An Interesting Juxtaposition

In the story of Moses receiving the 10 commandments, there is such a stark difference between God’s ideal that He shared with Moses on the mountain top and Israel’s reality in the desert at the bottom of the mountain.

Moses is living this close-to-God experience where he’s receiving the ten commandments and a dossier of those God has skilled and prepared to build the tabernacle where God will dwell with man.

God breaks the sweet conversation to report on the evil that Israel is doing at the bottom of the mountain.

Moses intercedes and tells God not to give up on the nation. It would be bad for God’s very reputation. It’s all in Exodus 31 and 32. But I’ll tell you one thing for sure. Israel has not changed from how it acted that day in chapter 32. And what’s at the heart of this? Idolatry.

Their history with idolatry goes back to Genesis 31:34. Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not. Rachel was Jacob’s beloved wife. The nation of Israel began with Jacob, who was renamed Israel, and his wife Rachel the idolater.

Back to our story. Here is the scene as Moses and Joshua come down from the mountain to face what God already saw: And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear. And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. (Exodus 32:17-19)

I’ll repeat the contrast. God has stated His ideal for how to live in the kingdom of Israel with brand new rules and instructions, and Israel is bent on idolatry. You have singing, dancing and idol worship.

Does this sound familiar? On the morning of October 7, 2023, in the desert of Re’im in Israel, folks were dancing and singing to psychedelic trance music under a statue of Buddha. This was the last day of the annual God-prescribed Feast of Tabernacles established as a regular memorial of Israel dwelling securely in tabernacles in the wilderness when they left Egypt. (See Leviticus 23:39-44)

Israel is bent on idolatry, and it’s a sin God does not tolerate. The Old Testament is filled with examples. Here’s just one: And the LORD spake by his servants the prophets, saying,  Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which were before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols: Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle. (2 Kings 21:10-12)

What kind of evil would God bring on Israel? Just a verse later: And I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies; Because they have done that which was evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day. (2 Kings 21:14-15)

Just two points in closing. 1) God uses neighbor enemies to judge Israel. He did back then, he does it now and He will do it in the Tribulation. All the while, Israel—God’s chosen nation—remains unrepentant. 2) But God is not done with Israel yet. The church does not replace Israel. God merely set them aside for a time while He opens His door of grace to the Gentiles to receive His grace and mercy through Jesus Christ. (Romans 11:11-12)

At Christ’s second coming, He will perform a national salvation for Israel and write His laws in their heart. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:  But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. (Jeremiah 31:31-33)

In the meantime, pray for the peace of Jerusalem. (Psalm 122:6) They have a lot more to go through, including the tribulation, before they receive their ultimate salvation. They are still the apple of God’s eye. (Zechariah 2:8)

R&J Shee