Introduction
Good day to all! Let us delve into the thirty-second chapter of Exodus. Many find this chapter difficult to read, why is that? Because its content is hard to interpret. For instance, is Jehovah a God who slays? Did Moses and the Levites commit murder? Indeed, they did! This is why many churches shy away from this passage. We can summarise this chapter as "These people committed a great sin," do you agree with this theme?
My brothers and sisters, we must ponder this. This is no ordinary sin, but a grave one. The chapter begins by recording that the people fashioned an idol. Why did they do so? Because Moses had not descended from the mountain. A day, two days, ten days, half a month passed, and they waited for a long time, yet Moses did not appear. In fact, had they waited just a day or two longer, Moses would have returned, and the problem would have been resolved.
The First Great Sin: Idol Worship
When the people saw that Moses delayed coming 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.” (Exodus 32:1)
Not only is idol worship a very serious sin, but leadership compromise is also a grave offense. The Bible weakly records that the Israelites came to Aaron and said they did not know what had happened to Moses. But in reality, this is called forcing the hand of the leader. Do you know what that means? It means pressuring the leader. In such a situation, it depends on whether the leader can stand firm. The Israelites' means of forcing the issue were extraordinary. A group of them surrounded Aaron, demanding that he make them an idol. In this situation, Aaron was compelled to create an idol.
My brothers and sisters, you must understand that there is no mention of elections or democracy in the Bible. It only records that God appointed Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses was not elected by the people; he was appointed by God. Moses is a remarkable man. If Moses had been there, the Israelites would not have dared to treat him in this way. The reason Moses can serve God is that he takes a very clear stand on matters of principle and matters related to God's kingdom. He always stands on God's side, but Aaron lacks this ability.
The issue of idol worship guides us in building the church, so that we know where the church should go. Any church that is not built according to God's army, God's heart, and God's will, is building a golden calf. We see that many people do not die elsewhere, but at the hand of Jehovah God. Why? Because they love to build golden calves. I tell you, I do not care about these things. Do you think I have ever cared about anyone since I came into this world? I do not want to give face to this person or that person. If they point their fingers at me, hit me, or push me, okay, I accept it.
What does it mean to build a golden calf? There may not be a golden calf in the church, but the direction the church is taking is not the direction God wants to lead them into the promised land. If you read from Genesis to Revelation, how can you not understand God's heart? Many people like to boast that they keep and follow God's word, but have you truly kept and followed it? A few days ago, a leader in our church received a call from someone asking our leader to pray for him because he was sick. Our leader asked, "Doesn't your pastor also do healing and deliverance?" He said, "Yes." Then he asked why he didn't seek prayer from his own pastor. It's not that we want to push him away; we don't usually fuss about these things when serving people.
But the next question was quite amusing. He said his pastor was away on a trip. When asked where he had gone, he said he had gone to another place to hold a healing and deliverance conference. We don't know if what he said was true or false. Holding a healing and deliverance conference is a good thing, but it's strange that the pastor would run off to hold a conference outside when there are so many people in his own church who need ministry. The funniest thing is that this person also said that their pastor's healing and deliverance conference was not for internal people. I found this very strange. What kind of argument is that?
I tell you, many pastors who are in the church circle probably know the unwritten rules of the church. One pastor told me that he and I were going in different directions. I focus on healing and deliverance, while he focuses on the word of God. This sounds good, but what does the word of God say? It's impossible to argue about who focuses on healing and deliverance and who focuses on the word of God. I can only remain silent. There are many other strange arguments, but where exactly are the church leaders leading the church?
Exodus is about God's army coming out of Egypt. If you are not building the church according to God's army, that church is building a golden calf. How does God's kingdom come? Jesus said, "If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." What good is memorising the Bible? If the church focuses on the family, the family becomes the church's golden calf. If the church cares about social transformation, social transformation becomes the church's golden calf. In this situation, you must know that idol worship is a great sin. This is not a joke; this is a matter of principle!
If you see confusing things again, don't be confused. There's nothing to be confused about. When you see many pastors in the church getting cancer, don't think it's a blessing; it's a curse. What do we live for? If we don't live for God, we are following idols! If you have an idol in your heart, can you remove it? People love to make idols. Why do they love to make idols? Because idols listen to them. If you want to worship the Almighty God who created the universe, you must listen to His words. But people don't like to listen to God's words. They like to listen to their own words, and then the devil leads you astray according to your own desires.
