Wednesday: God’s Righteous Wrath
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 10th of September 2025
Read Exodus 32:9-29. What was Moses’ reaction to God’s threat to destroy Israel?
While Moses was still on Mount Sinai, God said that He would destroy the rebels and make Moses’ posterity into a great nation. But that was not what Moses wanted. Instead, he pleaded with the Lord, pointing out that the Israelites were not Moses’ people—they were God’s. He, Moses himself, had not brought them out of Egypt, but God had done it through His mighty works. And so Moses pled with God, stressing His early promises to the fathers. Moses was truly working as an intercessor between God and humanity.
Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com
After the “Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people” (Exodus 32:14, NKJV), Moses returned to them. There is no record—unlike what would happen in Exodus 34:29-30—that his face shone from the presence of the Lord. His face probably reflected his anger.
“When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain” (Exodus 32:19, NIV). Breaking the tablets containing the Decalogue was an external sign of breaking its content. God rebuked Moses for it, but later He commanded Moses to chisel two tablets to replace “ ‘the first tablets, which you broke’ ” (Deuteronomy 10:2, NKJV). God Himself would rewrite the commands.
Moses sharply rebuked Aaron for surrendering to the demands of the people. “ ‘What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?’ ” (Exodus 32:21, NIV). Aaron tried to excuse his transgression by (1) blaming others, and (2) by magic: “ ‘I threw it [the gold] into the fire, and out came this calf!’ ” (Exodus 32:24, NIV). What made matters worse was that Aaron himself had been greatly honored of God, having been given many privileges, which included going on the mountain with Moses and the 70 elders (Exodus 24:1).
What a dark irony! By claiming that a miracle had happened, Aaron wanted to trick his brother (notice how one sin leads to another; in this case, idolatry to lying). However, Moses was not fooled as he saw how wildly the people behaved. The negative consequences were evident, and Moses had to stop the rebellion immediately.
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What should this story teach us about the power of intercessory prayer? Whom should you be praying for right now? |
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I think we all get a bit nervous when anger and wrath are mentioned in the same sentence with God. This may sound like a digression, but God said:
.., and I have always thought there was a lot more to it than just physical likeness. I think it also includes intelligence, freedom of choice and emotions.
For example, I think of the enormous pleasure I get out of learning something new and I wonder if God has given me something he cannot give himself because of his omniscience. I am trying to extrapolate back from my experience of pleasure to describe God.
The issue for us is that while we are very familiar with human emotions, projecting those emotions back to God just doesn’t work all that well. And I think that applies to anger, wrath and sadness just as much as it applies to joy and happiness. We don’t really know how to describe God’s emotions because we are human and can only use our limited human language.
Now, when we talk about God’s wrath, it is not the “spit the dummy” angry reaction we humans use. We sometimes use the idea of “righteous wrath” but even that concept is tainted with our human understanding.
So God was not happy with the behaviour of the Hebrews and in his wrath wanted to destroy them and start afresh with Moses. It is useful to understand that out of this picture of God’s wrath develops a powerful illustration of intercession that gives us the bigger picture of what a wrathful God really looks like. That is way beyond our human wrath.
And for some reason, the author has split this part of the lesson in two, so we will have to continue this discussion tomorrow.
Yes, freedom of choice would be in the image of God. Yet freedom of choice brings responsibility and accountability, as sons and daughters of God. Though it is a very enjoyable service to Father, as His sons and/or daughters, because He gives so much. Our giving is minuscule in comparison to what He gives and provides for us. Let us take advantage of it.
2 Corinthians 6:18.
Revelation 21:7.
These promises are on condition we choose Him, and allow Him to be our conqueror, and fight our spiritual battles for us and then He gives us the credit for being overcomers/conquerors, of which we don't deserve, the glory goes to Him. Again, let's take the opportunity.
Revelation 17:14.
He even calls us chosen/faithful, because we are with Him. Thanks be to God of what He has done for us because we choose to follow through on our belief. Just think He even gives us the strength to hold on to Him.
2 Corinthians 12:9
Praise be to God. 🙏 🙏.
