Our Golden Calf Exodus 32

MAKING IDOLS

MAKING IDOLS

Second Commandment

“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them.”

MAKING IDOLS

MAKING IDOLS

Golden calf: treating YHWH like other gods

Why? They wanted a god they could control

- who would go where they want, when they want

- who would bless w/o placing obligations on them

MAKING IDOLS

You make God your golden calf when you…

- give Him Sundays, but rest of the week is yours

- give Him a little $, but the rest is yours

- obey Him in public, but sin w/o remorse in private

- draw boundaries around what He gets in your life

Abraham Kuyper

“…there is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: 'Mine!'"

MAKING IDOLS

You make God your golden calf when you…

- give Him Sundays, but rest of the week is yours

- give Him a little $, but the rest is yours

- obey Him in public, but sin w/o remorse in private

- draw boundaries around what He gets in your life

DESTROYING IDOLS

Moses rebukes their law-breaking

Moses obliterates their idol

Moses unleashes death

God sends a plague

Lesson: Making golden calves is costly!

SAVING IDOLATERS

God intends to give them justice

Moses intercedes

God relents and gives them mercy

Lesson: Our prayers for the lost matter!

SAVING IDOLATERS

Jonah 4:1-2

But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. He prayed to the Lord, “O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.

SAVING IDOLATERS

1 Timothy 2:1-4

First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people, even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior, since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Helpful questions to ask neighbors, coworkers, and classmates Move from EXTERNAL to INTERNAL to ETERNAL questions

• (For students) What’s your major? (For adults) What do you do for a living? Why did you choose that major/job? Are you enjoying it? What’s your dream job? Why?

• What are your plans for Thanksgiving/Christmas? How does your family celebrate the holidays? What do you like best about the holidays? Least? Why?

• Have you been able to go to an Aggie football game this semester? Why do you think Aggies get so passionate about football? Is there anything that you get that passionate about?

• How long have you lived in College Station? Does this town feel like “home” to you? Why? If not, what would you need here to make it feel like home?