Rahab and the Spies (Joshua 1-2).

Background Story: God promised to bless the world through Abraham’s descendants. They multiplied in Egypt but became enslaved until God called Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt. God delivered Israel leading them out of Egypt through the ‘Red Sea’ on dry ground. The Lord led Israel by the pillar of cloud and fire and miraculously provided them ‘food and water’ in the desert. At Mt. Sinai the Lord established His covenant with Israel and gave them the 10 commandments. Israel fell into idolatry by making a ‘golden calf’, but Moses pleaded with the Lord and the Lord forgave the Israelites and promised to go with them. That generation came to the border of their ‘Promised Land’ but they refused to enter. So the Lord said that generation would wander forty years and die in the desert but their children would enter the land. Later when the second generation came to a place where there was no water they gathered against Moses and Aaron. The Lord told Moses to speak to the rock and water would pour out for the people and their livestock but Moses said, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”  Then Moses struck the rock twice and water gushed out. So the Lord told Moses and Aaron that they would not enter the land because they failed to honor the Lord as holy before Israel. Aaron died on Mount Hor and Moses transferred Aaron’s priestly garments to Aaron’s son, Eleazar.  Then a Canaanite king attacked Israel and captured some of them. So the Israelites vowed to destroy them if the Lord would deliver them into Israel’s hands. The Lord did this and Israel completely destroyed them.

When it was time for Moses to die the Lord had Moses commission Joshua as Israel’s new leader.  The Lord would go before Israel and destroy the land’s inhabitants and Joshua would lead them into the land the Lord promised their forefathers. Moses climbed Mount Nebo (Deuteronomy 32:48–52) and there the Lord gave Moses a vision of the land but he would not be able to physically enter in. Moses dies and the Lord buried Moses in an unknown grave somewhere in Moab (Deuteronomy 34:1–12). There had never been a prophet in Israel who knew the Lord face to face like Moses and who did such miraculous signs and wonders before Egypt and in the sight of all Israel. This brings us to the story of Rahab and the Israelite spies (Joshua 1-2).

Rahab and the Israelite Spies.

There had never been a prophet in Israel who knew the Lord face to face like Moses did. Moses had led Israel to the border of Canaan, but now the Lord’s faithful servant is dead. Now Joshua as Israel’s leader was to get the people ready to cross the Jordan and enter Canaan as the Lord had promised Moses. The Lord promises that He would be with Joshua as He had been with Moses and to never leave or forsake Joshua. Therefore Joshua is to be strong and courageous and lead Israel into the land the Lord swore to their forefathers. However, Joshua was to meditate day and night on the ‘Book of the Law’ that God gave Moses and to be careful to do everything written in it. The Lord would be with Joshua so Joshua need not be afraid or discouraged (Joshua 1:1-9). 

The people commit themselves to do what Joshua says to do and to go where Joshua says to go. They commit to obey Joshua as they claimed they fully obeyed Moses (Joshua 1:17). Hadn’t their obedience to Moses been somewhat questionable? Isn’t their perception of their own faithfulness distorted?  Well compared to their parents who died in the wilderness; they were relatively faithful. Then in the recent events there was less rebellion than at previous times (Numbers 21:1-3). So now the second generation out of Egypt commits to do what Joshua commands and go wherever Joshua sends them. What they request is that the Lord be with Joshua as He was with Moses and that Joshua be ‘strong and courageous’ (Joshua 1:16-18)!

Joshua sends two men and not twelve to spy out Canaan. The spies stay at the house of a Canaanite prostitute named Rahab. When the king of Jericho finds out about this he sends a message telling to Rahab to bring out the men because they were spying out their land. The king sees these men as a threat to Jericho but Rahab aligns herself with Israel and their God over against Jericho’s king. Rahab hides the two Israelite spies and deceives the messengers of Jericho’s king so that they leave the city to search for the spies. Rahab knew where they were from and that they were hiding in her house. While the ethics of her tactics have been debated but what is clear is that her allegiance was to Israel and their God. Rahab feared the Lord more than she fears the king of Jericho and she actually sought to preserve the lives of those spying out the land to destroy it (Joshua 2:1-11).

 Rahab confesses her belief to the spies that the Lord would give Israel the land of Canaan. She says her whole country was melting with fear because they knew how the Lord dried up the Red Sea when Israel came out of Egypt and how more recently Israel had completely destroyed the kings of the Amorites. She goes on to acknowledge that the God of Israel is God in heaven above and on the earth below. Then she pleads that the Israelites spare the lives of her family and her whole household.  Rahab had protected them so now they assure Rahab that they will do the same for Rahab when the Lord gives them the land. Then Rahab let them down by a rope through the window in her house which was built into the wall.  Rahab tells them to go hide in the hills for three days until those pursuing them return to Jericho, then they could go on their way back to the Israelite camp .  

The oath would be binding as long as Rahab tied a scarlet cord in her window, and keep her family inside her house during the attack. Rahab agreed and she tied the scarlet cord in her window and she sent the spies to hide in the hills until their pursuers returned to Jericho without finding them. After this the two men went and told Joshua son of Nun everything that had happened to them. They told Joshua that the Lord had surely given them the land because all the people in the land were melting in fear because of the Israelites. A Canaanite prostitute may seem like an unlikely person to come to Israel’s aid. But, Rahab hid the spies and sent those searching for them off in another direction. Her testimony that her whole country was melting with fear encouraged the Israelites that God was working behind the scenes on their behalf. That Rahab lied to protect the spies creates an ethical tension which the story does not resolve. The story highlights Rahab’s confession showed she feared Israel’s God. The New Testament goes on to tell us in James that by concealing the spies and sending them off in a different direction Rahab demonstrated that she had faith. Also the writer of Hebrews tells us that Rahab welcomed the spies by faith and she was not killed with those who were disobedient.

James 2:25–26 (NIV84) ²⁵ In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? ²⁶ As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Hebrews 11:31 (NIV84) ³¹ By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. 

Moses Dies; Joshua Succeeds Moses (Deut.31-34).

Background: God promised to bless the world through Abraham’s descendants who multiplied in Egypt but became enslaved. God called Moses to lead them and God delivered Israel out of Egypt leading them through the ‘Red Sea’ on dry ground while drowning the Egyptian army. The Lord led Israel by the pillar of cloud and fire and miraculously cared for them despite Israel’s grumbling. At Mt. Sinai the Lord established His covenant with Israel and gave them the 10 commandments. Israel fell into idolatry by making a ‘golden calf’, but Moses pleaded with the Lord and the Lord forgave the Israelites and promised to go with them (Ex. 34:1-9). The Lord lead the Israelites to the border of their promised land and they ‘twelve spies’ into Canaan. The spies confirmed that it was a land flowing with milk and honey (Numbers 13-14), but some of the spies spread a ‘bad report’ and Israel refused to enter the land. That generation would wander forty years and die in the desert but their children would enter the land. Then when the Israelites tried to enter Canaan without Moses and against the Lord’s decision the Canaanites living in the hills came down and attacked the Israelites and beat them back at Hormah (14:39-45). The Lord confirmed that the priests must descend from Aaron by causing the earth to swallow those opposing Aaron and by causing Aaron’s staff to miraculously blossom and produce almonds (16-17).

