Seeking Atonement

Seeking Atonement
Words of Faith 3-13-2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2023
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Exodus 32
[30] The next day Moses said to the people, "You have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin." [31] So Moses went back to the LORD and said, "Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. [32] But now, please forgive their sin--but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written." [33] The LORD replied to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. [34] Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin." [35] And the LORD struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made.

The primary instigators and offenders in the golden calf fiasco had been put to death. The exception was Aaron, but Moses had prayed for him before the Lord. Deuteronomy 9:20 tells us that "... the LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him, but at that time I prayed for Aaron too."
Moses recognized that the nation as a whole shared this guilt. He went before the Lord to seek a way of atonement for their sin. The word for atonement means "a ransom or substitute." Moses offered himself as that substitute. He pleaded with the Lord to forgive their sin.
The response from God was to reject Moses's offer. However, God would bring judgment upon those who have participated in this sinful display. God punished these centers by premature death. Some died of a plague. All the fighting men, except for Joshua and Caleb, died later in the desert (Deuteronomy 1:35-36; 2:14). The Lord declared that Moses would lead the nation into the land promised to them, but it would be a younger generation.
The course of God's plan cannot be altered. However, sometimes, people's actions will remove them prematurely from that course. The apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows" (6:7). We cannot expect unconfessed and unrepentant sin to be overlooked.
It is a good season in which to look inward. Is there some way in which you have participated in the larger economy of sin and idolatry? Sometimes we look the other way or quietly benefit from clearly not godly things. Are there times when we have been slow to speak up against injustice or dishonesty? It is easy to become distracted by our needs and fail to see a culture rapidly descending toward hell.

Father God, forgive me. I recognize how I have joined in the revelry. I repent and turn my heart back toward You. Teach me your ways. Teach me to carefully walk with You. Show me Your paths, and I will pursue You. In Jesus' name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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