Israel’s Rebellions Reviewed

Deuteronomy 9:12–29
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While Moses was praying, God told him to perform a twofold responsibility (vv. 12-21):

      1.   To stop the apostasy of making the golden calf.

      2.   To make intercession for the divine execution of the people of God.

Moses reminds his people that when he came down from the mountain, he broke the two tablets of the Ten Commandments because the people had sinned (vv. 15-17). Then he reminds them that he had interceded before God. He identifies the guilt of the present congregation with their fathers who had sinned, again condemning their self-righteousness (vv. 18-20). He identifies Aaron as one who was to have been destroyed because of disobedience. Even though Aaron was not yet a high priest, he was condemned because he had been one of the leaders of Israel. The details of how they had to get rid of the golden calf are not coincidental (v. 21). Moses wants to remind them of their rebellion.

Moses gives a list of other occasions when Israel had rebelled against God. (vv.  22-24). The list is not arranged chronologically but begins with the smaller offenses and progresses to the more serious rebellion. The tragedy of rebellion is not so much in the act, but in the attitude of the heart. He begins with the smaller offenses and progresses to the more serious offenses. Moses prays and asks God to deliver Israel because of how it will look in the eyes of the other nations (v.v. 25-29).

Application

The Israelites main problem was that they looked to their own limited resources instead of trusting God and following Him. It is easy for this same thing to happen to me today. I must admit that I have a rebellious streak in my life, but Christ wants to give me victory.