Lesson 11: Apostacy and Intercession

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Chief

Chief

Chief of Sinners.
Exodus 32:31–32 – Moses pleads with God to forgive Israel’s sin or blot him out of God’s book, demonstrating selfless intercession.
Core Theme: The golden calf incident reveals the dangers of idolatry, failed leadership, and the need for Christ-like mediation.

Key Insights by Day:​

  1. Sunday: Failed Leadership (Exodus 32:1–6)
    • Aaron’s Weakness: As interim leader, Aaron prioritizes popularity over principle, crafting a golden calf to appease the people.
    • Lesson: Leaders must uphold divine standards, not succumb to pressure (Exodus 31:1–6).
  2. Monday: Idolatry and Evil (Exodus 32:6; Romans 1:22–27)
    • Pagan Practices: The golden calf (likely symbolizing Egyptian gods Apis or Hathor) leads to revelry, immorality, and depravity.
    • Futility of Idols: Idols are powerless (Psalm 115:4–8); worshiping them corrupts and distances people from God.
  3. Tuesday: Corrupting Themselves (Exodus 32:7–8; Matthew 10:37)
    • Personal Responsibility: Israel actively "corrupts itself" by replacing God with idols; a warning against modern idols (wealth, entertainment, etc.).
    • Priority of God: Jesus teaches that loyalty to Him must surpass even family ties (Matthew 10:37).
  4. Wednesday: God’s Righteous Wrath (Exodus 32:9–29)
    • Divine Anger: God justly threatens destruction due to Israel’s blatant covenant breach.
    • Moses’ Response: Breaks the tablets (symbolizing broken covenant) and confronts Aaron, who deflects blame.
    • Justice: The Levites execute unrepentant idolaters to restore order.
  5. Thursday: Intercession (Exodus 32:30–32; Isaiah 53:4)
    • Moses as Mediator: Offers to be blotted out of God’s book to save Israel; a foreshadowing of Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice (Isaiah 53:4; 1 Peter 5:7).
    • Forgiveness: God pardons the repentant but punishes the defiant to preserve the community.

Final Thoughts (Friday):​

  • Idolatry’s Consequences: Sin demands justice, but God provides mercy through intercession.
  • Modern Application: Any priority placed above God becomes a "golden calf." Vigilance and repentance are essential.
  • Christ Our Mediator: Moses’ plea points to Jesus, who bears our sins and secures forgiveness for those who repent.
"Moses’ intercession mirrors Calvary: One willing to be blotted out for many. In our apostasy, Christ still pleads—Father, forgive them."
Click to expand...
 
The lesson quotes "“Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, ‘Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written’ ” (Exodus 32:31, 32, NKJV).

The Hebrew says something entirely different:

Ex 32:31 And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have "missed" a great "sin-offering", and have made them gods of gold.
32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their "sin-offering" --; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

If Moses wanted to treat Israel as wicked he could have said, "ye have transgressed the law" but He did not say that. Instead He said Israel has "missed" a great "sin-offering"

Missing is more an act of breaking faith than of like a wicked person transgressing the law. And "sin-offering" is the confession of "missings" unto a "sin-bearer" or "intercessor" who takes your "guilt and penalties" away.

Verse 32 has Moses functioning as a "sin-offering bearer" a simile of Jesus, and this message is important
but entirely missed by the NKJV translation.

Shalom
 
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