Exodus 32:15-34 ESV [15] Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, tablets that were written on both sides; on the front and on the back they were written. [16] The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. [17] When Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a noise of war in the camp.” [18] But he said, “It is not the sound of shouting for victory, or the sound of the cry of defeat, but the sound of singing that I hear.” [19] And as soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses’ anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. [20] He took the calf that they had made and burned it with fire and ground it to powder and scattered it on the water and made the people of Israel drink it. [21] And Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you that you have brought such a great sin upon them?” [22] And Aaron said, “Let not the anger of my lord burn hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. [23] For they said to me, ‘Make us gods who shall go before us. 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.’ [24] So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.” [25] And when Moses saw that the people had broken loose (for Aaron had let them break loose, to the derision of their enemies), [26] then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the Lord’s side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. [27] And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Put your sword on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor.’” [28] And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell. [29] And Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for the service of the Lord, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day.” [30] The next day Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” [31] So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. [32] But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.” [33] But the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book. [34] But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them”
In this passage we find the people of God gone astray. They have broken loose from their relationship with God to seek leadership from their self-made god. They have rejected God’s guidance and ran to an idol. Their lack of patience has led them into grievous sin and the consequences are severe. Moses’ actions picture for us how God feels when we reject Him and His laws. Moses breaks the tablets and that act manifests the fact that the people have broken the law. Moses burns with anger which reveals God’s anger with sin every day. The bitterness of their actions will soon be felt to the depths of their souls and evident to their brothers and their sons. Everyone will know the consequences as 3000 men die. Moses’ action of offering himself as a substitute is a picture of Jesus’ ultimate offer for the sins of the whole world. There are so many lessons and life applications for us to glean as we study today. The themes of broken laws, burning anger, bitter cups, and burden-bearing have profound implications for us. May we internalize these as we study and apply our gleanings to our life today.
Broken Laws by Broken People
In a world where laws and regulations guide our actions, the Old Testament vividly portrays instances of broken laws and the consequences of straying from divine commandments. A poignant example is found in Exodus 32, where the Israelites, having recently received the commandments from God on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20), succumb to the temptation of idolatry.
In the absence of Moses, their leader, the people break the commandments by fashioning a golden calf and engaging in idolatrous worship (Exodus 32:1-6). This direct violation of God’s commandments, particularly the prohibition against creating graven images and worshipping other gods, highlights the frailty of human obedience and the tendency to stray from divine instruction.
This Old Testament narrative finds a parallel in the New Testament, where the Apostle Paul, in Romans 3:23, succinctly captures the universal reality of sin. He declares, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This New Testament truth mirrors the disobedience of the Israelites, emphasizing that the breaking of divine laws is not exclusive to a particular group but is a universal human experience.
Both Exodus 32 and Romans 3:23 underscore the pervasive nature of sin, highlighting that, regardless of time or context, humanity is prone to transgress the laws and commandments set by God. The Old and New Testaments together provide a comprehensive narrative of the human condition, portraying the continuous struggle with sin and the need for divine intervention.
Burning Anger on Sin
Powerful and righteous indignation of Moses unfolds in the account of the Golden Calf and by example, reflects the wrath of God on sin. Faced with the blatant disobedience of the Israelites, Moses, filled with righteous anger, grinds the golden calf to powder, symbolizing his commitment to upholding God’s holiness and righteousness. This act serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of sin in the presence of a holy God. A holy God must judge sin. His very holiness demands it. It is a very fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God! Moses’ response to the people’s idolatry reflects the seriousness with which God views sin and the necessity for judgment. The act of grinding the idol to powder underscores the need for a decisive and uncompromising stance against disobedience to God’s commands.
This Old Testament scenario finds a parallel in the New Testament, where Jesus, upon entering the temple, expresses righteous anger at the commercialization of sacred space. In Matthew 21:12-13, we witness Jesus overturning the tables of the money-changers and driving out those who were buying and selling. His actions emphasize the sanctity of God’s house and His intolerance for the desecration of the temple. We also are often guilty of desecration of the temple. The temple of the Holy Spirit which is our body.
This New Testament parallel showcases that, like Moses, Jesus reacts with holy indignation when confronted with sin. Both instances affirm that God’s holiness demands a just response to disobedience, reinforcing the importance of maintaining reverence for God’s commands.
While the Sermon on the Mount encourages believers to practice patience and forgiveness, the narratives of Moses and Jesus remind us that there are moments when righteous anger is a valid response to the desecration of God’s holiness. The Old and New Testaments together offer a comprehensive perspective on the complexities of human emotions and the divine requirement for justice in the face of sin.
God’s anger is portrayed as a response to sin and disobedience. Psalms 7:11 states, “God is a righteous judge and a God who feels indignation every day.” This emphasizes the idea that God’s anger is not capricious but rather a continuous response to actions that deviate from His righteous standards. It serves as a reflection of His holiness and a call to repentance.