The Second Great Sin: Compromise of Leaders
Leadership compromise is a very serious sin! You must think our church is quite amazing! A few days ago, a helper received a new person who asked how to join our church because he felt our church was amazing after listening to the pastor's sermons and Bible studies! The helper replied that he could arrange for a pastor to lead him and see if he passed the homework. This is also a two-way selection. He can find a church, but he can't just come to any church he wants. I have seen many situations in churches where group leaders are afraid of members, district leaders are afraid of group leaders, and pastors are afraid of district leaders. But even in the years when our church was not victorious, we did not have this problem.
I often say to my brothers and sisters, including our co-workers, "If you are willing to follow me, follow me well and build a victorious church. If you are not willing to follow me, go wherever you want. I will never stop you." Even the leaders I have put a lot of effort into serving, when they act foolishly, I say very harsh words to them. I say, "If you are willing to follow me, follow me well. If you are not willing, get out of here!" There is no compromise in us. If anyone among us wants to complain about the leaders, you don't have to come the next day. Because you are not qualified to complain about them. They are all trained by me. If you want to complain, just complain about me!
There is no such thing as inverted authority here. Even if I am the only one left in the church, I will still serve my God! Our district leaders are not afraid of group leaders, and group leaders are not afraid of the people below them. If you are afraid, that is your own business. This is not our culture. Why? Inverted authority is a great sin! Many churches are willing to be ruled from behind the curtain. Don't think I am discerning good and evil. I am saying that inverted authority is a great sin. Inverted authority is a very serious sin. Never develop the habit of challenging authority.
A pastor in a church found his senior pastor and said, "Pastor, I did the work you arranged, but your wife is always bossing me around. Should I listen to you or your wife?" The pastor said, "Listen to my wife!" In fact, this is inverted authority, so this work cannot be done. If his wife can arrange things well and be the top leader, that is also possible. But his wife doesn't do any work at all, nor does she arrange things. You say she doesn't work, but she does a lot, such as interfering with the work of the members, and they still feel very proud!
Inverted authority is a great sin! If you observe carefully, are there many problems in churches with inverted authority? I have observed it and found that inverted authority is a great sin. God is very angry and very disgusted with this situation. How can the church fight in this way? Why does the church pay so much attention to the family? Because the pastor's wife pays attention to the family, so the pastor doesn't dare not pay attention to the family, and as a result, the whole church has to pay attention to the family! If you pay attention to the family, when you draw cards for everyone, you will definitely draw that God regretted setting Saul as king. Saul was afraid of his subordinates, but the authority set by God cannot be reversed!
In some churches, some wealthy people who don't work just donate money and then sit on the bench of power. In our church, people who work have the right to speak, and people who don't work listen to the arrangements! So leaders cannot compromise! A long time ago, someone came to my office and said, "Pastor, you should be a pastor like this!" This brat, he wanted to commit suicide yesterday! As a result, after I just ministered to him, he came to teach me how to be a pastor. Someone also asked me, "Pastor, when will we have elections?" I am not interested in elections. All the leaders I serve among us, I have shaped them year after year, and it has taken a lot of effort, and they also feel that I am very patient. So my brothers and sisters must know that serving is our qualification.
Everyone should gradually know why I don't allow inverted authority and don't allow authority to be reversed. That is so that everyone can enter into God's heart and receive God's grace. Moses led the Levites to kill many people, and later God killed all six hundred thousand Israelites in the wilderness. This is not a joke! I was thinking, shouldn't I be the one choosing you? When is it your turn to choose me? Everyone must know that someone will definitely discern good and evil when I say this, but it doesn't matter. Someone said, "What if you are wrong?" If I am wrong, God will take care of it. I have authority above me.
And 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.” So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. (Exodus 32:2-3)
Aaron was forced to give in. The Israelites surrounded him and asked him to make an idol. If he didn't make it, they would take his life. Then Aaron compromised and asked them to bring all the gold, including the gold earrings they wore on their ears, because these were the things they valued most. Aaron thought that if he said this, everyone would be unwilling to take out the gold and give up making the golden calf. But to my surprise, these people paid an absolute price to make the idol and actually took out all the gold. Why don't they pay the price to worship the true God?
And 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!” (Exodus 32:4)
Can the golden calf speak? It can't speak. So my brothers and sisters must know! Whose name is this in name only? It's all God's name. Is this the church of Jesus Christ? It's not at all.
