![]() God's anger at sin can't be understood apart from his own holiness, his separateness from sin, his nature utterly opposed to injustice, sin, and human degradation. It is a defense mechanism that we need for survival. ![]() Be calm and serene." Yeah, right! Is that the way you act when you are challenged? Of course not! God gave us the emotion of anger so that we might act in the face of unrighteousness and challenge rather than remain passive. Anger is an emotion that can get you in trouble, God. Cole calls this "a deliberate 'anthropopathism,' describing God's feelings in human terms, as being more comprehensible to us." 1"Now, now.," some people might chide God. ![]() The people have utterly rebelled against God by substituting idols and attributing God's salvation to them. Instead it would sitffen its neck against the reins. Resist the lead rope and refuse to let its master lead it. "Stiff-necked" is a reference to a mule or ox which would Then I will make you into a great nation.'" (Exodus 32:9-10) Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Where we pick up the story, God is utterly disgusted and filled with anger - very righteous anger to be sure! He says: "'I have seen these people,' the L ORD said to Moses, 'and they are a stiff-necked people. In spite of Aaron's feeble efforts to try to turn this into a festival to Yahweh, the people worship the golden calf idol, sacrifice to it, and claim that the idol brought them out of Egypt - utter blasphemy. From their gold earrings Aaron fashions a gold calf. They demand that Aaron make visible gods like they're used to. Finally, the finger of God inscribes the Ten Commandmentsīut while Moses is there before God, the people on the sands below have become impatient. Moses has been on Mt Sinai with God for forty days and nights receiving from God the terms of the Covenant and overview of the Tabernacle, setting up for Israel the Kingdom under God as King. Issue at stake here is: Can prayer change God's mind? Or does prayer affect only us who pray? Setting the Scene ![]() I'm taking Moses' intercession out of chronological order in our study of prayer - before Abraham's intercession, that is - because the truths this passage teaches are so utterly radical and vital to a foundational understanding of prayer. We'll be focusing on Exodus 32:1-10, but will allude to Numbers 14:11-24 where Israel's unbelief at entering the Promised Land also turns to rebellion. This passage is the first of two occasions where Moses intercedes for sinful Israel before an angry God who is ready to wipe them out - and succeeds in appealing for mercy for them. (illustrator), in James Bailie, The Bible Story: aĬonnected narrative retold from Holy Scripture (A & C ![]()
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