Look Who's Coming For Dinner

If people are coming over, we typically try to clean house.  

This routine is often an odd mix of both chaos and calm.  

But it usually works for us.  

Houseguests typically provide motivation.  

    

In Exodus the nation of Israel is preparing for company.  As we spoke about Sunday, the entirety of chapters 25-40 deal with the nation preparing to host her King.  God was actually making plans to move down from Mt. Sinai and take residence among His people.1  

Imagine Martha Stewart moving in.  Only multiply that by 10,000.  

Even still, the diva of decor and fine dining doesn't quite cut it.  

God was literally moving into the camp.  But there was a slight problem.

The nation grew impatient and did something incredibly shortsighted and reckless.  While waiting on Moses to return, Israel created an idol and adopted it as their patron deity.  They diverted their worship away from the One who had redeemed them and began to worship a golden calf.  

Certainly God's plan was to dwell among His people yet from the very beginning we see the nation wrestling with idolatry.  This threat, the danger of worshipping lesser things, was the single greatest challenge to Israel experiencing God's unparalleled blessing.  In many ways, our path is no different.  If we are to experience the fullness of God's indwelling then we must be attentive to the allure of idols (2 Corinthians 6:15-18).  

Along this line, I'd like to make a few observations from Exodus 32.

Read between the lines of verse 1: He is still on that blasted mountain!  When God is not operating according to our agenda or timetable we get antsy.  This impatience reveals a syncretic heart: a will desperately attempting to blend the worship of two gods.  Timothy Keller talks about our hearts being idol factories, I tend to agree with him. 

Of course all of this occurs below the surface, under my Sunday best.  It isn't until the supreme God doesn't cooperate with my lesser gods that I react.  In my idolatry, I grow demanding.   

This demanding spirit is easily detect within Israel.  Note 32:1, "Up!"  The people come to Aaron and emphatically issue a demand.  There was no waiting.  No movement to still the heart.  Instead of prayer and patience there is the singular drive to secure that which is most desperately craved.

Nothing, save the grace of God, will get between the idol and it's disciple.

Perpetuating this demanding spirit is the underlying issue of twisted thinking.  Throughout the narrative of Exodus the people make some of the most ridiculous statements but note 32:4.

"These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt"

Seriously? "These are your gods..."  

The calf forged from your nose ring delivered you from slavery? 

Vain, sinful imaginings tend to warp our thought process.
We lose sight of God's splendor and majesty.
We mistaken attribute supreme standing to whichever idol we pursue.
"This" is your god.  "This" is my god.        

"This" has bought your freedom. 

"This" is worthy of your sacrifice. 

"This" will secure your worth and future status. 

"This" will bring deep, lasting meaning and fulfillment.

The more twisted our thinking becomes, the stronger the idols grow and the more susceptible we are to self-deception and ruin.  Pay attention to Aaron's general attitude when Moses' confronts him (32:21-24).

Indicative of idolatry is the ingrained ability to blame shift and deceive.

Moses, those people are unbelievable, you know how stubborn they are!
Blame shifting.      

I took their gold rings, threw them into the fire, and out came this calf!
Deceit.  

Maybe the best question isn't "if" I have idols but what are they?  I John concludes with a very brief yet fitting admonition, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols."  Be careful of the lesser things, those desires that can creep in and become idolatrous demands.

Invariably God will mess with our idols.  When He does, we'll likely grow impatient.  Pay attention to these moments, be careful of the twisted thoughts that detract from the truths of God's word.  Receive the word that is able to save your soul.

Submit to God and He will lift you up.  Continued pursuit of idols will lead to squirming, shifty behavior and thoughts.  Blame shifting and deceit happen to be common but there are many ways we deflect and keep from sitting under the light of truth.

Wherever we might be may we embrace God's presence for we are the temple of the living God:

"I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Therefore go out from their midst and be separate from them says the Lord...then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you and you shall be sons and saughters to me, says the Lord Almighty."  2 Corinthians 6:16-18

God Bless!

1.  The Plans for God’s Presence (Exodus 24:12-31:18)

     The Challenge to God’s Presence (32:1-34:35)

     The Gift of God’s Presence (36:1-40:38)

Look But Don't Touch

With four boys it often feels like we descend upon establishments.

Sure, I believe them to be good boys but they are boys.
Toys-R-Us or Chucky Cheese? No problem.
Pottery Barn or Michaels?  Not so much.  These places invite disaster.    
They are a minefield of horrors, filled with fascinating breakables.
Feel free to look but do not touch.

