DCLM YOUTH STS LESSON 57 ISRAEL DESCENDS INTO IDOLATRY
We examined the institution of the priesthood, and today we consider Israel Descends into Idolatry. I pray that the Lord will help us avoid Israel’s Idolatry.
Memory Verse: They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshiped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt” (Exodus 32:8).
TEXT: Exodus 32:1-35; 33:1-23
Israel had just crossed the Red Sea and witnessed God’s great deliverance from Egypt. God had manifested Himself to them on Mount Sinai and given them the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19:1,20; 20:1,2). Just before Moses could return, they had backslidden and fallen into idolatry under the weak and permissive leadership of Aaron. Our text today reveals the sinful and shameful descent of Israel, the consequences o their sin, Moses’ intercessions, Israel’s repentance, the restoration of God’s presence, and Moses’ passion for God’s glory.
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ISRAEL’S SINFUL DECLINE AND DISCIPLINE
Exodus 32:1 10,15-24; 1 Corinthians 10:7; Exodus 20:1-5; Isaiah 42:8 59:16; Ezekiel 22:30; Romans 6:23
“And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods. which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him” (Exodus 32:1).
Question 1: What are the reasons for Israel’s decline into idolatry and how can we avoid them?
The children of Israel had waited for Moses and just about the time he was to return, they lost their patience. It is worthy of note that Moses returned on the day of their feast; if they had waited a few days more, they would have saved themselves from this sinful act. Christian youths are to wait patiently for
the coming of the Lord, answers to prayers, admission into higher institution, success in examinations so as not to get into sin. Impatience breeds iniquity “… and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth (Proverbs 19:2). There was none among the Israelites who opposed the idea of meeting Aaron to make a sacrilegious demand. They were all united in evil. Christian youths should avoid the company of evildoers. The Scripture warns, “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment” (Exodus 23:2). In a bid to carry out their sinful act, they made a request to Aaron.
They also wrongly ascribed their deliverance from Egypt to Moses, instead of God (Exodus 20:2). Christian youths should avoid ascribing God’s glory to any man or graven image; God will not take it lightly. “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images” (Isaiah 42:8). Aaron was a man without strong and stable conviction. He went ahead to make a graven image for them.
They borrowed the style of idolatrous worship in Egypt (Joshua 24:14). What a shameful decline! Although they were physically out of Egypt, their minds were on their practices. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2). This shows the compelling need for conviction and obedience to the word of God. Christian youths should also take heed lest the limited to the worship of graven images; it is anything that take the place of God in our heart . “From idols. Amen” (1 John 5:21).
Question 2: Mention examples of people that were punished as a result of their sinful acts.
“And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it” (Exodus 32:20). Every sinful act always attracts divine punishment either here on earth or in eternity. Examples of those that were punished include Esau, Achan, Nadab and Abihu, Dathan, Korah and Abiram, Saul the first king of Israel, Judas Iscariot, Ananias and Sapphira, with a host of others.
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MOSES’ IMPORTUNATE INTERCESSION
Exodus 32:10- 14,30-35; Psalm 79:4; Romans 6:23; Deuteronomy 9:15-21; Romans 9:1-3
Moses’ swift, timely and powerful intercession stayed God’s wrath from falling upon the Israelites. God wanted to consume them and start afresh with Moses; but His unselfish and persuasive intercession led God to alter His course of action. He prayed, “...Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people” (Exodus 32:12). His prayer was answered. “And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people” (Exodus 32:14). What a productive intercession by a great intercessor! Indeed, intercession brings divine intervention. God is in search of Christian youths, today, who will passionately intercede for the lost. “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none” (Ezekiel 22:30).
Question 3: What should be the responsibility of Christian youths towards sinners and backsliders?
After dealing with the sin in the camp, Moses knew that God’s wrath was yet to be appeased; this necessitated another round of importunate intercession. He was an exemplary leader who hated and dealt with sin. Moses was so passionate e Israelites that he requested that God should remove 4/5 name from His book if He would not forgive the Israelites. As Christian youths, we must intercede (pray) for the backsliders.
This was what Abraham did for Lot and his family that Rescued them from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. conversion of sinning youths and the restoration of that rescued them from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). Apostle Paul also had similar passion for the Israelites (Romans 9:1-3). Passion for the lost is an essential ingredient for a productive ministry.
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MOSES’ CALL TO REPENTANCE AND ISRAEL’S RESPONSE
Exodus 32:25-29; 33:1-23; 34:30,35; Isaiah 55:6,7; 58:1: Proverbs 28:13; Acts 3:19; Philippians 3:10
Moses called the children of Israel to repentance. “…Who is on the LORD’s side?” The Levites responded to his call and separated themselves. For this action, the Levites were blessed and consecrated for the service of the sanctuary. Youths should come out from among sinful Separate so as not to be punished with them.
Question 4: What should be the attitude of a sinning youth and backslider to God’s call to repentance?
The sinning youth should not take God’s call to repentance for granted. The call to repentance requires an urgent response because delay is dangerous and damning. “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” (2 Corinthians 6:2). “Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness” (Hebrews 3:7.8).
Question 5: What can we learn from the Levites’ response to Moses call?
From the Levites’ repentance and the restoration to God’s presence, the following lessons can be learnt.
One, sin repels God’s presence from any group of people.
Two, repentance is personal.
Three, forgiveness comes only after genuine repentance,
Four, God still speaks to those who care to listen. We should develop intimacy with God.
Five, we should make sure we abide in God’s presence.
Question 6: How can Christian youths grow in the Lord?
Moses was a man of great passion for God. He was not satisfied with the encounter he had had with God; he wanted more and that was why he made that fervent request. “… I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.“ Though God’s face expresses His infinite glory, and the light He dwells in could not be seen by any man, yet God showed him His “back parts”. When he descended the mount, his face glowed. “And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone…” (Exodus 34:35).
Christian youths who seek God in truth by consecration, consistent fervent prayer and meditation on God’s word, will experience spiritual growth and have divine revelations of His majestic glory. Hence, we should desire to know him more. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18).
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