09 - Reflections for the Season
B.W. Newton The "Patmos" Series No. 9 Reflections for the Season Some Lessons fromExodus 32:1-35toExodus 33:1-11
We can hardly fail to remember this passage on such occasions as these—days which are supposed to be days of holy thanksgiving before the Lord; ostensibly hallowed by the Name of Christ and speaking of joy in connection with His redemption and visitation to this earth—yet when we examine the character of the joy which prevails throughout Christendom—the professed people of the Lord—we shall not find it a more true joy than that of Israel here.
They were gathered around the calf, saying “It is a feast to Jehovah;” but really hawing down to the work of their own hands It is said “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play;” and we have the solemn command of the Apostle to remember these things, for they are “our ensamples, on whom the ends of the ages are come;” so that when we hear the sounds of revelry, we may remember it is the revelry of the world and not of God.
It is most emphatically true now, that because of disobedience, the great multitude professedly separated to God and Christ will fall in the wilderness and will never enter into the rest. Consequently we should be deceiving ourselves if we did not consider the character of an hour like this.
It was when Moses was absent from the people that this sin was committed (Exodus 32:1). Moses represents that gracious power of God which leads His people forward from day to day from Egypt, through the wilderness, to their rest. Moses was the Captain of the Lord’s people to lead them; telling them there would be enemies to conflict with and a daily onward course in their appointed journey to pursue. Everything that would stimulate the people of God, everything “King-like” was thus connected with Moses. Well, he was for a season absent and the people were left to wait for him; not to forget him. Yet, they forgot Moses and all that was connected with his character and his special relation to them! But they found Aaron. Aaron was the person appointed whilst they were going forward and finding trials and failures etc., to bring mercy and reconciliation from God to them. God had not left them unprovided with mercy. He had given them one who could have compassion on the ignorant and who could make intercession for them. All grace and mercy were spread over the relation of the priest. All kindness and grace connected with the thought of Christ in Redemption were connected with the character of Aaron; and when this thought is combined with the thought of onward progress and holy energy which would not use grace for its own purposes of evil, saying “God is merciful, therefore I may use grace carelessly;” but rather, “God is merciful, therefore let me cleave to Him,” then it gives strength to the soul. But, when Aaron is as it were separated from Moses; when the “grace” of the Gospel is separated from what God teaches as to the “holiness” of Him Who is leading us; when the “mercy” of God is looked to singly and separately, then, it is a perversion of His mercy. Here, the result was that Aaron was the framer of the golden calf (Exodus 32:4)! It was perverted mercy (Exodus 32:2-3). The earrings were the “spoil” of the Egyptians; things which had a natural excellence and value in them; and when we have grace to use such things for God—to keep them in their right place as memorials of His goodness—then, it is well. But it requires special grace to do so. Nothing requires so much grace as to use natural things for God. When Moses was “guiding” the people of God we do not find they were ensnared by these things of Egypt; but, when God’s “mercy” (in Aaron) was the only thought, they took these things which were Egyptian in character, and used them apart from the onward strength and energy represented by Moses. Then they sinned; the calf was framed; and Aaron was the framer of it!
