By ElNathan

Read: Exodus 32:1-33:23, Matthew 26:69-27:14, Psalm 33:1-11, Proverbs 8:33-36

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.
Exodus 32:34

Relate: The Israelites earlier in the chapter began to worship a golden calf that they had constructed. They did this while Moses was encountering God on Mount Sinai. This, of course, was a sin in God’s eyes because he told the Israelites to only worship him. When Moses got word he came down from the mountain and told the Israelites of the great sin they committed and what God wanted to do with them. He instructed them to repent for their sins in the hopes so that God would turn his anger away from them and so He would let them continue to be his chosen people. 

Moses did his part in pleading with God not to destroy the Israelites even though God promised to spare him. He pleaded for God to continue leading them to the promised land, for him to go before them, and for him to continue being their God. Moses in the end was successful. God did turn away his fierce anger and continued to be with the Israelites, but he told Moses that he would still punish those who sinned at the appointed time.

React: This verse shows us one key aspect of God. God is a forgiving yet also a just God. God loves us so much that he would be willing to turn his anger from us despite what sin we committed just like the Israelites. However, he does not let us get away with our sins. Our actions have consequences. There are two main consequences, good and bad. When we do something good most times there will be good consequences and when we do something bad there will be bad consequences. What the Israelites did in this chapter was sinful and wrong. God does not let them get away with their sin as they will have to deal with the consequences but he still forgives them and continues to be with them. Just like the Israelites, God will forgive us when we sin but we need to be ready to deal with the natural consequences of our actions. He will continue to be with us and be our God even when we mess up.

Respond:

Dear God,
Forgive me for sinning in your eyes. Even though there will be consequences, I thank you that even though I sin you still are with me. I thank you that even though we mess up you will always forgive and never leave me.
Amen

Nearly all posts in February and March have as special guest authors the Juniors from the Christian Living class at Faith Academy.