Exodus 31-32

Exodus 31-32

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

Chapter 31: Sabbath Day           

  

                The Lord speaks to Moses and tells him that he has called Bezaleel to be an artisan for the  temple, working with God, Silver, Brass, cutting stones and carving timber.

                The Lord reminds Moses and Israel that the Sabbath day is a holy day, where no work should be done. Those who work on the Sabbath shall be "put to death". Really emphasizing the importance of the Sabbath day, and respecting it. This being one of the 10 commandments that God wrote into the two tablets with his finger on the Mt. Sinai.

Chapter 32: Golden Calf

                The Lord speaks to Moses in the Mount, and while he is speaking to the Lord, the children of Israel sin. Aaron asks Israel for all the gold, so that he can make a "god", a golden calf, so that they can worship it. The Lord tells Moses about this and commands him to come off the Mount to stop them. The Lord is angry, but Moses tells God to spare the children of Israel and to remember his promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel). The Lord "repents" of his decision.  Interesting point here: Does God, being all powerful and all knowing, REPENT? I don't think so. That is why we have the Joseph Smith Translation of the King James Version:

King James Version (KJV); Exodus 32:14:

"And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people"

Joseph Smith's "New Translation" of the King James Version; Inspired Version (KJV-JST); Exodus 32:14:

"And the Lord said unto Moses, If they will repent of the evil which they have done, I will spare them,

and turn away my fierce wrath; but, behold, thou shalt execute judgment upon all that will not repent of

this evil this day. Therefore, see thou do this thing that I have commanded thee, or I will execute all that

which I had thought to do unto my people."

                This to me is a testament to the changes that were made in the Bible, because the inspired version that Joseph Smith Translation makes much more sense and leaves me with a sense of understanding, knowing that this is truly of divine inspiration.

                But to finish off the story, Moses asks the people of Israel; "...Who is on the Lord's side?" (Exodus 32:26). 

                Moses tells the children of Israel that he will do his best to make an atonement for them. Moses goes before the Lord and pleads for the forgiveness of the people. The Lord tells Moses that he will "blot out" the names of those who have sinned from the book. Essentially excommunicating those who had sinned before God.

I think what we can learn from Exodus 32, is that we all need to ask ourselves, are we on the Lord's SIDE?! Are we following him, by following his commandments? None of us are perfect, but we should make an effort to better ourselves, if we are falling short. Having faith in God, means believing in him, believing in him, means we believe his words, and if we believe his words, we believe his commandments and follow them. If we do not these things we are lacking faith in him. We need to put our faith and belief in HIM and not in other man man made objects, desires or empty promises.