Showing posts with label Israelite. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Israelite. Show all posts

Understanding the Golden Calf Incident of Exodus 32

Understanding the Golden Calf Incident in Exodus 32 | Land of Honey
Aside from the Creation account, the golden calf incident is probably one of the most well-known tales from the writings of Moses, and we've seen it depicted in the Ten Commandments movie. 

The story of the golden calf is one of the most dramatic and significant parts of Scripture. Usually, it is presented to us as a willful rebellion against the Living God, with the Israelites purposefully breaking the Covenant. But I'm not sure that's what they intended.

And when Aaron saw the golden calf, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, "Tomorrow is a feast to YHWH." -Exodus 32:5

Moses had been gone a long time up the mountain, and the people started to get nervous. Aaron made a graven image and announced they would worship YHWH with it. Scripture indicates that the Israelites had every intention of continuing to worship the Living God, but this good intention was a great abomination. Why? Because YHWH expressly prohibited carving the likeness of anything that He created some twelve chapters earlier in Exodus 20:4. By shaping a cow out of gold the Israelites were in clear violation of the Covenant, but they still meant to worship YHWH.

Why does YHWH have a problem with carved images of creation? This is how the Egyptians worshipped the demonic entities they believed to be gods. The sphinxes, tombs, statues of pharaohs, and occult symbols - those legendary architectural achievements - were used to worship false gods. Who built them? Likely the Israelite slaves.

Exodus 1:13 says the Israelites worked with bricks and mortar. They build up the ungodly society of Egypt, likely building homes, palaces, granaries, and temples as well as the famous occult symbols of the land. So when they made a golden cow, they were just doing what they knew. As much as they may have desired freedom the Israelites harbored a certain amount of love for the only land they had ever known. They missed the food, and many audibly expressed that they wished they had stayed there for the rest of their lives. The calf wasn't build because they didn't love YHWH, but because they also loved Egypt.

"Their abominations were a result of their misplaced love." -Hosea 9:10b

Their abominations were a result of their misplaced love. -Hosea 9:10b | Land of Honey



The Israelites committed the abomination of the golden calf by misplacing their loved. That is a scary idea. Love is a buzzword in mainstream religion and their answer is usually, "just love" in response to any sort of difficulty or challenge. I don't want to disregard love at all, because it is a fruit of the Spirit, but Scripture also says there are certain things we shouldn't love (such as the things of this world), and sadly we have all seen women get hurt when they misplace their love in a man who doesn't reciprocate or is abusive. Bad things happen when love is misplaced. And we can misplace our love when it comes to serving YHWH.

YHWH desires to be worshipped in very specific ways. It is not okay to mix in tradition, man's doctrines, or church beliefs, even if we mean well. The Israelites meant well when they mixed in ungodly Egyptian traditions into their worship of YHWH, and broke the Covenant. YHWH was so angry He was ready to wipe them out entirely, but Moses successfully interceded on their behalf. When we disregard YHWH's instructions we end up building an evil culture.

I think that's why the Israelites pleaded to YHWH to help when they were enslaved. Not just because the physical burden of slavery was harsh (though it obviously was), but also because the Egyptians had forced them to build up something against YHWH. I think that was the worst part of their slavery. If you've read this far, I'm guessing you don't want to build something against YHWH either. That's why it's so important that we keep the commandments and do what He says! That's true if we have good intentions for not following His instructions too. We need to keep the commandments even if they don't make sense to us or other people say it's okay to break them. Aaron was a leader in Israel, and there he was telling people that worshipping the golden calf was really worshipping the Living God. Please note that YHWH wasn't letting the others off because they had followed the directions of a leader...He was angry with all of them. It's not enough to 'mean well' and do whatever we please. That's how the abomination of the golden calf happened. That's how corrupt world systems are forged. That's how lies get mixed in with truth. Don't misplace your love into traditions. Enough with building things against YHWH.

YHWH held all the Israelites accountable for the golden calf, even the ones who were just following Aaron. Understanding the Golden Calf Incident | Land of Honey



Israel: Overcoming with YHWH

When you hear Israel what comes to mind? The land along the Mediterranean in the Middle East or the those former Egyptian slaves wandering the desert are the typical answers for most of us. But originally Israel was a name for a person.

After wrestling through the night, Yahusha changed Jacob's name to Israel in Beresheet 32:28. In the Restoration Scriptures it reads like this,

And the Man said, your name shall no longer be called  Yaakov, but Yisrael: for as a sar you have power with Elohim and with men, and have prevailed.

In other words, you are now called Israel because you have power with YHWH and have overcome. YHWH helps you overcome.


Israel: Overcoming with YHWH | Land of Honey

Pin It

In Western culture names are given mostly for how they sound. The meaning of the name is secondary or not considered at all. But in Scripture names are given for the significance of what they mean. When women like Havah, Leah, Rachel, and Hannah give birth they tell us why they gave their children the names they did. The meaning of their names is significant.

A few name meanings in Scripture:

Yahudah - I will praise YHWH

Eliyahu - My God is YHWH

Yeremiyahu - Whom YHWH has appointed

Eliezer - YHWH helps

Yitzchak - Laughter

Micah - Who is like YHWH

Sarah - Princess

Shmuel - God heard

Moshe - To draw out

Yahusha - YHWH is salvation

Think for a minute the impact of getting called by one of these names. Would your life be different if every time someone spoke your name you were reminded that YHWH appointed you? How could your mom calling, "Come here My God is YHWH," sink that truth into your being? What was it like when people were whispering of Yahusha and literally saying things like "The one doing miracles is YHWH is salvation,"? We can see everyone on this list lived out their name. Sarah is the matriarch of all Israel. Moshe drew the people of Israel out of Egypt. Elijah's God was YHWH.

YHWH renamed Jacob Israel. YHWH chose to call the Hebrews Israel. Why?

Israel literally translates as "YHWH overcomes."

I love that. YHWH overcomes. YHWH overcomes evil.  YHWH overcomes religious lies and partial truths. YHWH overcomes my broken nature. YHWH overcomes demonic bondage. YHWH overcomes sin. YHWH overcomes anxiety. YHWH overcomes a corrupt and pagan world.

YHWH overcomes it all.

YHWH calls His people Israel. Not some of His people. Not the ones with a certain bloodline. All of His children He calls Israel. Israel is the family of YHWH. When you accept Yahusha and make teshuvah you are grafted into Israel (Romans 11). He calls you Israel. He reminds you that He overcomes.

Gilyahna/Revelation 2:7 says this:

He that has an ear, let him hear what the Ruach says to the Yisraelite congregations; To him that overcomes I will give to eat of the eytz chayim.

Overcome and you will get to eat from the tree of  life. If you have ears--hear that.

Israel is a reminder that we are to overcome this world. YHWH will help us. YHWH overcomes.

Get ready for the fall feasts

The Beginner's Guide to the Feast of Trumpets

Taking part in the Creator's appointed time of the Feast of Trumpets is an option for you, even if it's not something you have ever ...