Stumbling over the moon in pursuit of the sun
One of my favourite hobbies is camping. There is nothing like heading out into the wilderness with a backpack full of supplies, escaping from the hustle and bustle of daily life, and connecting with nature. In the past, when camping alone, I have deliberately chosen to head out during the full phase of the moon. On such occasions, I love to remove the rainfly from the roof of the tent and lay in my sleeping bag gazing at the moon above. It is incredible how much life you can see under the light of a full moon. What’s even more remarkable is the reality that the moon itself does not produce any light at all; it only reflects the brilliance of the source of its light, the sun.
The book of Exodus is an account of God fulfilling His promise to the patriarchs that He would make them a great nation. The journey toward His promise takes the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt through the wilderness to the Desert of Mount Sinai. As the Israelites are led through the wilderness, God uses Moses as a tool through which they experience God’s miracles, faithfulness, mercy, and grace despite their unbelief and disobedience.
Crossing the Red Sea Exodus 14
The Lord divides the Red Sea, granting them passage and an escape route from the pursuing Egyptians. The Lord then closes the path behind them, drowning the Egyptian army.
Bitter Water Made Sweet Exodus 15:22-25
Having escaped the Egyptians, the Lord leads Moses and the Israelites to the desert of Shur. At Marah, tired and thirsty, the Israelites begin to grumble at Moses because the water they encountered is bitter. The Lord then commands Moses to throw a log into the water turning bitter water into potable water.
Bread from Heaven Exodus 16:13-16
In the wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Sinai, hungry, the Israelites once again grumble against Moses and Aaron. In response, the Lord provides mana from heaven in portions sufficient for each day.
Water from the Rock Exodus 17:1-7
Having moved from the wilderness of Sin by stages, the Israelites are camped at Rephidim and find themselves once again thirsty and without water. In frustration, they begin to quarrel with Moses. The Lord then commands Moses to take his staff in hand and strike the rock at Horeb, resulting in a flow of fresh water for them to drink.
Israel Defeats Amalek Exodus 17:8-13
Moses instructs Joshua to select men to go out in battle against Amalek. Whenever Moses raised the staff of God in his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. So Aaron and Hur joined Moses holding his hands in the air until sunset, giving the Israelites victory over Amalek.
Thick Cloud at Mount Sinai Exodus 19:16-20
Three months after leaving Egypt and on the same day they arrived at the Desert of Sinai, The Lord appeared to the Israelites in a thick cloud of smoke with thunder and a loud trumpet blast as a reminder to Israel that the Lord had spoken directly to Moses.
In the book of Exodus, Chapter 32, we find the Israelites at the base of Mount Sinai. Moses, their leader, has left them by God’s command, climbing Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. We understand that Moses was away from his people for 40 days and 40 nights. Meanwhile, the Israelites, impatient in Moses’s absence, convince Aaron, Moses’s brother and spokesperson, to construct for them a golden calf, defying God’s commandment prohibiting idol worship. In Exodus 32:1 we read:
“32 When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”
This request was a direct act of defiance and an example of their lack of faith. What is shocking about this account is that the request was made having experienced God's mercy, saving grace, and full power. In a sense, they were worshipping the moon instead directing their trust and adoration to the source of its light, the sun. The Israelites had lost sight of the true source of their salvation. While their doubt and disbelief stemmed from Moses’s absence, their faith and assurance of protection and provision should have been based on their experiences and belief in God.
As we prepare for the coming week, let us remember that the Lord, alone, is the source of our salvation. Let us remove all grumbling from our lips and distractions from our path as we move forward in faith wherever He leads us.
Amen,
Brad
