Honesty & Confession

Honesty & Confession

Text: Exodus 32:15-25

Introduction

Moses was bringing the law of God to be placed in the Ark of the Covenant. What a gift to speak of God’s desire to provide atonement for His chosen people!

(vv15-16)

The law of God, written by God, coming down to reveal Himself to them; His perfect holiness.

This was not Moses’ own law, but rather God’s law!

Quote: The law was never man’s word about God, but God’s Word to man. This is why it is still binding today. [Ryken, P. G., & Hughes, R. K. (2005). Exodus: saved for God’s glory (p. 997). Crossway Books.]

Every covenantal requirement was verbal up until this point.

Written or spoken, when coming from God, it is sacred, holy, and forever truth!

Let’s clarify something about the Christian faith:

The life of separation has NOTHING to do with Christians just having a bunch of “hangups,” but rather God’s divine commands still carry with them the FULL WEIGHT of GOD’S AUTHORITY!

(vv17-18)

A foreign noise had reached the ears of Joshua.

It wasn’t the noise of war between men, but it was the noise of war against the holiness of God.

What may seem like songs of praise to men’s ears, it actually songs of idolatry to the ears of God.

DON’T MISS this picture of the HUMAN CONDITION:

God has written out his law so we can know how he wants us to live. He has sent a Savior to come down and reveal his will. And what have we been busy doing? We have been breaking his law left and right, making idols, worshiping our own gods, throwing wild parties, and basically living any way we please. Have you been walking with God, or have you been doing your own thing and hoping that God wouldn’t notice?[Ryken, P. G., & Hughes, R. K. (2005). Exodus: saved for God’s glory (p. 998). Crossway Books.]

(vv19-20)

Here is a truth we should all agree with: Sooner or later God will always confront your sin.

REMEMBER, God had agreed not to kill them, but, their sin would still need to be dealt with.

Facing head on the consequences of their sin.

Yes, forgiveness is made available, but the consequences remain inevitable.

God ushering in the consequences as a result of our sin is used by God to teach us to never do the same thing again.

Sanctification does not begin and end the moment you confess your sin. Everything doesn’t just go back to normal without any damage or scars.

Quote: The ongoing process of sanctification needs to take place. Even after sin is forgiven, it has to be dealt with in a godly way that leads to real progress in godliness. [Ryken, P. G., & Hughes, R. K. (2005). Exodus: saved for God’s glory (p. 999). Crossway Books.]

QUESTION — Was Moses’ anger justified?

Most of the time, our anger is unrighteous!

Our frustration builds until we lash out.

Quote: Such anger does not come from a zeal for God and his glory; it’s all about us and what we’re not getting. [Ryken, P. G., & Hughes, R. K. (2005). Exodus: saved for God’s glory (p. 1000). Crossway Books.]

I believe Moses’ anger was seen as righteous before God.

First — On this occasion, God never rebuked Moses for what he did.

Second — On this occasion, Moses was anger FOR GOD and not for himself. (Not the case when he smote the rock at Kadesh)

Moses illustrates the guilt of all before God’s law.

The holy law of God places all people in the same category; law breakers, sinners, rebells, deserving of judgment and no path to mercy and grace.

James 2:10 “10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

Moses brought them to the point of humiliation.

Notice how he made them drink it!

Augustine thought it showed how the people had to swallow their ungodliness.

The POINT is this: Idols are meant to be annihilated and never tolerated.

Quote: “anything which displaces God in my heart. It may be something which is quite harmless in itself, yet if it absorbs me, if it be given the first place in my affections and thoughts, it becomes an “idol.” It may be my business, a loved one, or my service for Christ. Any one or any thing which comes into competition with the Lord’s ruling me in a practical way, is an “idol.” (A.W. Pink)

APPLICATION

Question — Is there anything that displaces God in your heart?

Question — Is there anything that is competing against God for your attention?

What do we desire? What do we praise? What do we think about? What do we pursue? These are the things that replace God in our hearts, and the only safe way to deal with them is to get rid of them altogether. [Ryken, P. G., & Hughes, R. K. (2005). Exodus: saved for God’s glory (p. 1001). Crossway Books.]

As Moses never gave the people the opportunity to go back to their idol, let us also grind our idols down until they are dust.

(v21)

It sounds like Moses was almost being sympathetic.

Aaron feared man MORE than he feared God.

The particular sin of idolatry was committed by each individual, but Aaron was guilty of leading them to such debauchery.

This should move every pastor, teacher, and leader to teach according to TRUTH, NOT EMOTION!

Moses called it a GREAT SIN. Therefore, God placed the blame right where it belonged.

CHURCH LEADERS — Moses was balanced with sensitivity towards Aaron while encouraging him to take full responsibility.

(vv22-24)

You would think at this point, Aaron would be ready to make a full confession. NOT SO MUCH!

“Thou knowest the people”

Moses’ response could have been, “Yes I do. You should know how I would have responded to their carnal desires”

When a leader leaves you with responsibility, you are to handle all matters the way he would.

Christ did that with us!!!

(vv23-24) Aaron was down-playing his idolatrous leadership.

Notice the mistakes of Aaron’s confession:

First — He told Moses to back off

“What’s your problem?”

“Why make a big deal out of this”

“You are just against me”

Second — He tried to blame shift

They ride the coat tail of their parents.

They blame their spouse.

The pastor didn’t handle it the right way.

I wasn’t treated fairly by my boss.

She pushed me.

They simply mention things that are irrelevant to the main issue; THEIR PERSONAL SIN!

Third — He refused to admit his sin

Aaron failed to mention how the calf was his own creation.

All idol are always our own creation.

Aaron was trying to paint a picture where he is faded completely out.

Aaron was actually the STAR ROLE!

(v25) The person to blame for the sin is always ourselves.

We would be much better off if we dealt with our sin honestly and regularly:

Psalm 51:3-4 “3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: And my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And done this evil in thy sight: That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, And be clear when thou judgest.”

Luke 15:21 “21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.”

Luke 18:13 “13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”

Don’t miss this AMAZING TRUTH about confessing our sins:

When we take the blame, we can give it over to Jesus.

This is exactly what Jesus did when he died on the cross!

1 Peter 2:24 “24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

True life and healing begins when we honestly acknowledge and confess our sins!

CONCLUSION

Let us keep in mind that WE ARE THE CHURCH (mention the graphic). Our love more for our sin will result in robbing the church of progress in striving together for the faith of the gospel.