Exodus 30-32

Ok, perhaps my favorite all-time movie is Raiders of the Lost Ark. Goofy, I know.  But when I would come home from college, I would often take my younger brothers to the movies. We had no idea what this would be about the day we went, and it had a cool title. We were blown away, and saw it many times together. Relevance? When I try to draw a mental picture of the very vivid descriptions in this section of Exodus, all my mind's eye can see is the scene in Raiders where Indiana Jones finds the ark of the covenant and carries it out of the cave, only to be thwarted at the last moment by the bad guys.

In this section, God establishes the annual atonement rite, and lays out the rules for cleansing the priests must abide by before approaching the altar. In the New Testament, we read the Christ is the law or the new law. The Magi presented him with frankincense at the Nativity scene. Here, God instructs Moses that the priests are to use frankincense to honor and consecrate the sacred altar and the Commandments that He has given to Moses for the people. God lays down the law of the Sabbath, calling it "an everlasting token" between God and HIs people, and then gives Moses the stone tablets containing the commandments "inscribed by God's own finger." 

Meanwhile, in Moses' absence, God's people have strayed, prevailing on Aaron to create a golden calf for them to worship. Much revelry ensues. (I guess we see here why God chose Aaron only to be Moses' spokesman with Pharaoh, but not to also have the responsibilities he entrusted Moses with.)  How quickly the Israelites have forgotten all of the wonders God has done for them. (Sounds familiar: I forget all the time to my regret, so I am in no position to judge them harshly.) God's anger is enflamed, and He contemplates wiping them out entirely and starting over with a "new" people for Moses to lead. But Moses reminds the Lord of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and God relents (at least for now). Moses returns to the people, and challenges them to choose whether or not to side with the Lord, Who brought them out of Egypt. The Levites choose the Lord. Moses then instructs them to take up the sword and kill all of their kinsmen and neighbors who have not made that same choice. Three thousand are slaughtered that day. Wow. Afterwards, the Lord tells Moses to go forth and lead His people, but adds "when it is time for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin."  Ominous. The Old Testament God is frightening to me at times. He remembers His promises for generations, but also the peoples' sins. I hope and pray He chooses not to remember mine.