The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-08-27

LESSON TExT-Exodus J2:1'lUi c4'4-S' S's
GOLDEN TExr-The Lord Is long .sufferins
and Of great mercy. forgiving iniquiI and
transgression. Numbers 14:18.
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 holly kim
died against mans transgression
shows Himself as the tender and
gracious God, keeping loving-kind-
ness for thousands, forgiving iniqui-
ty and transgression and SIM"
This grace of God Is fully re-
vealed in Christ and the redemption
which He brought to man, but is
prefigured in the experiences OF
Israel under the law.
1. Gods Wrath Kindled (Exod.
32:7-10).
There are those who would have
us think of God as 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 a 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 stabilizing influence.
Having their eyes set on man,
or a 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 1t
was evidently intended to remind
them of God, but soon it led them
out into heather revelry (Exod. 80:
6, II, 1877.
Whatever a man puts between
himself and God, even though he
may at first intend it to be but a.
reminder of God, will lead him away
from God. Ritual, symbols, theol-
ogy, scholarship, all good in their
places, may become the idols which
separate present-day man from
God.
ii. Gods Mercy Invited (Exod.
34:4-9).
Aaron had only a weak "alibi' to
offer. The golden calf had prac-
tically made itself (see Exod. 80:
24). How quick man is to justify
himself instead of admitting his
guilt. No doubt our excuses sound
just as silly as Aaron's in the ears
of God.
Moses knew better. The sin was
dealt with in drastic fashion. When
one deals with a wild ravenous
beast, there is one remedy-"shoot
to kill" Not only were the leaders
of the wickedness slain, but the
ground gold Of the calf image was
put into water, which all Israel
drank. Thus were they all marked
as sharing the guilt Of this idolatry.
There is a 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. It is our guilt,
and we ought to be on our faces be-
fore God, pleading for Gods mercy
upon our land.
Moses was now ready to seek
the Lords mercy for his wayward
people. He is the intercessor, the
intermediary. God had a man who
had compassion and love in his
heart, and the Lord heard him.
Loving-kindness and tender mercy
flowed forth in place Of flaming
anger.
Note that God has not changed.
He is the Interchangeable One. His
wrath is still hot against mans sin,
but man has repented, and moved
out of Gods wrath into His love and
grace. That too is always being
shown to His obedient children.
III. Gods Covenant Renewed
(Exod. 1927, 28).
Moses had broken the first tablets
Of commandments. The people had
sinned and were not then ready to
listen to any word from Jehovah.
But now they were prepared to re-
ceive it, and God renewed the COW
enant as He again gave Moses the
law.
There is no need for despair in the
heart of the one who deals with God.
The missed opportunity for obedi-
ence and blessing may be gone for
ever, but God is still on the giving
hand ready to meet the returning
prodigal, ready to give beauty for
ashes lisa. 61:3) and to restore the
years that the locust has destroyed
(IoeI 2.25l. Amazing gracei