When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.” (Exodus 3:5)
It's not very interesting to make an idol and celebrate a festival to the Lord, is it? For example, the recent Easter and Good Friday, Easter made an Easter egg, do you think it's nonsense? It's all nonsense. My brothers and sisters must know that taking out gold to pay the price is useless and cannot prove that gold is not an idol.
Those people want to build the church into a family, to influence the family, to influence the society, to show God's glory in the home, to show God's glory in the workplace, and to show God's glory in the community. They also pay a lot of price! They also donated gold and silver, and celebrated festivals to the Lord, all in the name of God, but doing things that God did not want them to do. To this day, I don't know why they do this.
Why do people want to build a church that is not victorious? Why do people want to make an idol to lead the Israelites forward? I don't know why they do this. To this day, I am still very surprised, surprised that the Israelites' brains are growing on their butts? They don't read the Bible carefully, and as a result, they become a playful church.
The Third Great Sin: Playing
And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. (Exodus 32:6)
I hate things in the church that are playful. I don't know if you hate them or not, but I think what's so fun about this thing? I was trained to read from childhood, and I don't like those very childish things. Of course, this is my personal preference. What problems can childish things solve? They are all adults, and they like to play kindergarten games. They call it ice-breaking. Many people have been together for ten years, so what ice are they breaking?
There are also some churches that organize happy groups, happy families, family first, etc. Although it looks good, happy, and fun. But when you get cancer, everyone runs away, leaving only me there. The pastor is also gone, and the brothers and sisters only say, "I will pray for you." They only know how to play, and as a result, the church becomes a club. If the church is built into a club, is it a place to fight? It's good enough not to be beaten by ghosts.
Do you know what a carnival is? The English word for carnival is Carnival, which means revelry. How is this carnival translated? The front one is called Carnal, so Carnival is translated as carnal indulgence. If we train an army to indulge in the flesh all day long in Carnival, can it become God's army? Can we fight spiritual battles if we play all day long? That's a great sin! Anyone who cannot fight spiritual battles and cannot trample on the devil and the enemy, if you continue to Carnival, it will become a great sin, and God will surely hold you accountable for your sin! You don't even know how you died in the end. This is not a joke.
The most important thing for a pastor to do is to bring God's people to the promised land like Moses. It is a very serious sin for the church to become a place to play. There is no playing in our church. What's so fun? It's not like we are kindergarten children. If you are a kindergarten child and play very childish things, don't come here. This is a place to train people to fight spiritual battles in a serious way. We are recently training everyone to do healing and deliverance, and there is also a group of people training people how to study the Bible and how to read the Bible. Anyway, we have a lot of ministries and courses. My goal is very simple: people who get cancer can get better when they come, and the flesh can be subdued!
And he said, “It is not the sound of shouting for victory, or the sound of the cry of defeat, but the sound of singing that I hear.” (Exodus 32:18)
They saw the golden calf and danced there, but did the army of Jehovah God come out of Egypt to dance? You can dance occasionally, but if you make a golden calf and dance there all day long, who will you fight when you fight spiritual battles? You can't fight at all. So playing, singing, and dancing are all harmful things, and they are all great sins! Then you say that our church is so boring? Then you find a place where you can dance. This place is only for dealing with the flesh. When you have dealt with your flesh, you will be happy in your spirit, and you will be prosperous in your spirit.
The Fourth Great Sin: Licentiousness, Indulgence
And when Moses saw that the people had broken loose (for Aaron had let them break loose, to their shame among their enemies), (Exodus 32:25)
People like to be licentious. The licentiousness of church members and the indulgence of church leaders, to their shame among their enemies, is a joke in the spiritual world. These are all great sins. What is licentiousness? It means doing whatever you want. Everyone must know that if you are a member, licentiousness is a very serious sin. Today you want to do something, tomorrow you want to do something, without vision, without dreams, and without goals. Anyway, you have retired, so just live like this! I can tell you, you can't live well like that!
A few days ago, I went to dinner with a friend. There was a chef at the place where we ate. He was a Peranakan. When Zheng He led the Chinese to the West, he landed in Malaysia, and later married and had children with the locals. The male children were called Baba, and the female children were called Nyonya, which is collectively called Peranakan. The chef said that he was more than seventy years old and still had a lot of energy, and he was still working very hard every day. His idea is very similar to mine, that is, I want to do serious things when I am alive, and constantly use our energy to do things.
