Dana Hagstrom – Page 363

Exodus 32:30-33:6 – In the Doghouse

Can you remember a time when you were punished for something? I can vividly remember being grounded for breaking the hall mirror as a child. Now that act doesn’t sound all that horrible, but when it happened after mom told me and my brother to stop playing in the closet (the door had the mirror), and we obviously didn’t, that was the bad thing. We didn’t mind her and what happened? Well, we were definitely in the doghouse! Do you remember that phrase?

For the Israelites, their deed was so much worse. Disobeying a parent is one thing, but disobeying our Heavenly Father is an entirely different matter. God’s anger burned so much; he didn’t even want to see them. He even said he would surely “destroy them.” But God still loved them. He was going to look out for them despite his anger.

Exodus 32:15-29 – What Happened Here?

Read Exodus 32:15-29

As Moses descended the mountain, he knew his people had gone astray. Yet, seeing something you know is true with your own eyes can still be shocking. I’m sure Moses was hoping that the situation had gotten “fixed” or that perhaps God was mistaken. But God doesn’t make mistakes. It seems it was worse than Moses had expected.

And what about Aaron? Moses’ own brother had allowed this abomination to occur. Like Eve was deceived and tricked by the serpent in Genesis, Aaron told Moses, “they said to me…” as if that would make it better. Moses left Aaron in charge. He trusted him. Yet Aaron gave in, collected the gold for the idol, and “out came this calf.” Yeah right.

Exodus 32:7-14 – Got Your Back

Read Exodus 32:7-14

Do you have an advocate that looks out for you and keeps harm from coming your way? We all do. The Holy Spirit has that role for us. For today’s reading, it was Moses looking out for the Israelites. He had their back.

Picture this – Moses learns about the evil his own people have reverted to in his absence. God, who knows and sees all has told Moses what the people have done. How do you think Moses felt? He had just had this mountain top experience with God (literally) and is feeling on top of the world. He has just been given instructions from the Creator himself and is about to descend the mountain to share it with everyone who has been waiting. And then he hears God’s plans for their destruction.

Exodus 32:1-6 – When the Cat’s Away…

Read Exodus 32:1-6

Do you remember the book “Cat in the Hat” by Dr. Seuss? I have always had a loose association between that story and the story of these people left behind when Moses went up to the mountain. Yet, I’ve always been surprised that Aaron fell victim so quickly to the people’s demands. I suppose his faith wasn’t secure enough to hold on and trust his brother’s safe return.

We don’t see any sort of cautioning by Aaron, do we? He just started doing what the people wanted. He must have been a people pleaser. He made them a god fashioned out of their treasures. The people needed something tangible to follow. In my mind, our God is our treasure, he’s not made from them.

Exodus 31:12-18 – Saving the Best for Last

Read Exodus 31:12-18

Moses has had quite a time spent with God on the mountain. Today’s reading will conclude God’s message to Moses for the people. It’s not a new message. God’s desire for us is to rest. Sabbath rest. The death part was a little shocking I must admit. It does help to understand why the Pharisees were so appalled when Jesus did “work.” They were so literal. However, when God says you will die if you do work, one should definitely listen!

So what constitutes work? While we get more details here, God is more focused on “why” Sabbath rather than what is work.