Identity Pt 2

Jab 1

mercy[ˈmərsē]NOUNcompassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.

Who do you think of when you hear the word mercy? I know many will think of God, but for this few moments think of a person in your life that embodies the idea of Mercy.

-What does their attitude toward people make you feel when you think of them?

-Do you want to spend more time with them?

-Do they follow Jesus?

Is it easy to show someone mercy?

Right Hook

Today we are going to see a great expression of Mercy from God......and it was in direct response to a relationship.

Explanation

Exodus 32:3–14 NLT

All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!” Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf. Then he announced, “Tomorrow will be a festival to the Lord!” The people got up early the next morning to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. After this, they celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry. The Lord told Moses, “Quick! Go down the mountain! Your people whom you brought from the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. How quickly they have turned away from the way I commanded them to live! They have melted down gold and made a calf, and they have bowed down and sacrificed to it. They are saying, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.’ ” Then the Lord said, “I have seen how stubborn and rebellious these people are. Now leave me alone so my fierce anger can blaze against them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make you, Moses, into a great nation.” But Moses tried to pacify the Lord his God. “O Lord!” he said. “Why are you so angry with your own people whom you brought from the land of Egypt with such great power and such a strong hand? Why let the Egyptians say, ‘Their God rescued them with the evil intention of slaughtering them in the mountains and wiping them from the face of the earth’? Turn away from your fierce anger. Change your mind about this terrible disaster you have threatened against your people! Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You bound yourself with an oath to them, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven. And I will give them all of this land that I have promised to your descendants, and they will possess it forever.’ ” So the Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people.

Aaron’s sin

-He didn’t point them back to God saying we will wait till we hear from the Lord

-He didn’t say let me see what God would have me do......

-He couldn’t go up on the mountain if he had touched it he would have died

-Aaron wanted to please the people and give them what they wanted

verse 5 you can see Aaron recognized things were getting out of hand

Tomorrow will be a festival to the Lord! RIGHT?!?!?!

-Aaron was feeling pressure to think a certain way and act a certain way and he was overseeing the people in Moses’ absence

Israel’s Sin

-They didn’t wait on God

-They saw it was taking a long time

-There was no time frame given to them

-It’s kind of like when you are driving somewhere for the first time and you’re not quite sure where you are going.......sometimes to me it feels like it takes so long to get there, but when you go a second time or on the way back it feels shorter because you know what to expect.

-It made sense to find another God because so far it was this God that had protected them and fed them.....so we need to have a god to do those things so let’s make one since it seems our has left.

-This was a relationship issue....Israel still didn’t trust Moses or God and when things seem to go beyond what seemed normal or natural to them they responded with what they thought was wise

God’s Response Israel’s disobedience

-Moses you are the only one who seems to listen to me so I’ll just start again with you. Make your family line the one who survives and we will move past this.

Moses Intercedes for the people

-He cried out in defense of the people

-He said nothing of the merits of the people......Moses only talked to God about who he was and what he had promised.

-Moses couldn’t understand the depth of hurt this betrayal had caused God and we can see that in his questions......

-God why are you angry......you know they don’t fully understand yet.

Moses recognized that the people had sinned so he did not seek to justify their actions.

God’s responce to Moses’ plea

-Mercy

-As powerful as God is He still longs to engage in relationship

-God’s desire for relationship with his people and his love for Moses outweighs his desire for justice.

-There is still a price that is paid for the sin of Israel, but God shows mercy

As a result God relented of His threatened course of judgment. The word “relented” does not mean that God changed His mind but that He embarked on another course of action. The Hebrew word nāḥam suggests relief or comfort from a planned, undesirable course of action. God is not inflexible; He responds to individuals’ needs, attitudes, and actions.

Application

God’s desire for the people of Israel was to be a priestly nation

-Represent God to the world

-Speak on behalf of God

Last week our focus was our identity is found in the identity God created for his people to relate to him, combat sin and reflect his ways to the world.

This week scripture is showing us our identity in God is one surrounded by mercy for ourselves and others when we aren’t obedient.

How are we at showing mercy?

Titus 3:4–5 NLT

But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

people don’t need our anger.....God is slow to anger

people don’t need our justice......it is through the blood of Jesus we are made right in God’s eyes and not our own deeds so there is no room for our judgement.

understand there are still consequences for our actions and the actions of others.

-There was still consequences for Israel’s disobedience

Just like Jesus stood in the gap for us and took our punishment

-Moses stood before God pleading for mercy and the lives of God’s people

What does showing mercy look like in he midst of speaking the truth of the gospel?

-Mercy is the truth of the gospel

-For God so loved the world....he didn’t allow us to be destroyed or separated from him forever....he sent his only son....he had mercy on us.

Transition into communion