It was deliberately formed. It did not merely “come out” of the fire as Aaron afterwards said to excuse himself, (Exodus 32:24). This was not true. He deliberately formed it with his own graving tool, (Exodus 32:4)! So, when the heart chooses to consider the mercy and the peace and the grace of God only, and soaks to connect that mercy with natural things, saying “God is merciful, now lot me enjoy natural things; let me grave them according to my own thoughts of God’s mercy,” what will he the result? Altogether a false image of God! When the soul meditates in this way; viz., how it shall use natural things for its own purposes and natural joy, it has then a certain image of the character of God before it. It makes for itself an ideal image of God, and attributes to Him certain characteristics which really He has not; so that God is not seen as really revealed in His Word. The soul assigns to Him a fictitious character, supposing Him to sanctify things which He has not sanctified; to show mercy to things to which He will not sh0w mercy; and the soul very soon becomes as distant from the true character of God as Israel were distant from the real glory of God when they bowed before the calf. And is it not so now? What is the estimate of the character of God formed by the world around? Are they not saying that God delights in things which He abhors? Do they not speak of all the unsanctified and unregenerate energy of nature as if He delighted in it? Wars, bloodshed, wicked luxury are seen, very contrary to Jesus of Nazareth, and which found no place around Him when He was laid as a Babe in the manger and angels said “Peace on earth, the peace of ‘well pleasedness’ among men.” Goodness was expressed, but what were the circumstances? Were the greatness and the glory of the world there? Was anything illustrious there? No; He came “separate” from all that was great whether in Egypt or Jerusalem; in the world or in the Church; secular greatness or ecclesiastical greatness; not one thing the world would admire was there but, the Babe in a Manger! And why? Because the whole condition of human things was “out of course;” all contrary to God!
Suppose we thought that that “grace” connected with Him as the Babe were intended to sanctify natural things; to make Egypt no Egypt; and Jerusalem no wicked Jerusalem; but that God delighted in all as it then was, and spoke “peace to the earth” in its then natural condition! Would that be true?
How did Jesus walk through the world? He was “separate” up to the moment when He died on Calvary. And is He now less “separate” in Heaven? No; and there is a secret power drawing individuals out of the corruption around to know Him; and nothing can touch their blessing. All radiance of glory and excellency and joy surely belongs to them. No words are too high to describe it; but it is in contrast with everything in the world around with all its excellency and strength. That which now pretends to rejoice in the name of Christ is all in contrast with the real ground of joy which is hidden in heaven where Christ is. This was the early apostasy of Israel. They connected with that against which God was, His own Name (Exodus 32:5)! They pretended they were holding a “feast to Jehovah” at the moment they were canonizing the work of their own hands! But God saw and understood this. His wrath was against it; and the intense expression of His anger we must not lessen.
Consider the feeling which is at present in the heart of God against all that is professedly in the wilderness for His sake, yet, which has “sat down to eat and to drink,” (1 Corinthians 10:7). Do not forget what the relation of the Name of God is to all that which attempts to misrepresent the character of His “holiness.” Nothing is more fearful than this. Was the molten calf really like Jehovah and His glory? Yet man’s thought of God now is really distant from what God and Christ really are! But the voice of “intercession” was heard in Moses. When the evil was deepest and the wrath of God according to “holiness” was pouring on it, at that moment we find an intimation of that which is the only reason why mercy and grace can continue towards such a world as this. There is a voice of “intercession;” found typically in Moses then, but in Jesus now; and thus a light is thrown on the intensity of the darkness because of Christ.
God says, (Exodus 32:7) “Thy people have corrupted themselves;” but when Moses speaks, he says “Thy people,” (Exodus 32:11). There is the apprehension of “faith;” that there was in this people a relation to God.
God not infrequently by His words tries the faith of His servants, to see if they have wisdom enough to apprehend what His real relations of blessing are, (Matthew 15:24). If Moses had not had sufficient faith for this; if he had said “They are my people,” do you suppose he would then have felt any encouragement to intercede? Would not the words of intercession have died upon his lips? But he was not accustomed to think of Israel as connected with himself, but with the living God, and there was his comfort; and on that ground he made “intercession.”
Moses reminds God of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, (Exodus 32:13). In that covenant of promise was certainty. It was not dependent on condition. God said “I will bless thee;” and Sinai itself could not abrogate that covenant.
. . . Moses interceded not in vain; and since then how many have been God’s mercies to Israel! Instructions have been given from which we ourselves are profiting. If God had not continued to work among them, where would our blessing be? If Jesus had not come, if the Apostles had not taught, how should we have been brought in? But, God went on in a work of mercy towards His people for which we shall thank Him for ever.
