Golden Calf

mooo-ving on

Exodus 32:7–14 ESV

7 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’ ” 9 And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. 10 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.” 11 But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’ ” 14 And the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.

Focus —> Moses intercedes to God on behalf of the people, establishing a role that leaders take in faith communities.

Function —> As Christians we are called to stand in the gap for others.

We all have responsibilities.

—> We are responsible for those in our care.

—> We can’t leave people wandering in the wilderness, we have to help them finish the journey.

—> God

We all have a tribe of Isrealites

forgetful

People forget what God has done for them.

idol worshippers

People are distracted by other things.

stiff necked

People think that they know what is best.

3. We are all called to prayer

a. We remember who’s people they really are.

—> All people are God’s people and are never outside of God’s love.

b. We pray for others in a sense of their past, present, and future.

—> Even though we acknowledge the past, realizing where we are now, we know everyone has the promise of a future. Don’t dwell on the past HOPE for the future.

c. Prayer doesn’t change God’s mind it changes ours.

—> Moses didn’t sway God, Moses took ownership of the situation and chose to do something.