And the Lord changed His mind...Exodus 32: 1-14

Introduction:

There are times in our Christian walk when i BELIEVE we CHRISTIANS find ourselves dealing with the HARSH REALITIES -OF LIFE…AND I BELIEVE AGAIN THAT IF WE ARE NOT SMART AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO DISCERN THE TRUTH OF THE GAMES THAT ARE BEING PLAYED…WE WILL LOSE.

EVERY DAY NO MATTER WHAT FIELD OR INDUSTRY…GAMES ARE BEING PLAYED.

GAMES THAT PREY ON THE WEAK BY profiteers…scammers -YOU KNOW THE ONES-WHO WORK DAY AND NIGHT TO STEAL YOUR MONEY-YOUR PERSONAL IDENTITY AND WORSE…YOUR JOY.

WITH THIS MORNING’S TEXT IS A MESSAGE OF GOD’S ABILITY TO CHANGE HIS MIND.

I KNOW MANY -PERHAPS NOT YOU-BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE MADE MISTAKES THAT ARE UNFORGIVABLE BY GOD…I KNOW THAT.

I KNOW ALSO THAT THERE IS A QUESTION THAT LINGERS—AM I LIVING RIGHT AND IF I AM LIVING RIGHT…WHY SO MUCH PAIN?

Well first—LETS REVIEW FOR JUST A MINUTE THE TEXT: READING FROM VERSES 9-14 NKJV.

HIGHLIGHT VERSE 14

And the Lord said to Moses, Go get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, This is your god O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt. And the Lord said to Moses, I have seen this people and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, And I will make of you a great nation. Then Moses pleaded with Him and said Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people Your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians speak and say, He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from your fierce wrath and relent from this harm to your people. Remember-Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob…your servants to whom you swore by your own self…and said to them, I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of I give to your descendants and they shall inherit it forever.

SO THE LORD RELENTED FROM THE HARM WHICH HE SAID HE WOULD DO TO HIS PEOPLE. May the Lord add a blessing to reading and hearing of His word…amen.

nOW YOU MAY ASK, REV. DR. TOBIAS…ALL THAT SOUNDS GOOD, BUT WE KNOW THE EGYPTIAN STORY-THAT STORY IS FAMOUS, BUT WHERE ELSE—WHAT OTHER TIMES CAN YOU SHOW US…WHERE GOD—REALLY GAVE SOMEONE ANOTHER CHANCE…WELL I’m glad that you asked, WHAT ABOUT Jonah, you remember Jonah DON’T YOU…HIS STORY OF BEING SWALLOWED UP BY A great fish-FOLKS HAVE SAID THAT WAS A whale of a tale, YET I LIKE…FOR IT SHOWS A YOUNG MAN’S LACK OF OBEDIENCE…AND HOW GOD REALLY SHOWED UP…REMEMBER Jehovah God GAVE COMMANDED “ARISE GO TO NINEVEH, THAT GREAT CITY AND CRY OUT AGAINST IT FOR THEIR WICKEDNESS HAS COME UP BEFORE ME. BUT JONAH AROSE TO FLEE TO TARSHISH FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. HE WENT DOWN TO JOPPA AND FOUND A SHIP GOING TO TARSHISH, SO HE PAID THE FARE AND WENT DOWN INOT IT TO HIDE FROM THE LORD.

BUT THE LORD SENT OUT A GREAT WIND ON THE SEA…THE MARINERS WERE AFRAID, AND EVERY MAN CRIED OUT TO HIS god. the shipped reeled and the wind hailed and out of fear they started throwing their cargo overboard to lighten the ship that it might not sink

the captain approached Jonah…I imagine before he had boarded their ship they had no trouble, but now-they could see-this new passenger has indeed brought them trouble. Jonah, had the ardasty to be asleep- yet the captain was fully aware that it was this man and this man’s god to whom they were caught up in this storm

“perhaps your God will consider us so that we may not perish”

This is such a story of God’s faithfulness to his people—Jona knew that he was the cause of their troubles and insisted that they throw him overboard.

But I must include…with this whale of a tale that God in his infinite mercy had already put a plan in place…God knew that Jona was on that ship and God knew that he was trying to flee from going to Ninevah and prophesing his word.

So you ask -Does God really change his mind…I believe so.

