Exodus

Second-hand Christianity

“Then they said to Moses, ‘You speak with us, and we will hear, but let not God speak with us, lest we die.’” Exodus 20:19

In recent times I have met a person who brought to mind a term that I had not thought of or used for many years – a Second-hand Christian.

The song “Second-hand Rose” had some application to me as I received many hand-me-downs from my older brother. Both he and my younger sister always seemed to get new clothes but rarely me. One never seemed to really own that which was second-hand.

Israel was quite happy to receive the message second-hand through Moses. If God spoke directly to them there would be no question of authenticity and they would be held fully to account. By getting the message second-hand they could always question Moses’ ability to accurately communicate the message, his integrity or blame him if things went wrong.

There are multitudes in all religions that are quite happy to hear from a man what he perceives as truth but not hear directly from God Himself. The sad thing is that many Christians do exactly the same. They may attend church and listen to a preacher; they may listen to recorded sermons and even read Christian books but they will not hear from God directly for fear they will be held accountable to the truth.

The second-hand Christian of my recent acquaintance says he hasn’t time to read the Bible and pray daily but can listen to recorded sermons at times.  It would seem necessary to doubt that he really is a Christian.

A second-hand Christian is like a second-hand spouse. That is, a man does not live with his wife and neither does he communicate directly with her. All communication is through a third party. Would that be an intimate marital relationship? Of course not and neither is second-hand Christianity.

Is your Christianity first-hand or second-hand? Do you listen to, and speak with our Lord, through reading the Bible and prayer or is it built on gleaning information heard second-hand? The second-hand Christian I speak of is in error in many areas of doctrine and his behaviour reveals that he has little idea of true Christian living. He has made himself dependent upon another fallen human being when he could be dependent on Jesus Christ and His Word.

The Israelites thought that if they heard God directly they would die. The exact opposite would have been the case. If they both heard and received the Word of God they would know life.

Life is found only in being a first-hand Christian.

Taking Steps of Obedience

“How can we know the way?” John 14:5

The previous two articles have asked some life-changing questions and may have left some wondering what to do about it. The Bible has very direct and clear answers to many questions but this may not be one of them. The answer will have a different manifestation in ministry and life for each of us. But are there any guidelines? We will do well to see how Thomas responded to this very situation.

Jesus was explaining in more detail than before that He was going away for a time and that He would come back for them. He explained that they already knew where He was going and the way for them (v 4). Thomas was not the only disciple who did not understand what Jesus meant by this. It may be just that they did not want to display their ignorance. We are no different. We would rather remain proud and ignorant than humble ourselves and ask the question. Thomas should be commended for asking the unuttered question on the lips of all the disciples.

Can it be that after reading the last two articles you responded to the Lord with the same question that Thomas asked the Lord? “How can we know the way?” In your heart you have said to the Lord, “I will” but what now?

Having made an act of will to obey Jesus Christ and the Word of God the next step is to take steps of obedience but like the disciples you may think you do not know the way. Jesus told the disciples they did know the way but they just respond with, “Duhhh” except Thomas.

It would be spiritually foolhardy to wait for or ask for a sign. We would most likely get the same answer that the disciples received, “You know the way.”

Jesus Himself is the way. How that works out in our individual lives will vary according to several things. Each believer is unique and any attempt to make us uniform is like having all players in a sporting team play the same position.

Jesus is the way. The disciples will have walked with Him and learned from Him for more than three years by the time He departed. What they needed to do was keep on doing the same. That is what He expects of us as well. As we walk with Him and learn of Him He will lead and guide us in our way. Obedience to His word and the Holy Spirit’s leading is absolutely critical. Anything else is rebellion against the first commandment. “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3) making ourselves god just as Satan induced Adam & Eve to do (Genesis 3:5-6).

Something of which to Boast

“In God we boast all day long, and praise your name forever.” (Psalm 44:8)

The psalmist wrote these words after reviewing Israel’s history. In particular, he had reminisced on the biblical record of the events surrounding Israel’s entrance into Canaan. This would have included the exodus from Egypt under Moses’ leadership and the entrance into Canaan under Joshua’s leadership.

The psalmist acknowledges that the great victories along the way and the expulsion of the inhabitants of Canaan were by the hand of the Lord. There were so many memorable miracles and victories that provoke worship of the Lord. There were occasions where all Israel did was “watch and see the salvation of the Lord.” They didn’t even have to lift a finger on some occasions. Generally, though, there was a cooperation or moving together of man and God.

Now that Israel was in the land all credit must go to the Lord who brought them out of slavery into His liberty. The Lord had delivered them in the past – so they could be confident He would do so again in the future, and would fulfil His Covenant with Abraham.

