Devotional Guide, Today’s Reading – Thursday, November 25, 2021

Theme: WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE

Text: ”And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped 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 32:7, 8. 

Comment: It was when the angel directed Moses to go down quickly in that the Israelites had started worshipping an idol that he knew an abomination was taking place.  Since God does not tolerate the brazen violation of his laws, the punishment for their deviation was made known to him; that the Israelites would be destroyed and a great nation would be made from him.  This declaration brought out the humility in Moses once again.  In his mediatory role, he begged for them, saying that people would say God brought the Jews from Egypt so as to slay them in the wilderness. The pleadings of Moses made God not to destroy the Israelites immediately. (Exodus 32:10-14, 30 – 35) On getting to the camp, Moses was enraged at the sight of the golden calf. That was righteous indignation. “A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.” (Proverbs 20:8) The Bible says “he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. 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 32:19, 20) There “god” could be ground to powder and swallowed! The true worshipper should not only hate sin but should also take positive action to stamp it out.  – Psalm 97:10. Proverbs 20:8; Ephesians 5:11,12; 1 Corinthians 5:13; John 2:13-15.