For he stretched out his hand…calmed the troubled waters…restored peace to those fishermen and even put Jona in a place…where he would learn just what it meant to Repent…to swallow his pride and go do what God had commanded him in the first place.

I see him stretching his hand of mercy--removing the guilt and the shame of His sind and given him a second chance.

Saying, I will remember their sin no more.

My little story:

My granddaughter, Gia loves board games....particularly monopoly. Do you remember Monopoly-each player is given approx. $1700 dollars —they roll the dice for their turn and whereever they land—if its a property or utility—they have the option to buy it. Now when you amass a lot of those properties and monopolize a section with all your houses and hotels…you are most likely going to win.

Gia gloats over how quickly she can buy up all the properties that bring in high rent…she even improves on them and builds houses and hotels. Now when a player lands on her property and doesn’t own it, they must pay her an exhorbitant amount of money-sometimes you get caught between a rock and a hard spot…you have some money left —but now you have to pay Gia and as this continues she is getting richer and richer....Oh she has the biggest smile on her face watching me go broke .

But we adults know the gist of this game and know that there is a bit of grace in it. For when a player rolls the dice and lands on Community Chest or chance-the charities…something good is about to happen.

I landed on chance—when it came to my turn -right after I had paid Gia just about all my money…my card said…GET OUT OF JAIL FREE. now for most people -what doe a get out of jail free card mean. it’s not money-or houses or land…but I saw into the future. I saw what most children cannot. When the bank recalls your loan, when you can’t meet your bills and collectors are calling or even knocking on your door…if you live right…if you have done people right…God will be there…and

God will show up.

Gia is just a child, one day she will see that houses and land cab never be more important that you’re relationship with God. I say this because great men-men who have their names on buildings and property-CFO and CEO’s —folk who have amassed great wealth have fallen..men who put their trust in things…do fall.

Some of you are old enough to remember —either reading about it in history books or your parents like mine retelling the story of the Great Depression between 1929 and 1939. -they called it Black Thursday. The stock market plummeted…the Pres. Franklin D Roosevelt helped the American people regain their faith in themselved.

Yet we went to war right afterward WW11- in 1941. They were desperate times and people-who put all that they had into the market…did desparate things.

MY FRIENDS-as I look back at that game of life with Gia…God has placed me in a position where I know to have a backup plan…a way out of what is really a very harsh game. A backup plan where you don’t place your trust and your hope —in things, but in Him...

Is there anyone here this morning that could use a backup plan? Notice -Gia was smiling from ear to ear, but Troy didn’t know the strategy I had -not to be up all night playing monopoly —let her win…So instead of him letting her win, he began to win…All of a sudden that smile was gone, tears formed in her little eyes-because uncle Troy didn’t know the game…nor my strategy to let her win.

But I did show her the value of having a get out of jail card—a free ride out of jail…my CHANCE to end the game with some dignity.

I seized the moment. Gia was grinning—Oh she’s going to owe me more money…my prayer was —oh I hope so, it’s getting late and this game is draining --

you collect money, buy houses and buildings to no avail.

I once questioned this game of life…no where on the board was a church, a synagoge, a temple or house of worship…it was so much like—the real thing.

No one —had a clue that without God in their life…nothing —nothing material, no sum of money---will give them the hope that is found in Jesus.

That get out of jail card---gave me HOPE in the system..at least the folk who put this game together understood the value of Community chest and having a second chance.

Gia couldn’t know…how happy I was to have that get out of jail card.

The realty-is this found in the word...anthropomorphism-or the use of human parts to describe the characteristics of God…

God who is a spirit…has showed up in many sundry ways for all of us…when I say his hand of mercy lifted me out of a miry clay…

or how he placed my feet on solid ground…or the beauty of Moses

experience up on that great mountain…you must have a relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob..to know what I’m talking about.

A God who took that young man and forced the mouth of that great fish to open and spit him out.

That God who knew Jonah and yet forgave him, that same God who knows us…and is just waiting on you--THE ALMIGHTY GOD…THE GOD OF THE MOUNTAINS gave Moses another chance, not so much his brother AARON, but Moses.

Oh my friends…if you live long enough you’ll see great men and women who have taken God for granted fall.

THE CFO OF BED, BATH AND BEYOND —dead…his death was ruled a SUICIDE…The tabloids speak of his involvement with a shady stock scheme—God knows.

