THE STORY, Chapter 5
Exodus 19-20; 24-25; 32-34; 40
New Commands and a New Covenant

Adultery on the Honeymoon

“When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. 'Come on,' they said, 'make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.'All the people took the gold rings from their ears  . . .melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, 'O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!' ”Exodus 32:1-4(NLT)

Reflection
 
Imagine getting married and while on your Honeymoon you find your spouse in bed with one of the Hotel employees. How would you feel? Would it hurt? Would it make you angry? Jealous? Feel betrayed? Would it be grounds for divorce?

Immediately after the (“wedding”) covenant “ceremony” at Sinai, the people broke the first commandment, the most fundamental of all of them. They went after another lover.

God’s anger “burned” against his people. Perhaps this way of reading the events of Exodus 20 and 32 help us to understand the intensity of God’s love. It is a fiercely committed love which expects reciprocation.

Prayer

“Lord, one of my favorite hymns is 'Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing' in which we sing the line 'prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the one I love.' I confess, Lord, that that's me. Forgive me Lord, and give me strength to stay true to you daily. Amen"