Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

           Text: Exodus 32:7-14, but especially these words –

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf.”

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dear Friends in Christ Jesus:

           Jesus told the story about a man who had three servants. Before the man left on a long journey, he gave one of his servants, five talents – another, two talents – and the third, one talent. Two of the servants invested their talents and were able to double them. The third servant didn’t use his at all. In fact, he dug a hole and buried it for safekeeping. When the man returned from his journey, he complimented the two servants who wisely invested their talents. He had harsh words for the servant who did nothing. The servant tried to explain his failure by saying – “I was afraid.”

           The words – “Do not be afraid” – appear in the Bible 365 times. And yet, there isn’t a day in our lives – when fear isn’t with us. And because of it, you and I at times begin to lose our grasp on things and, like the nation of Israel at the foot of the mountain – we begin to grow restless and make golden calves for ourselves.

           How many golden calves have you made this past week. I’m sure this seems like a pretty strange question, and you would probably answer – “Honestly, I haven’t made a single one. I couldn’t afford the price of gold anyway.” Literally, it’s true – no golden calves, not a single one! Yet in our lives, when the delay seems long, the news depressing, and when we look up toward the mountain where God is supposed to be – all we see is darkness and dead-ends. We, too, each in our own way, like the nation of Israel in Old Testament times, begin to make our golden calves.

           For we’re always looking for something we can see and feel – something that’s going to protect us from fear and uncertainty. And in this way, we begin to build barriers between ourselves and God. Having said this, let’s look at the words of the text again – with God and Moses up on the top of the mountain and the people of Israel down below. It’s a very familiar story. It’s a story of contrasts and surprises.

           The people of Israel with Aaron, the chief priest, as their leader – were at the foot of the mountain. They had been there for forty days and forty nights – and that’s a terribly long time when you’re waiting for someone or something. At the top of the mountain, God was speaking to Moses – and everything there was secure and peaceful. However, below – the people were angry and restless. Where in the world had Moses gone? Had he brought them out of Egypt into the desert – just to abandon them? And so, in their restlessness – Israel looked for someone, something, to protect them from the uncertainty of their situation. Something to look at, to see, to feel, and to touch. They decided to build a solid, permanent image – something present and comfortable. Not off somewhere in those clouds on the mountain – but something that was near at all times. Visible. Something to hold on to. And so, the people began to build an idol – a golden calf.

           On the mountain, God said to Moses – “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt.” That little word “your” – we miss those little words at times – show us how God looked at what was going on down at the foot of the mountain. Israel was no longer His people, for they had turned away from Him. They had refused to be His own. Earlier, God had told these same people – “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” But now, they were Moses’ people, and it was Moses who had brought them out of Egypt. Remember that God also said – “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol.” But that’s exactly what the people of Israel had done. And that special relationship with God was broken.

           God had called these people to be His own, and promised to be their God. But now, they had become afraid. They had built their own god. They had deserted the Lord. They had refused the privilege of being God’s very own – and now had to suffer the consequences of their actions. This shows us what happens to our relationship with God – when we begin to make golden calves, setting up gods of our own.

           But there’s another thing. If those people at the foot of the mountain refused to be God’s people – then He would raise up a new people for Himself. He said to Moses – “I will make you into a great nation.” And this promise gave Moses just the opening he had been waiting for. He questioned God on two points – “Whose people are those who made the golden calf? And to whom does the promise made by God belong?”

           Moses’ response begins to give us a pattern – a little insight into how we can come to God, and how God also will forgive us when we make golden calves for ourselves – but in repentance and faith, seek Him where He can be found. Just look at how Moses approached God. First of all, he reminded God that these people were indeed His people – in spite of what they had done. He said – “O Lord, why would your anger burn against your people?” And it’s that little word “your” again. And then Moses begins to remind God of what He had done for the people of Israel – that in spite of what they had done, they were the same people that God called out of Egypt to be His own. And just as they had been His people then – so they were still His people. For God called them out of Egypt – not because they were such good and respectable people, but because He loved them then and loved them still.

           Moses reminded God that these people were the fulfillment of His promise. This is what God said to Abraham – “I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever” – and that promise still stood. So now we begin to see something of the heartbreak of God that finds its completion in the cross of Jesus Christ – the pain that our sins and rebellion bring to God.

           Yes, so it is for us, when we make our golden calves and begin to put up barriers. Jesus Christ came to tear those barriers down – and to destroy those golden calves that we have built. To re-establish our relationship with God once again. Not because of what we have done, but in spite of what we’ve done, in spite of the golden calves we have constructed and the ways in which we’ve forgotten God. Moses went back down the mountain and reminded the people that when there are long delays, when things don’t seem to be going well, when God seems to be so very far away, and they become restless – look once again at what God had done for them, look once again at God’s promises to them. For it’s in Him that they’ll find their protection, their salvation, and their God.

           The text for today reminds us that God will remain faithful. This is so – even when we fall short of God’s demand for absolute loyalty and devotion. For the gap between God’s justice and our sin – is done away with by the love of God, not our goodness. We just can’t build ourselves up to the level demanded by God. But as He came to Israel when the Israelites made a golden calf – so through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God comes to us with His love and forgiveness.

           It’s true, the world in which we live often looks terrifying. And as a result, we’re often filled with fear. But the answer isn’t in making our own golden calves, trying to build our own protective barriers to defend us from the uncertainties of our time. When we look up at the mountain where God’s supposed to be – we see only darkness and emptiness. And when the delay seems long, we, like Israel, become restless. But it’s then that Christ shows us what God has done for us in the past. Christ shows us God’s love. And in the Savior, we know that God will never desert us. He loved us in the past – and He always will. In Him, the future is secure. Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Amen.