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Exodus 32:1-10 ESV

1When 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.” 2So Aaron said to them, “Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” 3So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” 5When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.” 6And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.7And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. 8They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’” 9And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. 10Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.”

I. The Inner Root of Idolatry
A. Israel’s sin of idolatry was a sin of the heart which makes it relevant to learn from even into today. (Acts 7:39-41, 1 Corinthians 10:6-14)
B. An idol is anything we try to replace God with by placing it in God’s place.
C. An idol doesn’t have to be a bad thing but can be a good thing used in an evil way.
D. You become like what you behold. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

II. The Instances and Illustrations of Idolatry in Exodus 32
A. We sin and fall into idolatry when we disobey God’s Word.
B. We sin and fall into idolatry when we disregard God’s Word.
C. We sin and fall into idolatry when we distort God’s Word.
D. We sin and fall into idolatry when we decide not to wait on God to fulfill His Word in His own time.

III. The Severity, Shocking Suddenness, and Sham of Sin
A. Israel’s sin is severe, which is highlighted by the severity of God’s reaction to their sin.
B. Total depravity means sinners sinning is not a shock but sometimes the suddenness of sin can be a shock.
C. We are determined to live a sham and give credit to everyone and everything but God for the good in our life. (Psalm 106:19-23)

IV. Someone Superior & Sufficient to Step In Between
A. God is done with Israel unless they find an intercessor and mediator.
B. Only Jesus Christ is sufficient to step in between us and God and see our sin set aside.