After Miriam, Moses’ sister, died the second generation came to a place where there was no water. They gathered against Moses and Aaron so the Lord told Moses to speak to the rock and water would pour out for the people and their livestock to drink. But Moses said, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”  Then Moses struck the rock twice and water gushed out. However, the Lord told Moses and Aaron that they would not enter the land because they failed to honor the Lord as holy before Israel. Aaron died on Mount Hor and Moses transferred Aaron’s priestly garments to Aaron’s son, Eleazar.  When a Canaanite king attacked Israel and captured some of them the Israelites vowed to destroy them if the Lord would deliver them into Israel’s hands. The Lord did and Israel completely destroyed them. These were the very people that had driven the Israelites back forty years earlier when the first generation tried to enter the Canaan without Moses and against the Lord’s command (Numbers 14:44-45, 21:4-5). Then when some of the Israelites complained against Moses and against the Lord the Lord sent venomous snakes that bit the people and many Israelites died. They confessed their sin and asked Moses to pray to the Lord to take away the snakes. Moses prayed and the Lord told Moses to make a snake and put it up on a pole. Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole and all who looked to the bronze snake on the pole lived (Jn. 3:14–15). This brings us to the story of the ‘death of Moses’ (See Deuteronomy 31-34).

Moses Dies and Joshua Succeeds Moses.

Moses’ life task had come to an end (1:37–38; 3:23–29). He was 120 years old and no longer able to lead Israel but only because he had failed to honor the Lord as holy at Meribah. Not Moses, but the Lord would cross the Jordan and destroy the inhabitants of the land. God would go before Israel so Israel was to trust God and be courageous (6, 8). This was something they had failed at badly in the past (1:26–36).  With God promising to go with them and to destroy the land’s inhabitants Israel was to do all that Moses had commanded and they were to take possession of the land. They were to rid the land of its idolatrous worship and keep God’s covenant (Deuteronomy 31:1–8).  

The Lord would go before Israel and Moses’ aid, Joshua, would cross over the Jordan and would lead them. Moses exhorts the Israelites to ‘be strong and courageous and not to be afraid of those in the land’. They need not be afraid because the Lord their God was with them (Numbers 14:6-9) and He would never leave them nor forsake them (Deuteronomy 31:5-6, Hebrews 13:5). Then Moses exhorts Joshua before all Israel to ‘be strong and courageous’ Joshusa was to go with Israel into the land the Lord swore to give their forefathers and he was to divide it among the Israelites as their inheritance. Why should Joshua not be afraid to lead Israel into the land and take possession of it? Joshua need not be afraid for the same reason he and Caleb were not afraid to take the land forty years earlier. The Lord their God was with them (Numbers 14:6-9) and would not leave or forsake him (Deut. 31:5-6, Hebrews 13:5).  

Moses would soon die so the Lord had Moses commission Joshua as Israel’s new leader.  Moses and Joshua went to the ‘Tent of Meeting’ and the Lord appears in the ‘pillar of cloud’ (15). The Lord spoke to Moses first saying that while Moses would rest with his fathers the Lord would bring Israel into the land He promised their forefathers. Yet, despite God faithfulness the Israelites would turn to other gods and forsake the Lord’s covenant (16). Then the Lord spoke to Joshua commanding him to be courageous (23). Joshua had demonstrated this courageous faith when he wanted to take possession of the land forty years earlier (Nu. 14:30, 38).

The Lord would go before Israel and destroy the land’s inhabitants and Joshua would lead them into the land the Lord promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Then Joshua would divide the land among them and they would eat their fill and thrive there. The Lord would fulfill His promises but Israel would prostitute themselves to other gods and break God’s covenant. As a result the Lord would turn His face from Israel and disaster would fall on Israel. Now despite this the Lord exhorts Joshua to be strong and courageous to bring the Israelites into the land and encourages Joshua that the Lord will be with him. 

Moses climbs to the top of Mount Nebo in obedience to God’s command (32:48–52). There the Lord gave Moses a vision of the land but he would not be able to set foot on it. The time had come for the promise to Abraham to be fulfilled but Moses would only get a glimpse of the land (4; Gen. 12:1; 15:7). It was now time for Moses to die, but his death was no tragedy. Moses was still strong (7, 10–12) and he had lived faithfully before God. Moses’ eyes are strong enough to see the land but he dies without being able to physically enter in. The Lord buries Moses outside of Canaan in an unknown grave somewhere in Moab. Moses was 120 years old and his body was strong enough to climb Mount Nebo and his eyes were strong enough to see the land from afar. Then the Israelites, who had been such a frustration to Moses, grieved for Moses for thirty days (Deuteronomy 34:1–12).

Israel’s new leader Joshua was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on Joshua. So the spirit of wisdom was upon Joshua and as a result the Israelites listened to Joshua as he exhorted Israel to obey the word of God given to Moses. There had never been another prophet in Israel who knew the Lord face to face like Moses. No prophet ever did such miraculous signs and wonders as the Lord did through Moses in the land of Egypt and no leader demonstrated such power as Moses did in the sight of all Israel. There was no one like Moses, neither before nor after, whether as prophet or as powerful leader—that is until the coming of the prophet ‘like Moses’ the Lord Jesus Christ (Deuteronomy 18:15, Acts 3:22-23).

Moses Strikes the Rock (Numbers 20-21).

