A Study in Grace, Post 2: Separation from God

Scene: After a long period of Egyptian slavery, God delivered the Israelites. Three months later our weary sojourners are encamped at the base of Mount Sinai.  Moses left them to go upon the mountain to receive God's instructions and commandments.  One of these commands is to have no other gods before the one true God.  Moses ascends Mount Sinai again, this time for forty days. During this brief time, scripture says that the Israelites gave up on Moses, "not knowing what had become of him," and decided to make their own gods. Enter brother Aaron to the rescue. "Give me your gold jewelry," he said, "and I will make a new god." Aaron fashioned a calf of gold and declared:

"This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!" Exo. 32:4, NKJV

The people of Israel were so happy and pleased with their new god and danced and sang their praises to it. Remember that this was less than six months after God performed many miracles and saved the people from Egyptian bondage. How could their faith be so weak? Meanwhile, Moses and Joshua heard the great commotion and came down from the mountain. (Cue Moses breaking the stone tablets with God's commandments.) After Aaron explained what had happened, God instructed Moses to consecrate the people: about 3,000 men died that day. Moses went to God and begged His grace.  Moses was so afraid that God would wipe out all the Israelites.  He even bargained with his own soul, saying that if God could not forgive the people, to blot his name out the book of life. As punishment, God said that the people had to leave the mountainside and continue on the land flowing of milk and honey, but He would leave their presence. What a wake up call. God had been with them in a cloud by day and fire by night since they escaped Egypt. Oh, how the people were grieved at this news! Again, and not for the last time, Moses begged God to change His mind. God told Moses,

"I will also do this thing you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight and I know you by name." Exo. 33:17, NKJV

The fate of a people was decided again due to one man and God's magnificent grace. God had just commanded that they were to not have any other gods before Him, but they disobeyed. Even though the people had turned their backs on Him, God would continue in their presence and lead them home.

Sin separates us from fellowship with God. The Israelites were to be literally separated from God's presence and left in the wilderness alone.  We all sin and we are all separated from God due to our sin. But through the precious gift of Jesus's sacrifice, we find grace in God's eyes.  We don't need an official intercessor like Moses to "go upon the mountain" to beg God each time we sin.

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence," Eph. 1:7-8, NKJV

How bleak and depressing is the thought of being separated from God! The Israelites understood that meant no guidance from the Father, and the peace that comes with being in His presence. Because God knew Moses by name and found grace in him, He chose to extend that grace to the people. Christ's one-time offering saves us and allows us back into fellowship with our Father. Even though we will continue to fail Him, God's grace and forgiveness is abundant. As long as we keep Him first and are truly repentant, we can have hope to not be separated from Him.  The road to heaven is a long, difficult journey, but God's grace is never ending.

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" 2 Cor. 9:15, NKJV