At the time of writing this Psalm, Israel was in disarray, having been plundered by its enemies and made a reproach among nations. The other nations made scorn of them and derided them and Israel was greatly dishonoured.

The ungodly were prospering and mocking those who remained faithful to the Lord. Israel as a nation had turned away from the Lord but there was still (as always) a remnant of faithful people in Israel. This faithful remnant bore the brunt of the mockery, because they continued to confess the God of Israel as God of all; yet the condition of the nation denied that their God had any strength.

We live in a similar world today. The ungodly seem to prosper even though they shake the fist at God and, in one way or another, ridicule true believers. Believing Jews are similarly mocked by other Jews for believing that Jesus Christ is the fulfilment of the Covenant.

We may well, with the psalmist, wonder why God does not intervene, why He “hides His face” and leaves us apparently at the mercy of the ungodly. Of course, it is only a short while until the Lord comes for us and delivers Israel once again. He will vindicate our faith and that of the believing remnant of Israel with great splendour and power.

Promise Keeper

“Ah, Lord God! Will you make a complete end of the remnant of Israel?” (Ezekiel 11:13)

Periodically throughout Israel’s history the question of the nation’s survival has arisen. The first occasion is recorded in Exodus 32 when Israel tested the Lord by making a molded calf to represent the Lord. This was in violation of the second commandment.

In response the Lord threatened to consume the nation and begin again with Moses. Moses was a descendant of Abraham so the Covenant God made with Abraham could still have been fulfilled; but what about the covenants, promises and prophecies concerning Jacob’s twelve sons (Genesis 49)?

It would seem that the Lord had no intention of carrying this out but was testing Moses as to his fitness to lead God’s people. In Moses’ prayer he says that beginning again would give the Gentile nations opportunity to blaspheme the Lord by saying He could not do what He promised.

We live in what Jesus and Paul call “the last days” and again the question of the Lord fulfilling His promises and covenant with Israel is in question. Some are saying that God has dispensed with Israel and the church has replaced it, but what of the Lord’s very specific and detailed promises concerning Israel? Is He not able to deliver? Moses believed He could.

The Lord is emphatic in Ezekiel  saying, “I will gather you …” and “I will give you the land of Israel” (11:17); “I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them” and “they shall be My people and I will be their God” (vv 19, 20).

If we believe that the Lord God of Israel will renege on His covenant with Abraham, David and Israel, what assurance do we have that He will not renege on His word regarding us? Can there be any assurance of salvation if the Lord is a covenant breaker?

The Bible tells us from cover to cover that our God is a covenant and promise keeper. If not, the seventh commandment would be nonsense.

In Romans 11 Paul makes it clear that Israel has a primary role in this world’s future in the plan of God. The apostle John, in recording the word of the Lord in Revelation 7, also makes it clear that Israel will preach the Gospel to all gentile nations at a future time.

The church has not replaced Israel with regard to the Covenant and promises of God to Israel. The Lord will do just as He has said with Israel and with the church, but they are quite separate entities.

This has implications to all of us who have trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. It is the fact that God keeps His word without fail that provides us with assurance of salvation.

When your children ask …

“When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’” (Joshua 4:21)

There is much that can be learned on the subject of parenting by observing how the Lord led Israel, particularly during the 40 years they spent in the wilderness while a new generation was being groomed to enter the Promised Land.

The phrase “when your children ask” is also recorded in verse 6 with regard to this event and similar phrases are recorded in Exodus 12:26; 13:14 and Deuteronomy 6:20 concerning other significant events. It seems we have a parenting principle that we would do well to emulate.

The next generation of Israelites would be provoked to question their fathers concerning the piles of stones. One pile was of smooth river stones on the bank and the other pile was of rough stones in the river. Both would look out of place even apart from being made into a pile.

These provocations were intended to be teaching tools to assist parents explain who their God is and what He has done to the next generation. Are there any events in the Christian life that might provoke our children to ask questions?

Actually there are many in the home. Your daily quiet time should raise interest as will the reading materials and conversations parents have in the home. The two most obvious ones in the church environment are baptism and the Lord’s Table. We should take advantage of these even if a question is not forthcoming.

In explaining the Lord’s Table and baptism to our children (and grandchildren) we explain the Gospel of grace through Jesus Christ to the next generation. We may not have a couple of piles of stones but we have something far better as a means of explaining the Gospel to our children and the unsaved.

Parents have the wonderful privilege of explaining the Gospel of Christ to the next generation and should take every opportunity to provoke their children to ask questions and respond clearly to them. God has given us an example to follow.

