HALL OF FAME OF SIN

If you haven’t guessed by now, I’m reading through the One Year Bible published by Tyndale House. If you are unfamiliar with the One Year Bible, it very conveniently puts together readings from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs in easy-to-read daily sections.

The section I read today includes Exodus 32, 33 and portions from Matthew 26 and 27. I know the editors didn’t put these passages together on purpose. They just happened to fit together for this particular day of readings. But I was amazed at what I read. These passages included some of the most famous sins committed by some of the most famous people in the entire Bible!

Exodus 32 contains the sin of Aaron. This older brother of Moses was the new high priest of Israel. He had just been set apart as Holy to the Lord. Moses was up on Mount Sinai receiving the tablets of the law when the Israelites came to him complaining that this fellow Moses had disappeared on the mountain and they needed gods to lead them ahead. Aaron called for all the gold earrings the people were wearing and he carefully fashioned a calf of gold to represent Yahweh for them. He even called for a festival to the LORD on the next day. When he was confronted by Moses about the golden calf Aaron lied, They gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf! He allowed the people to get out of control in their wild celebrations and the Levites went through the camp and put about three thousand of them to death. On top of that, God struck the people with a plague because of their sin.

We also have the Israelites who so quickly turned away from their God, the same God before whom they vowed, Everything the LORD has said we will do! (Exodus 24:3) They had seen the mighty hand of God as he struck the Egyptians with the plagues. They had crossed over the Red Sea on dry land and watched as Pharaoh and his army were drowned. They followed the pillar of fire and the cloud.

Matthew 26 has the account of Peter’s denial of Jesus. Peter, the Rock. The one who boasted that even if everyone else abandoned Jesus he never would. A servant girl confronted him about having been with Jesus and he said he didn’t know what she was talking about. A second girl pointed to him and told people that he had been with Jesus. This time he swore an oath in his denial. And finally a group of people came to Peter and pointed out that his accent showed him to be one of Jesus’ followers. Finally Peter called down curses upon himself and swore that he didn’t know the man. The rooster crowed and Peter went out and wept bitterly.

The chief priests and elders of Israel finally decided to try to have Jesus put to death in Matthew 27. They knew better. Even if some of them remained foolishly ignorant, too many of them had seen the signs and wonders and knew the prophecies to be considered innocent in any way. Jesus had even told them he was their Messiah (Matthew 26:64). What greater sin could there be than to plot the execution of the Messiah, the Son of God?

Finally, we have Judas. Judas was seized with remorse when he saw that Jesus had been found guilty of blasphemy and was sentenced to death. There was nothing he could do to change things. Even though he tried to make things right it was too late. Judas has lived with Jesus for a couple of years and he had seen and heard all the things the other disciples heard. Yet he betrayed our Lord.

Aaron was the chosen chief priest. Israel was God’s son being brought out of Egypt. Peter and Judas were Jesus’ chosen disciples. The chief priests and the elders of Israel were the religious leaders of Israel. These people committed the most infamous sins in history. What does that say to me? If these people can walk into great sin with such intentionality, my only hope is to stay as close to God as I can! I can never let down my guard. Sin is nothing to play around with. I must deal with sin and temptation as violently as the Levites dealt with their brethren! It would be very dangerous for me to ever, ever think I have progressed to a place of safety from sin! Such pride and over-confidence would be my downfall!