Sermon Tone Analysis

Exodus 32:1-

To this point in the story of Moses, God has been faithful.

He promised that he would deliver the people of Israel from Slavery and he did.

He gave them victory over Pharoah and His army, He gave them a cloud by day and a fire by night to lead them.

He has provided them with water and manna to eat.

God has been nothing but faithful and trustworthy.

Some may continue to be here this morning and questioning God in your life, but God has been nothing but faithful and trustworthy.

Moses has been meeting with God for 40 days.

He has been out for 40 days.

I figured it up and 40 days from today would have been August 14th.

So imagine Moses the leader is gone since August 14th.

Here at Bridge of Faith, if Moses had been out since August 14th he would have missed some very big moments.

He would have missed the call to get a new bus and the fact that it broke down on the side of the highway, the reach volunteer planning meeting, the first night of Wednesday night Reach, Speaking at BSU and Chi Alpa, 5 Sunday morning worship services in a row, Food co-op at wal-mart, two mission teams, village construction, 3 Wednesday nights of Reach.

The point is in the last 40 days here at Bridge of Faith if I the leader was out the entire time then I would have missed a lot of stuff here.

There have been times when I have taken a week off and come back to a lot of problems or things I missed out on.

I can’t imagine being gone for 40 days.

Watch what happens when Moses goes to meet with the Lord for 40 days.

Who’s idea was this?

Scripture says they gathered around Aaron and said to him, Come make us a god who will go before us because this Moses the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt-we don’t know what has happened to him!

The people had the idea to gather around Aaron.

Some interesting things about this instance here in the beginning is that who do they believe brought them up out of the land of Egypt.

They say Moses.

This is the early stages of the problem.

Who really brought them out of Egypt?

God did.

Remember last week that this promise God had made to them predated Moses and this promise will also outlast Moses.

Does God use Moses to take them into the promise land?

NO.

It was God in the beginning and it will be God in the end.

The people once again lose focus as they say we need something else because the guy who brought us here is gone.

It was God that had brought them to this point.

They are longing for something or someone to lead them.

Exodus 32:2-

These people are still trying to understand who the Lord is.

In this process of discovery, they want something tangible that they can see.

Sound familiar?

How often have you tried to discover who the Lord is and in the process wanted something that you can touch or see.

Lord just give me something so that I know you are here.

Show me something so that I know you are alive.

Notice what they are willing to give up for the sake of something tangible.

They take off their gold rings and bring it to Aaron.

This is more than likely the same Gold that God had promised them they would get from the Egyptians.

Oh the irony here.

They take off the very thing God had provided them with in order that they might be able to see something tangible that would lead them.

This begs the question of what do I take off that the Lord has provided so that I can see something that is not God because I think God does not here?

Notice it says he fashioned it with an engraving tool and made it into an image of a calf.

This is your God who brought you up from the land of Egypt.

Exodus 32:5-

Again look at what they are willing to do for this thing they think is God but it is not.

They get up Early, offer burnt offerings and present fellowship offerings.

They eat and drink and play all for the sake of this thing that is not God.

This story is our story.

How often are we willing to sacrifice daily for the sake of the things that are not God.

We jump out of bed every weekday to head to work thinking that work is our provider but we struggle to make it to worship on Sunday mornings to worship the One who actually provided for us this week.

The Lord’s Response

Exodus 32:7-

Who do the people think they are following?

Moses Who does God know they are following?

God

Learn from the Israelites that you may think you are speaking out against a leaders decision but it may be true that the very thing you are speaking against is God and notice God’s response to them.

Exodus 32:7-

Did Moses want to lead these people?

No

Right Response (Moses) vs Wrong Response (Aaron)

Exodus 32:11-

Right Response (Yes do this)

Recognize what is God’s responsibility

Moses quickly distinguishes that these are your people that you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a strong hand.

Exodus 32:13

Go back to the promises of God

Moses says remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel that you promised to give your offspring this land and they will inherit this land forever.

Moses goes back to the promises of God.

When you feel deserted or lonely, then go back to the promises of God.

This means scripture.

This is not the things you have hear quoted in a motivational book or the things that you think have been whispered to you.

Go back to the promises of God in Scripture.

Pray and intercede with scripture!

Know scripture and pray scripture.

Trust the promises of God in Scripture.

The Lord is my shepherd...

Exodus 32:15-

Wrong response (Aaron)

Exodus 32:

Exodus 32:

Aaron blames the people

Aaron blames Moses for his delay

Exodus 32:

My favorite he blames the fire

It is funny what we can blame when it comes down to sin.

Moses quoted the promises of God but here Aaron passes blame on the people, Moses and the fire.

Exodus 32:25-