When God saw what was going on below with His people, He sent Moses down the mountain. When Moses saw what was going on, he smashed the two tablets of the law that God had personally written. The golden calf was burned, the people drank down its ashes, and three thousand of the ringleaders in that idolatrous orgy were killed that day. The greatest cost for their disobedience, however, was when God told them they could still go to the Promised Land, and He would protect them on the way there and help them defeat their enemies, but He would not go with them. He would destroy them if He did.
Imagine a wedding ceremony where the bride and groom say “I will” to the charge, and “I do” to the vows, and “we will” to the kiss, and they nod “we are” to the pronouncement of being husband and wife. And then as the music for the recessional starts, the groom walks out the back door of the church and drives away alone, leaving the bride standing at the altar. The reception would be a strange and sad event, to say the least. Well, for most people. Some guys would say, “Hey, there’s food here, it’s not a total loss.”
What is the point of a wedding if the two do not become one? What is the point of a Promised Land if God is not there? What is the point of heaven if the Son of God is absent? The people in the wilderness understood where their sin had put them with God, and they responded with humility. They mourned this proclamation. When Moses told them God had said they were stiff-necked (aren’t we?) and they should take off their ornaments, they did so. In fact, the Bible says they “stripped themselves of their ornaments,” indicating forceful removal of their Egyptian jewelry. It was an outward act of inward humility.
To hear that the Lord would not go with them to the Promised Land was terrifying. And to hear that God would not go for fear that he would destroy them because of their sin is even worse. I remember in high school when I challenged a guy that was twice my size to a fight after school because he was going out with a girl I liked. She couldn’t have cared less about me, but then, what does logic have to do with hormones? Word spread fast in the school that day and a crowd gathered to watch the slaughter. We faced off and then David said, “Fox, I’m not going to fight you.” I grinned and said, “Hah! So you’re scared!” He said, “Yeah, I am. I’m scared I might kill you.”
Let’s be clear. God was not scared. He was resolute in his judgment of a rebellious people, and that judgment included mercy. This is a story of redemption from beginning to end. How can a holy God dwell in the midst of an unholy people? He cannot. But because of his mercy, He will once again hear the cries of the mediator, Moses, and will renew the covenant with His people.
The sad truth is that many choose a “god” that promises much and demands little. To the One who created them they say, Give me all the promises of God, but don’t bother me with having to try to get to know him. Or hang out with his people on Sundays and other times. And learn about his commands? Nah, all that stuff cramps my style. Yeah, sign me up for the “low-involvement” package, please.
We have to hand it to the Israelites. They didn’t respond that way. Instead they mourned the news that God would not go with them. In humility they surrendered their will to His.
What does it cost to have God’s presence? Jesus paid that cost. Our part is faith, and surrender. Which, praise be to God, we only do either by the power He gives us through the Spirit.
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory!
J. Mark Fox 