Background: God promised to bless the world through Abraham’s descendants who multiplied in Egypt but became enslaved. God called Moses to lead them and God delivered Israel out of Egypt leading them through the ‘Red Sea’ on dry ground while drowning the Egyptian army. The Lord led Israel by the pillar of cloud and fire and miraculously provided ‘manna and water from a rock’ despite Israel’s grumbling. At Mt. Sinai the Lord established His covenant with Israel and gave them the 10 commandments. Israel fell into idolatry by making a ‘golden calf’, butMoses pleaded with the Lord and the Lord promised to go with Israel and to forgive them (Ex. 34:1-9). The Israelites set out from Sinai in their tribal divisions with the ‘Ark of the Covenant’ before them and the eventually came to the the border of their promised land. They sent ‘twelve spies’ into Canaan who confirmed that it was a land flowing with milk and honey (Numbers 13-14). But ten of the spies spread a ‘bad report’ and the community refused to enter the land. So the Lord said that generation would wander forty years and die in the desert and that their children would enter the land that they had rejected. Then the Israelites tried to enter Canaan without Moses and against the Lord’s decision the peoples living in the hills came down and attacked the Israelites and beat them back at Hormah (14:39-45). Then Korah and his followers lead a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, but the earth opens up and swallows them and the Lord confirms that the priests must come from Aaron’s line by causing Aaron’s staff to miraculously blossom and produce almonds (16-17).  This brings us to the story of ‘Moses striking the Rock’ (Num. 20-21).

Moses Strikes the Rock and Snakes Strike Israel.

Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, dies marking the end of the generation that couldn’t enter Canaan. The second generation comes to a place where there was no water and thinking they would die they gather against Moses and Aaron. Almost forty years has been wasted (Numbers 33:38) and yet the second generation apparently haven’t learned from their parents sins. So Moses and Aaron fall on their faces before the Lord at the ‘Tent of Meeting’. The Lord tells Moses and Aaron to take the staff and gather the people before the rock. Moses is to speak to the rock and water will come out for the people and their livestock to drink. They gather at the rock and Moses said, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”  Moses strikes the rock twice and water gushes out for the people and their livestock to drink. Before the previous generation Moses had been to strike the rock (Exodus 17:6). Here Moses is told to speak to the rock and his words suggest that Moses was the one bringing out the water (Numbers 20:10). Moses had been told at one time to strike the rock But the Lord told Moses and Aaron, “Because you didn’t trust me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring the Israelites into the land I give them.” These were the waters of Meribah or quarrelling, because the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and the Lord showed himself as holy.  

After this Moses sends messengers to the king of Edom asking to let Israel pass through your country. Yet, Edom comes out with a large army and Israel turns away. The Israelites come to Mount Hor, near the border of Edom. The Lord says it is Aaron’s time to die. So Moses takes Aaron and Eleazar, Aaron’s son, up Mount Hor as commanded by the commanded. On the mountain, Moses removed Aaron’s garments and puts them on Eleazar. Aaron dies and when Moses and Eleazar come down the mountain the people mourn for Aaron thirty days. The Lord did not allow Aaron to enter Canaan yet Aaron was privileged die in peace having seen his son succeed him as priest. Aaron accepted the Lord’s decision and the Lord graciously let Aaron die peacefully there on the mountain. God dealt severely with His prophet Moses and His high priest Aaron, but Aaron comes across as being content with the Lord’s decision. The Lord held His appointed leaders to a high standard which He continues to do today (James 3:1).

Next we find a Canaanite king attacking Israel and capturing some of them. Israel vows to destroy these Canaanites if the Lord would deliver them into Israel’s hands. The Lord gave the Canaanites over to them and Israel completely destroyed them. These were the very people that had driven the Israelites back nearly forty years earlier. This time, however, Israel relied on God and the place was named Hormah or destruction. This was the very place where the first generation tried to enter the land against the Lord’s command and they were driven back (Numbers 14:44-45, 21:4-5). They rely on the Lord to fight for them but they’re still inclined to complain. Having to travel around Edom some of the Israelites say, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to die in this desert? There is no bread or water here and we hate this miserable food!”  The Lord sends venomous snakes that bit the people and many Israelites died. They confess their sin and ask Moses to pray to the Lord to take away the snakes. Moses prays and the Lord tells Moses to make a snake and put it up on a pole. Moses makes a bronze snake and put it on a pole. All who were bitten that looked to the bronze snake lived. Jesus compared this incident to his being lifted up on the cross, so that whoever looks away from self to Jesus in faith shall live (Jn. 3:14–15, 2 Cor.5:21). 

Korah's Rebellion and Aaron's Staff (Numbers 16-17).

Background: God promised to bless the world through Abraham’s descendants who multiplied in Egypt but became enslaved. God called Moses to lead them and God delivered Israel out of Egypt with many ‘miraculous signs’. The Lord led Israel by the pillar of cloud and fire and miraculously provided ‘manna and water from a rock’ despite Israel’s grumbling. At Mt. Sinai the Lord established His covenant with Israel and gave them the 10 commandments. Israel fell into idolatry by making a ‘golden calf’, but Moses pleaded with the Lord and the Lord promised to go with Israel and to forgive them (Ex. 34:1-9). The Israelites set out from Sinai in their tribal divisions with the ‘Ark of the Covenant’ before them and the pillar of cloud above them. However, the journey was a difficult one and the Israelites complained about their hardships (11:1) and even claimed they were better off in Egypt.  Moses began to see his calling as a burden, so the Lord anointed seventy of Israel’s elders with His Spirit to help Moses. (Ex. 18:13–26, Num. 11:24–30). They came to the border of their promised land where the ‘twelve spies’ confirmed that Canaan was a land flowing with milk and honey (Numbers 13-14). Caleb and Joshua believed they could take possession of the land, but the others spies spread a ‘bad report’ and the community refused to enter Canaan. So the Lord said that generation would wander forty years and die in the desert and that their children would enter the land that they had rejected. Then the Lord struck the ten spies who gave the ‘bad report’ with a plague and they died. When the Israelites heard of this they tried to enter Canaan without Moses and without the ‘Ark of the Covenant’ but the peoples living in the hills came down and attacked the Israelites and beat them back (Num. 14:39-45). This brings us to the story ‘Korah’s rebellion’ and the ‘budding of Aaron’s staff’ (Num. 16-17).  

Korah's Rebellion and the Budding of Aaron's staff:

The Levite, Korah, and his followers Dathan and Abiram and 250 Israelite leaders rose up in opposition to Moses’ leadership and Aaron’s priesthood. They claimed the whole community was holy and that Moses and Aaron had set themselves above the Lord’s people. Just prior to this the Israelites had failed to enter their promised land so the Lord said that generation would wander forty years and die in the desert. Also the ten spies who stirred the rebellion were struck with a plague and died. When the Israelites heard of this they tried to enter Canaan without Moses and the ‘Ark of the Covenant’ but they were driven back. Moses responds by falling facedown, and then Moses tells Korah and his followers that the Lord would reveal who He had chosen to draw near the Lord as priest. Korah and his followers were to put fire and incense in their censers and the Lord would chose who the one who was holy. According to Moses it was Korah and his followers who had banded together against the Lord and they were trying to get control of the priesthood.

