The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-08-26

ana OF great mercy, IOlSNlllS Hll4ulty anu
transgression. Numbers 14.l8.
God is righteous, and cannot look
with approval or in forgiveness upon
sin until His mercy has been stirred
and set free to act by repentance.
Then He whose wrath is hOtly kin
died against man S tranSgresslon
shows Himself as the tender and
gracious God, keeping loving-kind-
ness for thousands, forgiving iniqui-
ty and transgression and sin
This grace of God is fully re-
vealed in Christ and the redemption
which He brought to man, but is
prefgured in the experiences of
Israel under the law.
/. Gods Wrath Kindled (EXod
32:7-1O).
There are those who would have
us think of God as a benevolent old
gentleman who is easily hoodwinked
by clever sinners who can talk fast
to cover their iniquity. Even if He
does see it, He is supposed to be so
tenderhearted that He overlooks
their sin
Such folk had better read these
words, THAT my wrath may wax
hot" The wrath of God is real
and awful affection of the divine ma
ture and it is revealed against man
who sins against His holy law
The special sin of Israel on this
occasion was idolatry, which is the
setting up of some material symbol
to represent the invisible God.
Moses had been with God in the
mount for 40 days. He had been
the Lords representative in their
midst. His presence had evidently
been the chief stabllizing influence.
Having their eyes set on a man,
or material object to take His
place, they had lost sight of the in
visible God. So they proceeded to
establish this idol which would pro-
vide a center of worship. At first it
was evidently intended to remind
them of God, but soon it led them
out into heather revelry (Exod. 30:
6. II, 18).
Whatever man puts between
IlQlSClI IlOQGI
may at first intend it to be but a
reminder of God, will lead him away
from God. Ritual, symbols, theol-
ogv. scholarship, all good in their
places. NAV become the idols which
separate prcscnt-dav man from
God.
III God,s Mercy Invited (Fvod
34.4-o>
Aaron had only voal, "a1ihi" IN
Offer Tho ooIdon calf had nrac-
ticaIIv n,ado iteoIf (son Fvod %.
9N How, nu;cl, man is to iretifv
1i,,,eolf i,,etoad Of ado,ittino his
a,,iIt No donht orr ovcnecc sound
iHst &C civ as Aaron,s in tba narg
If Cod
Moses know hotter Tho sin WAS
doa1t With in drastic fashion when
ono doaIs with wild ravonous
bn9st tboro is ono remedy ..shoot
~ [iII - Not onIv wore tho leaders
Of tbe u,icI,adncee eIain bnt the
Ground cold If the caIf mace was
,7I,t into u,ator which all Israel
drank. Thus were they all marked
as sharing the guilt of this idoIatry.
There is lesson here for us.
America is far from God. We need
to seek His face in repentance. But
let us remember that we Chat is,
Christian men and women are
part of America 1t is our Guilt,
and we ought to be on our faces be-
fore God. pleading for Gods mercy
upon our land.
Moses was now rcadv ia seek
the Lords mercy for his wayward
neople He is the intcrccssor. the
Intermediary God had a man who
had compassion and love in his
heart and the Lord heard him.
Iovino-Lindness and tender mercy
flowed forth in place of flaming
AMOR
Note that God has not CHANGED
No is the uncbanonabIn Ono His
I,,rotb is stiIl hot aaainst mans Sin
h,,t man has rnnonted and moved
o,'t q Gods wrath into His love and
Iroc 70 That TOO is aIuavs homo
s,ov,, n His ohodient children
,u Cod,s Covon,rt porood
h' w., w"