Yesterday I spoke from Exodus 32-34 and asked the church to let this story challenge their preconceived notions of what God is like. No matter how you slice it, this is a bizarre story that can’t be easily categorized or tidily summed up.

This story shows that while God’s primary personality characteristic is not wrathful anger, God is not a pushover either. Nor is he a dispassionate judge exercising his legal rights; his emotions are very much involved. God is not quick to extend forgiveness in this story. That bothered me at first, but then I realzied that if forgiveness is easy, then sin is not that big a deal. Imagine how you would feel if you caught your spouse in bed with someone else—on your honeymoon. That’s what’s going on in Exodus 32. God reacts like a jilted lover trying to recover from the ultimate betrayal.

I love the way Moses talks God down from wiping out Israel. He has to work pretty hard to get God to step back into the covenant. Today I realized that Moses’ boldness with God in Exodus 32 and 33 is not something new. He was equally bold in Exodus 3 and 4 when he told God that he didn’t want the job of leading Israel to freedom. In both instances, God gave into Moses’ argument. The way I read it, God’s decision to name Aaron as Moses’ partner was a concession to Moses’ hesitancy to appear before Pharoah.

So I ask you what I asked the congregation yesterday: How does this story challenge your image of God?

And another thing: When we read this story we usually say, “I can’t believe Israel did that! They were at the Red Sea and still they started worshipping an idol. I would never do that!” Why do we think we’re better than the ancient Israelites? We act as if the Red Sea miracle would keep us from sinning. If the Red Sea didn’t keep Israel from stupidity, why do we think it would work such magic on us?