Rebellion

From our Tuesday Morning Bible Study

Moses took the people to the base of Mt. Sinai where they heard God personally speaking and where God established His covenant with them. The terms of the covenant were simple. The people were to obey God in all that He commanded. This they readily agreed to. Their words were unequivocable: "All that the Lord has spoken we will do and we will be obedient." (Ex. 24:7) Why would they not agree to obey God? They had witnessed miracles that no one, in their day or ours, has ever seen. Why would they not serve a God so powerful and yet so gracious?

It is one thing to talk and yet another to follow the words up with action. The Israelites agreed to obey God when the mountain was rumbling and they could see the fire of God. They were willing to submit when Moses was present because they had learned to fear his relationship with God. What would they do when the things that made them afraid went away and when Moses was not present? That would show the true condition of their hearts.

Regardless of what a person's inner desires are, they can be made to do things that they otherwise would not do. A person can be persuaded into something by a persuasive speech. We have seen that in political elections. A person can intimidated or scared into doing something because they fear for their life or they fear a loss of prestige. However, when the persuasion or the fear that is motivating them is removed, they will always gravitate back to the inner desires of their hearts. A thief may not steal because he fears he will get caught but when that fear is removed, he will do what his heart wants to do. He will steal.

When Moses delayed to come down from the mountain where he had gone to receive God's instructions, the people's rebellious hearts once again asserted themselves. They wanted Aaron to build them a golden calf which they then proclaimed as their savior god. They worshipped the idol with extremely sinful practices and dishonored both themselves and God. When Moses returned from the mountain and saw their wickedness, he broke the tablets of the Ten Commandments because they had broken God's law. Moses destroyed the idol and had the perpetrators killed. Three thousand died that day due to their sin. In addition, God brought a plague against the others
who disobeyed Him.

Our hearts must be guarded against a rebellious attitude. God hates rebellion because it is the opposite of faith and trust in Him. Samuel told the Israelites; "Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft." (1 Sam. 15:23) Rebellion against God has its basis in an unbelieving heart. That is why it is so important that we examine our hearts, asking God to show us our sin and to change our hearts.

Whatever is in the heart will eventually come out. Let us make sure that our hearts are filled with God's love and a desire to serve and obey Him.

Tony

Audio from Tuesday Bible Study
New Problems for the New Nation
Handout