Lying Wonders

“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9)

Paul wrote to the Christians at Thessalonica that in the last days before Jesus Christ returns that great deceiver, Satan, will be as busy as ever trying to deceive people. Part of his repertoire will be “signs and wonders” or miracles. There is sufficient warning in the Bible to make us aware that not all miracles have their origin in God. In Deuteronomy 13 Israel is warned against assuming that all miracles are of heavenly origin; they may have another source. By what measure were they were told to test the author of the miracle? The measure given is the Word of God, the Bible.

On a number of occasions this writer has either heard of or observed events that were miraculous. Many of these carry the mark of God and are not contrary to the Word of God. However, there have been some in which the context reveals that they were not of heavenly origin.

Can Satan originate miracles? The Bible attests that he can. He was able to copy the first three miracles that Moses performed in Egypt (Exodus 7:12 – rods became serpents; v 22 – water to blood; 8:7 – increased the number of frogs). We should not assume that these were the only miracles he originated. Satan performed miraculous feats in the temptations of Christ (Matthew 4) and he will do so in the tribulation period in order to deceive people (Revelation 13:13).

There is every reason in Scripture for us to test miracles against God’s Word just as Israel was commanded to do and not just accept all miracles as being of heavenly origin.

Satan’s purpose in performing miracles is always to deceive gullible unlearned people, including saints, who are not well grounded in the Word of God. We ought not to be surprised when those in religions (even those nominally Christian) with a high degree of superstition in their make up are easily seduced but it is sad when true believers are seduced by a miracle that does not have its origin in God.

How can we discern the origin of a miracle? We may by careful study and comparison with God’s word. The alternative is to be deceived.

Golden Calf – Pt 4 – God

“The Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people” (Exodus 32:14)

We need always to be careful we do not read Scripture through the lenses of our theology or biases. This passage does not say that He would not exact full penalty against those who sinned. The last few verses of the chapter emphasise that (vv 33-35). That which God relented of was the manner of execution which would mean the end of the genealogy through Israel’s (Jacob’s) twelve sons. Jacob had prophesied concerning his sons and among other things he had prophesied that kings would come from Judah’s descendants and One would be King forever.

Moses’ appeal to the Abrahamic Covenant was much more than to just land promises and Abraham having a multitude of physical descendants.

We note that God had distanced Himself from (v 7) and disowned (v 10) Israel because of their sin. However following Moses’ plea on the basis of the Abrahamic Covenant He again identifies Himself with Israel (v 14). This must have been sweet to the ears of Moses. Only when he had heard this was Moses prepared to leave God’s presence and go down to the people. Possibly the first thing most of us would want to do is go and accuse the people and maybe then return to God and seek mercy and forgiveness. Moses obtained forgiveness for the people before they were convicted of their sin.

We would do well to notice that at no time does God deal lightly with sin. It should also be noted that even though God forgave Israel’s “great sin” He had the tabernacle erected “outside the camp” (33:7) instead of in their midst.

God cannot overlook corporate sin in the church or personal sin or He would not be Holy and just. Sin in the church will put Jesus Christ outside the church and no longer in the midst.

Periodically there is a call to Israel “Who is on the Lord’s side” (v 26). The Lord is never on our side but He knows the need to frequently ask if we are on His side.

God is God and we will not avert judgment by pleading ignorance, blaming another or applying something that appears spiritual to our sinful ways. If we are not careful we may find ourselves offering a sacrifice to the Lord that is an abomination to Him.

Our appeal to Him will only be successful when based on Jesus Christ’s atonement by His shed blood on the cross.

Golden Calf – Pt 3 – Moses

“Moses pleaded with the Lord his God” (Exodus 32:11)

We cannot imagine the emotions that must have arisen in Moses at this time. He had been in the presence of God for some time and had just received two tablets of stone on which God Himself had written (Exodus 31:18). It must have seemed to him that every thing was going perfectly until God suddenly distanced Himself from and disowned the people of Israel saying they were Moses’ people and that Moses had brought them out of Egypt. Worse, God told Moses that the people had corrupted themselves (v 7).

Without seeing the evidence for himself Moses must have been bewildered by this sudden change of attitude by God toward Israel. All of a sudden Israel stood condemned. How would he respond? Would he demand to see evidence? Would he make excuses? No! He accepted God’s word on the matter.

God made a magnificent offer to Moses. He would wipe out all Israel except Moses and start again as He did with Abraham and then only Moses’ descendants would inherit the Abrahamic Covenant. However, Moses though he represented God to the people also recognised that he represented the people to God. He would have a failure on this point later but not here. He pleaded with God for the people.

He did not diminish the sin of the people nor did he make excuses. He knew and accepted that Israel had not kept their vow to obey the Lord and justice therefore demanded the death penalty be carried out.

Moses pleaded for mercy but not to the covenant that Israel had made with God (24:7) but to the unconditional Covenant that God had made with Abraham (v 13). He was also concerned for how God would be perceived by Egypt. The great signs were not just for Israel but that Egypt may know that the Lord is God alone (v 11; cf. 8:10; 9:29; 14:4).

