??What would you do if you saw a mountain covered with billowing smoke and fire？Would you run toward it or away？??In Exodus 19：18 the Bible says, And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire：and the smoke... ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
??The people of Israel were camped at the foot of this mountain, and when they saw this terrible sight, they trembled and were afraid. God’s Word said there were also thunderings and lightnings coming from Mount Sinai, so you can believe the people of Israel were not getting anywhere near that mountain!
??But what is this？! There go Moses and Joshua walking up into that mountain!! Did they die？No, nor did they get burned. They were covered by a cloud on that mountain that looked like fire to the people of Israel. Joshua stayed part-way on the mountain, but Moses went on alone up the mountain. Exodus 24：18 tells us And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, ...up into the mount：and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights. There God gave Moses instructions on many things. Exodus 31：18 says, And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of stone, written with the finger of God. God had already spoken His laws, but now with His own finger, He was writing them on two tablets of stone.
??While this wonderful meeting between God and Moses was going on, down in the camp the people of Israel were also having a meeting. Moses had been gone for 40 days, and they were growing impatient. The Bible tells us they came to Aaron, whom Moses had left in charge of the people. “Come on now, make us gods to go before us, because we don’t know what has happened to Moses.” MAKE a god？" Doesn’t that sound very foolish, boys and girls？The true and living God MAKES us, we don’t MAKE God!!
??Yes, their idea was very foolish, and very sinful. Do you remember the Ten Commandments God had just spoken to the people in Exodus 20？The first one says,
??I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before Me. The second one is,
??You shall not make unto you any graven image.
??What a foolish and sinful thing the people of Israel did when they demanded that Aaron make them a god. I am so ashamed to tell you that Aaron immediately set about to do exactly that!
??Aaron told the people to break off their golden earrings and bring them to him. Then he took all that gold and melted it down, forming it into a statue of a calf. He even built an altar in front of it. Oh, I shudder to hear what Aaron then told the people：These are your gods, O Israel, that brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Tomorrow we will have a special feast to honor the Lord.”
??And yes, early the next morning, the people were up and ready to start the evil, awful celebration. They brought offerings and laid them on the altar before the golden calf. Then they began to sing and dance, to eat and drink and do all sorts of sinful things. Do you think that golden calf nodded and smiled and joined in？Of course not! We know statues have eyes, but can they see？Ears, but can they hear？A mouth, but can it speak？??That golden calf didn’t know or see anything. But the true and living God sure knew and saw!
??High up on Mount Sinai God spoke to Moses, “ Moses, get down there; for your people which you brought out of Egypt have corrupted themselves：They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them：they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed to it. Why they are even saying, “These are the gods that brought you out of Egypt.” I have seen this people, and they are a stiffnecked people. Now let me alone, Moses, that my anger may have its way. I will destroy them and take you and make of you a great nation.”
??But Moses interceded for the people of Israel. He begged God not to destroy Israel. The Lord listened to Moses and did not destroy them. Moses then started down the mountain to the camp of Israel. In his hands he carried the two tablets of stone on which God Himself had written the commandments. Perhaps it was just as Moses was meeting Joshua part way down that Joshua said, “There is a noise of war in the camp.” But as Moses listened, he said, “No, it isn’t the noise of war, it’s the noise of people singing that I hear.”
??Sure enough, as Moses and Joshua came within sight of the camp, there they saw the golden calf and the people of Israel singing, dancing, and doing many evil, ungodly things. Overcome with great anger at the awfulness of Israel’s sin, Moses cast the tablets of stone at the foot of the mountain where they broke in pieces. Can you imagine how quickly that evil party ended, as the people saw their leader’s angry face'swiftly Moses acted. He grabbed up that golden calf and burned it in the fire. The Bible tells us Moses then ground it into powder, sprinkled the powder on the water and made the people of Israel drink it. Then Moses lashed out at Aaron, “What did these people do to you that you have brought this great sin upon them？” Aaron acted very cowardly. He tried to excuse and cover up his sin with a big lie. “ I threw gold into the fire, and out came this calf.”
??Moses went and stood in the gate of the camp. “Who is on the Lord’s side？” he called, “Let him come to me.” The people must decide. Would they do as the nations around them who made and worshipped idols？Or would they follow the true and living God？??Moses was giving the people of Israel a very serious choice. The people began to gather here and there. Those who came to Moses he then sent to punish those who stood against the Lord. 3, 000 men lost their lives that day. Moses then urged the people to consecrate their lives to the Lord. Consecrate means to give yourself completely to the Lord. After all, He is the only true and living God, and He deserves all our worship and praise.
