Reading these three passages together, there is only one thing to talk about, temptation to sin! when i began to read the Exodus reading, I thought how cool to write about Oholiab and Bezalel, guys that God created with great gifts of craftsmanship, guys who’s skills had probably been honed in slavery and oppression. But then, reading on about the golden calf, I cannot help but write about this unbelievably weak time in Israel’s history.  Think of all that they have seen, all that they have experienced. They have decided, out of fear, to let Moses go up the mountain to hear from God, while they wait for him. they have enough faith…sight really…in the awesome power and real presence

of the Lord. But when Moses does not return the people pressure Aaron into planning a worship service of their own. Aaron caves in under the pressure (an all too common theme so far in the scriptures) and a golden calf is forged.

I find it powerful that the Lord addresses this with Moses, before he comes from the presence of the Lord, and that Moses must intercede for the people. Moses reminds the Lord (who doesn’t really need reminding, but is setting up Moses to remember):

Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’

Moses says essentially “Don’t destroy them FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR OWN REPOUTATION.”  These words are mirrored in Psalm 40:

14 Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
who delight in my hurt!
15 Let those be appalled because of their shame
who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”

And since we bear the name of Christ, I wonder how many times the Lord bails us out simply to protect his own glory.  A see a few lessons on the origins of temptation from Both testaments:

Impatience, “Moses is gone a long time”

Deflection of Culpability, “You know the people, that they are set on evil” and “I threw the gold into the fire and out came this calf.”

Hunger or all kinds “turn these stones to bread”

Power and fame “worship me”

Presuming on God’s protection “throw yourself down”

Make Psalm 40 your prayer today

Psalm 40:7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
8 I delight to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart.”