Choosing Sides

GETTING STARTED

If you are familiar with Texas history, you have heard the story of Colonel Travis drawing a line in the sand at the Alamo and giving his soldiers the chance to decide whether to stay and fight or to leave. The risks were great and the outcome uncertain. Yet, not a soldier crossed the line to leave. Every day, we make a similar decision: Whose side are we on? Are we willing to stand for God’s glory, or partner with the world? Are we impatient or trusting? Do we find ourselves crossing the lines of compromise instead of standing firmly on God’s side?

  • Think of a time that you became impatient and compromised what you knew to be right. What was that like?

READ THE WORD: EXODUS 32:19-35 (ESV)

19 And as soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses’ anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. 20 He took the calf that they had made and burned it with fire and ground it to powder and scattered it on the water and made the people of Israel drink it.
21 And Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you that you have brought such a great sin upon them?” 22 And Aaron said, “Let not the anger of my lord burn hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. 23 For they said to me, ‘Make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 24 So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”
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.

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. What was Moses’ reaction when he saw the golden calf (vss. 19-20)?
  2. What was the justification Aaron gave for the idol (vss. 22-24)?
  3. What did Moses ask the Levites to do, even after they sinned (vss. 26-29)?
  4. What does God’s response tell you about his character (vss. 34-35)?

RESPOND TO GOD

Do you see similarities to our culture in this passage? Full of excuses, lies, and blame. Eyes closed to actions that are clearly disobedient. Unwilling to acknowledge sin. Compromising beliefs and values. Like the Israelites, we are quick to compromise under pressure. Like Aaron, we bend to those who are the most persuasive or the loudest, even when we know it goes against God’s truths. Despite popular opinions and our impatience, God is still holy, just, righteous, forgiving, and the only one deserving of our worship. Let us be more like Moses, concerned more about God’s holiness and reputation than people’s opinions.

  • Ask God to show you areas of your life where you’ve been impatient, compromising, or careless with his commandments. Confess these things and ask for his forgiveness.
  • Thank him that he forgives.