THE LOVING DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD
Exodus 32:25-35
WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?
V:25 Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. 26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, \”Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.\” And all the Levites rallied to him.
A. It is never good to go along to get along.
1. The decisions you make can affect the lives of others
2. Good decisions can save lives.
3. Bad decisions can cause the lost of lives.
4. Let me be clear, sometimes there are adverse consequences
for standing for what is right against the crowd.
a. However God will protect and reward you for your dedication.
b. Matt 16:24
Then Jesus said to his disciples, \”If anyone would come after me, he
must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
c. Cross bearing involves standing up against the crowd for
what is right before God.
B. Aaron who was left in charge of the Israelites. Went along with
Men who suggested making an idol god.
1. It was Aaron who asked for the gold rings and earrings
to make a calf.
2 . It was Aaron who threw the gold in the fire and fashioned the
golden calf.
3. It was Aaron who planned the worship and sacrifices to the golden
calf.
4. Aaron decisions was in part the reason Israel broke the covenant
they had made with God.
5. When Moses came down the mountain and saw what Aaron allowed
he threw the stone tablets to the ground with such force they broke
into pieces indicating the broken covenant and God’s disapproval.
6. Why was Aaron not killed immediately?
a. God does not give us an answer other than the Levite tribe became
the priest of Israel.
b. Aaron repented by coming to Moses on the Lord’s side.
c. God is sovereign.
Ex 33:19
I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have
compassion on whom I will have compassion.
c. No matter how bad we mess up, God gives us another
chance.
THE GOD OF SECOND CHANCES
C. Moses gave the Israelites another chance to repent and be atoned from
God’s wrath.
1. Only the Levites came to Moses indicating they were on the Lord’s
side.
2. every day God gives us a chance to be His side.
3. Anytime we decide to choose the side of the world we risk
God’s wrath and eternal damnation.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF REJECTING THE LORD
V:27 Then he said to them, \”This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: \’Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.\’\” 28 The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died.
A. The Levites became God\’s army, killing three thousand of their
family members, friends, and neighbors.
1. All of those that were killed chose to stay on the side of idol
worship.
2. Jesus, our High Priest will cast into hell all who reject Him as Lord
and Savior.
B. God knows the heart of every person. He knew who would be a
A threat to Israel following His commands.
1. A little leaven will leaven the whole dough.
2. God got rid of the leaven.
SET APART BY ATONEMENT
V:29 Then Moses said, \”You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day.\”
30 The next day Moses said to the people, \”You have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.\”
A. Moses was the constant intercessor for Israel/
1. Jesus intercedes on our behalf daily/
2. If it was not for Jesus, we would be dead in our sins.
B. Moses went in the presence of the Lord to make intercession for
Israel.
THE INTERCESSION OF JESUS
V:31 So Moses went back to the Lord and said, \”Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. 32 But now, please forgive their sin — but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.\”
33 The Lord replied to Moses, \”Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. 34 Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin.\”
A. Moses loved Israel enough to sacrifice his life for theirs.
1. Jesus died on the cross for our sins.
2. Moses was a type of Christ.
3. Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father making intercessions for us
continuously.
B. When we sin, all we have to do is ask for forgiveness.
1.
1 John 1:9-10
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins
and purify us from all unrighteousness.
2. No matter what we have done in the past. We can start with God
with a clean slate each day by asking for forgiveness.
FORGIVEN BUT CHASTISED FOR LOVE
V:35. And the Lord struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made.
A. God\’s forgiveness does not eliminate His punishment.
1. God’s punishment has a purpose in our lives.
2.
Heb 12:11
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:
nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness
unto them which are exercised thereby.
B. God’s chastisement show His love for us.
Heb 12:5-6
\”My son, do not make light of the Lord\’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst. Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North
Houston, Texas 77041
For more lessons, follow me on facebook and visit
My blogs; revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrecmitc.bogspot.com