Exodus 32:17-18. Nothing is more blessed than when the people of God can say “they are overcoming their foes.” And are there no occasions when they can say that; when they have conquered themselves or something that should be conquered for the Lord’s sake; when they have fought the good fight and the voice of triumph resounds? This is joy to the ear of the Lord. Or, if they “cry” because of being overcome. If Moses had heard the cry of distress to the Lord because their enemies were pressing hard on them, even that would have been a joy and pleasure to his ear. Moses heard neither of these, but, the voice of singing. He heard the sound of evil revelry in the wilderness, in the camp of those who were separated from Egypt that they might not have Egyptian revelry, but might stand as those who were advancing from Egypt to their rest! And when Moses saw this idolatry—the moment his eye was fixed upon it—he dropped the tables, (Exodus 32:19)!
Whilst he was above—thinking of God—he was able to intercede; but, when he saw the real circumstances below, his self-possession failed. This teaches us where, on such occasions, to look for strength. When we look at the circumstances alone, they are so depressing that they must overset us, and we shall not retain the calmness of soul which is necessary if we seek to act for God. To look at the power of God which is above circumstances is the only thing to give calmness. The falling of the Tables was no doubt a significant type. What would the Tables of the Law do, if they were made the means of bringing into blessing? Could we stand on the ground of fulfilling that Covenant entirely? Well indeed that the Tables should be shivered to atoms, for they are not our “hope.” Our “Hope” is in One Who was able to bear the “curse” of those broken Tables. Sin broke them, and the “curse” must be borne. Christ bore it and, in the title of Him as having borne it, we can say “rest is secured to us apart from our obedience to those Tables which our sin shivered.” When we realize this Truth we can look calmly and though we see that most holy thing shivered by our sin, we can give God thanks. When this is humbly done, not in proud carelessness of spirit, then the soul is in the true atmosphere of blessing. When Moses came into the camp we find thoughts of holiness applied to all that was there. The Levites were commanded to slay, (Exodus 32:26-27), and destruction and bloodshed were seen in the camp! At the present moment God is not exercising these judgments; they are reserved; and we look to the future hour when, the true Moses—the Lord Jesus Christ—will return for the application of those principles of judgment to everything which stands in a position to meet the stroke! This will be the first thing done. Destructive judgment will be exercised against all that is professedly of Christ, but which is found in this position of revelry! And is not the whole of Christendom slumbering on, so that similar judgment must meet the whole of this camp? And then it will be final, forever! The separated Tabernacle will be placed “without the camp;” and all who believe in Jesus will meet Him in the air. Then will be seen the true separation which belongs to the real people of God.
Why is this told us before? That it may warn us; that it may teach us what our place is to be. It is not outward indeed; but, is our separation to be less than that separation which will be manifested when we join the Lord in the air? That is the measure of our separation now. All who are “on the Lord’s side” answer to the tribe of Levi; and what is the character of their separation? They belong to Christ risen. They are not really of, though in the Apostate camp. Are those who believe in Jesus of this revelry and this idolatrous spirit which pervade Christendom from end to end? God forbid! Then, to what do they belong? To Him Who was once in the manger, but is now in His own glory! God is pleased to give them union with Him to call them with a glory which is of God; and therefore, when they meet Him changed and glorified, it will be only the manifestation of that blessing which God has already given, (1 John 3:2). He was able to take Paul into the third heaven, though his heart was proud and he needed a messenger of Satan to buffet him. Yet, “grace” had given him union with Christ! Thus, though we see it not with the outward eye, the Tabernacle is pitched “without the camp;” and that is the place where the people of God know and meet with Him. Does God dwell in the midst of the corruption around there to teach His people? In the reveling throng will you find these truths and comforts of God? No! You must quit their revelry: and, in proportion as you retire you will find the place where God dwells; where He instructs, comforts, teaches His people.