When Moses summoned Korah’s collaborators, Dathan and Abiram, refused to come. They even claimed that Moses had brought them out of a land flowing with milk and honey only to kill them in the desert. They shift the blame for not entering the Promised Land to Moses and accuse him of trying to make them his slaves. This angered Moses who asked the Lord not to accept their offerings for he had not wronged any of them. So Korah stood with his followers at the Tent of Meeting in opposition to Moses and Aaron. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to the assembly and the Lord told Moses and Aaron to separate from the assembly so the Lord could put an end to the people. Yet, Moses and Aaron fell face down and cried out, “O God, will you be angry with the entire assembly when one man sins?”  The Lord said that the people were to move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Then Moses said that if Korah and his followers died in an ordinary way then the Lord had not sent Moses. But if the earth swallowed them then these men had treated the Lord with contempt. Immediately, the earth opened swallowing Korah and his followers and the Israelites fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us!” Then fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men offering the incense.

This dramatic display confirmed that God had called Moses to lead Israel and that Aaron was God’s chosen priest. Eleazar, Aaron’s son, was to remove the censers from smoldering remains and hammer the censers into sheets to overlay the altar. This would be a sign to remind the Israelites that only the descendants of Aaron were to burn incense before the Lord. Yet, after all this the Israelites grumbled and even claimed that Moses and Aaron had killed the Lord’s people. Then the glory of the Lord appeared and the Lord told Moses that He would put an end to the people. Once again, Moses and Aaron fell facedown. Then Moses told Aaron to take his censer and put incense and fire from the altar in it and to hurry to the assembly to make atonement for the people. Aaron ran into the midst of the assembly and offered the incense and the plague stopped. Aaron stood between the living and the dead and the plague stopped. Yet, 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah.

After this the Lord told Moses to collect the staffs of the leaders of Israel’s twelve tribes. They are to write their names on their staffs and Aaron’s name was to written on the staff of Levi. Moses placed the staffs in the Tent of Meeting and the staff of the man the Lord would choose would sprout. This was to end the constant grumbling against Moses. The next day Moses retrieved the staffs from the tent of meeting and Aaron’s staff had sprouted, blossomed and produced almonds. Aaron’s staff was to be placed in front of the Testimony as a sign to the rebellious. This end the grumbling against the Lord, so that the people wouldn’t die! Moses did as the Lord commanded and the Israelites thought that they were all going to die.

In the story the Lord confirmed Aaron’s priesthood by causing the earth to swallow Korah, Dathan and Abiram and fire to consume the 250 Israelite others who opposed Moses and Aaron. Is this the indicator of those who have been chosen by God? Should we expect the dramatic destruction of those who oppose us? Perhaps our attitude towards those who oppose us is a better indicator that we are Lord’s people. The first thing Moses did when he faced opposition was to fall on his face before God (Numbers 16:4). Then when Lord told Moses and Aaron to separate from the people so He could can put an end to them Moses and Aaron fell face down and cried out, “O God, will you be angry with the whole assembly when one man sins? (Numbers 16:22)” Moses gave the people the opportunity to separate themselves from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Then after the earth swallowed these men and fire consumed the 250 others the Israelites claimed that Moses and Aaron had killed the Lord’s people. Again the Lord tells Moses and Aaron to separate from the people so He could put an end to them. What did Moses and Aaron do? Moses told Aaron to take his censer and offer the incense in the midst of the assembly to make atonement for the people. Aaron did this and the plague stopped. So Moses and Aaron didn’t seek the destruction of those opposing them, rather they desired that they be reconciled to God. The Lord further confirmed the priesthood of Aaron by causing Aaron’s staff to sprout, blossom and produced almonds.  Aaron’s staff testified that Israel could only approach God through God’s designated high priest. In the new covenant—we are to draw near to God through our high priest, that is Christ the Lord.

Ministry to Internationals@ Christ Chruch Stellenbosch

This 'Post' comes from the annual report of Christ Church in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Nigerian Independence Day Celebration. 

RE: Christ Church Stellenbosch Ministry to Internationals.

The ministry to ‘Internationals’ at Christ Church Stellenbosch seeks to connect ‘International Students’ to Christ, to one another and to our Church. We want to create a community where ‘Internationals students’ can hear and tell the gospel through the Bible’s own stories.  Every Thursday on campus we hold our ‘Story Group for Internationals’ where we tell and discuss Biblical stories. Our ‘Story Group’ now has about a dozen regulars. Four of last year’s most faithful attenders received their degrees in December and returned to their home countries.    

Laura, Clara and Chimwemwe from Zambia.

We also seek to show hospitality to internationals by sharing meals with them in our home and we invite students to church braais. Our hope is that church partners will get to know internationals and welcome them into the church community. This ministry is an opportunity to extend the outreach of Christ Church. Dr. Ephraim Yoms, a Nigerian Pastor who attended Christ Church and ‘Story Group’ regularly has given us an open invitation to visit Nigeria to train Church leaders in ‘Bible Storytelling’. We have also been invited to teach Pastors in the Nkhoma Synod in Malawi. Here are testimonies from those who have benefited from the ministry to internationals.

 “Discussing Biblical stories brings the characters and their circumstances alive in a fresh way. It is challenging and inspiring! God’s plan for salvation shines through in all of Israel’s history and this is amazing to grasp!” Timwani Phiri; Ph-D Candidate in Engineering from Zambia.  

 “In the ‘Story Group’ I discover what the stories mean by listening and thinking deeply. When I hear the Bible stories, I feel that no story is meaningless because they are our stories. When I listen to the opinions of others I learn how others think and sometimes they challenge me. I always appreciate both the love we receive and the food for lunch.” Pastor Jacob Lee; M-Th Candidate Practical Theology from Korea.

“The ‘story group’ for internationals has been so enriching to me, I have learned a lot and I have been impacted spiritually. Studying God’s Word by storytelling is fascinating and helps one to grasp events from the scripture in a practical and imaginative way. It helps me to identify the context of the scripture more from my African perspective of telling stories in a communal setting. It would be for me a unique way of sharing God’s Word when I go back to my country after my studies here at the University.” Kefas Garba; M-Th Candidate from Nigeria.

“It was a blessing for me to join this group. Most people who gather at this meeting are from different countries with different denominational backgrounds. Jay uses Bible stories to teach and after the Bible story he leads discussion about the story. Everyone participates in the discussion actively. I believe that the students are helped; both spiritually and physically, and will be good Christian leaders in their countries upon returning.” Dokeun Byun; Theology Student from Korea.

“Our gatherings with international students were great and enriching. It was an opportunity to know each other as well and to share the ‘Word of God’ in different cultural perspectives.” Tony Gunde; Ph-D Journalism from Malawi.

