Background
n God had brought the children of Israel out of Egyptian slavery and bondage and across the Red Sea. Now they were camped at Mount Sinai, and God had called Moses up to the top of the mountain to deliver His law to him for the people.
n While the people were waiting for Moses’ return, they became impatient and felt the need to be worshipping something. They coerced Aaron into forming for them a golden calf – an idol to worship.
1. Compromise sets in whenever we are man-centered instead of God-centered.
a. They referred to Moses as the one who had gone before them and was their god so to speak. He wasn’t around, so they needed something to worship.
b. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13
c. Aaron was also man-centered in that he went with the crowd in order to please them.
d. Whether its in the church or in society, we have spent much time honoring and worshipping man and his achievements.
e. Why do you think there were over 2 million people in D.C. on Tuesday, January 20th? They were looking to a man, President Obama, to save us. I’ve got news. He can’t. No man, besides Jesus, has ever been able to save us.
2. Compromise sets in whenever we form God in our own image.
a. After fashioning the golden calf, Aaron calls for a feast unto Jehovah.
b. Worship was never intended to be done laterally, but always vertically. We don’t worship what we can create, we worship Him who created all things.
c. Compromise will often occur when we are looking FOR God in the things that He is or isn’t doing rather than looking AT God for who He is.
d. He is God! He isn’t something that can be explained or fully understood. If you fully understand something, you don’t worship that thing, you use it.
e. If you can explain Him and fully understand Him and know all about Him, He is no longer God.
3. Compromise will always take you further than you think.
a. The people celebrated and worshipped what they viewed as god.
b. The next thing that happens though is that they begin to celebrate in an unnatural way.
c. Revelry = lively and noisy festivities, especially when they involve drinking a large amount of alcohol.
d. When confronted about the calf, Aaron lied about how it was made. He tried to separate himself from any involvement in the process.
e. Compromise may seem innocent and at times it may seem right. But, compromise never takes you in the right direction.
f. Moses declared that he didn’t hear victory and he didn’t hear defeat. What he heard was compromise. The people were settling for what they could see and understand.
4. Compromise will bring God’s displeasure.
a. God told Moses to go down and deal with his people. God didn’t even take ownership of the Israelites at this point because He was so angry with them. (Isaiah 59:2)
b. Compromise and sin always brings about destruction and death. God does not leave sin unpunished.
c. Moses served as a mediator on behalf of the people and spared them. Moses was an early type of Jesus, in that he sought God for the forgiveness of the people.
d. 3,000 of the people were killed by the Levites and the Lord struck the camp with a plague.
e. There are times that the consequences of compromise must be dealt with even after repentance has taken place.
