Sermon Tone Analysis

*It Was On the Tip of My Tongue*

Exodus 32:30-32

 

*THESIS:*  Although we all sin and fall short of God’s glory we have a savior named Jesus that casts our sins, faults and shortcomings into the sea of forgetfulness.

Moses tried to do this for Israel but was not the suitable sacrifice.

We have all experienced a situation when we have had to say “it was on the tip of my tongue”.

It’s a time when you were involved in a conversation or perhaps someone asked you a question and you found yourself unable to articulate what you thought you knew.

It’s a very familiar feeling that we all can relate to.

Not the time when you went in Dillards and after 30 minutes of waiting without service you said to yourself when they finally come up to me ask if I need help I’m going to cuss them out up in here and God supernaturally binded your tongue.

It’s not even the time when you went to work with a chip on your shoulders and said if anyone comes up to me the wrong way I’m going to go off and God fixed circumstances so that when they did come to you, you were in front of the boss.

No these were just times when God kept you out of trouble.

But I’m talking about the times when what is on the inside can not be put into words because you understand it you just can’t describe it.

You know what you want to say but you can’t get it out.

It just dangles there on the tip of your tongue.

I believe Moses is in a situation where there something on the tip of his tongue.

If you look closely at Exodus 32:32 you will find in every translation of the Bible that there is a “-“ in the middle of the verse.

I do not believe that God does anything by accident or just because.

And knowing that although it may have been the hands of men that wrote down the words of the Bible it was the Spirit of God directing their hands; therefore every word and every punctuation mark in the Bible must be significant.

In this 32 verse Moses begins to speak to God about the children of Israel and almost as if he was cut off in mid thought a dash is placed there.

What happened to Moses that he did not finish his thought but rather he changed direction?

Moses has found himself in a situation that is giving him conflicting emotions.

Moses is in a situation that has him *angry, hurt, distraught, scared and confused *all at the same time.

I.

Moses’ distress

a.

While Moses is on Mt Sinai Israel turned there back on him

                                                              i.

Have you ever been in a situation when those you love most left you for dead

1.      cousins

2.      uncles

3.      aunts

4.      even brother and sister

                                                            ii.

Maybe at one time you where a high roller with plenty of money

                                                          iii.

Maybe in high school or college you were the BMOC

1.

But when success was no longer certain they left you

                                                          iv.

At some point when people are done using you up they will leave you for dead

b.

His right hand man caved under pressure

                                                              i.

Moses thought Aaron caught the vision

                                                            ii.

But when under pressure from the people he caved and eventually became the ring leader

c.

The people he was responsible for committed the ultimate sin

                                                              i.

Moses was a father figure to Israel

1.      God gave him responsibility for the people not only leaving Egypt but entering into promise

2.      To all the fathers in the house God has given you an awesome responsibility of getting that child through this thing called life and helping them to fulfill what God has predestined them for

a.

There will be bumps on the road

3.      Because of this father like relationship Moses is angry, hurt, distraught, scared and confused all at the same time

                                                            ii.

While Moses was on the mountain they turned their backs on God

1.

They took material possessions and made it their god

a.       Be careful that the things God gave you do not become your god

b.

To often we get caught up in the presents and not His presence

c.

If you ever get more excited about what He gave you than you are about Him- check yourself

                                                                                                                                      i.

It bothers me that we can go to sporting events, concerts and even our children’s extra activities and scream and shout;

                                                                                                                                    ii.

But on Sunday sit down on God!

                                                                                                                                  iii.

Nothing should excite you more than God

 

 

 

 

 

d.

Be careful how much you spoil your children

                                                                                                                                      i.

Aint nothing wrong with them having everything you did not have

                                                                                                                                    ii.

Give them:

1.      cars

2.      designer clothes

3.      play station

4.      game cube

5.      and whatever else they want

                                                                                                                                  iii.

Just make sure they acknowledge God every day of their lives

                                                                                                                                  iv.

Let them know God wants you to have it; if you don’t forget Him

2.      Israel took the things God gave them made a god and through a wild party in its honor

a.       Understand when the Bible says in verse 6 that they rose up to play it means they had a wild party with plenty of liquor drugs and sex

b.

They not only made a god but made it the way they wanted him to be

                                                                                                                                      i.

They made it according to their desires

                                                                                                                                    ii.

IAW they made a god that was cool with whatever they wanted to do

c.

This is why I believe there are so many atheist or whatever you want to call a non believer

3.      They made a god that had not done anything for them and gave it God’s glory!

d.      Yes Moses is *angry, hurt, distraught, scared and confused!*

i.

Moses represents the law

1.

According to the law for every crime there is a punishment

2.      According to the law if do the crime you must do the time

3.      Can you imagine his turmoil?

e.       Like any good parent he tries to save his children