The Bitter Cup of Consequences
In an act of unparalleled fury, Moses burns and then grinds the golden calf to powder—a symbolic gesture echoing the gravity of their transgressions. The once-majestic idol was reduced to fine dust, scattered in the wind. Yet, the narrative doesn’t end with the grinding; it escalates with a perplexing twist. Moses compels the people to drink the powdered remnants of their idol—a bitter concoction that serves as a tangible reminder of their deviation from God’s holiness.
The drinking of the powdered idol becomes a poignant moment of reckoning. As the bitter residue touches their lips, the people taste the consequences of their disobedience. It’s a visceral experience, a bitter cup of consequences, mirroring the weight of divine judgment.
Have you ever experienced the bitterness of your sin? Those who abide in sin also have the wrath of God abiding on them. Oh, what bitterness!
- Adam and Eve: The Bitter Cup of Disobedience: In Genesis, we find a story of the bitter cup of consequences resulting from disobedience. Their decision to eat the forbidden fruit brought about the harsh realities of shame, expulsion from Eden, and the introduction of toil and hardship. This narrative underscores the lasting impact of choices and the inevitable repercussions that follow.
- David and Bathsheba: The Bitter Cup of Temptation: The account of David’s affair with Bathsheba and the subsequent consequences (2 Samuel 11-12) exemplifies the bitter cup of temptation. David’s actions led to a series of devastating outcomes, including the death of their child and the unrest within his own family. This story emphasizes the ripple effect of personal transgressions and the toll they take on individuals and relationships.
- Judas Iscariot: The Bitter Cup of Betrayal Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus serves as a poignant example of the bitter cup of betrayal and its profound consequences (Matthew 26:14-16, 47-50). Judas, driven by greed and misguided intentions, faced the tragic aftermath of his actions, culminating in remorse and a tragic end. This narrative underscores the weight of choices and their enduring impact on both individuals and history.
- Prodigal Son: The Bitter Cup of Regret and Redemption The parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) illuminates the bitter cup of consequences through the son’s reckless choices and subsequent hardships. However, it also highlights the transformative power of repentance and the father’s unconditional love, showcasing the possibility of redemption even in the face of adverse outcomes.
Jesus’ Bitter Cup: The Sin of Humanity
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus confronted the impending bitter cup of His crucifixion. Matthew 26:39 captures this pivotal moment: “Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.'” Jesus, in His humanity, expressed the anguish of facing the weight of sin and separation from God. Despite the bitterness of the cup, His ultimate surrender to the Father’s will became a profound example of submission and sacrifice.
The Garden of Gethsemane becomes the stage where Jesus, in profound humility, accepts the bitter cup of humanity’s sins. His surrender contrasts sharply with the Israelites’ forced consumption of the bitter residue of their idol, illustrating the transformative power of Christ’s sacrificial act.
In both narratives, there’s an intimate connection between the bitterness experienced and the consequences of disobedience. Moses’ grinding and the subsequent drinking serve as a tangible lesson, while Jesus’ Gethsemane moment anticipates the ultimate offering—a bitter cup willingly embraced for the redemption of humankind. The Old and New Testaments intricately weave these narratives, revealing the complex interplay of human actions, divine judgment, and the redemptive grace that unfolds in the bitterest moments.
Moses and Jesus: A Substitutionary Offering
In the Old Testament, Moses offers himself as a substitute for the people when God’s anger flares against them (Exodus 32:30-32). This act of selflessness foreshadows the ultimate substitutionary sacrifice made by Jesus in the New Testament. Just as Moses interceded for the people, Jesus became the sacrificial Lamb, offering Himself for the redemption of humanity. The parallels between Moses’ intercession and Jesus’ atonement highlight the divine plan of salvation woven throughout biblical narratives.
A choice to make
As we navigate the complexities of broken laws, burning anger, bitter cups, and burden-bearing, we are confronted with a choice to make. Moses demanded the Levites to choose who they would serve. Those who chose God survived and those who didn’t didn’t. Through the teaching of this passage, we find a roadmap for repentance, forgiveness, resilience, and compassion. In embracing these principles, we can strive to live a life that mirrors the transformative power of a holy and compassionate God. While the consequences in this passage are severe, the ultimate goal of God was to reconcile and restore them to a right relationship with Himself. He wants us to choose Him too. Choose Him over the idols of this world and the idols in our lives. The inclusion of righteous anger, Moses’ substitutionary offering, Jesus’ experience with the bitter cup in the Garden of Gethsemane, and God’s divine response to sin further enriches our understanding of the complex interplay between human emotions and divine principles. The bitter cup of consequences serves as a poignant reminder to approach life’s decisions with mindfulness, recognizing the interconnectedness of our choices and their enduring impact.
May we all choose Him now.