Key verses in today’s reading…
Exodus 32:5 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!”
While Moses left the Israelites for a short time (40 days and 40 nights) to meet with the Lord and receive His commandments, the people quickly fell into sin. They went to Aaron begging for a god to serve–and instead of offering them truth–he offered them an idol (a calf made from their gold). He got excited when he saw how this pleased them, and took it even further encouring them to worship it. Aaron was struggling here with people pleasing. I, too, have struggled with this. “Will this bring glory to God? Is the Lord calling me to do this?” needs to be our questions when we feel pulled and unable to know what to do. Even well meaning believers can give bad advice when they are trying to please others or themselves. We need to focus on being a LORD pleaser rather than a people pleaser.
Confession—When the Lord laid on my heart to do this one-year-bible reading on my blog, I wasn’t so sure about it. Well, because I was sure people would get bothered with lots of posts (but who am I to think people actually want to read my blog anyway!?—but then I felt the Lord telling me to trust in Him and be obedient. If it isn’t HIM talking through me and His truths being spoken/written…then really, I have nothing of value to say. I am not called to worry what others think of me–but to follow the Lord no matter what. He has reassured this was what He wanted me to do through your comments, emails of those reading along…and even a new believer in Christ! Not my will—but Yours be done oh Lord! This is not to please man, but to please the Lord. And if you are blessed through it…well, then–Amen!
Exodus 32:14 So the Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people.
Ever wonder if the Lord changes His mind? Well, He did in chapter 32 (and this is just one of the many times you will see this in scripture). THE POWER OF PRAYER AND PETITION! By prayer and petition submit your requests to God! When something seems hopeless—remember it is NOT!
The rest of chapter 32 is some what difficult for me. The Lord JUST wrote on the tablet “thought shalt not murder” and then those who came to Moses saying they were not going to live in sin but rather for the Lord were asked to kill the sinful who worshipped idols. 3,000 people were killed. I know God does not take sin lightly—but reading this just after getting the commandments is just a bit tough for me to read. I believe though that the Lord asked Moses to do this…I believe God is a just God…I also believe He doesn’t tolerate other god’s being worshiped or disobedience. Wow. That’s all I have to say about that.
33:3 Go up to this land that flows with milk and honey. But I will not travel among you, for you are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I did, I would surely destroy you along the way.Some times it is the Lord’s grace to not travel with us when we are not fully submitted to Him. The Lord is a HOLY God, and He doesn’t mix with unholy. He just doesn’t. If I want the Lord to be right beside me, then I need to constantly search my heart to see if there is an offensive way in me…confess that…and ask Him to do a work in me. What is on my/your heart today that just isn’t of Him? What feelings need to be confessed? Is there unforgiveness in the heart? Is there pride keeping you from loving your husband or family members fully? Spend some time searching your heart and asking the Lord to reveal any yuck there that needs to be gone for the sake of having more of Him and his presence ever so close in your life.
33:14-16 The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.” Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. How will anyone know that you look favorably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.” So again, Moses asks for someone to go with him into the Promised Land–and God’s reply? I PERSONALLY WILL GO WITH YOU! Wow. Wow. Wow. May this be OUR prayer—Lord, I will go any where for you. I will follow you to the end’s of the Eath. But if you don’t go with me, just leave me right here in my seat. I don’t want to go any where without you Lord. It is YOU that sets us apart. We need you desperately.
33: 19 The Lord replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh,[h] before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.
I love how the Lord describes Himself to Moses…5 Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh.[i] 6 The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out,
The God of compassion and mercy!
I am slow to anger
and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
7 I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.
I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.
But I do not excuse the guilty.
I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;
the entire family is affected—
even children in the third and fourth generations.”
34:14 You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.
Again…the Lord emphasizes making the Sabbath holy… 34:21 “You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but on the seventh day you must stop working, even during the seasons of plowing and harvest.
34:28 Moses remained there on the mountain with the Lord forty days and forty nights. In all that time he ate no bread and drank no water. And the Lord wrote the terms of the covenant—the Ten Commandments—on the stone tablets. SOOO…Moses had to go on the mountain YET AGAIN another 40 days and 40 nights for the Lord to AGAIN write the commandments. Did you ever realize that this happened twice because the first time Moses slammed the tablets and broke them when he saw the Israelites worshipping idols?
34:29 When Moses came down Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn’t aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the Lord. Oh that our lives, too, would look so different as spend more time with the Lord! Oh that our faces even would have a glow about them! Shine Your light from us Lord so others may know Your glory!!!
Thank you Lord for allowing all 3 of my children to nap today at the same time so I could have this sweet time with You. Glory be to God! You always provide!
[3 sweaters will make approximately 3 scarves]
by admin
You know, as soon as you posted about wanting to do this chronological read-through…I was in. I doubted my ability to follow through, but it was something I had wanted to do for a while but lacked the motivation. Knowing there would be others out there doing it too, and holding me accountable, was important for me. I expected it to be hard, and some days it was. But I find the more I read, the more I want to know Him. It really is food for your soul. It kind of made me chuckle when I read your confession of being worried people wouldn’t want to read it, because the same thing crossed my mind even this morning. I wondered, is anyone else even into this? Who cares though…even if no one else is following, its good for my soul and my relationship with God – it’s theraputic!
A few things jumped out at me today in the reading —
Chapter 33:17 – “And the LORD replied to Moses, ‘I will indeed do what ou have asked, for you have found favor with me, and you are my friend.'” To hear the Lord use a word like “friend” with us, is an amazing feeling, isn’t it?
Chapter 34:14 – “…for he is a God who is passionate about his relatinship with you.” I think God puts things like this (doing this read through, blogging about it, WANTING to read more) on our hearts to draw us closer to Him because He wants us near! It saddens me to think of times when I have been distant from Him and how that must have made Him feel. Have you ever had a friendship where you feel you are putting so much into it and not getting anything in return? It’s heat-breaking…especially when you love that person! I think of people going through difficult times in their marriage, when their spouse is ready to give up and move on and they are holding onto that one thread of hope! How we must break God’s heart at times.
Chapter 34:28 – “Moses was up on he mountain with the LORD forty days and forty nights. In all that time he neither ate or drank.” An example that God is truely ALL we need. Isn’t that amazing to think about? Isn’t it said that we could only survive a couple days with out water? Moses defies that statistic because he is completely relying on the Lord. Incredible!
34:29 – You were speaking of he physical glow Moses had. I know that my face doesn’t literally glow when after I’m done reading his word, but it does affect my daily attitude. Do any of you notice that you have been a more positive person in general after starting this read-through? I find reflecting on His word gives me more patience and love to help me get through the day.
Thanks to everyone who is sticking to it!!!
I LOVE your posts!!! Thanking God you decided to follow Him and encourage others to go with you 🙂
We know from these verses that obedience to His calling always brings blessings!
Thank you for walking us through His promises!
Love & Blessings from Hong Kong,
Kim
It is overwhelming how stubborn the Israelites were to not change their ways to God’s way…and how PATIENT the Lord is with them…constantly waiting for a change of heart. I was sad how Aaron gave such poor “wordly,for the moment pleasure ” advice…I wonder if any one ever thought on their own…”I don’t think we should be doing this”..to me..I have tried to use this kind of example of going with what is God’s way not man’s. Only through scripture can we know God’s way and through the gift of the Hoy Spirit ! I am not sure if we today are that different with our stubborness to change our ways to glorify God…but ,I am assured that His Patience is persistent and yes He gets mad but He is slow to anger and He wants us to be with Him and Love Him and spend time with Him..You, Andrea, are helping many of us to please our Lord. Thankyou.