??The next day Moses interceded for the people. “Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, ” Moses told the Lord. But then he asked the Lord to “forgive their sin---; and if not, blot me...out of your book which you have written.” But the Lord answered Moses, “Whosoever has sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.” Moses was a great leader and he had a great love for the people, but he was not the one who could take away the sins of the people.
??Many years later God did send Someone into the world who would not only love the people of Israel, but would greatly love the whole world! It was Jesus, God’s perfect Son, the only One Who could intercede for us and cause God to forgive our sins! Why would God listen to Him？Because He willingly came and took our punishment for sin. Because of Jesus’ great love for us, He suffered being despised and rejected, having his beard plucked out, being spit upon and then being cruelly nailed to a big wooden cross.
??From that cross Jesus looked down on a crowd of people who mocked Him. Yet He cried out, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” The foolish, sinful people did not realize they were murdering the One Who gave them life and Who could blot their sin out. Jesus died, was buried and rose again 3 days later. Now He’s in Heaven. Acts 3：19 says, “Repent and be converted that your sins may be blotted out.”
??When you turn from your sin and believe on the Lord Jesus, your sins are blotted out. That means they’re gone! And your name will be in God’s special book, called The Lamb’s Book of Life. Your sins will be blotted out, but not your name!
??Moses really loved the people, but he was not perfect like the Lord Jesus. Moses could have no say in who would be in God’s book or who would be blotted out. The sin and rebellion of the people caused plagues to come upon the people. But God was still very merciful and gracious, for He had Moses set up the tabernacle, or tent church, outside the camp. There the people could meet with God and offer sacrifices for sin.
??Later Moses was instructed by God to cut out two more stone tablets and bring them up into the mountain. God again wrote His commandments on the tablets.
??Yes, the people had sinned, but God had not changed nor had His commandments changed! He is still today the same true and living God Who deserves our worship and praise! His commandments have not changed and we should obey them!