“Thank you very much for the privilege to have learned from the story group. We arrived at our home in Nigeria safely.” Pastor Ephraim Yoms; Th-D Practical Theology from Nigeria.

Please Pray for the 'Ministry to Internationals at Christ Church Stellenbosch'. 

Pray for the growth and participation in our 'Story Group'. 

Pray for our community as we seek to show hospitality to Internationals in our home. 

Pray for our the spiritual and emotional health of our family as we seek to minister in South Africa. 

Pray that my 'Research Proposal' be approved so we can renew our educational visa to stay in SA.  

Your prayerful support of this ministry is deeply appreciated!

Jay, Laura, Clara, Katherine, and Lauren Stoms

To make a tax-deductible donation send your support to:

Jay and Laura Stoms (Stoms Ministry Fund)

Africa Christian Training Institute 
P O Box 15621; Panama City FL 32406-5621

'The Twelve Spies' (Numbers 13-14).

God promised to bless the world through Abraham’s descendants who multiplied in Egypt but became enslaved. God called Moses to lead them and God delivered them out of Egypt with many ‘miraculous signs’. The Lord parted the Red Sea and Israel walked through on dry ground while Pharaoh’s army was drowned in the sea. The Lord led Israel by the pillar of cloud and fire and miraculously provided ‘manna and water from a rock’ despite Israel’s grumbling. At Mt. Sinai the Lord established His covenant with Israel and gave them the 10 commandments. But, while Moses was with God on the mountain the Israelites made a golden calf as an idol. Moses went down smashed the idol and went back up Mt. Sinai to intercede for the Israelites. Moses pleaded with the Lord and the Lord promised to go with Israel and to forgive them (Ex. 34:1-9). The Israelites set out from Sinai in their tribal divisions with the ‘Ark of the Covenant’ before them with the pillar of cloud above them. Their journey was difficult and they complained about their hardships (11:1). They wailed for meat and claimed they were better off in Egypt which provoked the Lord’s anger.  Moses started talking about his calling being a burden that he was unable to carry. So God, in His grace, anointed seventy of Israel’s elders with His Spirit to help Moses. (Ex. 18:13–26, Num. 11:24–30). Then the Lord brought so much quail into the camp that the Israelites became thoroughly sick of it. They came to the border of Canaan where we learn the story of the ‘twelve spies’ who explored the Promised Land (Numbers 13-14). Watch the story and read the comments below. 

 The Lord led Israel by the pillar of cloud and fire to the border of the Promised Land and they sent twelve spies to explore the land the Lord was giving them. They returned with a branch with such a large cluster of grapes that two men had to carry it on a pole. They also brought pomegranates and figs, all of which evidenced that the land really was a land flowing with milk and honey. It was like a new Eden and the grapes, pomegranates and figs were a kind of first fruits of their promised inheritance (Numbers 13:1-25). Joshua and Caleb, the other spies and the whole community knew that God had delivered them out of Egypt and had been leading them by the pillar of cloud and fire. Yet, Caleb believed that they should take possession of the land while the other spies brought a bad report. They said that the land with its powerful inhabitants and their fortified cities would devour them (Num. 13:26-33). Why did Caleb and Joshua believe God and Moses and while the community believed the bad report of the other spies?

For Israel to take possession of the land God would have to intervene. If He didn’t then they would die in battle and their families would be taken as plunder. Caleb believed they could take possession of the land, but the others saw themselves as grasshoppers and the land’s habitants as giants who would devour them. The report of the ten focused on the powerful inhabitants and their fortified walled cites. The community believed the ‘bad report’ and they grumbled against Moses and Aaron. They said that they would be better off dying in Egypt or in the desert. Moses and Aaron fall on their faces and Joshua and Caleb address the community. Joshua and Caleb said that if God was pleased with them then He would give them the land. They exhorted the people not to rebel against the Lord and not to be afraid of the inhabitants of the land because the Lord was with them.  But the people wanted to stone Joshua and Caleb (Num. 14:1-10).

For Joshua and Caleb it wasn’t about how they measured up to the land’s inhabitants. Joshua and Caleb exhorted the Israelites not to rebel against the Lord and not to be afraid of those in the land. Then the Lord appeared to Moses at the Tent of Meeting and said that He would destroy the Israelites and make Moses into a great nation. According to the Lord the people were treating Him with contempt even though the Lord had delivered them out of Egypt with many miraculous signs. Moses intercedes for Israel by saying that the Egyptians and the inhabitants of Canaan would wrongly believe that the Lord destroyed Israel because He couldn’t bring them into Canaan. According to Moses the inhabitants of the land knew that the Lord was with Israel and had been leading them by a pillar of cloud and fire. Surely the Israelites knew this but they didn’t believe like the Lord’s servants, Caleb and Joshua. Moses appealed to the Lord’s great love and asked the Lord to forgive the Israelites as He had been forgiving them since they left Egypt (Num. 14:10-20).  The Lord forgave yet that whole generation of Israelites who complained in unbelief would wander forty years and die in the desert.  Only Caleb and Joshua who were loyal to God would enter the land.  The children of those who failed to believe God would enter and enjoy the land that their parents despised. Those spies whose bad report incited a rebellion were struck with a plague and died and Joshua and Caleb were the only spies that remained alive (Num. 14:20-35).

What was different about Caleb and Joshua? The community knew that God had delivered them out of Egypt and had led them by the pillar of cloud and fire. They all saw the evidence that the land the Lord had promised to their forefathers was a fruitful land. Yet they thought God had done all this just to bring them into the land to die by the sword and have their families taken as plunder (Num. 14:3). On the hand, Caleb and Joshua concluded that if God was pleased with them then they would take the land. They interpreted the very same events and concluded that God was with them and they trusted that God was including them in His good purpose. The others knew that God had been leading them but they had no assurance that God was pleased them. They showed contempt for God and rebelled against the Lord. They did this by believing that God was leading them into the land only to die by the sword and to have their wives and children taken as plunder. They even thought it would have been better to die in Egypt or in the desert than to risk entering the land. Then when the Israelites learned that the ten who brought the bad report had died they confessed their sin and claimed they were ready to take the land. But Moses said they would be crushed for the Lord had abandoned them because they had abandoned the Lord. They had said they would be better off dying in the desert and this is exactly what God said would happen to them. So now they try to enter the land even when both Moses and the Ark of the Covenant remained in the camp. This was pure presumption and the result was that the peoples living in the hills came down and attacked the Israelites and beat them back (Num. 14:39-45).  

'Fire and Quail from the Lord' (Numbers 10-11).

