Exodus 32 - Steve Wiggins Daily Devotional

“So Moses returned to the L_rd and said, ‘Oh, this people has committed a great sin; they have made for themselves a god of gold. Now if You would only forgive their sin. But if not, please erase me from the book You have written.” The L_rd replied to Moses, ‘Whoever has sinned against Me I will erase from My book. Now go, lead these people to the place I told you about; see, My angel will go before you. But on the day that I settle accounts, I will hold them accountable for their sin.’ Exodus 32:31-34

50 days after Passover, is the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, or “Pentecost”. Shavuot is, perhaps, the most important harvest festival on the Jewish calendar. Since it coincides with the giving of the Law, Shavuot has become emblematic of G_d’s confirmation & consecration of Israel as His “first fruit” among the nations.

The day of Israel’s consecration is overshadowed by their worship of the calf. On that day, Moses gave a “with me or against me” challenge to Israel, and the Levites gathered to him. Later that very day, the day on which the Torah (G_d’s teaching) was given, 3000 men were killed. The implications of this account in Israel’s history are that Israel, left to its own designs and judged solely through the lens of the Law’s standard, is only capable of producing a “crop of death”. Furthermore, G_d said that on the day He “settles accounts”, solely by the standard of His commands, none can survive His judgment.

Fast-forward to Acts chapter 2. At the time of the same festival of Shavuot (Pentecost), after Yeshua’s resurrection, the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) was given to the believers in Jerusalem…those believers being the “first fruits” of His Greater Messianic Community, which has grown to be world-wide. The first fruits of G_d’s Ruach (Spirit) were also counted to be 3000 men, but this time, their experience was unto life! When G_d settles OUR accounts based on Messiah’s blood atonement, (its worth imputed into our spiritual accounts upon our belief, and certified by the presence of His Ruach), His Judgment of us returns, “Not guilty!”

“But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Messiah, he does not belong to Him. Now, if Messiah is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of His righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Messiah from the dead lives in you, then He who raised Messiah from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through His Spirit who lives in you.” Romans 8:10-11

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins, Associate Leader, Worship Leader
Shuvah Yisrael
Daily Devotional, Wednesday, April 2, 2014