Moses went into the camp to “gather out” of the camp to a place of separation (Exodus 33:7). And is it not so now? Is no message of mercy to be given? There is the blessedness of judgment not being exercised immediately. If it were, no one could be saved: but, seeing it is postponed, there as opportunity for the exercise of mercy and of reconciliation. The character of Levi is here marked, for with Levi is always connected the character of “service.” The Levites were concerned with the sanctuary of God. They it was who carried the vessels, curtains, and boards of the Tabernacle and, where is happiness in such an hour as this, but to say whilst revelry is around, “I will seek to serve God; and, though feebly indeed, to commend certain principles to others; certain habits of thought opposed to those around.” Any heart that feels the doctrines of Christ to be precious; the vessels of the sanctuary to be precious and seeks to preserve them—to draw the contrast between the mercy of God as seen in the mercy seat with the Altar before it, and, bowing down before an image—such a heart would be like the Levites.
There are two classes in Christendom. Some who really draw nigh to the Mercy Seat; who stand at the Altar; who think of Christ and acceptance in Him; who worship God through Him: and, that other class—the reveling throng—who bow down to the idol! Where the former character of thought is seen, there God’s blessing truly rests; and when the Lord returns, everyone, who according to the truths of Redemption has sought to adhere to Him, will be gathered to Him, while all around in the earth will be the subjects of His destroying wrath.
Exodus 33:11. “Joshua departed not out of the Tabernacle.” A type of Christ as “leading into” the inheritance. Everything connected with Christ as now risen and entered into the heavenly inheritance for us; everything connected with Him as really and truly placing us there is connected with Joshua; and, in proportion as we see the corruption that prevails and retire from it, we shall find our hearts instructed in those truths connected with Christ as the true Joshua.
He rose, not for Himself but for His people. He is raised high above all principalities and powers but this place He has taken as the Head of His people. Though He was pleased to humble Himself for us to the manger and even to the Cross, yet He is also exalted for us, to take us into a glory which “eye bath not seen.” “Our life is hid with Christ in God,” and He will put forth His exceeding power to take us into His heavenly mansions. Earth and Heaven are the inheritance of His people for “he that overcometh shall inherit all things.”
But, where were those truths connected with Joshua found? “Without the camp;” and those who wished to learn them must go “without the camp” to find God’s own presence and glory; those things which were to make Israel glad (Exodus 33:9-10).
We find it in measure now. There are two things. First: that they all left Egypt. All were separated by the cloud and by the sea. Yet even they, thus separated, so went astray that a second separation was needed. So now: those professedly sanctified in God’s Name are different from the dark Pagan world. It is needful not only to separate from the darkness of entire ignorance of God, but also from that which, having had guidance from God has misused it and gone astray; “astray” till Christ comes! Then there will no longer be these sorrowful words. God will set His people in a place where they will not fail. “Thy people shall all be righteous, the branch of My planting.”
Israel in the past dispensation have failed: the professing people of God in this dispensation have failed: both have gathered round a false estimate of the character of God—have cast the character of God in their own mould and graven it according to their own devices—and that they worship! And this will not he interfered with till Christ comes like Moses from the Mount!
Three things we have to watch. First; that our thoughts of what the Apostasy of Christendom is should not fail. Secondly; that we should seek to be in a separate place, especially as to the estimates and judgments of our souls individually before God; and more and more as to the position we assume. Thirdly; that we should not assume a pitiless position: but remember, that we are to he “shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” He will not break the “bruised reed” i.e., wherever Christ sees anything broken and bruised; not having the stubbornness of the “oak of Bashan” He will not break it; “nor quench the smoking flax.” His heart yearns over it and cherishes it!
Connect the stern apprehensions of God’s holiness with this present ministration of the lowly, humble grace of the Lord Jesus; not to neutralize one by the other, but to combine them. This will enable us to act for God; not as casting a veil over evil, but as remembering “the Blood of the Lamb.” Thus, we wait for the coming hour when all sorrow will end; and, connected with that Tabernacle will be only thoughts of thanksgiving and praise.