CONSEQUENCES |
We may as well be honest and admit that sin can be a lot of fun at first. It
allows us the delusion that we are free to do our own thing without any
accountability towards God. We might even have the impression that we can
'feel good' and do whatever 'turns us on' without deadly consequences.
Israel was just beginning to learn what it meant to become the people of God.
They were not invited to enjoy new freedom, allowed to do their own thing.
They were accountable before God as their King.
The Israelites totally ignored the voice of God they heard from Mt. Sinai.
They thought they could run their lives as they saw fit so they built a golden
calf and worshiped it defying the Holy One who said, "Thou shalt have no
other gods before me." Ex. 32:33-34 stresses the reality that there will be
consequences beyond the control of human beings if they turn their backs on
God's word. The Israelites had no say as to what would happen once they
defied God by building this idol. The Lord told Moses, 33And the Lord said
to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.
34Now therefore, go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you.
Behold, My Angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit for
punishment, I will visit punishment upon them for their sin.” They could insist
that God was unfair treating them so harshly, they could have even shouted
their defiance, but the outcome of their actions was determined by God alone.
Just before these words, when Moses entered the camp seeing their wild
behavior, he smashed the stones with the Ten Commandments signifying that
Israel had broken their Covenant with God. As they stood there helplessly
watching, their precious golden idol, built at great expense, was ground into
dust. This gold dust was poured into their water, and they were forced to
drink it. Their silly idol not only was unable to protect them from God's
wrath, it was the cause of this anger they encountered.
1. Three thousand were put to the sword by the Levites at the command of
Moses, the servant of G-d.
2. No one was left to protest at the unfair treatment directed by G-d's
representative.
3. Every Israelite learned that day that their King exercised His right to
govern them under the Covenant they were given.
4. They repented and mourned when they heard that the Presence of God
would no longer dwell in the midst. Now who would save them from
starvation, thirst, enemies?
5. They watched in sorrow as Moses moved his tent outside of camp.
6. Imagine what this first generations of Israelites would say to our
promiscuous generation of our day. You may dance and play ignoring the
Lord God now, but there will be a price to pay that you cannot escape.
As serious as this stiuation was, it was nothing to what is going to happen
when the Holy One comes to judge all mankind. Every man, woman and
child, regardless of where one lives will be called before the Holy One. We are
forced to face reality when we read Revelation 6:12-16 which reminds all of us
that there are consequences for any person daring to reject God's authority
and God's word.
12And I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake;
and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became as
blood; 13and the stars of the heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig tree casteth her
unripe figs when she is shaken of a great wind. 14And the heaven was removed
as a scroll when it is rolled up; and every mountain and island were moved out
of their places. 15And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the chief
captains, and the rich, and the strong, and every bondman and freeman, hid
themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains; 16and they say to the
mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that
sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17for the great day of
their wrath is come; and who is able to stand?
Prayer: Holy One of Israel, grant me the joy of walking in your love that I
may fellowship with you now and through eternity. I claim the 'Blood of the
Lamb' as my only hope, and invite your Spirit to govern my life. Amen
allows us the delusion that we are free to do our own thing without any
accountability towards God. We might even have the impression that we can
'feel good' and do whatever 'turns us on' without deadly consequences.
Israel was just beginning to learn what it meant to become the people of God.
They were not invited to enjoy new freedom, allowed to do their own thing.
They were accountable before God as their King.
The Israelites totally ignored the voice of God they heard from Mt. Sinai.
They thought they could run their lives as they saw fit so they built a golden
calf and worshiped it defying the Holy One who said, "Thou shalt have no
other gods before me." Ex. 32:33-34 stresses the reality that there will be
consequences beyond the control of human beings if they turn their backs on
God's word. The Israelites had no say as to what would happen once they
defied God by building this idol. The Lord told Moses, 33And the Lord said
to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.
34Now therefore, go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you.
Behold, My Angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit for
punishment, I will visit punishment upon them for their sin.” They could insist
that God was unfair treating them so harshly, they could have even shouted
their defiance, but the outcome of their actions was determined by God alone.
Just before these words, when Moses entered the camp seeing their wild
behavior, he smashed the stones with the Ten Commandments signifying that
Israel had broken their Covenant with God. As they stood there helplessly
watching, their precious golden idol, built at great expense, was ground into
dust. This gold dust was poured into their water, and they were forced to
drink it. Their silly idol not only was unable to protect them from God's
wrath, it was the cause of this anger they encountered.
1. Three thousand were put to the sword by the Levites at the command of
Moses, the servant of G-d.
2. No one was left to protest at the unfair treatment directed by G-d's
representative.
3. Every Israelite learned that day that their King exercised His right to
govern them under the Covenant they were given.
4. They repented and mourned when they heard that the Presence of God
would no longer dwell in the midst. Now who would save them from
starvation, thirst, enemies?
5. They watched in sorrow as Moses moved his tent outside of camp.
6. Imagine what this first generations of Israelites would say to our
promiscuous generation of our day. You may dance and play ignoring the
Lord God now, but there will be a price to pay that you cannot escape.
As serious as this stiuation was, it was nothing to what is going to happen
when the Holy One comes to judge all mankind. Every man, woman and
child, regardless of where one lives will be called before the Holy One. We are
forced to face reality when we read Revelation 6:12-16 which reminds all of us
that there are consequences for any person daring to reject God's authority
and God's word.
12And I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake;
and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became as
blood; 13and the stars of the heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig tree casteth her
unripe figs when she is shaken of a great wind. 14And the heaven was removed
as a scroll when it is rolled up; and every mountain and island were moved out
of their places. 15And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the chief
captains, and the rich, and the strong, and every bondman and freeman, hid
themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains; 16and they say to the
mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that
sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17for the great day of
their wrath is come; and who is able to stand?
Prayer: Holy One of Israel, grant me the joy of walking in your love that I
may fellowship with you now and through eternity. I claim the 'Blood of the
Lamb' as my only hope, and invite your Spirit to govern my life. Amen
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|