When God's People Go Astray

summitsocal
Aug 27
3 min read

(Life of Moses Series – Exodus 32)

We’ve come to the penultimate message in our Life of Moses series. Penultimate is just a fancy SAT word for “next-to-last.” Today’s message is called When God’s People Go Astray.

Even as strong followers of Jesus, we all know what it’s like to stumble. Maybe you’ve gone astray yourself, or maybe you’ve walked alongside someone who has. Either way, Scripture shows us that this struggle is not new.

People Go Astray

The phrase falling off the wagon comes from the temperance movement during the early 1900s. Those who supported abstaining from alcohol were said to be “on the wagon,” and those who relapsed were said to have “fallen off.”

In a similar way, sin can entangle us and pull us back into old patterns — whether it’s addiction, destructive habits, or misplaced worship. Israel faced this exact struggle at Mount Sinai.

Israel’s Covenant and Their Failure

After being delivered from Egypt through plagues, the Red Sea, and God’s daily provision of manna, Israel stood at Sinai and pledged:

“We will do everything the Lord commands us to do.”

But when Moses went up the mountain to receive the Law, the people grew impatient. They turned to Aaron and demanded a visible god. Aaron, instead of standing firm, gave in. He collected gold, melted it down, and fashioned the infamous golden calf.

Israel broke the very first two commandments almost immediately:

You shall have no other gods before Me.
You shall not make for yourself an idol.

What followed was not just idolatry, but full-blown pagan revelry — drunkenness, immorality, and chaos at the very foot of the mountain where they had just pledged their loyalty to God.

Moses the Intercessor

While the people sinned below, Moses was experiencing intimacy with God above. God gave him the stone tablets written by His own finger and revealed His covenant. Yet, God also saw the rebellion of the people and declared His judgment.

God told Moses He would wipe them out and start over with Moses, just as He once started with Noah. But Moses stood in the gap. He pleaded for mercy, reminding God of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of the witness to the nations.

In His grace, God relented.

Lessons from Moses and Aaron

Aaron represents weak leadership — making excuses, rationalizing sin, and failing to stand firm. Moses, on the other hand, represents faithful intercession — loving the people enough to plead with God on their behalf.

When we sin, God calls us not to excuses but to confession:

Don’t make excuses.
Tell the truth.
Admit your faults.
Turn away from wrongdoing.
Ask God for forgiveness.

This is true in our walk with God and even in our relationships with one another. Humility and repentance restore what sin tries to destroy.

Standing in the Gap Today

Psalm 106 reflects on this episode:

“They made a calf at Mount Sinai… they forgot God their Savior… But Moses, His chosen one, stood in the breach before Him, to keep His wrath from destroying them.”

Today, we are called to do the same for one another. Galatians 6 urges us to restore those caught in sin gently and humbly, not with judgment. James 5 reminds us that whoever brings back a wandering sinner saves them from death and covers a multitude of sins.

Most of all, Jesus Christ is our greater Mediator. Moses stood in the gap for Israel, but Jesus stands in the eternal gap for us. He intercedes at the right hand of God and offers us mercy and grace in our time of need.