MAY 16TH, 2004
DEUTERONOMY 9:16-29
I. What did Moses see when he came down from the mountain?
A. They had made a molten calf to worship. (16)
- this was a violation of the 1st Commandment.
B. They had “turned aside quickly” from the ways of God. (16)
1. “Turning aside from God’s way” is the basic definition of sin
2. The fact that they turned so quickly implies that they were “bursting at the seams” to do this.
3. What would you do if you could?
C. Moses threw the stone tablets to the ground and broke them before their eyes. (17)
D. Moses then falls down before God and begins a 40 day and night fast. (18)
1. He had just done this on top of the mountain with God. (9)
2. Moses fasted and prayed with God on the mountain in verse 9, and he fasted and prayed in intercession for others in verse 18.
II. God’s anger was specifically directed at Aaron. (20)
1. Aaron was the leader in Moses’ absence.
2. Aaron was responsible for the direction the people went.
3. Moses prayed for Aaron in verse 20.
III. Moses destroyed the false god. (21)
A. Notice the thorough job that he did in destroying this god. (21)
1. How much ungodliness are we to tolerate in our lives?
2. This is an example of the extreme degree that we are to go to be holy.
B. Moses sounds like a leader in verse 24.
IV. Moses’ prayer if intercession (25-29)
A. God was going to destroy Israel. (25)
B. Moses pleads with God to bless the children for the sake of the previous generations. (27)
1. Our godly lives may be the difference in our children’s future.
2. God honors His servants beyond their lifetimes.