Maurice – not sure if you considered the ‘context’ in which the human being experiences ‘pleasure’ - God. May I offer for you to consider that 'true pleasure’ is not found/experienced in the physical but rather in the spiritual aspects of our God which is described as ‘Spirit’ and ‘Love’ - 1 John 4:8.
May I elaborate - Yes, our ‘humanity’ lives through our senses, but in order for man to experience true life, we need to meet our Creator in His Realm and on His Terms; offering His Holy Spirit to us to do so. Without Him living in us and through us, we cannot experience true life at all – good or bad – Mercy or Wrath - Joy or Despair.
For man, 'true life' is not an accumulation of separate 'events', it is the perfect spiritual symbiosis of His Spirit 'contained/expressed' in/by/through matter. Before the true life of man can begin, man needs to meet his Creator again – Zech.4:6; Col.1:19-20; Gen.1:31; Gen.2:15; Col. 1:16; Rom.8:20-22; Rev.21:1,5.
I don't think we need to make a physical/spiritual separation. There is an issue with pleasure for sure, in that Satan has perverted our sense of pleasure so that we enjoy things that are not good for us. I find a lot of pleasure in a good walk. That is physical pleasure and I see that as part of God's plan.
Maurice – may I respectfully respond? I think to separate the physical from the spiritual is essential when attempting to understand 'sin'. ‘Sin’ is not the ‘manifesting of the physical act’, it is contained in the b>questioning and ultimately rejecting God’s 'Spirit of loving Benevolence' as the governing power in man's life - James 1:14-17.
When joining this spirit enticing ‘self’ to govern ones life will manifest in spiritual rebellion, leading to believe the great lie expressed through distorting the experience of ‘life’ in all its forms of ‘good’, ‘bad’, ‘justice’, ‘mercy’, ‘wrath’, ‘joy’, and ‘despair’ by using man's judgement.
Man, a created being, chose ‘self’ as its source for ‘knowledge' only to find destruction and decay. But our God offers His Spirit for guidance to experience true life. He offers man 'His Goodness', experienced through spiritual oneness with Him. Man experiences true life only by enjoining God's purpose for His physical creation - Gen.1:31; Psalm 104; 1 Tim.6:15-19.
Brigitte, scripture makes it clear that all sin starts in the mind, and that some sin is done in the mind. (Lust) The impulse to sin starts in the mind but is expressed in the body. There is no separation between the two. We aren't physical or spiritual beings, we are both. The spiritual drives the physical. Romans 6:16 Whomever we submit ourselves mentally and spiritually to obey, we will physically submit our bodies to obey. We don't live in one realm or the other spiritual or physical, it's both. This is why we must walk or focus on the Spirit and then we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Conversely if and when we walk or focus on our fleshly, physical nature we won't have the power to bring into submission to the Spirit, the sinful cravings of our fallen physical bodies. It's not an either or, it's both.
Maurice – respectfully, may I respond. I think to separate the physical from the spiritual is essential when attempting to understand 'sin'. ‘Sin’ is not the ‘manifestation of the physical act’, it is contained in the spirit that questions and ultimately rejects God’s 'Spirit of loving Benevolence' as the governing power in man's life - James 1:14-17.
Joining this spirit enticing ‘self’ to govern ones life manifest in spiritual rebellion, leading to believe the great lie finding expression in the distortion of the 'experience of life’ in all its forms - ‘good’, ‘bad’, ‘justice’, ‘mercy’, ‘wrath’, ‘joy’, and ‘despair’ through using man's judgement.
Man, a created being, chose ‘self’ as its source for ‘knowledge' only to find destruction and decay. But God offers His Spirit to guide our experience of life. He offers man 'His Goodness', which man experiences through 'spiritual oneness' with Him. Man can experience 'true' life only by enjoining God's purpose for His physical creation - Gen.1:31; Psalm 104; 1 Tim.6:15-19.
We are spiritual and physical beings. When we are spiritually connected to whomever we choose, we are also physically connected to them. We don't live compartmentalized lives. What affects one aspect of our lives also affects the other. There is joy in the presence of the Lord. Sadly, Satan has learned how to hijack and pervert even our pleasure centers so that many people have come to live for pleasure, hedonism, instead of for the joy and pleasure of God. To love God is to enjoy Him forever!
