We’ve been looking at Exodus 31 and how God told the Israelites that they were to keep the Sabbath. They were to observe it throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. Then, in Exodus 32:1-9, the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain. So, they gathered together and came to Aaron and told him to make for them gods to go before them because Moses was gone.
People can leave God so fast! Remember, Peter denied God (John 18:13-27). People can turn their back on God in the twinkling of an eye. I’m talking about people who have walked with God and known God. I’ve known people who have seen miracles and the hand of God was on them, and today, they’re drunk and lost.
How long does it take you to walk away? God says it was quickly. He got angry because they were saying that the gods of Egypt brought them up. God said, “No! They did not. I did.” Moses didn’t know what the people were doing while he was up on the mountain, but God did. Some of you who are closet Christians, or closet sinners, need to know. Nothing is hidden from God. Some of you lead double lives. But, nothing is hidden.
The Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and they are a stiff necked people.” Moses had been on the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights. He’d left the people to go to the mountain to receive from God the commandments and His covenant for them. It’s the reason Moses was up there. But, while he was gone, an atmosphere of frightening impatience by the people was created. They became frightened and fearful that Moses had left them. And, because of that, they figured that God was gone.
We can confuse some things in this day. We can think when a man or woman of God is not present, then that means God’s not present. Obviously, Moses was gone, but God was not. God is omnipotent, so He was in the camp. He knew what the people were doing. Let’s look at what drove these Israelites into becoming “idol worshippers”. I’m going to give you four principles of what qualifies us to become idol worshipers. You can get the rest of the message by clicking the link.