In response to Moses plea Israel would not be destroyed immediately but they did not know how close they came to destruction.

Moses, full of righteous anger (v 19), came straight to the point. He destroyed the golden calf and made the people drink the water in which its powder was mixed. This was each individual acknowledging their part in this great sin and a sign of repentance. Then he demanded the people make a visible choice to follow the Lord. Even so, that day God’s righteous judgment on Israel began (v 28) and it would last forty years (vv 33-35).

We have no basis to claim righteousness on the basis of the Law because we all have sinned. Like Israel we are under death sentence (Romans 6:23). Our only basis for mercy is God’s unconditional Covenant made with Abraham and fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross.

Golden Calf – Pt 2 – The People

“Come make us a god that shall go before us” (Exodus 32:1)

One of the things we must always be on guard against is making God in our image or according to our imagination. History has shown that it is innate in the sin nature to do this and so we need to be watchful lest we too follow Israel’s example.

Moses had been up on the mountain with God for a long while and the people had no idea whether he would return to them or not (v 1). Like us, they were impatient and also like us they would prefer to have a God they can see. It would appear that the contingent that approached Aaron was a vocal minority (cf. v 28) who may have been as intimidating to others as they were to Aaron.

It is difficult to see from logic just why they wanted an image of God since they had the cloud by day, the fire by night, the manna daily and the memory of their miraculous deliverance from Egypt but such is the nature of sin.

Why did they claim that Moses brought them out of Egypt? Could a man do those great signs? No! It was God who brought them out so why did they say Moses brought them out?

The reason is the same as is used by us today and the clue is in their request. They knew they had made a covenant not to make an image of God. If that covenant was with God they would not be able to entice Aaron to do as they asked and not expect any sympathy from the people. However, by suggesting that the covenant was with Moses and with Moses’ words then it was just opinion against opinion.

Aaron then tried to make their abominable act appear spiritual by making sacrifices and a feast of celebration. How far from reality they were and did not know it.

Few people in our churches take time to really study God’s Word. It is easier to read or hear what others say and choose cafeteria style what we will accept. That way we avoid and sense of guilt when we do the abominable thing.

The consequences for this act of foolishness were not light. God disowned them (v 7) and condemned them to death (v 10) and the tabernacle would be outside the camp instead of in the midst (33:7). Moses intervention spread the execution of the sentence over a period of 40 years.

Like Aaron and Israel we are all too ready to minimise our sin and claim ignorance when we have made no attempt to discern the truth. We do so to our condemnation and the Lord’s just judgment.

Golden Calf – Pt 1 – Aaron

“Aaron had not restrained them, to their shame” (Exodus 32:25)

If Aaron were alive today he might be sought after by many churches to be their pastor. He had been seconded because Moses (his brother) had refused to speak to the people directly and therefore he wasn’t God’s choice for the role. As spokesperson for Moses, who was God’s spokesperson, Aaron was most likely seen as the number two in seniority. The commandments had been given (Exodus 20) and the people had declared they would do all the Lord had said (24:7) and it had been sealed as a blood covenant (24:8). The deal with a blood covenant is that if either party does not keep their part the penalty is death.

By making the golden calf Israel had not kept their part of the covenant and therefore God would be justified in destroying the nation (32:10) and in fact must do so or be unjust.

Why did Aaron lead the people astray? Moses clearly laid the blame for Israel’s sin on Aaron because he had allowed himself to be manipulated by the people (32:21) and there are several reasons why he was able to be so led:

  1. He did not spend time with God
  2. He was a democratic leader – he did what pleased the people
  3. He enjoyed the praise of men
  4. He enjoyed being #1 in Moses’ absence.

Aaron would be in demand today in many churches because he listens to the congregation and not to God. He did not see what he had done as being much of a sin but Moses corrected him calling it “a great sin” (there is no other kind). We, like Aaron prefer to call sin by some other name more politically correct but all sin is great sin.

Like us Aaron tried to methods to excuse his behaviour and shift blame. First, he blamed the people (v 22). If he knew the people were set on evil as he states then his sin is even worse for doing as they demanded.

Second, he tried to make what he had done appear spiritual (v 24). All he claimed to have done was throw the gold into the fire and, presto, out pops a golden calf. It must have been a Divine act and therefore divinely approved. How dare Moses criticize a Divine act!

However Moses did spend time with God and he knew that Israel had sinned greatly and were now under God’s condemnation and sentence of death.

We are our father’s children and like Adam when we sin we will call it by some less condemning name, blame someone else and as a last resort claim that God is responsible. Hopefully we will realise our gross error and repent.