The Stones Throw

1. Jury

The story is told of the sharecropper who was charged with stealing his landlord's mule. The landlord was a rich and domineering man who had few friends among the common people, but the evidence against the defendant was overwhelming. When the jury retired to consider the verdict, they were out only 5 minutes.

* "Have you reached a verdict, Mr. Foreman?" asked the judge.

* "We have, Your Honor," the foreman replied, and handed a paper to the clerk.

* The clerk read: "We the jury find the defendant not guilty, provided that he returns the mule."

* The judge brought the gavel down sharply, saying, "Folks that's not a proper verdict. The defendant is either guilty or not guilty." He told the jury to retire and come back with a lawful verdict. So they left the room and returned again in another five minutes.

* The verdict was handed to the clerk who unfolded the paper, and read the following: "We the jury find the defendant not guilty. He can keep the mule."

That jury was engaged in some creative decision making. They were not comfortable with the options they had, so they came up a verdict that was new and unique.

2. God is similar to the jury --

I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! Luke 12.49

a. He does not want to punish us -- "This will hurt me more than you" is true with God

b. He has gone to great lengths to meet us more than halfway

1) Israel's Exodus

2) Jesus' DBR

3. Many pictures of Jesus in the OT -- Offering of Isaac as an example

4. Events with Moses point to Jesus

5. Consider some from Exodus

I. The Gathering Before God

A. God's Hand on the People -- Exodus 19.1-9; 16-21

1. Consecration to Hear God -- 20.1ff

a. "10 Commandments"

b. "10 Words" -- Decalogue (deca = 10; Logos = word)

2. Moses' ascent for additional instruction -- 20.21

3. Moses Receives Written Word by the HS -- 31.18

B. The People's Turn from God -- 32.1-6

1. Impatience? Weakness?

2. Violation of no other gods; idolatry

3. Picture of Us -- Jesus is away, what will we do? 2 Peter 3.3-4; 8-10a

3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation."// 8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief,

II. Moses' Pictures of Jesus' Ministry

A. The First Set of Stone Tablets = The Body of Jesus

1. "Living Stone" -- 1 Peter 2.4; John 1.14

2. Broken Tablets = Death of Jesus

a. Due to sinfulness of the people (Hebrews then as well as us today)

b. Jesus' Declaration -- Luke 22.19

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

B. Averting the Wrath of God

1. Deserved Destruction -- Exodus 32.7-10

2. Intercession -- 32.11-14

C. Salvation with Him -- 32.15-20

1. Joshua = Salvation of the LORD

2. Destruction of sin

D. Call to Choose -- 32.26

1. Levites Respond

2. 3000 killed; Acts 2 -- 3000 choose life

III. Moses' Picture of Jesus' Resurrection

A. A Matter of Atonement -- 32.30-35; Hebrews 9.12, 15 (as HP)

12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.// 15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

B. New Stone Tablets = The Resurrected Body of Jesus -- Exodus 34.1ff

1. We get a glimpse of God's eternal nature

a. New Tablets; same words

b. Jesus' New Body; same teachings -- Matthew 28.18-20

2. We are shown God's 13 eternal attributes -- Exodus 34.6ff

a. "LORD, LORD" -- Mercy; he is the same LORD before and after man sins

b. God = "el" -- Mighty One; True God (often included in names of men -- Elijah)