Tim – I appreciate your comment: “to love God is to enjoy Him forever!” Please consider that how man lives when ‘loving’ Him reveals if we are still ‘enslaved/captured’ by the deception of the lie of God’s adversary, or whether we have been set free by accepting by faith God’s Spirit of Supreme Authority and Righteousness to lead us.
Respectfully, my comment attempted to go to the ‘heart', the 'source’, which engendered the original sin and still manifests in our physical world. Man is a created being, made of the dust of the earth, but is a 'living soul', a vessel meant to express God's Spirit - Gen.2:7.
I see it as vitally important to learn to separate the initiating spirit from its 'acts/works'. Neglecting to do so keeps us confused and tempted to see our Salvation in the 'works we choose' to engage in, and not in the Spirit they are inhabited by.
We are cautioned when identifying our Salvation with the 'works' we engage in, because the spirit of this world inhabits 'all acts' conceived by man. Instead, God desires us to be filled with His Spirit, re-uniting with Him to express and foster Life found only in His Spirit.
As you can see, man’s true life is contained in the reflections of our Maker’s Spirit within us. Life does not reside in any acts 'choosen by man' as there is nothing 'good' in man. Unredeemed man 'reflects' the spirit of the lie of God’s adversary. Man can never know ‘good and evil’ generated by and expressed through ‘self’ – Prov.3:5-6.
Reading Exodus 32, I found the conversation between God and Moses quite intriguing, particularly the casualness within their dialogue despite the heavy subject matter.
From this six things really stood out:
1. God does not associate with rebellion or disobedience. From the words in Exodus 32:7, "...For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves." God distances Himself from Israel. At that moment, Israel was not "God's son, His firstborn" (Exodus 4:22), but God had left them to Moses. Clearly, God is hurting from the rebellion. This highlights God's emotional response to Israel's betrayal, underscoring the depth of their relationship and the severity of Israel's actions.
2. God's wrath and willingness to destroy Israel: but it's like God, deep in wrath, is consulting with Moses. The polite manner in which He suggests a "reboot" of His covenant through the family line of Moses just reveals His holiness and justice. Considering He was the one in pain, God opens an avenue for reason and conversation. This highlights the complex dynamic between God's justice and mercy.
3. Moses, acknowledging Israel's faults, points God to the journey from Egypt to the wilderness and returns God back to His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In what may seem to be a way to appeal to God, Moses leverages God's goodness and mercy.
Despite the wrath and pain within God, the conversation is cordial and very amicable. Moses was more like a partner and ally to God, and that's so beautiful.
But as Moses comes down the mountain, reality strikes. The depth of the rebellion led by his brother Aaron is now visible - a golden calf god is visible. Now, it's Moses' turn to react.
4. Moses clearly shows his displeasure with the leadership of Aaron over Israel, asking, (Exodus 32:21). His anger doesn't wait, as he crushes the tablets at the foot of the mountain.
5. Aaron dodges liability by shifting blame and comes up with stories, (Exodus 32:22-24). Unlike Moses, he never acknowledges the situation's gravity, and also unlike Moses, doesn't offer a direction towards mercy.
6. Moses decisive action:Moses takes decisive action against those who were involved in the idolatry, including the Levites' role in executing judgment (Exodus 32:25-29).
Moses, once again, later takes the role of advocate for Aaron (Deuteronomy 9:20) and pleads with God to pardon Israel (Exodus 32:30-34). God and Moses walked together, but unfortunately, we can't say the same of Moses and Aaron.
The different characteristics of Moses exemplify what leadership is all about, but what excites the most is his profound relationship with God and his unwavering care for Israel.
Were the Israelites permitted to wear earrings and necklace? because I'm actually confuse, because that's exactly what Aaron used to made the golden calf for them.
Hi Gaye. Your question appears to imply that if it was alright for the Hebrews to wear earings and necklaces then it is alright for us modern Christians to do so. There are two things that you need to consider here.
