The Golden Calf, the Intercession of Moses, and the Restoration of God's People

This article was first published in French at TSPG. 

In the first two articles of this series, we witnessed the birth of the nation of Israel in the Exodus, and the gift of the law at the foot of Mount Sinai. In this last article we will discover the dramatic fall into sin of the nation and its subsequent restoration, culminating in the completion of the tabernacle and the glorious revelation of God's presence.

 

The Golden Calf: Exodus 32-35

In the conclusion of the last article, we considered the priestly garments of Aaron and his sons. The crazy thing about these instructions is that they come a few chapters before an important event in Exodus: the golden calf. And who was at the head of this rebellion? Aaron, high priest of the Most High God, in the flesh. 

 

If you are anything like me, you must have asked yourself the question: "How could he do this?" To justify his sin, Aaron said that Moses was slow to come down from the mountain, and the people forced him to do so. 

 

Contemporary Golden Calves

How do we resemble the children of Israel in their idolatry? We may not bow down before a golden calf, but what are the more subtle idols in 21st century Western culture? Money, power, success, health, safety, security, leisure, entertainment? And how many of them were taken from us at any given time because of COVID-19? I don't claim that the Lord caused this pandemic, but I am learning that this is an unprecedented opportunity for our generation to examine our hearts and ask where our greatest treasure is. 

 

The Intercession of Moses

What happens next is extraordinary: Moses stands in the gap for the nation of Israel. "But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written." (Exodus 32:32). Moses would rather be sacrificed for his people than see them wiped off the face of the earth. What love! 

 

We see here a wonderful type of Christ. For like the people of Israel, we deserved God's judgment for our idolatry. Praise God that Jesus stands in the gap for us!

 

And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. ¹⁶ For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?” ¹⁷ And the Lord said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” ¹⁸ Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” (Exodus 33:15-18)

 

By his words, Moses sought a commitment from the LORD. In response, God told him that he could not see his glory and live. So he hides Moses in the hollow of a rock. He allows him to see his glory/goodness from behind (Exodus 33:23):

 

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:6-7)

 

This description of the attributes of God is the culmination of the revelation of the person of God in the book of Exodus. It will be quoted throughout the rest of the Bible. It is then that the Lord renews His covenant with His people with the new tablets of the law.

 

Building the Tabernacle: Exodus 36-39

Have you ever thought about the fact that all the utensils in the tabernacle look like items you would find in a house? God makes his dwelling among his people. He settles in the center of their camp with his own tent, furnished with a table, bread, light, a bronze basin with water for washing, good reading material (the tablets of the law) and a BBQ. These household items show that God is at home. That's something! And God does this in order to welcome His people into His home. That is hospitality! 

 

God's Presence Throughout Redemption History

In fact, the Lord is our model of hospitality par excellence. It is not a spiritual gift reserved for women. Quite the contrary! In the beginning, God created a beautiful garden for our first parents. He laid out Eden with all that was suitable for them. He didn't need a designer or decorator. Everything was perfect! Just imagine! But, as we all know, Adam and Eve sinned and God had to send them away from the garden.

 

From that day on, God's people were exiled from His presence. And from that day on, on rare occasions, God revealed Himself to His chosen messengers: Enoch, Noah, Job, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But these are indeed rare. For the rest, men groped after him, as in the darkness. 

 

It is then difficult to understand how much the God’s people long for his presence when we read Exodus. For example, in Exodus 36:6 - Moses must tell the people to stop giving for the building of the tabernacle:

 

Moses had it published in the camp that no one, male or female, should give any more offerings for the sanctuary. The people were thus prevented from bringing them.

 

Isn’t that crazy? No one wants to miss this divine encounter! This is a turning point in redemptive history. The return of the King! The glory of the Lord will once again dwell among His people. Hallelujah!

 

The Ultimate Expression of God's Presence: The Incarnation

Yet, if you know anything about the history of Israel, you may remember that in 586 B.C. the temple was destroyed and God's people were taken into exile by King Nebuchadnezzar. Once again, God's people were exiled from his presence because of his disobedience. And, sadly, even after the temple was rebuilt by the remnant who returned from Babylon to Jerusalem, God's presence never again returned to dwell among his people. Never again, that is, until the incarnation of the Son, whom John 1:14 describes as follows: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.”

 

What is fascinating about this verse is that in the original language it uses the term "tabernacle" to describe the incarnation. He literally says of the Son: "He has pitched his tent among us.”

 

The nation of Israel had been without the presence of God for 600 years. But with the coming of the Kingdom of God in the person of Jesus Christ, all that changed, not only for Israel, but for all who believe in the Son, of every nation, tribe and language!

 

Thus, as we have just seen, the image of the tabernacle appears not only in the Exodus, but throughout the Scriptures. This recurring theme always builds on itself, from one degree of glory to another. And here is a text that indicates its ultimate fulfillment. Revelation 21:3 says:

 

 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God 

 

The book of Exodus ends in chapter 40 with the culmination of all the work of the people of Israel. They carry out his instructions for the construction of the tabernacle, as the LORD commanded Moses. And the glorious presence of God descends in the midst of his people, filling the tabernacle to the point where Moses cannot enter it. Imagine that moment. It is impossible to overestimate its significance. The hopes of a nation are realized, the presence of God once again in the midst of his people.

 

Conclusion

If we were to summarize the book of Exodus in a single sentence, it would be: God transforms slaves into sons and reveals his glory so that we may know him and serve him.

 

I hope this overview has made you want to reread and study the book of Exodus. For, far from being a dusty book with archaic laws, it is a precious book that speaks to us today. May the Lord help us all to find Christ through its pages, to love and obey Him as a result.