Licentiousness is a great sin. If you are licentious and I indulge you, I am committing a great sin. So the church should train people like an army of God. If the members of the church are licentious and the leaders of the church indulge them, it will become a joke to the devil in the spiritual world. I am really not exaggerating. When I cast out demons, the demons talk to me. I tell the demons to go out, but they don't go out. I ask them why they don't go out, and they say they have nowhere to go. They can't stay here with me even if they have nowhere to go. Then I tell them to go to a nightclub, but they don't go either. I ask them where they want to go, and they say they want to go to church. This is troublesome. Of course, I don't care about this. I dare to say anything.
I ask them which church they want to go to? The demons laugh and say that there is a church full of farmers, because farmers have limited knowledge. I say then you go to that church, and they say no, because that church has already been defeated by them, and it's not interesting to go there. But there are also some churches that they don't go to. Of course, you don't have to believe the demons' words too much.
But then again, if we know a little more about that church, it's really the case. Why do they stay here with me? They think that even if they are defeated here, they will still have face when they go back! So this place will not become a joke in the spiritual world. This place is full of mighty warriors of God. Brothers and sisters, you must begin to desire to become mighty warriors of God. Licentiousness, singing, dancing, playing, and inverted authority cannot become mighty warriors. You must build the church according to the army of God.
In this world, many people with pursuits hear the name of our church and think it's good, and then after listening to the sharing and sermons of our church, they think it's even better. I also think it's good, but you must not be licentious.
And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. (Exodus 32:7)
Whenever God mentions the people of Israel, He feels ashamed! How good it is when our name is connected to God's name and God is not ashamed! Whenever God mentions the people of Israel, He feels ashamed, because these Israelites have corrupted themselves. Idol worship, compromise of leaders, playing, singing, dancing, licentiousness, and the leaders indulging them, finally it becomes corruption and a joke in the spiritual world. Whenever God mentions these things, He just wants to quickly clear the relationship and say that these are the people Moses brought out, because it's embarrassing to say it! It's like we raised a stupid son, and we feel embarrassed to say it! But what can we do? What if they are corrupted? God wants to blot out their name!
God Will Blot Out Their Names
And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. (Exodus 32:33)
Many times, the names of these people are blotted out by God, yet they still think they are serving Jehovah God, when in fact, they are serving their own wives. It is no joke when a person's name is blotted out by God. I have a rather clear understanding of reading the Bible. Some say, how can one manage God's church if one does not know how to manage one's own household? This is compromise, indulgence, a reversal of authority, and a great sin. What I am talking about is management, and I understand this matter very well! They think they have ascended to heaven, but they don't know if they have ascended to the eastern heaven or the western heaven. Generally, when people die, it is said that they have gone to the Western Paradise.
Brothers and sisters, we must keep our minds clear and never commit great sins. They made idols and still kept a feast to Jehovah, offering sacrifices and peace offerings, turning the army of Jehovah into a club. This is all corruption. Never let God be ashamed when He mentions you, or you will be in trouble.
God Will Avenge Their Sins
Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them. (Exodus 32:34)
This passage seems to be talking about leading them to a place to be punished. We must be clear-headed. Do you think God will not avenge? I tell you, many churches have become churches of Santa Claus. It is no joke when God avenges your sins. Never set up idols for yourselves, never be presumptuous, and always strictly keep and follow God's word. Do not twist God's word, and even more, do not do things according to your own will.
When did God ever care about family in the Bible? If you care about this life, your work, your family, your community, and not the kingdom of God, then in God's eyes, you have become a political prisoner. What are you doing mixed up in God's church? Are you an undercover agent or a spy? Are you trying to corrupt or to make a fool of yourself? God cares about His kingdom, and God wants to bring His people into His kingdom.
It is not enough that a person's name is blotted out by God; they must also be brought to the execution ground. Many pastors in churches seem to love God very much, but they encounter many things. Then you slowly ponder, these are all people who have walked themselves to the execution ground, caring only about the golden calf. Therefore, I dare not be presumptuous or indulgent. I can only say, God, have mercy! Let me keep Your word, Your statutes, Your ordinances, and Your commandments all my life, neither turning to the left nor to the right.
Jesus Christ came into this world to preach the gospel, heal the sick, and cast out demons. But others say no, it is I who emphasize healing and casting out demons, but in fact, I am emphasizing what the Lord Jesus emphasized. They also say they emphasize God's word, but in my opinion, they emphasize the golden calf. I can only say, God! If it is really not possible, then blot out my name and forgive them! Sometimes my heart is in tears. I really wish more people could understand God's will and really do not want to see them being brought to the execution ground by God.
