Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ August 12, 2007
“Gap Stander”
Life of Moses part 11
Exodus 31-34
Entire series with Powerpoint at www.crosscreekcc.org
Key Principles from earlier weeks…
• God specializes in using broken vessels.
• God speaks to us today by His Holy Spirit.
• The Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.
• Predicaments teach us dependence upon God.
• God gave Divine rules for human conduct.
Exodus 31:18 When the LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.
I. God’s People are Prone to…
Exodus 32:1 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, "Come, 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."
• Forget God’s Glory 32:1
o They forgot the glorious exodus, they forgot the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, they forgot the pillar of cloud & fire, they forgot the manna & quail, they forgot the Lord descending upon the mountain in blazing fire, earthquake, billowing smoke, deafening trumpet blast, they forgot the Lord, they became self-centered & sufficient, they forgot God’s Glory.
o This was 40 days after their consecration, 40 days after God’s appearance, after Moses went up
• Make unwise Decisions 32:2-4
o We see their next step in their downward slide… they began to make unwise decisions.
o Moses’ brother Aaron was in the center of it all (remember back when God just wanted Moses)
o V4… Aaron took the gold, he made, he cast an idol, he shaped a calf, he fashioned it with tools
• Indulge themselves in sin 32:5-6,19,25
o After Aaron built the golden calf, he also built an altar in front of the calf… lets party tomorrow!
o People were ready to celebrate… they rose early & sacrificed burnt offering to the Lord…
o Then they ate & drank and got up to indulge in revelry… “sahaq” suggests immorality.
o Immorality often accompanies idolatry… God gives them over to a reprobate mind…
o Vs 19,25…singing, dancing, unrestrained (v25 running wild is “pawrah” means: naked, uncover, expose, to bare) they became a laughingstock, a bad testimony to people around them.
Same Today They suppressed the TRUTH, Their thinking became DEPRAVED, They INDULGED in wickedness…
Romans 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, Romans 1:21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:22-23 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Romans 1:28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. Romans 1:24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.
(Laden with various sin…Idolatry/homosexuality/lust/greed/wickedness/evil/gossip/arrogance/etc)
Slide – Stone altar & Golden Calf.
Exodus 32:4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt."
Slide – Petroglyphs of Egyptian Cattle
II. Bringing Judgment upon themselves
Exodus 32:8-10 8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ’These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’ 9 "I have seen these people," the LORD said to Moses, "and they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation."
• The people became corrupt v7 (stubborn) and stiff-necked v9 (unresponsive)…
• God’s “anger burned against them”… He threatened to destroy them & begin a new nation with Moses
• Sin ALWAYS results in God’s wrath/judgment/chastisement… God has an immutable law…
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
• Over and over again, throughout scripture and history we see Gap Standers…
• Those willing to pay the price to stand in the gap on behalf of individuals, groups or nations…
Ezekiel 22:30-31 "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. 31 So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD."
• No one was found in the nation of Israel with the moral authority to lead it’s people in righteousness
• In our study, we see Moses was that man to stand in the gap… Moses intercedes from the mt top.
Gap Standers… (see also Ex 32:30-34)
Intercede before God from the Mountain above…
Exodus 32:11 But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. "O LORD," he said, "why should your anger burn against your people…
o Moses, I’m going to destroy these people… Moses stood in the gap & sought God’s grace
o He begged God for forgiveness and mercy…
Moses reminded God of His…
• Testimony to the Egyptians 32:11-12
• Promises to Israel’s forefathers 32:13
Exodus 32:14 Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.
“Relented” – to embark on another course of action. The Lord withdrew His threat
• I stood in the gap this week for my wife with a doctor’s appointment, our trip to Lynchburg, all our children & their spouses, this church, building project, Rick’s mom & family, many of you individually, the various notes of prayer requests that come my way, our nation, troops & president, spiritual protection, wisdom… (If the Lord wakes you at night – get to praying)
• Being a Gap Stander - Who are you standing in the gap for today? battle is won on your knees
• There always comes a time when we must put action upon our prayers…
Engage in Action in the Valley below…
• Tablets Smashed 32:19 Moses saw it all, the partying, wickedness, false worship, idolatry, Holy indignation, a just and righteous anger – smashed the tablets symbolizing the people were undeserving of God’s Holy Commandments, they broke their covenant w/God…
• Idol Destroyed 32:20 Moses burned the idol, ground it into powder, scattered it on the stream bed (Deut 9:21) & made the people drink it – symbolize the people disobedience, immorality, idoltry… making them unclean, contaminated before a Holy God…
• Aaron Confronted 32:21-24 Moses confronted Aaron to explain his corrupt behavior… he was a willing accomplice, pressed into sin… undisciplined… he made excuses… look at v 24 “I threw it into the fire and out popped this golden calf” LIAR… God told us Aaron took the gold, made it, cast it, shaped & fashioned it in v4.
• Unrepentant Judged 32:27-35
o Levites killed 3000 with the sword Moses shouted out, “who will take a stand for the Lord”, decisive action needed to be taken… only the Levites responded & rallied to him… the guilty must be executed… the Levites obeyed and killed 3000 of the rebellious wicked
o The Lord struck people with a plague The Lord, whether then or sometime later stuck those who sinned with a plague… God chastens & disciplines His people when they sin… He loves us, our good
Radiate Christ as we please God by Standing in the Gap
Exodus 33:17 And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."
• Sought forgiveness & God’s presence 33:12-23
• God heard and answered his prayer 34:5-7
• God renews the covenant the people broke 34:10-28
• Moses’ face glowed with God’s Glory 34:29-35
Slide - Outer Space
Exodus 34:5-7 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. 6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation."
Slide – Moses cut out the tablets/God inscribed “GAP STANDER”
Exodus 34:29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD.
Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Apply the Truth…
• Never forget what Christ has done for you!
• One solitary life can make all the difference!
• GOD is looking for men & woman to be Gap Standers… Moses stood in the gap on behalf of the nation of Israel.
• Are we willing to build up the wall and stand in the gap… for your family, your church, your nation? Each other?
• We see our spiritual fortress in shambles. The walls are down and in desperate need of repair.
• Our country is dying spiritually and morally. Our families are disintegrating, relationships being ripped apart.
• There has never been a time in history where we so desperately need people willing to stand in the gap…
Moses was a Gap Stander, are you?
Let’s Pray
“The Bible Knowledge Commentary”, John Walvood/Roy Zuck; Victor Publishing 1985
“Moses, A Man of Selfless Dedication”, Charles Swindoll; Word Publishing 1999
“Basic Stages in the Book of Ages”, Dr. Willmington; Liberty Publishing 1975
“Experiencing God”, Henry Blackaby; LifeWay Press 1990
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