God promised to bless the world through Abraham’s descendants, who multiplied but became enslaved in Egypt. God called Moses to lead them out of Egypt and God delivered Israel with ‘His mighty acts of judgment’. The Lord parted the Red Sea and Israel walked through on dry ground while Pharaoh’s army was drowned in the sea. The Lord led Israel by the pillar of cloud and fire and miraculously provided ‘manna and quail’ and ‘water from a rock’ despite their grumbling. They came to Mt. Sinai where the Lord established His covenant with Israel and gave them the 10 commandments. Yet, while Moses was with God on the mountain the Israelites made a golden calf as an idol. Moses went down the mountain smashed the idol, then the next day Moses went back up Mt. Sinai to intercede on behalf of the Israelites. The Lord said He would give the Israelites their homeland but he wouldn’t go with them. But Moses pleaded with the Lord and the Lord responded by saying, “My presence will go with you.” Moses wanted to see the ‘glory of God’ so the Lord caused His goodness to pass by Moses (Exodus 34:19). Moses asked the Lord to forgive Israel’s sins even though they were a ‘stiff-necked’ people (34:1-9). The Lord confirmed the covenant with Moses and Israel and gave Moses the ‘tablets of the covenant’ (34:10-28). When Moses came down Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments his face was radiant from speaking with the Lord (34:28–35). This brings us to the story of 'Fire and Quail from the Lord' which is coming from Numbers 10-11. Watch the story and read the comments below. 

In this story God is with Israel leading them as He had promised Moses (Exodus 33:14, 17). The cloud lifted and Israel set out in their tribal divisions from the Desert of Sinai at the Lord’s command through Moses. The tabernacle would be taken down and the ‘Ark of the Covenant’ would go before them with the pillar of cloud above. As they set out Moses would call upon the Lord to scatter His enemies. When the cloud settled they would set up the tabernacle again and Moses would call on the Lord to return to the countless thousands of Israel. God was present with the Israelites but their journey was still difficult. Almost immediately the Israelites started complaining about their hardships (11:1). The Lord heard their complaining and He sent fire to consume the outskirts of the camp. So the people cried out to Moses who interceded for Israel and the fire died down (11:1–3).  The place was called Taberah (‘burning’ 11:3) and the story reminds us that God is a consuming fire (Exodus 24, Hebrews 12).

However, God’s judgment really didn’t change this for the discontent Israelites (11:4–15). Almost immediately the Israelites started craving other foods and wailing for meat. They even claimed that in Egypt they had free fish with cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic (11:5). Yet, in the wilderness day after day all they ate was ‘manna’. So they craved other foods and they wailed for meat to eat. They even claimed they were better off in Egypt which provoked the Lord’s anger. Then Moses himself begins to complain about having to carry in his arms this discontent people like a nurse carries an infant. If this is how the Lord was going to treat him then Moses wanted to die. Moses says that he would rather die than see his own ruin.

God became very angry and Moses was troubled. Moses starts his calling as being a burden that he cannot carry. Now we find Moses himself complaining about having to see his own ruin (11:11-15). So why after all that Moses had been through do we now find him complaining? Is it because the Israelites are not responding? Perhaps he was overwhelmed because the people weren’t responding to him. Perhaps Moses felt like he was having no real influence on the Israelites. Yet, Israel has done this before. So why is Moses so troubled now? Is it because Israel is falling into the same old sinful patterns again and again and Moses is simply worn down. Surely when you try to encourage people to trust God and they don’t listen and they do the same things again and again it’s discouraging. When this happens again and again you can feel like you’re wasting your time. But Moses himself and tried God’s patience several times so shouldn’t Moses have been more patient with the Israelites? But, now Moses is overwhelmed and troubled to the point that he seems tired of interceding for Israel.

So what is it that is now so troubling for Moses? In this incident we find the Israelites being provoked by the ‘Rabble’ that came out of Egypt with them so that they were reminiscing about how good the food was back in Egypt. They weren’t responding to Moses and they were falling into the same old sins, but now they claim they were actually better off before they started following Moses. Moses hears the Israelites claiming that following Moses had actually made their lives worse. Now Moses is filled with second thoughts and self-doubt to the point that he can’t see any way that he can accomplish his mission. Moses sees his work as futile and he feels like a failure. Moses seems to have forgotten about what God has done and about what God has promised. God is no longer in the picture and all Moses can see is his own inevitable failure.  If this is how it’s going to be then Moses would rather die than face his own ruin. But God, in His grace, has an answer for Moses.

What is God’s solution to Moses having to carry a discontent people to their ‘promised land?  God did not expect or intend for Moses to carry this burden alone. The Lord told Moses to gather seventy elders and the Lord would anoint them with His Spirit in order to help Moses (See Ex. 18:13–26, Num. 11:24–30).  The Lord took of the Spirit that was on Moses and put the Spirit on the elders to help Moses carry the Israelites to their ‘promised land’.  Two of the elders, Eldad and Medad, stayed behind and the Spirit came upon them and they prophesied in the camp. When Moses and Joshua heard this Joshua was jealous for Moses and wanted Moses to stop them. But, Moses’ desire was that the Lord would put his Spirit on all of God’s people!  In His own time, the Lord would do what Moses desired. Joel would prophesy of the day when God would empower all His people with His Spirit to do God’s work (Joel 2:28-29). In time, Joel’s prophesy would be realized when God would fulfil this promise in the ‘New Covenant’ in Christ by pouring out His Spirit on all God’s people (Acts 2:2-4, 17).

Then Moses was to prepare the people and God would provide enough meat for them. God would provide meat but not just for one or two days, or for five, ten or even twenty days. The Lord would provide meat for a whole month until it came out their nostrils and they hated it. Moses doubted that the Lord could provide enough meat to satisfy the six hundred thousand Israelite men. In Moses’ thinking all the fish in the sea wouldn’t be enough for them. But the Lord told Moses that he would see God’s word come true. Did Moses doubt that God could provide enough meat for a month or did Moses doubt that God could provide enough meat to satisfy the cravings of this group of discontents? The Lord sent a wind that brought quail all around the camp a day’s walk in every direction. The Israelites gathered the quail all that day and the next and they had so much meat that they actually got sick of it. So the Lord put the lie to the claim that they were better off in Egypt. Moreover the Lord provided enough meat for a month and He satisfied their cravings for meat by giving them so much that they became thoroughly sick of it. So the people ate meat but some of them died from a plague sent by the Lord and the place was called Kibroth Hattaavah (‘graves of craving’; 11:34).

'The Passover' and the 'Last Supper'.

'Passover and Exodus' (Exodus 12-14).