There were no banks for nomadic people in ancient times. If you were rich it was because you had items that were both valuable and transportable. One way of doing this was to have jewelry and to wear it. That meant it was always at hand where you could keep an eye on it, and it also provided a ready means of exchange if you decided you needed a new donkey or camel. No doubt there were some who showed off their riches and others who kept them hidden. But is wasn't a case of permission to wear jewelry. It was a functional cultural norm.
In our modern world, jewelry is worn as an adornment and yes, some of it may be valuable but most of it is not. And in some churches we make a big fuss about it, to the extent that church membership is held in question. Can I suggest some of us spend too much time worrying about the externals instead of working on the heart. I went to church yesterday and there was a young person wearing plastic earings. They were probably worth $5. I rejoiced that she was at church. And who was I to judge, I was wearing hearing aids in my ears worth about $4000.
God's divine wrath highlights the seriousness of sin. Sin is not merely a mistake or weakness but rebellion against God’s nature and will. When the Israelites turned to idolatry and disobedience, they provoked His holy displeasure (Deuteronomy 9:7–8). His response is a reminder that sin disrupts fellowship with Him, bringing destruction and separation, but also that His justice is an expression of His love, calling us back to Himself.
God is a righteous judge (Psalm 7:11), whose wrath is never reckless, capricious or unjust but his anger is perfectly measured and holy. Unlike human anger, which is often tainted with pride, selfishness, or lack of control, God’s wrath is an expression of His righteousness and justice. It reveals His unwavering opposition to evil and His commitment to upholding what is good, pure, and true.
God rebuked Moses for breaking the tablets? I didn’t get that out of the text. Surely He expected him to. After all, it was the custom to shatter a written covenant that had been violated. The covenant was cancelled, terminated. God disowned them as His people (Ex. 32:7) temporarily.
Another thought - why didn’t God make the tablets (which were the most valuable material things on earth) out of indestructible material?
Perhaps we could read an implied rebuke in Exodus 34:1. That's the only scripture I could find that perhaps indicates that. Maybe someone else can find something. I do feel Moses gesture was appropriate.
I think they were made of stone to symbolize our hearts of stone which we need the law written on.
Carolyn, perhaps the answer is similar to the one you gave regarding Moses being justified in breaking the stone tablets. You wrote:
Some thoughts on the two sets of stone tablets:
The original stone tablets were provided and inscribed with God's Law by God Himself.
Could that represent God Himself writing His Law in the hearts of His created beings when they were created. They had no choice in the inscribing of the Law. They were created that way. But they could still break the Law, as Moses broke the tablets of stone.
Moses, as a human, had to prepare and provide the second set of tablets. Could that represent the human cooperation required for God to inscribe His Law in human hearts after the originally inscribed Law was broken?
So many times I have been the victim of attacks and loss. I remember in my fisrt year at school a few days after orientation, thieves broke into our house and stole my things including my laptop and my phone which the school had provided as part of my school fee. That automatically pushed my family to postone my admission to later intake to recover the loss. From that time on I pretended to understand and bear the situation while in my heart there was the question, " Does Jesus Care?".
I am beginning to appreciate that this lesson has answers to 'why?' things go the way they do, why bad things happen.
It is amazing to me that God doesn't destroy sinners as soon as they/we sin. Looking at the condition of this world, it is so far from God's design and intention for the human species. It is in some way surprising that God hasn't wiped out the human race yet again, since the flood.
Yet, what a testimony of Moses character of love and concern for both, God's people, and God's reputation, is shown by Moses challenging God's wrathful decision to wipe out the children of Israel and start over with Moses as the leader. How tempting it must have been for Moses. I wonder, how long did he ponder God's offer? These "children of Israel" were acting like literal children all the way across the desert, whining, complaining, accusing, and rebelling. It reminds me of when I and my siblings were children (4 of us), and we were traveling on a journey, with our Mom driving the car, all the while we were crying, and fighting with and complaining against each other. Invariably, Mom would get to the point where she had enough and would call out, "if I have to stop this car, you all, are going to be in trouble!" This usually worked to calm down the back seat chaos. Though I do remember a time that I was called to sit up front.
