Sermon Tone Analysis

Context:

God spoke,

People scared.

Said, talk to Moses

Moses goes up mountain

Is there for 40 days

What is the problem?

-- people are impatient.

-- people are scared and vulnerable

-- peopel don't know what to do

-- so they do what they know

"During this period of waiting, there was time for them to meditate upon the law of God which they had heard, and to prepare their hearts to receive the further revelations that He might make to them." - PP315

---instead...

"Feeling their helplessness in the absence of their leader, they returned to their old superstitions." - PP3154

As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”

Who brought them out of Egypt?

This is the problem...

They repeatedly charge Moses with bad leadership...

- but he was not the leader.

They were not led by a man.

We always get ourselves in trouble as we look at humans

- instead of looking at God's leadership.

I always wondered,

How could Aarom so quickly say that....?

Said it because

- he thought they wouldn't.

- easy out

- backfired

"In the absence of Moses, the judicial authority had been delegated to Aaron, and a vast crowd gathered about his tent, with the demand, “Make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.”

The cloud, they said, that had heretofore led them, now rested permanently upon the mount; it would no longer direct their travels.

They must have an image in its place; and if, as had been suggested, they should decide to return to Egypt, they would find favor with the Egyptians by bearing this image before them and acknowledging it as their god.

Such a crisis demanded a man of firmness, decision, and unflinching courage; one who held the honor of God above popular favor, personal safety, or life itself.

But the present leader of Israel was not of this character.

Aaron feebly remonstrated with the people, but his wavering and timidity at the critical moment only rendered them the more determined.

The tumult increased.

A blind, unreasoning frenzy seemed to take possession of the multitude.

There were some who remained true to their covenant with God, but the greater part of the people joined in the apostasy.

A few who ventured to denounce the proposed image making as idolatry, were set upon and roughly treated, and in the confusion and excitement they finally lost their lives.

Aaron feared for his own safety; and instead of nobly standing up for the honor of God, he yielded to the demands of the multitude.

His first act was to direct that the golden earrings be collected from all the people and brought to him, hoping that pride would lead them to refuse such a sacrifice."

- PP 316-317

What is wrong with this verse

Other than the obvious idolatry.

--First it was Moses

Who brough the out.

He is gone,

So they make something else.

What brought them out now?

--- a golden calf...?

Think about that...

What does Aaron next?

- encourages greater sin!

"The people proclaimed, “These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.”

And Aaron basely permitted this insult to Jehovah.

He did more.

Seeing with what satisfaction the golden god was received, he built an altar before it, and made proclamation, “Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord.”

The announcement was heralded by trumpeters from company to company throughout the camp." - PP 317

What is wrong with this?

Peace offering are good.

Burnt offerings are good.

Commanded to do them.

--- NOT with a foreign idol!

This is all so spiritual.

They are very religeous.

--- All "Under the pretense of holding “a feast to the Lord,”"

They might say,

I have a real connection...

"How often, in our own day, is the love of pleasure disguised by a “form of godliness”!

A religion that permits men, while observing the rites of worship, to devote themselves to selfish or sensual gratification, is as pleasing to the multitudes now as in the days of Israel.

And there are still pliant Aarons, who, while holding positions of authority in the church, will yield to the desires of the unconsecrated, and thus encourage them in sin." - PP 317

Notice anything inaccurate with God's statement?

--- says, Moses brought them out...

Why?

--- He has disowned them.

--- covenant broken

Didn't God know this would happen?

--- yes

Why didn't he stop them?

"God might have checked the movement at the outset; but He suffered it to come to this height that He might teach all a lesson in His punishment of treason and apostasy."

- PP318

Think about this.

Is God rash?

Does he need to be talked out of His anger?

--- no

Then why this conversation.

--- for Moses

Tell me more.

Think about what God is offering Moses.

Now his life is hard.

This will make it easier...

It would have been a relief

To Moses.

But look at the reason

Moses says no.

--- Because or God's

Glory

Character

Name

"But Moses discerned ground for hope where there appeared only discouragement and wrath.

The words of God, “Let Me alone,” he understood not to forbid but to encourage intercession, implying that nothing but the prayers of Moses could save Israel, but that if thus entreated, God would spare His people."