Day 49 - Exodus 32-33 and Psalm 49

 Julie

The people lose faith since Moses has been gone so long and they build and start and worshipping false idols. This angers both God and Moses, and Moses breaks the tables in anger. The people seem to understand that they did something wrong, but also make excuses for their wrongdoing. 

This Psalm is asking everyone to pay attention and reminds people that everyone has a common outcome.

 

Michelle

It's interesting how angry the Lord gets in the Old Testament.  It makes reference in this passage.  The people lose faith very quickly, which is relatable, but I am still surprised by how quickly.  We, as a people, are so prone to it if we aren't shown daily.  I can see how that is frustrating to the Lord.  But it still leaves questions about it.  And Aaron is supposed to be leading these people while Moses is away but he caves so easily.  This is especially surprising considering what they experienced when they left and made the journey to where they are now.  It's not every day that you see the sea parted so that you may cross it safely while running from your enemy.  That alone should have provided enough to sustain people, in my opinion.  I was also surprised when Moses tells the people that God wants them to go thru the camp killing their brother, friend, and neighbor.   And then tells them they committed a great sin and he must go make atonement for it.  He speaks of the gold idol, but what of the murder he instructed them to commit?  I find this a bit disturbing and don't understand it.

The psalm says to me that no matter your station in life it all ends the same and you can't take your riches with you when you die, we are all the same in the end.  It also says, God will redeem me from the realm of the dead, which makes me think that as long as I don't idolize or stand in awe of those who are in awe of themselves or flaunt their wealth, then God will take us to himself once  we are gone from this world.  The reminds me of the world today, which idolizes a lot of celebrity or the wealthy of the world.  Their focus is on the wrong thing and as long as that is the case they will die like everyone else not knowing the place of God or being drawn to him in the end.  But if you maintain your focus on God, you will have eternal life in his kingdom.