We often don't learn new things until they relate to our safety or happiness. This is true in our physical lives, but it's equally true in our spiritual lives. Understanding how the covenant at Sinai points to Jesus might seem irrelevant to your daily life, but it's actually crucial for your spiritual well-being and eternal happiness.
Why Do We Need a Mediator?
In Exodus 32, we find a pivotal story that reveals our desperate need for a mediator between us and God. Moses had been on Mount Sinai for 40 days receiving instructions from God about the tabernacle. Meanwhile, the Israelites grew impatient and asked Aaron to make them gods to lead them.
Aaron collected gold from the people and fashioned a golden calf. The people then proclaimed, "These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt." They offered sacrifices, feasted, and engaged in revelry.
What's striking is that the Israelites were following their spiritual instincts. They:
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Wanted a physical way to relate to God
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Contributed to worship by giving their gold
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Recounted their redemption story
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Brought offerings and celebrated together
But their spiritual instincts led them astray. They were "spiritual but not religious" in the worst way - creating their own path to God rather than following His instructions.
God's Response to Our Rebellion
God's response reveals the seriousness of their sin. He told Moses:
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"Your people have become corrupt"
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"They've been quick to turn aside from what I commanded"
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"They are stiff-necked people"
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"Leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and I may destroy them"
This shows the danger of approaching a holy God on our own terms. Without proper mediation, God's holiness becomes dangerous to sinful people.
Moses as the Mediator
Moses immediately interceded for the people:
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He appealed to God's reputation: "Why should the Egyptians say it was with evil intent that you brought them out?"
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He reminded God of His promises: "Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore..."
After interceding, Moses went down the mountain and dealt with the rebellion. He:
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Broke the tablets, symbolizing the broken covenant
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Destroyed the golden calf completely
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Confronted Aaron about his leadership failure
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Called for judgment against those who wouldn't repent
This pattern of intercession followed by discipline shows us what a mediator does - stands between God and sinful people, pleading for mercy while still upholding God's holiness.
The Purpose of Atonement: Nearness to God
After the initial judgment, Moses returned to God seeking atonement for the people's sin. But notice what he says in Exodus 33:15-16:
"If your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us?"
This reveals that the purpose of atonement isn't just forgiveness - it's nearness to God. Moses understood that being forgiven but distant from God would leave them no different from other nations.
Seeing God's Glory
Moses then makes a bold request: "Now show me your glory." He wanted more than just forgiveness and proximity - he wanted to truly know God.
God responded by revealing as much of Himself as Moses could handle:
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"I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you"
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"I will proclaim my name the Lord in your presence"
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"You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live"
After this encounter, Moses' face became radiant (or possibly grew "horns" - the Hebrew word is ambiguous). This physical transformation showed that he had been in God's presence, becoming a living contrast to the lifeless golden calf the people had made.
How Jesus Fulfills and Exceeds Moses' Role
Jesus is our perfect mediator who:
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Retrains our spiritual instincts: Unlike the Israelites who followed their misguided spiritual feelings, Jesus teaches us how to properly approach God.
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Deals with our rebellion: Hebrews tells us Jesus "is always living to make intercession for us" - like Moses, but eternally and perfectly.
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Reveals God fully: Jesus is "the Word made flesh" who tabernacled among us. In Him, we see God's glory directly.
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Makes atonement for our sins: His sacrifice is "once for all," completely removing our sin.
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Brings us near to God: Through Jesus, we have direct access to God's presence.
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Still requires obedience: Jesus forgives but still says, "Come, follow me." The difference is that He empowers our obedience through His Spirit.
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Perfectly reflects God's image: In Revelation 5, Jesus appears as "a Lamb that looked like it had been slain" with "seven horns and seven eyes" - symbols of His perfect power and wisdom.
We Were Made to Worship
We are inherently worshipers. When we build our lives around things less than God, we become like what we worship. If we worship inanimate objects or created things, we diminish our humanity.
People who don't know Jesus are always looking for something to worship - something to give them purpose and make sense of the world. They're either diminishing their humanity by worshiping lesser things, or they can find who they were made to be by worshiping Jesus.
Life Application
This week, consider these questions:
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What are you currently building your life around? Is it Jesus, or something lesser?
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How might you be following your spiritual instincts rather than God's clear instructions?
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Are you seeking just forgiveness from God, or true nearness to Him?
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In what areas of your life do you need Jesus to mediate between you and God?
The challenge is to recognize where you might be creating your own "golden calves" - substitutes for true worship - and instead turn to Jesus as your mediator. He alone can bring you safely into God's presence, transform you to reflect His glory, and fulfill your created purpose as a worshiper.
Remember: We were made to worship. We will either worship the one true God and find our true selves, or worship lesser things and diminish who we were created to be. Your safety and happiness depend on choosing wisely.