We have to be aware of the so-called “little foxes”, lest they ruin our vineyard. If we are to be proactive in our sanctification and the mortification of sin, we must also hate each and every sin with such disdain that we are ever mindful of our own wicked frailties.

Proverbs 16:3

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established

In my daily Bible readings over the last few days there have been a few passages dealing with matters which I’ve found applicable to me while in my current circumstance of employment. I must confess, I have sinned. I have not honored God in my job. I’ve allowed supervisors, so-called “policies”, and other workers influence my own work ethic. If the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever (and it is), then it follows in all things, whether eating, drinking, or whatever I’m doing, I ought to be doing all to the glory of God. I have failed so miserably in “committing [my] work to the Lord” and I have tried to justify my slackness by citing injustices served to and unrealistic expectations of employees. This is no valid or Biblical excuse. Shame on me.

Philippians 2:14-15

Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless an innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.

There’s no doubt that my work ethic as of late (though comparitively “better” than most of those with whom I work) has served as neither salt nor light to those around me; rather, it has been yet another testimony to the hypocrisy of my own life. And yet, I thank God for His mercies and His new beginnings. Thus, I confess my sin…not only to the Lord, but to those with whom I work daily. I repent of my attitude, grumblings, etc. and I publicly ask God to forgive me for not laboring to the glory of His Name alone by faithfully and thoroughly serving those under whose authority He has put me. I thank God for His provision.

The hearts of men are deceitful above all things. We’re plagued by sin, inconsistencies, and the struggle to regress back to our old ways. So lest we be like the dog who returns to his vomit, may we consider this Biblical narrative and learn what not to do in such circumstances.

Exodus 32

You know the people, that they are set on evil. (v22b)

Some brief background: The Israelites have been:

-Delivered from Egypt (Ch12)
-Passed safely and dryly through the Red Sea (Ch14)
-Given sweet water from the bitter (Ch15)
-Given mannah to eat (Ch16)
-Given water from a rock (Ch17)
-Victory over the Amalekites despite questionable odds from a human perspective (Ch17)

Keep in mind all these graces have been granted to Israelites by the Almighty…and they weren’t even looking to be delivered from Egypt until God sent Moses and gave them hope. What a gracious God. In preceding chapters we read that they promise to obey the Lord (19:8) and the Ten Commandments are given (Ch20). Now, it’s interesting to show that the 2nd commandment (No Idols) is not only mentioned at the giving of the Decalogue, but is also reemphasized later (20:23). It’s as if the Lord knew the hearts of men and their tendency to pay homage to idols before the one True God (GASP!). In light of these commands given we take interest again in the people’s renewed affirmation of obedience to the Lord and His commands in both 24:3 and 24:7. Thus far in the book of Exodus, then, there’s been repeated emphasis on the grace of God (deliverance from bondage, mannah, water, etc.), God’s commands (in this case the 2nd commandment is explicitly given twice), and the people’s commitment to obey these things.

When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” 32:1

As for this Moses…we do not know what has become of him. 32:1
The people were focused on the wrong thing. They seemed to have depended too much on the person of Moses and not on the God Who’d covenanted with their father, Abraham.

Make us gods who shall go before us 32:1
They were completely blinded to the rememembrance of all that God had done for them (see the background info above). Instead they seemed to be wanting to replace Moses (their only visible ‘connection’ with God) with idols made of gold and leave the Living God Who actually saved them out of the picture altogether (Despite Ch14:31)! O, the wretchedness of men’s hearts!

The man who brought us up 32:1
Wow. God Himself is to Whom the credit is due not Moses (16:6,19:4, 20:2). We see see again their forgetfulness of past history.

So Aaron said to them, “Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. 32:2-3

Next, we consider Aaron’s foolishness. What was he thinking? Along with his sons, Moses, and the seventy elders he had actually “beheld God” Himself (24:9-11)! And now would he cave to the pressures of the poeople who hadn’t seen the Lord, and make idols for them to worship? Surely not, right? Wrong. I can picture Moses returning and rebuking Aaron as Jesus rebuked the disciples, “Can I not leave you alone…?”

Aaron acted as a puppet in the hands of the people. He catered to the crowd. Had he so quickly forgotten the magnificent and awesome power of God in which he’d recently basked? Apparently so! Not only did he authorize the people’s idolatries against the known and repeated commands of the Lord, but he wielded the very idol itself! It’s as if he worked for the people and not God Almighty.

