Evil Confronted, Part 2

Sermon 81 in Series

Exodus 32:25-35
[25] And when Moses saw that the people had broken loose (for Aaron had let them break loose, to the derision of their enemies), [26] then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the LORD’s side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. [27] And he said to them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘Put your sword on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor.’” [28] And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell. [29] And Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for the service of the LORD, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day.”

[30] The next day Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” [31] So Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. [32] But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.” [33] But the LORD said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book. [34] But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them.”

[35] Then the LORD sent a plague on the people, because they made the calf, the one that Aaron made.

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   What does it practically look like for you and your family to treasure Christ this Christmas?
2.   How would you describe the state of the Israelites even after Moses initially confronts them? What does it mean to say that there is a crisis on top of a crisis
3.   What does God command the Levites to do? How does the context guard us against misinterpreting this incident?
4.   How does the devotion of the Levites highlight the principle that God must be first? In what ways have you been tempted to put family before or on par with God?
5.   How do Moses’ intercessory words to God point to Christ as our atonement, substitute, and Mediator?
6.   Where do we see God’s grace at work in this passage? How do we see wrath and grace (judgment and salvation) coming together in this story and throughout the Bible?

References: Deuteronomy 9:20; Luke 12:51-53; 14:26; Romans 9:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 9:14; John 10:11; Luke 10:20; Revelation 20:15; 21:27.