??小朋友，如果你看见满山的烟雾和火，你会怎样呢？你会向着山的方向去还是转身跑开呢？
??在出埃及记第19章18节说："西乃全山冒烟，因为神在火中降于山上，山的烟气上腾，如烧窑一般，遍山大大地震动。以色列百姓的营就安在山脚下，当他们看见这可怕的景象，都吓得发颤。神在圣经上说，在西乃山上还有雷轰和闪电，我想，以色列百姓根本不能靠近这山。发生了什么？摩西和约书亚起来，上了神的山。他们会不会死？他们不但没有死，也没有被火烫伤。他们被云彩遮住，在山下的以色列百姓看来，那云彩象火一样。约书亚等在半山，摩西一个人上了山顶。
??出埃及记第24章18节告诉我们："摩西进入云中上山，在山上四十昼夜。在那里，神吩咐摩西许多事情。出埃及记第31章18节说："神在西乃山和摩西说完了话，就把两块法版交给他，是神用指头写的石版。"神已经说出他的律法，现在，他亲自用指头写在两块石版上。
??正当摩西在山上与神会面的时候，在山脚下安营的以色列人也在开会。摩西已经离开40天，他们开始不耐烦起来。摩西走的时候，把一切事托付给亚伦。以色列人来到亚伦面前，说："起来！为我们做神像，可以在我们前面引路，因为领我们出埃及地的那个摩西，我们不知道他遭了什么事。"什么？做神像？这是不是听起来很可笑呢？是这位又真又活的神创造了我们，我们怎么能造神呢？是的！他们的想法非常愚蠢，而且是充满罪恶。
??你还记得神给以色列人的十条诫命吗？第一条就是：我是你的神，除了我以外，你不可有别的神。第二条是：不可为自己雕刻偶像；不可跪拜那些像；也不可侍奉它，因为我是你的神。以色列人要求亚伦为他们做一个神像实在是一件愚蠢罪恶的事。可是，亚伦竟然马上照着做了。亚伦让他们去摘下他们妻子、儿女耳上的金环，拿来给他。然后，他把金子烧化，铸了一只牛犊。他甚至还在牛犊面前筑坛，且宣告说："以色列啊，这是领你出埃及地的神。明日要向神守节。"
??第二天清早，百姓起来，开始了他们的庆祝。他们所作的实在满了罪恶。他们对着金牛犊献祭，然后，就唱歌跳舞，吃喝玩耍，做了很多有罪的事。你认为金牛犊会向他们点头微笑吗？当然不会。我们知道偶像虽然有眼睛，但它们能看见吗？有耳朵，但它们能听见吗？有嘴巴，但它们能讲话吗？金牛犊根本没有感觉，又不能看见，不能听见，也不能说话。但是这位又真又活的神知道一切，也看见一切！
??在西乃山顶，神对摩西说："摩西，下山去吧！因为你的百姓，就是你从埃及地领出来的，已经败坏了。他们快快偏离了我所吩咐的道，为自己铸了一只牛犊，向它下拜献祭。他们甚至说：'以色列啊，这就是领你出埃及地的神。'"这百姓真是硬着颈项的百姓。你且由着我，我要向他们发烈怒，将他们灭绝，使你的后裔成为大国。"但是，摩西为着以色列百姓向神恳求，不要灭绝他们。神听了摩西的恳求，就没有这样做。
??摩西下山，回到以色列营中。他手里拿着两块法版，上面有神亲手写的诫命。摩西在半山与约书亚会面，约书亚一听见百姓呼喊的声音，就对摩西说："在营里有争战的声音。"摩西说："这不是人打仗的声音，我所听见的，乃是人歌唱的声音。"当摩西和约书亚挨近营前的时候，就看见牛犊，又看见人唱歌，跳舞，做很多有罪的事。摩西就非常非常生气，他把两块版扔在山下摔碎了。你能不能想象得出，当以色列人看见摩西的烈怒，他们的歌舞很快停息下来。摩西将他们所铸的牛犊用火焚烧。又把它磨得粉碎，撒在水面上，叫以色列人喝。然后，摩西对亚伦说："这百姓向你做了什么？你竟使他们陷在大罪里！"
??亚伦这时候象个懦夫，他试图找借口来掩盖他的罪。他说："我只是把金子扔在火中，这牛犊便出来了。"摩西站在营门，说："凡属神的，都要到我这里来！"这时候，百姓必须做一个决定。他们是象他们周围的国民一样拜自己所造的偶像呢？还是跟随又真又活的神？摩西给了以色列百姓一个严肃的选择。人们有的到摩西那里聚集，有的聚集在另一处。摩西让那些来跟从他的人，去惩罚那些不跟从神的人。那一天，百姓中被杀的约有三千。摩西让那些跟从神的人把自己归给神为圣。归给神为圣就是完全地把自己献给神。因为他是又真又活的神，他配得我们一切的敬拜和赞美。
??第二天，摩西为百姓在神面前恳求：这百姓犯了大罪，倘或你肯赦免他们的罪......不然，求你从你所写的册上涂抹我的名。"神对摩西说："谁得罪我，我就从我的册上涂抹谁的名。"虽然摩西是一个伟大的领袖，他也爱他的百姓，但是他不能除去百姓的罪孽。
??许多年以后，神差遣一个人来到世上，他不但爱以色列百姓他也爱世上所有的人。他就是耶稣，神完美的儿子，只有他能够为我们祷告，并使神原谅我们的罪。为什幺听他的呢？因为耶稣爱我们，他自愿来承担对罪的惩罚。他被人厌弃，被人拒绝，被残忍地钉在十字架上。
??从十字架上，耶稣看见嘲笑他的人群。但是，他说：父啊！赦免他们，因为他们所作的，他们不晓得。那些愚昧，罪恶的人们没有意识到他们所杀的乃是那一位赐给他们生命并能赦免他们的罪的神。耶稣曾经死了，被埋葬，在三天以后又复活了，现在他在天上。
??使徒行传第3章19节说："所以你们当悔改归正，使你们的罪得以涂抹。"当你离开罪，并相信主耶稣，你的罪就被涂抹了。你的名字也会写在神的册子里，那册子叫羔羊的生命册。
??摩西虽然很爱他的百姓，但是他不象主耶稣那样完美无瑕，所以摩西没有权力决定谁的名字会被记在神的册上，谁的名字会被抹去。虽然罪和对神的叛逆导致灾难降在人的身上。但是神是有恩典有怜悯的神，他让摩西在以色列营外设立会幕，以色列百姓可以在那里亲近神，献上赎罪祭。后来，神叫摩西又准备了两块石板带到山上。神再一次把他的诫命写在石板上。
??是的，人虽然犯了罪，但是神和他的诫命从没有改变。直到今天，他还是那位又真又活的神，配得我们的敬拜和赞美。我们也要遵守他的诫命。
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