What a foolish and wretched man am I, and yet how amazingly tender and gracious and merciful is God. In fact God himself describes his character as thus: The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty (Exodus 34:6-7a). It was on the basis of this declaration of his character that God offered a Covenant Renewal to Israel after they had fallen prey to idolatry.
Israel had so quickly identified their continuing loyalty to Egypt by turning to the worship of a Golden Calf when they feared that God and Moses had disappeared. Egypt is known to have had a fairly popular metal bull cult in their midst during that period of history. So when Israel sought a god to comfort them they turned, very naturally, to one they were familiar with and thus evidenced where their hearts were divided between God and Egypt. And there were consequences for their actions. All those whose guilt was exposed for having been intricately involved in this idolatry were destroyed. Yet God would not leave his people and so he is with us too, who are his children in Christ. Though I sin many times over and though I am unfaithful and idolatrous at various times, nonetheless my God is gracious and abounding in steadfast love! A love that does not quickly dissipate because of my character and actions. No, because I am his in Christ Jesus, then he continually holds out to me the offer of Covenant Renewal. His love endures even my own idolatry and stupidity, not because I deserve it, but because of who he is as a God merciful and gracious. It is God’s character to be slow to anger and to offer me the renewal of my right relationship with him. This is all only made possible because Christ paid the penalty for my sins that I deserved. Christ is the perfect mediator that Moses could not be. It is not a golden calf, then, that I worship but a slain Lamb who is the evidence of God’s steadfast love and grace. The Covenant is daily renewed in mercy because of Jesus, and for that I am thankful.
Sparrow & Heart Soul Care 