Message Notes

14th YAG RETREAT
Session #4
05 November 2011
Theme: SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP III

Text: Exodus 32:1-14

INTRODUCTION: INTERCESSORY PRAYER

1. Past lessons about prayer must be understood

2. Experience in praying to the Lord effectively would count for something

3. Intercession is challenging for the following reasons:-

a) Unknown experience

b) Urgent needs

c) Uncommon problems

d) Uncertain outcome

A PAINFUL EPISODE – APOSTASY!
Exodus 32

1. Apostasy of Israel
Creation of a Golden Calf for worship          Exodus 32:1-6

Come, make us gods that shall go before us…          Exodus 32:1c

This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!          Exodus 32:4c

a) Suggested by the children of Israel

b) Supported by Aaron

c) Sinful worship

2. God’s Reaction          Exodus 32:7-10

a) Subtle but dangerous nuance

Your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves          Exodus 32:7b

i) Your people
Disclaim!

ii) You brought out of the land of Egypt
Distancing

iii) Corrupted themselves

b) Observation of perversity

They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them          Exodus 32:8a

i) Turned aside

ii) Quickly

iii) Out of the way which I commanded them

c) Idolatry

They have made themselves a molded calf, and worshipped it and sacrificed to it           Exodus 32:8b

i) Made a golden calf

ii) Worshipped it

iii) Sacrificed to it

iv) Acknowledged the cow as the deity who delivered them from Egypt          Exodus 32:8

d) God’s Indignation Declared

I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people!          Exodus 32:9

i) I have seen this people          Exodus 32:9a

ii) Stiff-necked          Exodus 32:9

e) God’s Impending Judgment Revealed

Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them          Exodus 32:10a

i) Now therefore

ii) Let Me alone

iii) That My wrath may burn against them

iv) That I may consume them

f) An astonishing alternative

And I will make of you a great nation          Exodus 32:10b

i) The line of Abraham will be continued

ii) Moses to be the next patriarch from whom the future generations will come

INTERCESSION: STANDING IN THE BREACH I
Exodus 32: 11-14

1. Pleading with God

Then Moses pleaded with the LORD his God…          Exodus 32:11a

a) This is no longer a simple prayer to God

b) Moses would have to intercede for a guilty nation

c) He would have to find answers to all that God had spoken

d) He would have to turn away the wrath of God

e) He would have to find a way to restore Israel’s relationship with God

f) The only means he has is “prayer”

2. Employing the word “Why” meaningfully

LORD, why…”          Exodus 32:11b

a) Why does Your wrath burn hot…?          Exodus 32:11b

i) Pleading to comprehend

ii) Pleading gently for this wrath to be set aside

iii) Gentleness of spirit is essential in intercessory praying

b) Why should the Egyptians speak… (against You?)          Exodus 32:12

i) They would think that God brought Israel out to harm them

ii) They would think of the Lord as a cruel God who kills His people

3. Pleading the covenant God established with the patriarchs

a) Mention of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob          Exodus 32:13a

b) Mention of God’s special promise to bless the descendants of Abraham          Exodus 32:13b

c) Covenant relationship with God — sealed with an oath          Exodus 32:13b

i) Your people          Exodus 32:11b

ii) You brought out with great power and with a mighty hand          Exodus 32:11c

iii) They shall inherit it forever          Exodus 32:13c

GOD’S ANSWER TO THE INTERCESSION OF MOSES

1. Answers are important

2. God’s answer

So the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people.          Exodus 32:14

a) Relenting from the harm (judgment) intended

b) But does this mean that this episode is completely over?