God promised Abraham multiple descendants and a homeland to bless the world (Gen.12:1-3).  Abraham’s descendants multiplied in Egypt, but they end up enslaved. Then God sent His mighty acts of judgement upon the Egyptians but the Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let the Israelites go. The Lord would send one final plague then Pharaoh would release Israel. This brings us to the ‘Passover’ story so watch the video and read the comments below.

Each Israelite household was to slaughter a year-old male lamb and put the blood on the door frames of their houses. They were to roast the meat and eat it with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. The Lord would see the blood on the door frames of their houses and He would pass over the Israelites when He struck down every firstborn in Egypt.

Then after 430 years, the Israelites would leave Egypt with their families, their possessions and with many other people accompanying them. Then when the Israelites entered their ‘Promised Land’ they were to observe the ‘Passover’ for the generations to come. When their children asked the meaning of the ceremony they were to say, ‘It’s the Lord’s Passover, for the Lord spared the Israelites when he struck down the Egyptians.’

The Israelites had multiplied in Egypt but they became enslaved until God struck Egypt with His mighty acts of judgment (10 plagues). In the final plague, the plague of the firstborn, the Lord spared the Israelites but judged their oppressors. When the Lord saw the door frames of the Israelites houses covered with the ‘blood of the lamb’ He passed over them and struck down the firstborn of Egypt. Then the Lord would bring judgment on the ‘gods of Egypt’ and He led His people out of Egypt by the pillar of cloud and fire. More than anything else this ceremony and its accompanying story defined the Israelites and shaped them into a community. In a similar fashion, as New Testament believers we are defined by and shaped into a community by the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. One of the primary ways that these defining events are communicated to us is by means of a ceremonial meal (John 1:29, 1 Cor.5:7, Eph.1:19-21). 

The Lord's Supper (Matt. 26, Luke 22, Mark 14 and John 13).

If you are preparing for a ‘Maundy Thursday’ or a ‘Good Friday’ worship service you will do well to keep the story of the Passover in mind. Now in this story Jesus washes the feet of his disciples and then he is betrayed by a friend. After this Jesus institutes what we call the Lord’s Supper and exhorts his disciples to love one another as he loved them. Watch the video or listen the story and read the comments below.

A shared meal really does strengthen relational ties between people. The Passover meal did this for the Old Testament people and it retold the story of God rescuing Israel from Egyptian slavery. As faithful Jews, Jesus’ disciples wanted to know from Jesus where they were to prepare for the Passover meal (Exodus 12). Jesus told them to go into the city and follow a man with a water jar into a house and ask the owner about his guest room where they could prepare for the meal. The disciples went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. Jesus was well aware of all that was happening to him. Surely all these events were part of God’s plan and were by no means outside of His control.

That evening Jesus arrived at the house with his disciples. Then before the meal Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and challenged them to do the same for each other. Then at the meal Jesus told the twelve that one of them would betray him. Jesus knew of the passages in the Psalms which spoke of being betrayed by a friend (Ps.41:9) and he knew which one of the twelve would betray him. This news saddened the disciples and they each said, “Surely not I?” (Mk 14:19).  The betrayer would be the one Jesus would dip bread into the bowl with. Again this was all part of God’s plan but the one betraying the ‘Son of Man’ would be held responsible (Mk 14:19). These sad events turned the Passover celebration in a solemn event. 

Jesus’ words refer to Daniel’s ‘son of man’ and Isaiah’s ‘suffering servant’ and connect this death to the coming of God’s kingdom (Dan. 7:13, Isa. 53:12). Jesus exposed Judas as his betrayer and Satan entered into Judas. Then Judas left the room to go and betray Jesus. Then Jesus took the bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples saying that the bread was his body. The bread of affliction (Dt.16:3) in the Passover story would be replaced by the broken body of Jesus. The blood of the covenant would become Jesus’ own blood (Mk14:24, Ex.24:8). In addition, Jesus gave his disciples a ‘new command’ to love each other as Jesus had loved them and by this people would know them as his disciple (John 13:34). This is a command that none of us takes seriously enough and God only knows how different our world would be if we did . 

Jesus gave this meal to be perpetually observed in his church. By faith we are to look to Jesus to empower us to serve one another and to give ourselves sacrificially for the good others. Moreover, we can only imitate in this way as we rely on Jesus’ death and resurrection and on the empowerment of God’s Holy Spirit. This story ends with Jesus and his disciples praying and singing a hymn, and proceeding to the Mount of Olives. There Jesus would prayerfully wrestle over having to drink the ‘cup of God’s wrath’ and there all the disciples of Jesus would be scattered and fall away (Zech.13:7).  

'God Promises His Presence' (Exodus 33-34).

God promised to bless the world through Abraham’s descendants (Gen.12:1-3). Abraham’s family multiplied but was enslaved in Egypt until they cried out and God called Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt. God brought out of Egypt by ‘His mighty acts of judgment’ and Pharaoh let the Israelites go (Exodus 7-12, 12:12). Yet, Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his troops who trapped the Israelites by the Red Sea. Then the Lord divided the sea so Israel walked through on dry ground, but Pharaoh’s army pursued them only to drown in the sea. The Lord led Israel by the pillar of cloud and fire and miraculously provided them with ‘manna and quail’ and ‘water from a rock’ despite their grumbling. Israel camped by Mt. Sinai and the Lord called Moses up the mountain to establish His covenant and give Israel the 10 commandments. Moses spent 40 days and nights with God on the mountain until the Lord told Moses to go down because the Israelites had corrupted themselves by making a golden calf as an idol. Moses interceded and the Lord preserved Israel. Moses went down the mountain and smashed the idol, ground it to powder and made the Israelites drink it. The Levites stood with Moses and at the Lord’s command they went through the camp putting 3000 people to death. Afterwards, Moses went back up the mountain to the Lord to see if he could make atonement for the Israelites which brings us to our story.

The Lord told Moses to take the people Moses brought out of Egypt, and go to the land the Lord promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The Lord would fulfill his covenant and drive out the inhabitants of the land.  However, the Lord would not go with the Israelites because might provoke the Lord to destroy them because the Israelites were a stiff-necked people (33:1–6). So Moses wanted to know who the Lord would send with him to lead the people. Now Moses would meet with God outside the Israelite camp at what was called the “tent of meeting”. The people would watch Moses enter the ‘tent of meeting’ and the pillar of cloud would rest at the tent’s entrance. There the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend (11). This closeness enabled Moses to boldly ask God to go with Israel on their journey.