These are your gods 32:4
After Aaron took the initiative to have the people bring gold and actually make the idol himself, the people blaspheme by engaging in denial of the One God of Israel-affirming, instead, a host of gods. Like a puppet on a string he fashioned an altar and tried to mix the worship of baal with the worship of the One True God, as if darkness and light could fellowship one with another.

Who brought you out 32:4
Amazing! They can’t make up their minds of who has brought them out of Egypt. First, they seemed to rightly recognize that it was the Lord God (14:30-31). Then they confused themselves by applying this role to Moses (32:1). Finally, they digress by designating the work to gods fashioned out of gold that didn’t even exist at the time of the exodus! O, how wretched hearts of men are deluded and deceived, suppressing the truth in unrighteousness. Sin makes us stupid!

They are set on evil 32:22
Moses puts the responsibility on Aaron and Aaron passes the buck. His response to Moses is so laughable. Come on, Moses…it’s not my fault. The devil made us do it. You know these people…they’re wicked…only doing evil continually. What did you expect to happen having been gone so long? I had to do something to calm their rage…something to meet their felt needs. They had the right intentions. In fact their intentions were shown by their desire to worship. They meant well. Besides, today we had a feast to the Lord on this altar I built.

Out came this calf 32:24
Next-seeing that Moses wasn’t buying Aaron’s blame-game routine-Aaron tries the passivity route. Well, I mean, I don’t really know all the particulars, Moses. You see, all the people just gave me their gold, I threw into the fire and BAM…out comes this idol. It was quite incredible, actually. But the telling verse here is that Moses doesn’t fall for that either (v.25). Notice particularly that Aaron fails to mention his active part in the formation of the idol (v.6).

Kill his brother 32:27
God will not be mocked. He has already told the Israelites that He is holy and that He has also set them apart to be the same. Thus, for this very public sin there had to be very public and harsh punishment. Moses summons the sons of Levi, who weren’t complicit in the idolatry (other than their head, Aaron, which we’ll consider below). He then commands them to kill those whom they knew were the leaders of this idolatrous rebellion, no matter if they were brother, neighbor, or friend. As God will tell them in the future-I will be sanctified.

What did this people do to you? 32:21
As previously mentioned, Aaron acted as a puppet of the people. The reason as to why we’re not certain, but obviously there was an excuse. Otherwise, Moses would not have asked what the people had done to Aaron to pressure him to do such a heinous act. From this can be gathered multiple thoughts, but for the sake of brevity we will simply look at a few:

1. Moses knew, without Aaron having said anything, that the people must have done something to sucker Aaron into this idolatry-thus, it follows that Aaron must have otherwise been a godly, pious and faithful man.

2. I believe that Aaron was spared the sword because of Moses’ intercession on his behalf, God’s grace and purpose, and God’s appointment for Aaron to be the leader of the Levitical priesthood. God uses even our sin to further His plan. Our sins may be used to keep us from being puffed up and rather in a greater dependence on the mercies and graces of God. Before coming into the prominent role of leadership in the early church, Peter was humbled and kept in check by his own role in denying Jesus publicly. I’m sure that every remembrance of this kept him humble, grateful, and dependent upon God to do the work only He could do while in the office of God’s appointment. I think the same sentiment stands for Aaron’s future role as Priest.

3. God’s sparing of Aaron is a testimony to God’s sovereign choice in saving some while leaving others to their just condemnation. God can save and sanctify the uttermos heinous of transgressors.

Proverbs 26:11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.

Like a slave who sees no hope in his independence and returns to his shackles because they hold familiarity, the Israelites whom God had freed lost faith in God’s provision and returned to worshipping the gods of Egypt. They were unsure of their future and found comfort in looking back to the familiarities of their stay in Egypt. They were rife with discontent, despite God’s years of protection and provision.

Christians, let us not return to living as if we’re still under sin’s dominion. God will not be mocked. A man reaps what he sews. Let this be a solemn and sobering reminder of God’s holiness and also a memento to the glorious truth that God gives grace freely to the utterly undeserving. Blessed be His Name!

I used to get myself worked up over things of which I’m not in control. If I were of the same mindset, I could easily have a blog entry every day filled with political musings, constitutional banter, and pious words of political conservatism to ooh and ahh those who hunger and thirst after such- But do you know what I’ve found? I’m sick of it all. Don’t get me wrong, Christians, of all people, need to make their presence known in civic duties such as voting, etc. (even civil disobedience if Biblically called for). However, the mess in which we find ourselves, the state of this Union is in such a twisted knot that there’s only one way to cut the ropes and gain a new one: The Gospel.