On Sinai, God’s presence literally descended upon the mountain.
Lighting, seismic tremors, and billowing smoke made it a sight to behold.
The customary trumpet blast signified that Israel's King had arrived. 
This was not Oz.  No mortal wizard was behind the curtain, pulling levers.
Indeed, God was present.  And He invited Israel close but not too close.    
Feel free to look but do not touch.

Meet and Greet with God. God had determined to bring Israel out of Egypt so that they might experience His character and person firsthand.1  Note Exodus 20:20:

Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to you to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin”

Whatever else could be said about Exodus 19-24, it’s essence involves Israel actually meeting their divine benefactor. The people are given the unique opportunity to both hear and see the One who redeemed them from Egypt (Exodus 19:9-20; Deuteronomy 5:24).

Fear God. The sum purpose of Mount Sinai was for Israel to meet her God so that she would learn to fear Him: "Do not fear, for God has come to you to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin”

Often when defining the fear of God we rightly inject words such as ‘reverence’ and ‘awe’. A condition or posture of the heart that manifests submissive obedience to God’s will. We do not cower beneath a Tyrant’s hand but rather find comfort and rest in the benevolent care of our King.

A Healthy Tension.  Living in the fear of God invites tension.  On Sinai God vividly portrayed Himself as equally accessible and unapproachable. He was divinely present and personable yet dangerously distinct. In response, Israel was encouraged to draw near to the mountain and experience God but they dare not overlook the divine stipulations or defy the barrier.  Feel free to look but do not touch.

So it is with God. He is a loving Father yet He is also a Consuming Fire2.

On one side there is immeasurable freedom in God’s family.  Freedom to rest in His tender mercies, freedom to approach God’s throne with boldness, and freedom to trust that the Father is aware of every hair that falls.

On the other there is a weighty charge amongst God’s ranks.  We are to be unwavering in our duty.  We are ambassadors of a kingdom that is not our own.  We are subordinates in a battle in which we are not the Commander.  We are under the Almighty God and our service requires a strict regime of obedience.  We are slaves to righteousness.  No questions asked.  No excuses.   

Fear or Flippancy?  

Do I fear God?  Instinctively I respond.  Of course!

But in slowing down I began to try and think more concretely on the idea of fearing God.  Am I more fearful or more flippant?  In search of some markers, I turned to Proverbs and organized the verses into five indicators of whether or not we live in the fear of God.  I encourage you to read through the questions, consider the verses, and allow the Spirit room to speak:

1. Do I humbly receive sound words of biblical instruction or are my responses typified by defensiveness and dismissive skepticism? (Proverbs 1:7, 29; 2:1-5; 9:10; 15:33; 22:4) 
2. Do I humbly confess my sins to God and others or do I tolerate sin in my life, dismissing its presence and entertaining its perceived benefit? (Proverbs 8:13; 16:6) 
3. Do I exhibit a strong trust and rest in God such that those closest to me, my family, find comfort or am I unable to spiritually nurture and encourage those nearest to me? (Proverbs 14:26)    
4. Do I regularly experience a joyous, inner vitality or is my disposition defined by negativity, melancholy, and depression? (Proverbs 14:27; 19:23; 22:4) 
5. Do I persevere in contentment or am I overrun with unrest, greed, and envy? (Proverbs 15:16; 23:17)     

Does our life bear the marks of fearing God?  Let us pray toward this end and may God be ever gracious to develop in us a reverence and awe that is honorable to Him.  

Blessings

1. The English word 'test' in 20:20 represents a Hebrew word who's bandwidth includes the idea of giving an experience or expanding one's capacity.  Exodus 20:18-20 and Deuteronomy 5:24 build the contextual framework for the idea of God, at Sinai, manifesting himself to Israel so that they would have a greater understanding and capacity of God's person and nature.  Certainly, God would formalize the people of Israel into nation through giving the Law (Exodus 19-24) and He would position Israel to actually receive His presence (Exodus 25-40), but these activities are birthed out of the God's effort to bring the people to Sinai so that would know something more of His person and character and thereby rightly worship Him as their King (Exodus 3:12).   
2. While Hebrews 12 draws clear lines of distinction between the Old Covenants and the New, there persists this reoccurring tension throughout the book.  The 5 warning passages in Hebrews highlight the aforementioned tension of our faith (Hebrews 2:1-4; 3:7-4:13; 5:11-6:12; 10:19-39; 12:14-29). God offers grace through the gospel but He will not tolerate rebellion.  If indeed we are His, there will be a growing ability to both experience the freedom of Christ and live out our duty before Him.  

