The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-09-18

guard yourself from idols.'-I John OIL
II is incredible that these Israelites
should turn aside after gods made
with mans hands in the very midst
of such a demonstration of the holi-
ness, majesty and glory Of Jehovah
Yet In life 1t Is always but step from
glory to degradation. and one of the
easiest moments in which to trip up
the saint is at the time of his great
est ecstacies. The human heart is
absolutely unreliable, unstable, nay,
it is wicked and Is desperately de-
ceitful, Jer. 17:9. Following the CIV
ing of the decalogue God gave Moses
a series of laws and ordinances which
are an application of that fundamental
law and which form "the book of
the covenant" Then the elders of
Israel are called up into the mountain,
given a vision of God, and given to
eat and drink in his presence, symbol
izing communion lex. 24) After this
Moses and his servant Joshua leave
Aaron and Hur in charge of the peo-
pie and go up again into the mountain.
On the seventh day Moses entered the
cloud and remained for a period of 40
days during which time he received
the pattern of the tabernacle and the
order Of worship. 1t was during this
period of time that the people sinned.
The first part of this chapter tells
us the fact of the casting of the calf
Wv. 1-6. Gods righteous anger and
Moses prayer of intercession, W. 7:14
III y l.
vealed as being but utter weakness
and illustrates the worthlessness and
unreliability Of human nature. The
drunkards promised sobriety, the un-
clean mans promised purity, alike
melt in the fierce heat of temptation.
Their sin was a direct, positive vio-
lation of the first commandment, and
in it they also broke the second They
did not want to substitute but rather
sought a similitude of God. Aaron
here appears in a poor light; he did
not like their proposition tvv. T. 81,
but did not have strength of character
sufficient to stand against it. Aaron
is like those in the church and out of
1t who prefer to control a movement
which Is bad rather than to combat
the movement in its entirety.
Human FickIeness.
- Notice Aaron's attempt to link old
las with this new-fangled religion,
modern expression" tomorrow
lhe feast of Jehovah" v. 5. Men
women are today attempting to
oss evil teaching and open sin by
associating with it the name of Christ
To call such an association scientific
Is travesty. The fact, however, that
Aaron gave the Israelites what they
asked for, shows that he had some
idea at least of Gods attitude towards
his people. We have here presented
also the fickleness of human gratitude.
Moses is with God on their behalf
(Heb. 7:25), yet they forget him and
God who had performed such mighty
signs on their behalf, and demand new
new leadership ". 1 and Ps. 106:2D.
Art has place in religious life, but
a spiritual worship alone is acceptable
to God, John 4:24.
It was sacrifice wv. 2, 81 of gold
to make possible this calf which was
doubtless a representation of the
Egyptian god Apis and may or may
not have been life-size, and may have
been solid or only veneer, but neith-
er such earnestness nor sacrifice
saved them.
Gods Word Ir,mutable.
Moses prayer of intercession, w.
lila, is wonderful. 1t centers about
the idea that Israel is Thy people
". III, and that Gods word is i'm
mutable, Remember" etc. ". 49,.
Moses was moved with pity and had a
passion for the honor of Gods name,
AS Moses and Joshua approached the
camp they heard music, v. IT. What
commentary upon the debasing use
OF one of Gods noblest gifts to man,
the gift of music. Reaching the camp
they beheld the fullness of iniquity
and depravity which was the develop
ment Of this disobedienoe, v. 25. See
also Rom. 1:21-25, Rom. 6:23, Jas. l: 10
Moses passion also manifested itself
against their sin by breaking the ia
bles, grinding the calf to powder and
compelled them to drink the water
into which 1t was flung.
In order to complete this story we
should call attention (vv. 30-35) how
Moses returned into Gods presence
made confession for the people, truly
taking the place of intercession wheI
he desired to be blotted out rather
than have their sin go unforgiven. &c
on into the next chapter, w. 13, IA
and read his great heart cry and Gods
answer of grace.
The Teaching. We have here story
of the frailty of human nature ant
the feebleness Of human resolutions
We see in Aaron the weakness Of 8
religious leader who attempts to com
promise or to yield to the clamof o.
a mistaken people. There is Also pres
ent in this lesson the possibility o.
prostituting right things. The Israel
ties made proper request In their de
sire to 90 forward. They lacked pa