The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-09-18

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 holt
ness, majesty and glory OF Jehovah.
Yet in life II 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
1t is wicked and Is desperately de-
ceitful, Jer 1879. 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 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. II 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
w. 1-6. Gods righteous anger and
Moses prayer Of intercession, w. TIA.
Israel's boast, 1878. 24:3, 7, is now re-
vealed as being but utter weakness
and illustrates the worthlessness and
unreliability of human nature. The
drunkard's promised sobriety, the un-
clean mans promised purity, alike
melt in the fierce heat Of temptation.
Their sin was a direct, positive VIC
lation OF the first commandment, and
in 1t 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 wv. 7, 81,
but did not have strength of character
sufficient to stand against 1t. Aaron
is like those in the church and out Of
it 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
ideas with this newfangled religion.
this modern expression" tomorrow
is the feast of Jehovah" v. s. Men
and women are today attempting to
gloss evil teaching and open sin by
associating with 1t 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
also the fckleness of human gratitude.
Moses is with God on their behalf
Heb. 1880, yet they forget him and
God who had performed such mighty
signs on their behalf, and demand new
new leadership ". and Ps. 106:2D.
Art has a place in religious life. but
a spiritual worship alone is acceptable
to God. John 4:24.
II was a 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 Meth
er such earnestness nor sacrifice
saved them.
Gods Word immutab,s.
A( Int
lila, is wonderful. II centers about
the idea that Israel Is Thy people
w. IL, and that Gods word Ia i'm
mutable, Remember" etc. ". 49,
Moses was moved with pity and had q
passion for the honor OF Gods name
camp they heard music. v. IT. Whal
a 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 disobedience. v. 26. See
also Rom :2l.25, Rom. 6: 20, Jas. lis
Moses passion also manifested itseli
against their sin by breaking the Ia
bles, grinding the calf to powder ant
compelled them to drink the water
into which II was flung.
In order to complete this story We
should call attention (yv. $685. how
Moses returned into Gods presence
made confession for the people. trul,
taking the place OF intercession wheI
he desired To be blotted out rathel
than have their sin go unforgiven- GS
on into the next chapter, w. Is, IA
and read his great heart cry and God
answer OF grace.
The Teaching. We have here stor,
OF the frailty OF human nature aDS
the feebleness of human resolutions
We see In Aaron the weakness OF
religious leader who attempts 10 com
promise or 20 yield TO the clamor o
a mistaken people There is also pres
ent in this lesson the possibility o
prostituting right things. The Israel
ties made a proper request In their de
sire to 20 forward They lacked pa
!. tience, and made the mistake OF de
. string something that appealed 4
!. their senses. We thus see the disas
!" ag..AaAxaa.A avan thau0h IN.