Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 26, 2025

Series on God Sustains His People

Meanwhile, Back at the Camp

Exodus 32

1. Disobedience to the LORD’S Revealed Will

• violation of at least three commandments
• the major issue in Exodus: worship (24:3, 7)
• “God created man in His image and ever since, man has been trying to return the favor.” (Chesterton)

2. Doubting the LORD’S Sufficiency

• impatience with the LORD’S timing
• disrespect for the LORD’S representative (Acts 7:39-40)
• a hostile “takeover” attempt

3. Distortion of the LORD’S Purpose

• the LORD’S reputation (9:16)
• a self-serving mentality and a demonstration of depravity
• idolatry leading to immorality
• “What we revere, we resemble, either for our ruin or our restoration.” (Beale)

4. Discounting the LORD’S Activity

• the misuse of the LORD’S gifts
• a case of spiritual amnesia (Psa. 106:19-22)

5. So What?

• Knowing that God abhors idolatry, repudiate it and replace it with holy intoxication.
• battling infidelity with intoxication (Eph. 5:18)
• “Man must have an object, and when he turns from the true God, he at once craves a false one.’ But this statement can also be reversed. The way to reduce our craving for false gods is for our minds and hearts to be intoxicated with the Spirit of the one true God.” (Pink)
• “The dearest idol I have known, whate’er that idol be, help me tear it from Thy throne, and worship only Thee.” (Cowper, “O, For a Closer Walk with God.”)