From Exodus to Access
Exodus 33:1–3 (NASB95) — 1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give it.’ 2 “I will send an angel before you and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite. 3 “Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, because you are an obstinate people, and I might destroy you on the way.”
A. Between Exodus 31 and Exodus 33 there is a stark contrast in events.
 Exodus 31 closes with the final instruction of the Tabernacle which represented the presence of the Lord among His people .
 Exodus 33 opens with the LORD declaring that He will not go with His people as they leave Sinai
B. So what happened in Exodus 32 to cause this change in Events?

Exodus 32:1–4 (NASB95) — 1 Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” 2 Aaron said to them, “Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” 3 Then all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took this from their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, “This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.”

C. A reminder of the setting :
• Upwards of 2 Million People are at the foot of Mt. Sinai
• Moses has gone up on the Mountain to meet God.
• Moses has been gone for 40 days.
• The people become impatient and ask for a god they can see.

Exodus 32:7–10 (NASB95) — 7 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, “Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. 8 “They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. They have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it and have sacrificed to it and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!’ ” 9 The LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, they are an obstinate people. 10 “Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation.”
A. Why a golden calf?
B. The Egyptian goddess “Hathor ”
C.

3 Lessons Concerning Sin

1. Lesson #1 – The Grief of God
   Exodus 33:1–3 (NASB95) — 1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give it.’ 2 “I will send an angel before you and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite. 3 “Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, because you are an obstinate people, and I might destroy you on the way.”

Exodus 20:4–5a (NASB95) — 4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 5 “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God…
o God’s Grief is caused by sin .
Ephesians 4:30 (NASB95) — 30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
o God’s Grief results in separation.

A Truth to Believe in:
It is possible for there to be the presence of God’s promise and the absence of God’s presence.

The Presence of God’s Promise
Exodus 33:1 (NASB95) — 1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give it.’

The Absence of God’s Presence
Exodus 33:3 (NASB95) — 3 “Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst…

1. The Grace of God
   Exodus 33:12–17 (NASB95) — 12 Then Moses said to the LORD, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people!’ But You Yourself have not let me know whom You will send with me. Moreover, You have said, ‘I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.’ 13 “Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight. Consider too, that this nation is Your people.” 14 And He said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 Then he said to Him, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. 16 “For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?” 17 The LORD said to Moses, “I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.”
   A. In the ancient languages repetition means emphasis !

o God’s Grace was requested
Exodus 33:15 (NASB95) — 15 Then he said to Him, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.
o God’s Grace was received
Exodus 33:17 (NASB95) — 17 The LORD said to Moses, “I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.”

1. Lesson #3 – The Glory of God
   Exodus 33:18 (NASB95) — 18 Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!”
   o When we experience the grace of God we will desire to see the glory of God .

Exodus 33:19–23 (NASB95) — 19 And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” 20 But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” 21 Then the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; 22 and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. 23 “Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”
o God’s Glory was Revealed
o God’s Glory was Reflected
Exodus 34:29 (NASB95) — 29 It came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses’ hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him.

Application:
What does a golden calf made by the Israelites 3500 years ago have to do with me in 2024?

1) God is still a jealous God and will not accept second place.
2) God is still gracious and will forgive and restore us if we ask Him.
3) God’s glory is what we will desire once we have experienced His grace.