It would have been enough for the average person to agree with God's wrathful decision and say, "that's a great idea God! Go ahead and wipe them out, they deserve it, and quite frankly, I'm tired of the whole lot of them myself." But, Moses doesn't do that and instead says to God, "if that's what you want to do, then wipe me out with them." What love for a people who have caused him grief.
Would I have the same heart of intercession for sinners? I don't think so. I question why God still puts up with it.
If we truly believe that God knows the content of our heart and, in spite of it, still wants to transform us into His spiritual children, then, interceding/responding when observing 'sin' in all its forms by praying or getting involved to undo that which was done from ignorance, is a constant call upon our vigilance.
We are always surrounded by the consequences of sin and, if caring enough, this evidence is the constant reminder to pray fervently and continuously; at any time, anyone and anything can become in need of intercessory prayer by the observant and caring saints.
God’s benevolent Justice – His Grace and Mercy – stands ready to fill the 'gap' between His benevolence and destruction; it is for our benefit to get involved. We would already be destroyed were it not for the longsuffering, loving compassion of our heavenly Father placed into our hearts by His Holy Spirit to cause us to pray and intercede on behalf of all that is in danger to be lost – Heb.4:16; Rom.8:26-28; 34; 2 Co.1:3-4; .
When God expressed anger at the Israelites for worshipping the golden calf (Exodus 32), Moses interceded on their behalf, pleading for mercy and reminding God of His promises. At that stage, the sin was reported to him, not yet seen firsthand, so compassion guided his response.
But when Moses saw the calf himself, his righteous indignation was stirred. The people’s blatant rebellion mocked God’s holiness, prompting decisive action—he broke the tablets, destroyed the idol, and called the people to accountability. This shows a balance in godly leadership: compassion in intercession, and zeal for God’s honor when confronted with blatant sin.
Applied today, the lesson is clear: when we see sin, our first impulse may be anger, but prayer first invites God’s perspective, softens our hearts, and guides our response. In other words: pray first, act with righteous indignation second—following Moses’ example while pointing ultimately to Christ, the perfect Mediator.
As I participate in a prayer group, I often pray and encourage others to pray for those in need. Praying makes all the difference in my life, and I see this with my peers.
Monday though Wednesday Lesson
Monday: Where did their idolatry quickly lead them?
Only a few days had passed since the Hebrews had made a solemn covenant with the God to obey His voice. they had stood trembling with terror before the mount, listening to the words or the Lord, "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." ...How could greater ingratitude have been shown, or more daring insult offered, to Him who had revealed Himself to them as a tender father and an all-powerful king! Patriarchs and Prophets, page 317.3
In what ways does the golden calf apostasy reflect what is written in Romans 1:22-27?
Moses in the mount was warned of the apostasy in the camp and was directed to return without delay. "Go, get thee down," were the words of God; "thy people, which thou broughtest out to the land 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 worshiped it." God might have checked the movement at the outset; but He suffered it to come to this height that He might teach all a lesson in His punishment and apostasy." Patriarchs and Prophets, page 317.4
Note:Romans 1:20-25 Nature's Revelation Imperfect... Those who have a true knowledge of God will not become so infatuated with the laws of matter or the operations of nature as to overlook, or refuse to acknowledge, the continual working of God in nature. Nature is not God, nor was it ever God. The voice of nature testifies of God, but nature is not God. As His created work, it simply bears a testimony to God's power. Deity is the author of nature. The natural world has, in itself, no power but that which God supplies.
There is a personal God, the Father; there is a personal Christ, the Son. (Heb. 1;1, 2: Ps. 19:1-3).
The ancient philosophers prided themselves on their superior knowledge. Let us read the inspired apostle's understanding of the matter."Professing themselves to be wise, "he says, "they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things...Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator." "In its human wisdom the world cannot know God. Its wise men gather an imperfect knowledge of God from His created works, and then in their foolishness they exalt nature and the laws of nature above nature's God. Those who have not a knowledge of God through an acceptance of the revelation He has made of Himself in Christ, will obtain only an imperfect knowledge of Him in nature; and this knowledge, so far from bringing the whole being into conformity to His will, will make men idolaters. Professing themselves to be wise, they will become fools...(RH Nov. 8, 1898)
Tuesday: Why did God send Moses back to the camp of Israel?