GOD KNOWS AND GOD CARES!

How hard it must have been for Moses -laboring day and day out to bring the Israelites out of bondage only to hear them constantly whining about having to be out in the wilderness-with nothing to eat, no hot bread and fish…yet the bible says in all of their forty years-their garments never wore out and they had all their needs provided for by the Almighty.

Anthro-po-morphic —the language....of describing God --in humanlike description…

God showed up in the clouds by day and Jehova God showed up in the brilliant light at night…

God put a hedge of protection around these people and yet they were never satisfied. —ALL OF 40 YEARS…GOD WAS THERE WITH THEM.

Can I get a witness-this morning-have you noticed…if you wake up to go and get a class of water and glance out the window...even the night —is not really dark. but its lit with a million stars…and even in what you might think is your saddest moments…the brilliance of the sun continues to shine brightly as a constant reminder that —man born of woman -may have much sin, but man born of the Holy Spirit…can have—eternal life.

Who am i talking to this morning…don’t let the sins of this world monopolize just who you are and whose you belong to. The game of life is that you reach the finish line…not drag a trailer of stuff, cars hooked up and a chest full of gold…no none of that will mean a thing —IF YOU HAVE SINNED AND FAILED TO ASK GOD FOR FORGIVENESS.

YOU MIGHT ASK, WELL DR. TOBIAS-

WHAT MAKES GOD CHANGE HIS MIND…OH I’M SO GLAD YOU ASKED…HAVING A REPENTIVE HEART. HAVING A SINCERE AND REPENTIVE HEART.

DAVID SAID IN PS. 51, ‘Wash me that I might be clean” give me a clean heart, that I might serve thee.

In other-words…this life we live…is truly no game. One thing the monopoly creators knew…everyone deserves a CHANCE.

That’s the good news of the gospel this morning:

THE LORD SAID, I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.

In that game you may have lost all your houses and buildings, the utility companies -all your hope of winning, but have no fear…in this life, far beyond the games people play…God holds out HOPE. A backup plan, Be not dismayed-what err betide…God will take care of you.

My friends in our walk with God-he never promised us roses…yet every now and again…a bouquet shows up at my door. He never promised us perfect health, but every now and again -he reminds me of his healing love, he never promised that I’d be rich, but in all these years-he never allowed me to be begging for bread or the crumbs off someone else’ table.

No so when Moses is told -your people are down there “out of control” go down there immediately…what a disappointment…his own brother was the leader…melting down gold, creating a golden calf—just as if God had not been there for them…just as if they had to suffer or deal with degradation…Moses found himself overwhelmed with these “stick necked” people. So much so that despite all his efforts…God did not change his mind…and today we can sadly say-they never—never saw the future as God had laid out for them…they never reached the PROMISE LAND.

BUT HOPE DID SURVIVE. Another generation-the offspring of these people saw God’s hand of promise. They lined up and crossed over the River Jordan into a land —a fertile and—one promised to bring them prosperity and endless joy.

i want that for you…I want that -if you have not repented, if you have not asked the LORD for forgiveness or reconciled your past with HIM AND him ALONE.

THE BIBLE SAYS IN ROMANS 10:8 IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH AND KNOW IN YOUR HEART THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD…FORGIVENESS IS OFFERED TO YOU WITH THE GIFT OF SALVATION.

I praised God for David -as he said in Psalm 51-after his affair with Bathsheba, impregnating her with child, causing her husband to be sent to the front line -that he might be killed....LORD HAVE MERCY ON ME…oh God, according to your lovingkindess...HAVE MERCY ON ME -MOST MERCIFUL FATHER, CLEANSED ME OF MY SIN -MAKE ME AS WHITE AS SNOW.

THE LORD WILL NOT BE MOCKED…GOD DID NOT ALLOW THE CHILD OF THAT UNION TO LIVE.

YET WHAT WE ARE TO KNOW..IS THIS... DAVID REPENTED. DAVID, A FAMOU WARRIOR, DAVID --THE BIBLE SAYS-- A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART, REPENTED…KING DAVID WHO COMMANDED AN ARMY OF THOUSANDS, THOUSANDS OF LOYAL MEN...REPENTED-- AND THE BIBLE SAYS—THE LORD HEARD HIS CRIES.