Reformation came to Scotland, England, and the United States via the gospel because it alone has the freeing power which results in the subduing of tyranny. Gospel doesn’t make for good politics because, if revival is granted by God, the gospel doesn’t leave a people willing to be governed by tyrants. Now this is to show that Reformation must come from the inside out. I’m not talking about a coup d’état in which the Church takes a nation by physical force, implementing Biblical law and forcing it upon a whole mass of godless people who don’t want it. Rather, I’m talking about the work which the Gospel brings into the lives of sinful men. The US need not be trying to bring tyranny down in other nations, when she’s battling tyranny here! Those who’re in power are placed there by God, no doubt, but this doesn’t mean Christians withdraw as if there’s no hope.

No, we are to be salt and light. Salt preserves, heals, flavors, and stings. We must let our light so shine before men that they praise our Father in heaven. Consider this, our evangelism doesn’t merely consist of eternal purpose. It has an earthly purpose as well: The subduing of Christ’s enemies until they are a footstool. How’s this done? You got it, the gospel. If we were to press the gospel (and given that God grants repentance to those whom we press) there will be more Christians. The more authentic Christians exist, the more likely they’ll run for office and be voted into office by other Christians. We don’t decide to live this way because we think it can happen. We live our lives to see this reformation because God has commanded us to do so, despite how things may seem.

So, I steer clear of my needless rants most of the time and I try to focus on the real means of transformation and reformation of a society: The Gospel.

I was in McDonald’s one morning, enjoying a nice warm breakfast consisting of an Egg McMuffin, Hash Brown, and a Cinnamon melt. I was hooked up to the internet on my laptop by way of my Wi-Fi technology. As I finished my morning feast, I perused through some of the Puritan prayers found in The Valley of Vision, thanking God for His graciousness to me. I then began to read through my daily Bible reading as appointed by the plan I was using. This I also accessed from the internet, in the comfortable setting of this quiet little McDonald’s.

I was thoroughly enjoying this refreshing time when all of a sudden a stench filled the immediate vicinity. It had the smell of “old” and mold. A figure passed by in my peripheral vision. It was a man dressed very shabbily, his clothes tattered and having the appearance of having been caught in a dust storm. I made the assumption that this man was a bum…and this BY CHOICE. I mean, come on, we’re in America. Anyone can get a job in this country. Sure, one may not like the job they’re doing, but anyone - disabled or not - is capable of finding employment.

This guy walks in, has ruined my time of rejuvination, and hasn’t even purchased anything from McDonald’s! No, from some of the money he’s scrunged up somewhere he went and bought a 44 oz drink from EZ Mart. However, the setting in EZ Mart ain’t exactly EZ. So he brings it to McDonald’s and sits in a remote corner where he’s unfettered by party-poopers who might ask him to leave the premises. As I tried to regain focus on the passage I was reading he was making looks in a few different directions. I supposed by the manner in which he was glaring, that people (like me) had been watching him and he was repaying their looks with dissatisfied looks of his own.

Who was this guy who had the nerve to come into McDonald’s, having paid for nothing, even having brought a drink from somewhere else, and yet who was going to use McDonald’s time and space to sit for a while and get out of the cool morning air? I kept trying to read through Galatians 2 but kept glancing back at this man with contempt and indignation. Out of his dingy coat he pulled out a pair of glasses, like he was going to actually use them for something. It was pathetic. As he put them on his face, I noticed there was only one lens. On the other side, the frame had been broken and was missing the rim on the bottom part as well as a lens.

Not only did this man stink, ruin my morning, and loiter at McDonald’s, but he also looked ridiculously foolish wearing these glasses he’d probably found on the street somewhere. He wasn’t even reading anything! Who was he trying to fool? I know these types. They came on hard times once, possibly fell into a deep depression, and have just never picked themselves up from it. Instead of finding work they wallow in their self-pity and beg their way through life. BY CHOICE. I considered all this and I couldn’t even focus on my reading:

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (Galatians 2:15-16)

Instantly my heart was CRUSHED. Just as Nathan the prophet told the King of all Israel - the one who lived in lavished riches, carefree from the things of the world, reigning and ruling from his throne - just as he told King David, “YOU ARE THAT MAN!”, I realized I was once just like this bum toward whom I was holding great contempt and unjustified indignation. I had no ‘works’ that ‘justified’ me before God.