See the above paragraph: "Moses in the mount was warned of the apostasy in the camp and was directed to return without delay....Patriarchs and Prophets 317.4
"God's covenant with His people had born disannuled, and He declared to Moses, "Let Me alone that My wrath may wax hot against them, ad that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation." The people of Israel, especially the mixed multitude, would be constantly disposed to rebel against their leader, and would grieve him by their unbelief and stubbornness, and it would be a laborious and soul-trying work to lead them through to the Promised Land. Their sins had already forfeited the favor of God, and justice called for their destruction. The Lord therefore proposed to destroy them, and make of Moses a mighty nation. "Patriarchs and Prophets, page 318.1
Wednesday: What was Moses' reaction to God's threat to destroy Israel?
...Moses discerned ground for hope where there appeared only discouragement and wrath. The words of God, "Let Me alone,"he understood not to forbid but o encourage intercession implying that nothing but the prayers of Moses could save Israel, but that if thus entreated, God would spare His people. He "besought the Lord his God and said Lord, why doth Thy wrath wax hot against Thy people, which Thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?" Patriarchs and prophets, page 318.3
God had signified that He drowned His people. He had spoken of them to Moses as "thy people, which thou brightest out of Egypt." but Moses humbly disclaimed the leadership of Israel. They were not his, but God's --Thy people, which Thou has brought forth... with great power, and with a mighty hand. Wherefore," he urged, "should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did He bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth?"
Patriarchs and Prophets 318.4
Thursday: How far did Moses go in his intercessory prayer for sinners?
"As Moses interceded for Israel, his timidity was lost in his deep interest and love for those for whom he had, in the hands of God, been the means of doing so much. The Lord listened to his pleadings, and granted his unselfish prayer. God had proved His servant; He had tested his faithfulness and his love for that erring ungrateful people, and nobly had Moses endured the trial. His interest in Israel sprang from no selfish motive. The prosperity of God's chosen people was dearer than the privilege of becoming the father of a mighty nation. God was pleased with his faithfulness, his simplicity of heart, and his integrity, and He committed to him, as a faithful shepherd , the great charge of leading Israel to the Promised Land.
Note: I was instructed to say that our people are losing in spirituality, for they do not believe many of the messages of truth for this time and the testimonies of the spirit of God. There is more confidence in their own tongues' wisdom than in earnest, intercessory prayer. If we pray in faith, if we wrestle with God as did Daniel in behalf of himself and the Israel of God, we shall be kept by the power of God from our own foolish conversation. We need now to have the Holy Spirit's power, which will clothe us with Christ's righteousness and give us heavenly wisdom that we shall sit with Christ in heavenly places, If ever we are as a people to become elevated, cleansed, and purified, to reach the highest standard, we must now seek Him with heart and soul and voice, with fasting and prayer. 17LtMs, Lt 264, 1902, par 12
Thanks to everyone for the enlightening, spirit led discussions. May God help us to be the people that He desires us to be in every respect. Blessings.
Friday: Further Thought:
It was necessary that this sin should be punished, as a testimony to surrounding nations of God's displeasure against idolatry. By executing justice upon the guilty. Moses, as God's instrument, must leave on record a solemn and public protest against their crime. As the Israelites should hereafter condemn the idolatry of the neighboring tribes, their enemies would throw back upon them the charge that the people who claimed Jehovah as their God had made a calf and worshiped it in Horeb. Then though compelled to acknowledge the disgraceful truth, Israel could point to the terrible fate of the transgressors, as evidence that their sin had been sanctioned or excused.
Love no less than justice demanded that for this sin judgment should be inflicted. God is the guardian as well as the sovereign of His people. He cuts off those who are determined upon rebellion, that they may not lead others to ruin. In sparing the life of Cain, God had demonstrated to the universe what would be the result of permitting sin to go unpunished. The influence exerted upon his descendants by his life and teaching led to the state of corruption that demanded the destruction of the whole world by a flood. The history of the antediluvians testifies that long life is not a blessing to the sinner; God's great forbearance did not repress their wickedness. The longer men lived, the more corrupt they became. Patriarchs and Prophets page 325.1-2.