I am doing my best to do things, although I really hate doing this, but I really wish people could know God's will. There is a saying that goes, "Baby's heart is bitter, but baby doesn't say it!" Why doesn't baby say it? Because baby can't say it, baby's heart is bitter. I really don't want these people to be brought to the execution ground. Do you think God doesn't kill people? God kills people.
About Three Thousand People Were Killed
And he said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. For Moses said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the Lord, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day. (Exodus 32:27-29)
Killing people is what God said. Can everyone understand this? I also find it difficult to understand, but that is the fact. We cannot kill people because they do not belong to God's army and do not mix in the church. If you don't mix in God's circle, then mix well in the world. Don't end up mixing in the church and being killed by God. That would be such a waste! Yesterday, they were still making golden calves, having carnivals, eating, drinking, playing, singing, and dancing! As a result, today God is attacking these people with all kinds of disasters. Brothers and sisters, if God kills someone, do not be surprised. Know that these are not God's people. From the perspective of God's kingdom, these people are all political prisoners in God's eyes, people who corrupt God's kingdom and spoil God's plan.
Summary
And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. (Exodus 32:25-26)
Brothers and sisters, I don't want to kill either. I can only say, whoever belongs to Jehovah God and is willing to run this road with me, let's come together. Whoever is not willing, let's not mix here. Don't mix around and end up with a golden calf. I tell you, God is very powerful. Whoever belongs to Jehovah, come to God. Then the sons of Levi gathered there, put their swords by their sides, and went in and out of the camp. All those who were still dancing, singing, playing, and worshipping the golden calf, as if they were worshipping God, were killed by God. They did not know how they died until they were about to die. They still thought they were worshipping Jehovah God.
Everyone open your eyes and see how many people really know that this is not worshipping Jehovah God. They really don't know, but they still say with great confidence, "Our church emphasizes family." Isn't this a tragedy? Why don't they know? The reason is simple: because they don't read God's word properly. Don't even talk about reading God's word. Even if they listen, they don't know where they heard it, and they don't know if they are listening to God's word or the devil's word.
There was a brother who had cancer. When I was serving him, I said, "This is a curse. Behind cancer is a very evil demon." Then he said, "I am a believer. Demons cannot live inside me." I don't know where he got such great faith. A few days later, when I served him again, I said, "Brother, you have believed in the Lord for thirty years. How many times have you read the Bible?" He said he read it according to the reading plan, but in fact, he didn't even finish reading the Bible once. This is really a tragedy!
Brothers and sisters, I am taking everyone to read God's word, the Bible, so seriously because I want you to understand what God's word is really saying. Never parrot others. Know that curses come from God. Do you think God doesn't kill people? God kills people just the same. God killed so many people in Egypt. Many of the world's plagues, disasters, and earthquakes come from God. God will judge this world so that the people of the world will know that their lives are not long and that they must seek God. It doesn't matter if one more or one less person dies in this world. Everyone must not add their own opinions to God. Some people really don't know, but some people deliberately don't know.
I asked a pastor, "What have you been busy with recently?" The pastor said, "I am no longer a pastor. I have finally put down this hard job." I see that his hard job has just begun! He said that their church only rests one day a week, so how can they not get sick? The problem is, how difficult is it for pastors to tell the truth now! Someone gets cancer, and they say a bunch of comforting words to them. Can this solve the problem? Isn't this offending God? Brothers and sisters must know that these people have committed a great sin. You must clearly know that making idols and not doing things according to God's word is a very serious sin.
May God bless everyone!
Thinking Questions
- Which of the following things are great sins in God's eyes? ( )
A. Making idols
B. Pastors compromising, authority reversed
C. Singing, dancing, and playing in church
D. The licentiousness of church members, the indulgence of leaders
E. Becoming mighty warriors and building the church according to God's army
- Where do disasters come from? (B)
A. Because of bad luck
B. From God
C. Natural disasters
- What are some "golden calves" in life? (A, B, C, D)
A. Carving idols
B. Building the church according to one's own will
C. Only reading God's word without doing healing and deliverance.
D. Loving to hold special meetings without doing practical things
E. Keeping and following God's word
- Why do people like to make idols? What should we be vigilant about after reading this chapter?