Happy New Year

New Years.
Out with the old, in with the new.
A blank slate.
Hope of change.

Quite likely, Isaiah would’ve partied hard on New Years.
Maybe even stayed up to see the ball drop.

   
Twice the prophet carefully articulates the idea of revolution.1
Out with the old, in with the new.
Gone is the rebellious city of man, in with the mountain of God.
Hope fulfilled.

Though Isaiah’s days were dark, he understood an important truth. He knew that out of judgment's fire, change would come. And while unrighteousness seemed to prevail at every turn, God would one day make things right. One day the His order would be established and evil dealt a decisive blow.

Hope was not futile. In fact, it was to be fostered. Praising God in advance Isaiah carefully articulates the certainty of coming change:

O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for your have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. For you have made the city a heap, the fortified city a ruin; the foreigner’s palace is a city no more; it will never be rebuilt again…as heat by the shade of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is put down (25:1-5)

Long before the unrighteous city of man had fallen or all wrongs made right, Isaiah sought to embolden hope. With four clear statements Isaiah aims to engender anticipation for the coming of God's kingdom:

The faithful will experience perpetual celebration (25:6)

“On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.” 

Mount Zion is for all peoples.
Isaiah repeatedly emphasizes the inclusivity of God’s redemptive plan.
God, through David’s seed, would work to procure hope for all.
In Zion, a great feast will ensue.

And note the superlatives: rich food with well-aged, well-refined wine.
On Mount Zion there is no fast food or cheap drink.
God only serves the good stuff at His parties.
Good food. Good wine. Good times.

Even the best of our days simply cannot measure up to heaven’s feasts. They were never meant to.  The very best of memories and experiences are simply intended to point us patiently toward home - toward heaven’s table. Toward a place of perpetual, perfected, joyous communion with God.

The faithful will have no fear of death (25:7-8)

“He will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord will wipe away all tears from all faces…”

The children of Adam have long felt death’s sting. 

Yet in Zion, this mortal enemy is swallowed whole.
Tears and sorrow wiped dry by His tender hand.
All things are made new. True life restored.

On Zion sin will have no bearing on the lives of men.
Where spiritual and physical death once held sway, He changed things.

The Son of God defeated death. Jesus’ resurrection decisively tilted the tables.

And while the power of death is defeated, we await for the fullness of life to be revealed (I Corinthians 15). For on that Day, Christ who is our life will manifest His glory and we will see Him as He is.

Our Eternal Hope.
Our Eternal Victory.
Our Eternal Life.

The faithful will see their God (25:9)

Waiting is a tough one for me.

A line more than three cars deep, what's the hold up?

But Isaiah extols perseverance.  Waiting for God’s manifested salvation. 

Waiting for God to fully reveal His purposes and plan.
Know the waiting will be worth it. The main attraction will not disappoint.

The faithful will watch the unrighteous order be undone (25:10-12)

On Mount Zion the curse is lifted and the enemy is eternally undone. 

With artful word play, Isaiah envisions a swimmer incapable of gaining momentum.

The wicked simply will not gain traction.  Evil will be laid low.  

All wrongs will be made right.  No tears.  No regrets.  No "what if".      

_______

In the new order, righteousness wins.

And as we hope in this new year may our outlook for better days be grounded in the promise that God will one day establish His city (Hebrews 11:16).  May our lesser hopes and aims bow to the Holy One of Israel for He will one day usher in wholesale change, eradicating evil and securing the future of His children. Thinking toward this day, may our hearts rise above the clamor and may we join the apostle John in saying, "Come Lord Jesus".

Blessings.

1. In general the first portions of Isaiah, chapters 1-39, don't make for great inspirational reading.  God is literally at war with Israel (1:24; 5:24-25; 29:1-4).  His disdain for their sinful rebellion eventually launches Isaiah into several prophetic discourses targeting every nation under the heavens.  As noted in the outline below in the middle of pronouncing judgment, Isaiah twice references the overarching purposes of God to make all things new. 

• 13:1-23:18 – An announcement to the nations: judgment is at hand 
• 24:1-27:13 – Out with the old, in with the new: the divine order established in Zion
• 28:1-33:24 – An announcement to Judah: judgment is at hand 
• 34:1-35:10 – Out with the old, in with the new: the divine order established in Zion