FHBC Sermon Notes

Have you ever shown kindness to someone, of to have them abuse that kindness? What do you do? Ask for restitution? Would you show kindness again?  We look today at what God did in the face of this situation.In these chapters we look at a ragtag group of desert dwellers who God showed kindness too. He as sustained them, called them "His People", fed them, strengthened them. Yet, what did they do in response to this?  They build an idol.  God had given them instructions on the tabernacle, a place where they would be able to meet God himself.  In this process they stop, and turn to make a golden calf.  They have found God lacking and turn to another as greater and present. Why?
 Four Observations about God's Kindness.

 1. We do not deserve the kindness of God. (32:1-35)
Consider what happened her. From God Moses had give the people instructions to build the tabernacle, and Moses went back on the mountain to receive additional instructions. Yet in that absent the people stopped the work and turn aside in rebellion, perhaps impatience, and made a golden calf to worship.

Note some things about the calf. First, it is separate from God. "These are your gods..." They knew that they were building something apart, in addition of God. This was a practice from Egypt. They made and image of a calf to show the virility of their God. Yet, this is clearly not a demonstration of Yahweh, but of another, in addition to this.  "Those" that brought you out of Egypt. Why do this? Secondly, they plead for forgiveness from the calf. They sacrifice, they feast and celebrate. In this they show that they value to the presence of another, over they present of the Lord God, the one who had actually delivered them, thereby breaking the heart of the covenant previously made with him.

Why did they do this? v.21-22 Aaron said, "you know the people, for they are set on evil."

So perhaps it is nice to think, "good thing I wasn't part of that community".  But know this, this story was given to us to give us a view of the human condition. We are exactly the same.  It is this that makes the gospel, the good news, so good. We must know first our own condition.

"I have no golden statues at my house." But is this true?  Perhaps you worship the god of "self".  Like the British version of the Girl Scouts, who this week changed they oath from being true to God, to be true to "self".  What this week did you decide was "more important". 

2. God delights in demonstrating kindness. (34:5-9)

Yet, the gospel is proclaimed and God has shown us kindness. God is one who is kind. It is who He is. Yahweh reveals this to Moses in 34:6.  We have not earned any of this, we deserve no kindness, yet He does because He is "merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin..."

What is our response to this? How is it shaping us and affecting us?  Do we give Him praise for this, does it change how we treat each other?

3. God's kindness is seen most noticeably in His forgiveness for our sins. (34:8-9; 32:30-34)

Yet how do this reconcile this with God's justice?  Can a God who shows kindness also be just?  This is what made the God of Israel different from the other gods of the ancient world. Those gods changed their minds on a whim.

When Moses in the passage advocates for the people, he does it on the basis of God's character. He asks God to reconcile His justice and his kindness.  He had taken God at his word, for who God had himself said he was.

It is important to note that Moses doesn't say "dwell with us despite our sins", but instead seeks atonement, furthermore, he seeks forgiveness. The people deserve to die.  To "atone" to be "at one" with God something else must pay the price.  It is interesting here what Moses offers as atonement.  He asks God to "blot out" himself from God's book.  He was offering to die for the people.

He does not accept this from Moses though.  But what God rejected from Moses, he accepted from Jesus Christ, Jesus the Anointed. Upon Jesus, God poured out His wrath, and by this He reconciled himself to us.

What awesome kindness!  But this is just the beginning of God's kindness.

4. God further displays His kindness by restoring relationship with s and remaining faithful to his mission. (34:1-28; 33:1-6)

God greatest gift to us is the presence of himself.  As we abide in Him, we take part in his plan.  We are marching on to the day in which God we bring to fruition all that he has promised.  He moves us forward to that end day, when we shall be his eternal inheritance.  Amen. Amen!