Author: Ron Francis

Much to learn from this Mike. It’s amazing that Moses turns from arguing against God’s wrath to having his own anger once he sees what is happening. It’s probably best to resist the temptation to respond. In another situation Jesus cautioned:

Luke 9:54  And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

That said people do have a long history of false worship. Just to mention a few.

Cain, all the High Paces, Dan, many incidents in Judges, the Samaritans, Pharisees, Sadducees, etc…..

The Golden Calf was justified by Aaron as trying to worship not a false pagan god but the true God in very false, pagan ways.

…These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. THE TRUE GOD DID BRING THEM OUT OF EGYPT, BUT NOT “GODS”.

….To morrow is a feast to the LORD.

Repeated… These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt

Of course Aaron was guilty of lying and leading the people astray I’m surprised he survived.

……and there came out this calf.

Exo 32:25  And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)

There is good teaching in the old Westminster Standard: Directory for the Public Worship of God. But this is long neglected in today’s modern culturally relevant church. But nothing new here.

John’s words of what Jesus taught are a worthy “vision” to be cast. I only wish we had such solid Biblical teaching in today’s churches.

If we are called, if we are chosen, if we are among the elect, we will abide. There will be seasons when we don’t produce much fruit, but the “vision” is to produce more, hence the need to be pruned.

Joh 15:2  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Joh 15:6  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

It’s too long to post here, but it is useful to read old John Gill’s commentary on v6.

If we need assurance that we are among the much, or the more or even the not yet more fruit producers, look to these earlier words.

John 6:37  All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Joh 6:39  And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
Joh 6:40  And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.