I AM CONVINCED THAT NEITHER LIFE, NOT DEATH, NOR PRINCIPALITIES CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD, WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS…DAVID REPENTED. I LOVE THAT…I LOVE THE FACT THAT GOD MAKES A WAY OUT OF NO WAY…WHEN WE CANNOT SEE OUR WAY CLEAR…HE REMINDS US THAT HE IS THE LIGHT IN DARKNESS…HE IS THE LILY OF THE VALLEY AND THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR…WHO CAN USE ANOTHER CHANCE THIS MORNING?

OUR SINS DO NOT HAVE TO BURY US…JESUS SAID CAST ALL YOUR BURDENS ON ME…FOR I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIGHT.

MY FRIENDS---I AM SO GLAD ABOUT THAT…I AM SO GLAD THAT THE GOD WE SERVE HOLDS OUT COMPASSION FOR US…AND AGAINST ALL ODDS…DOES IT MORE THAN ONE TIME.

IN AMOS 7:1-6 WHO COULD BEST SHOW US THAT THE LORD REPENTED AND RELENTED. A WIFE SO UNFAITHFUL…GOD TOLD AMOS -TAKE HER BACK…IF I CAN FORGIVE YOU —HOW MUCH MORE MUST YOU FORGIVE HER?

TAKE HER BACK.

IT IS MY PRAYER THIS MORNING AS I CLOSE THAT WE DON’T WALK AWAY AS JUDAS DID…JUDAS BETRAYED JESUS. JESUS KNEW. ALL FOR A MERE 30 SOMETHING PIECES OF GOLD…HE ALLOWED THE DEVIL TO USE HIM. YET JESUS KNEW. I DO BELIEVE —JESUS WOULD HAVE ACCEPTED JUDAS’ APOLOGY. I DO BELIEVE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST…FORGIVES. OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN…I TRIED HIM AND IT’S TRUE.

SOMEONE ONCE SAID, GOD DOES NOT CHANGE HIS MIND, IN THEIR UNDERSTANDING WHAT HAPPENS IS HE SHOWS COMPASSION.

WHEN WE SEE GOD’S SORROW IN THE BIBLE, OR HIS CHANGE OF HEART…WE ARE INVITED IN TO SEE THAT SIN DOES INDEED BOTHER GOD…

PSALM 136…DAVID REJOICED...OH GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD, FOR HIS LOVING KINDNESS ENDURES FOREVER…PRAISE GOD MY FRIENDS…THAT RIGHT HERE --

THERE WERE 7 TIMES…THAT DAVID REJOICED SAYING...HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER… READ IT—OH GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD FOR HE IS GOOD AND HS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER....OH GIVE THANKS TO THE GOD OF GODS, FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER....TO HIM WHO LAID OUT THE HEAVENS, FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER…TO HIM WHO LAID OUT THE EARTH ABOVE THE WATERS…FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER, TO HIM WHO MADE GREAT LIGHTS, FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER, FOR THE SUN THAT RULES BY DAY AND THE MOON AND STARS TO RULE BY NIGHT -HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER, TO HIM WHO STRUCK EGYPT IN THEIR FIRSTBORN…FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER…AND BROUGHT OUT ISRAEL OUT ISRAEL FROM AMONG THEM, FOR HS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER…WITH A STRONG HAND AND WITH AN OUTSTRETCHED ARM…FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER…WITH A TO HIM WHO DIVIDED THE RED SEA IN TWO, FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER, AND MADE ISRAEL PASS THROUGH THE MIDST OF THEM, FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER, BUT OVERTHREW PHARAOH AND HIS ARMY IN THE RED SEA, FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER…TO HIM WHO LED HIS PEOPLE THROUGH THE WILDERNESS…FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER…ON AND ON AN ON…WHO GIVES FOOD TO ALL FLESH, FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER …OH GIVE THANKS TO THE GOD OF HEAVEN—24 TIMES…HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER...AMEN.

MY GOD-24 THAT’S MY SIGN OF COMPLETION…I WAS BORN ON JUNE 24…AND I KNOW —HIS HAND OF MERCY IN MY LIFE…WHAT ABOUT YOU? WHAT WILL IT TAKE -???TO PROVE. GOD, THE GOD OF THE GREAT MOUNTAINS…IS A GOD OF SECOND CHANCES.