30 May 2017, Ex 32 出32章, The People Have Corrupted 众百姓已败坏

Posted on May 28, 2017 in Devotions, Exodus |

Scripture Reading        : Ex 32

Theme                             : The People Have Corrupted

 

Unbelief.

Despite all that God had said and done, and all that Israel had promised to do (19:8), the nation did not know how to live by faith. Moses had been gone forty days (Deut. 9:11ff.), and the people had become impatient. They still had the fire and cloud to assure them of God’s presence, but that was not enough. They wanted another visible representation of Jehovah to encourage them. It was unbelief: “Whoever believes will not act hastily” (Isa. 28:16).

Compromise.

Aaron was supposed to be the spiritual leader in the absence of Moses, but instead he gave in and let the people have their way. When confronted with his sin, Aaron blamed the people, Moses, and the furnace (vv. 22–24), but he did not blame himself.

Intercession.

Had Moses been a selfish man, he could have become the founder of a new nation, but he loved the people and prayed for their forgiveness. (See Luke 23:34; Rom. 9:1–3.) He reminded God of His covenant and of the glory He would lose if the nation were destroyed. When you pray, remind God of His promises and seek to magnify His glory.

Discipline.

We all should heed the psalmist’s wise words: “You who love the Lord, hate evil” (Ps. 97:10). God in His grace forgives the sinner, but in His government, He must punish the sin. This judgment may seem cruel to us, but the people had been warned against idolatry and had willfully disobeyed God. God had to teach them early not to act like the heathen nations around them. Israel had to remain a separated people, or God could not work out His great purposes through them.[1]


Praying the Scripture

  1. When the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people started to turn away from God and worshipping other gods. (Ex 32:1) Impatience can kill (Ex 32:10). If God delayed, will you be so impatient that you turn away from Him and worship other gods who give you what you want immediately? Let’s pray that we humble ourselves and wait for Him because our God know the best timing for everything. Impatience is a sign of pride, arrogance and self-centeredness.
  2. The Lord is so furious with their rebellious and their hardened hearts. So the LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.” (Ex 32:9-10) The Lord were so angry that he wanted to judge the Israelites and raise Moses up into a great nation. This is a fantastic news for Moses. Yet we see Moses is more concern about the glory of God and the promises of God rather than his personal gain and reputation. This is truly a great man of God.

[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, With the Word Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), Ex 32:1.

 
 
 
 

经文：出32章

主题：众百姓已败坏

 

不信

尽管神过去所言所行的一切，而以色列更是承诺要遵行神的诫命（19:8），但他们仍不懂得如何凭信心生活。摩西才离开40天（申9:11），众百姓就变得很不耐烦。他们仍然可看见云柱火柱为神同在的凭据，但他们还觉不足，想要另一个外在象征才感安心。这就是不信，因信靠的人必不着急”（赛 28:16）。

妥协

摩西不在的时候，亚伦应当担任众百姓的属灵领导，但他却做妥协，任由他们而行。而当摩西质问他的罪行时，亚伦反倒指责众百姓、摩西和火炉（22-24节），却没有责怪自己。

代祷

如果摩西是一个自私的人，他早已是一个新国家的建国者了，但他爱众百姓，并为他们求神饶恕。 （路23:34；罗9:1-3）。他提醒神自己所立的约；以色列国若就此被销毁，神也将失去祂自己的荣耀。你祷告的时候，请提醒神祂所作的应许，并寻求要彰显祂的荣耀。

管教

我们都应该听从诗人明智的话：“你们爱耶和华的，都当恨恶罪恶”（诗97:10）。神在祂的恩典里赦免了罪人，但因着祂的义，神必须惩罚罪恶。这里所行的审判或许看似残酷，但在充分告诫了众百姓敬拜偶像的后果之后，他们仍决议违背神。神必须快快管教他们不得行事如周边的异国一样。以色列必须分别为圣，否则神无法借着他们成就祂的大工。

 


用经文祷告

  1. 当百姓见摩西迟延不下山，他们就开始背离神、转向敬拜其它偶像。 （出32:1）急躁的灵是致命的（出32:10）。如果神延迟祂的计划，你是否会感到不耐烦，又因其它假神（偶像）能立马给你心中所欲而转向敬拜它们？让我们祈祷能谦卑自己，并耐心仰望神，因祂的时间是最好的。急躁是骄傲、傲慢和自我为中心的表现。
  2. 耶和华因百姓的叛逆和刚硬的心，感到极为愤怒。于是，耶和华对摩西说：“我看这百姓真是硬着颈项的百姓。你且由着我，我要向他们发烈怒，将他们灭绝，使你的后裔成为大国”（出32:9-10）主如此生气，要审判以色列全国，并让摩西自成一个伟大的国家。这对摩西来说本该是一个很好的消息。然而，摩西在乎的不是个人利益和声誉，而是神的荣耀和应许。这真是一位伟大属神的人。