If the Lord was pleased with him then Moses wanted to be taught the Lord’s ways. Moses wanted to know the Lord and know the Lord’s favor. Then Moses reminded the Lord that Israel was the Lord’s people and the Lord responded by saying, “My presence will go with you.” But Moses wanted to be sure because if God didn’t go with them then how would anyone know that the Lord was pleased with Israel? Furthermore, what else would distinguish Israel from all the other peoples on earth? So God promises to be ‘present’ with the people because He was pleased with Moses. Then Moses asks to see God’s glory (18) and the Lord promised that His ‘goodness’ would pass by Moses (19). Yet, Moses would not be able to look upon God directly (20) because no one could look at the Lord directly and live (33:12-23).

So Moses was to chisel two stone tablets and to go alone up Mount Sinai in the morning and present himself to the Lord. Moses went up Mount Sinai and the Lord came down in the cloud and passed by Moses. The Lord proclaimed His name to Moses revealing himself as the merciful and compassionate God, who forgives wickedness, rebellion and sin (33:19), but who is just and will not leave the guilty unpunished (see Pss. 86:15; 103:8; 145:8).  Moses bows in worship and sought further assurance that the Lord would go with them to Canaan. They were a ‘stiff-necked people’ so Moses asked the Lord to forgive their sins and take them as the Lord’s inheritance (34:1-9).

The Lord confirmed that He was making His covenant with Moses and Israel and that He would perform His wonders before them. They were to obey the Lord’s commands and the Lord would drive out the inhabitants of the land. They were not to make treaties with them; rather they were to tear down their idolatrous places of worship because the Lord was jealous for their affections. The Lord would drive out these idolatrous nations, enlarge Israel’s territory, and protect their land when their men went up three times each year to appear before their God. So the Lord told Moses to write down these words, for the Lord was making His covenant with Moses and Israel (34:10-28).  

When Moses came down Mount Sinai with the tablets of the covenant his face was radiant from speaking with the Lord. They were afraid but Moses summoned the elders and after giving them God’s commands, Moses veiled his face (33). Then when Moses entered the Lord’s presence he would remove the veil and after speaking with God his face would be radiant again. Then Moses after speaking with Israel would cover his face until he would go back to meet with God again (34:28–35). 

The New Testament tells us that this covenant was glorious but that it is far surpassed by the ‘New Covenant’ in Christ. The glory of the ‘older covenant’ was a fading glory like the radiance on the face of Moses. The ‘new covenant’ is permanently fulfilled in Jesus Christ and will never fade away. Paul also tells us that as believers in Jesus we are being transformed by God’s Spirit into Christ’s likeness with ever-increasing glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). 

'The Golden Calf' (Exodus 32).

God promised Abraham multiple descendants and a homeland to bless the world (Gen.12:1-3). Abraham’s family grew but became enslaved in Egypt. They cried out and the Lord God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and the Pharaoh let the Israelites go. But Pharaoh changed his mind and his troops trapped the Israelites by the Red Sea. However, the Lord divided the sea so Israel could walk through on dry ground. Then Pharaoh’s army followed Israel into the see only to be drowned. Life was tough in the desert but the Lord miraculously provided the Israelites with ‘manna and quail’ and ‘water from a rock’. Then the Lord gave Israel ‘His Law’ and confirmed ‘His Covenant’ with Moses and Israel (Exodus 19-20, 24). This brings us to the story of the ‘golden calf’ which we find in Exodus 32. You can watch the video and read the comments below. 

The Israelites grew impatient with Moses being up on the mountain with God. They didn’t know what had happened to Moses so they went to Aaron to have him make them gods to go before them. They asked Aaron to make them gods to lead them so Aaron collected their gold jewelry and formed it into an idol in the shape of a calf. They were unwilling to wait for Moses to return from God and they resorted to an idolatrous expression of worship. Aaron was an eyewitness to the ‘exodus’ and the Lord’s mighty acts in the plagues. Surely he knew to wait for Moses yet Aaron made an idol and built an altar. He also announced that the next day they would hold a festival to the Lord. It turns out that the people were willing to worship other gods and they even gave them credit for bringing them out of Egypt. The festival Aaron called for was to the Lord but the idol Aaron fashioned corrupted their worship. Their worship became idolatrous and their behavior became immoral (Romans 1).    

The Lord knew what was happening below so He told Moses to go down to Moses’ people who Moses had brought out of Egypt. The Lord couldn’t identify the Israelites as His own people because they had corrupted themselves by turning from the Lord’s commands. The Lord wanted to destroy the Israelites and turn Moses into a ‘great nation’. God had promised to make Abraham into a ‘great nation’ but now He was willing to abandon Abraham’s family with the exception for Moses. However, Moses sought the Lord’s favor to preserve Israel even though they had grumbled against Moses several times. Moses interceded for Israel by first referring to the Israelites as the Lord’s people that the Lord had rescued out of Egypt. Then Moses argued that if the Lord destroyed the Israelites then the Egyptians would say the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt only wipe them off the earth. Finally, Moses reminds the Lord of His promise to give Abraham, Isaac and Jacob descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and a land as their inheritance forever. After Moses’ appeal we are told that the Lord chose not to bring about the disaster He had threatened.

After successfully interceding for Israel, Moses went down the mountain with the two tablets of stone engraved with the commandments of God. When Moses saw the calf and the people dancing and partying he threw the tablets of stone and they shattered at the foot of the mountain. Moses took the calf, burned it in the fire, ground it into a powder, scattered it on the water and he made the Israelites drink it. Moses was shocked that Aaron had led the people into such a grievous sin. But Aaron tried to avoid responsibility by mentioning how prone to evil the Israelites were. Aaron also claimed that when he threw the Israelite’s gold into the fire somehow a calf idol formed itself. Then Moses called whoever was for the Lord to stand with him and all the Levites stood with Moses. Moses said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man should go back and forth with a sword through the camp killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’ ” Three thousand people died and the next day Moses went up the mountain to see if he could atone for Israel’s sin. So Moses pleaded that the Lord forgive Israel’s sin and if not then Moses requested that he be blotted out of the Lord’s book. But the LORD said that whoever had sinned against Him would be blotted out. Then the Lord exhorted Moses to go lead the Israelites and the Lord promised that His angel would go before them. The Lord said that in time He would strike Israel with a plague because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made.

We may never fashion an idol and seek to worship it or seek to worship the Lord through it. However, all too often we turn to things other than God. We can also very easily drift into ways of worshiping God that are contrary to His will as revealed in his word. Moreover what we need is someone to make God present to us, to intercede for us and to make atonement for us when we violate or neglect His commands. Surely this greater mediator than Moses that we all need is our Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus, unlike Moses, can fully atone for all our sins by offering to God his perfect life and his own death on the cross on our behalf.  In addition, Jesus alone can lead us into all the realization of all the promises of God.