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 3: He advocates for them. In an impassioned plea. He speaks 232 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 3: to God of the promises that he had made to Abraham, 233 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 3: Isaac and Jacob. God hears Moses and turns from his anger. 234 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 3: Moses descends the mountain and destroys the calf and the altar. 235 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 3: He throws the stone tablets God had given him on 236 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:43,560 Speaker 3: the ground and breaks them. Yes, he's angry, very angry. 237 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 3: When he confronts Aaron. Rather than his own mistake, Aaron 238 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 3: tries to justify it. Here we see two very different leaders. 239 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:55,960 Speaker 3: Moses was a strong leader who turned to God in 240 00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 3: times of distress. But Erin listened to the people, been 241 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 3: to their will, and turned against God. It is a costly, 242 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 3: terrible sin. Moses enlist the Levite priest to go through 243 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:12,200 Speaker 3: the camp and shed blood in God's name. Three thousand 244 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:16,560 Speaker 3: of God's people died that day, judged for their unfaithfulness. 245 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:20,040 Speaker 3: Moses went up to speak to God again and asked 246 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:24,120 Speaker 3: for forgiveness for his people. God reminded Moses that he 247 00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 3: cannot allow sin to go unpunished. He cannot allow there 248 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 3: is always a price for sin, and the price is death. 249 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 3: For the Scripture says in the Book of Romans, the 250 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:39,800 Speaker 3: wages of sin is death. Because of sin, our names 251 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:43,640 Speaker 3: are blotted out of the book of God. But because 252 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:46,520 Speaker 3: of his grace and because of what Christ has done 253 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:49,480 Speaker 3: for us, and shedding his blood on the cross, we 254 00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 3: can have our names now written in the Lamb's Book 255 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 3: of life. The question is your name there? In God's 256 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:03,960 Speaker 3: words to Moses, we find hope and enduring faithfulness as 257 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:07,800 Speaker 3: well as holiness. The people is sinned. There is a 258 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:10,399 Speaker 3: price to pay, a terrible price. But God will not 259 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:13,920 Speaker 3: forsake them, He will not abandon them. His presence will 260 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:18,600 Speaker 3: continue to be with his people. God, we know that 261 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 3: you are a holy God, and this passage of scripture 262 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 3: is a reminder that we are to be devoted to 263 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:30,200 Speaker 3: you and you only. May we trust in you always 264 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:33,719 Speaker 3: and obey you in the power of your spirit. We 265 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:36,879 Speaker 3: do confess our sins and ask that You forgive us 266 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:41,880 Speaker 3: of every sin through your son Jesus Christ. Amen. Thank 267 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 3: you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. 268 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:49,440 Speaker 3: I'm doctor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download thepray dot 269 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:52,639 Speaker 3: Com app and make prayer a priority in your life. 270 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:55,959 Speaker 3: If you've enjoy this podcast, share it with someone you know, 271 00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 3: someone you love, because by sharing this podcast, you can 272 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:03,560 Speaker 3: make it difference in someone else's life. And if you 273 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:06,760 Speaker 3: want more resources on how to tap into God's power 274 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:10,440 Speaker 3: for Christian Living. Be sure to visit jack Christian Living. 275 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:14,480 Speaker 3: Be sure to visit Jackraham dot org. God Bless you. 276 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:23,320 Speaker 1: This episode is sponsored by Meta Share, an innovative healthcare 277 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 1: solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality. 278 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 4: Welcome to the pre News podcast, where hope is our 279 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:35,640 Speaker 4: only bias. Each day, we'll unpack the most prominent stories 280 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:39,240 Speaker 4: happening in the news and offer a Christian perspective. We 281 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 4: won't shy away from the hard topics, and we won't 282 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:45,480 Speaker 4: dilute the hopeful message of Christ. This is more than 283 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 4: a daily brief on the news. It's a way to 284 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 4: be informed and transformed. Listen to pre News on the 285 00:18:52,119 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 4: iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.