September 22, 2014
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

The Dog Ate My Homework

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Lord, I can be so easily intimidated. The past and the future can unsettle me. Grant me faith and hope today.

Read Exodus 32:15-24

[15] Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. [16] The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. [17] When Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting, he said to Moses, “There is the sound of war in the camp.” [18] Moses replied: “It is not the sound of victory, it is not the sound of defeat; it is the sound of singing that I hear.” [19] When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain. [20] And he took the calf the people had made and burned it in the fire; then he ground it to powder, scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it. [21] He said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?” [22] “Do not be angry, my lord,” Aaron answered. “You know how prone these people are to evil. [23] They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’ [24] So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

Holy Spirit conviction leads to repentance, but worldly condemnation leads to remorse and depression. Repentance turns outwardly to God. Condemnation turns inwardly to self. We need God’s wisdom to discern the difference.

God’s judgment, Moses’ anger, the Israelites’ apostasy and Aaron’s unwillingness to take responsibility are played out in comic, macabre fashion. The very charter for freedom, the Ten Commandments, will be destroyed–a torn-up, broken contract. A Jewish interpretation plays on the Hebrew word for “incised” (harut), linking it to the word for “freedom” (hérut). It is only when there is restraint and obedience to God’s instructions that there can be true freedom.

The Israelites’ sin brings its own consequences, judgment and punishment, despite God’s ultimate mercy and forgiveness. Although he will never reject his people, they will be punished, purified from their sin and their numbers purged. This severe mercy is necessary because God’s own holy presence cannot dwell in the camp of iniquity. As a means of confession, repentance and restoration of the relationship, the Israelites must eat their own words, drinking the ground-up, powdered remains of their precious idol. What they worshiped as a golden god will be evacuated from their bowels as disgusting excrement. Ugh!

No one likes to be shown their sin. We have a natural desire to defend ourselves, blame others or make excuses. Even those of us who suffer with low self-esteem, over-sensitive feelings of guilt or unrealistic expectations of what we must do to please an angry, judgmental God need to know the meaning of repentance. Paul writes, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death” (2 Cor. 7:10). Under the new covenant, through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we are assured of forgiveness for our sins, cleansing and renewal. But we too must take seriously the call to repentance, receive our forgiveness through Jesus and rely on him in all things.

Apply

How do you experience God’s forgiveness, cleansing and renewal? How do previous examples of confession help you focus on God’s mercy?

Closing prayer

Father, I am good at the blame-game. It is so easy to shift blame for my sinfulness. Today, I am willing to take ownership of my sins and to seek Your forgiveness.

Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.

© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.

Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.

View all readings

Get ENCOUNTER:

in your email:

in Print:

Become a Member | Visit our store