I was once a God-hater BY CHOICE. I once loitered God’s creation, my sin bringing a great stench that invaded my surrounding vicinity. Everything I did was BY CHOICE. I was a fool. I enjoyed God’s creation, all the while never giving Him credit or praise for anything (I didn’t have anything to give. It was all filthy, dingy, and without merit). I was a pathetic, shabbily dressed, and drifting soul, befitting of only being left to myself…deserving no one’s help. And yet God in His wonderful mercy and saving grace, and despite my hatred toward Him, took captive my darkened heart. He gave me a ring and He robed me with His righteousness. And He did this BY CHOICE.

Back to that morning at McDonald’s. My heart broke and I began to cry, asking God to forgive my foolishness. Sure, I still thought this man was a beggar and bum by choice. I still truly believe that anyone who wants a job in this land is able to get one, regardless of their circumstances…it just may not be the one they want. But I was the same as a filthy sinner before the eyes of God…choosing my circumstances, blinded to His light. But he saved me. I repented of my ungrounded attitude toward this man, and approached him asking him if I could buy him something to eat. He politely said, “No thanks, but if you could leave me a couple of bucks, I’d be grateful.” This was expected, as I knew what he probably wanted it for. I told him I had no cash, only a debit card. He again expressed his gratitude and I wished him a good day.

God was merciful to me as a dead sinner, and He’s merciful to me now as a Christian who still struggles with hypocrisy…BY CHOICE. Blessed be the Name of the Lord Who saves sinners.

I have not a few things on my heart and mind these last few days: First, there is life in all its complexities. Within these complexities arises persecution. No, I’m not going hungry (as the padding on my tummy will show). No, I’m not without clothes or shelter. I do not have to wonder if I’ll have enough money for this or that. Nor am I being asked, told, or demanded to renounce or recant my faith in Christ. None of the above.

This persecution is a very subtle thorn indeed. Only I (and the Lord) can know it or see it presently, while others must just trust my word when given. From the outside, it looks so innocent and unharmful…but it’s not. It brings sadness to my life, not ultimately because it hurts me personally (and it does, no doubt), but because it hurts those whom I love and adore. It is just life.

So, this life and the persecution wrought therein often drives me to see myself for what I am: a worm. I serve the God of peace, and of Whom I am most grateful. The God of the Scriptures Who grants mercy and Who exacts justice on the guilty. The God Who keeps covenant with men - The God of Promise. I serve the Almighty God…that is, when I’m not serving the god of self. :( 

O, the sorrow that ensues when I do not fix my eyes upon the Author and Finisher of my faith, King Jesus. The sin which so easily entangles does just that - and I get twisted in its snare. A quote from the good Dr. Owen is most applicable:

Let no man think to kill sin with few, easy, or gentle strokes. He who hath once smitten a serpent, if he follow not on his blow until he be slain, may repent that ever he began the quarrel. And so will he who undertakes to deal with sin, and pursues it not constantly to the death.

And this awful reminder of what I am (a sinner) lowers me into that blessed, yet lowered state called humility (of which I do not possess enough). This is a blessed condition that shows me God has not left me alone to die in my sins. No He’s still chiselling away the once soft clay that’s been a bit hardened by neglecting spiritual graces. Ah what a great thing it is to know the chastening of the Lord. In this all, I’m reminded that its God’s kindness which leads to repentance. In granting me this repentance He has shown me His great mercy.

With His mercy placing me back within the sweet realm of a pure conscience before God, I may rest in His grace and feast upon His Word again with clarity and discernment. As I look at Biblical history, I see His justice always prevailing. Then, as I recall this previously mentioned persecution I’m then reminded that God will let no sin go unpunished. He demands justice. So this sorrow that pervades my heart can be greatly diminished even while in this body of flesh. Yes, I can take solace even in pain my loved ones and I experience because of God’s perfect and holy justice- knowing that those who bring persecution, no matter how smooth, subtle, or covert, will one day be brought to account before a thrice holy God.

And, good people, what does this confidence in God’s justice produce? Comfort from the God of all comfort. Even in my faithlessness, He is faithful. Thus, he works all my life, persecution, and sin to bring me humility, that He might show His mercy, justice, and comfort for my good and to His glory - so that I may say with sincere and true heart, “Blessed be the Name of the Lord.” Amen.