Within 40 days the Israelites went from fearing the LORD who had thundered forth the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:18-20) to forsaking the LORD and making their own gods. (Read today's lesson Exodus 31-32.)

This is the fickle heart that sinners like us have. Devoted to the LORD at one moment, forsaking him the next.

The Law Giver who came down on Mt. Sinai in thunder and lightning is the same God who came down in humility on Mt. Calvary. We have forsaken him; he will not forsake us. Instead, he took our forsakenness upon himself. (Read today's lesson Matthew 27:45-66.)

Believe the centurion's testimony: "Surely he was the Son of God." God was forsaken for us. 

He was placed in a grave. Plans were made to keep him there. But the One Forsaken on the cross will not say dead. He will come forth alive to assure us that He is the One who lives to intercede for us like Moses interceded for the people. Tomorrow's reading of the Empty Tomb assures us that the LORD will go with us and lead us to our Promised Land. 

A Story of Grace

Aaron’s story is an amazing side-story of grace in our lesson. The last we hear from Aaron in our reading are the foolish words: “I threw [the gold] into the fire, and out came this calf!” Yet it was this Aaron, who failed in his first solo leadership assignment, who was privileged to become High Priest.

Aaron was the first to enter behind the curtain into the Most Holy Place where the Ark of the Covenant was and make atonement for the people.

The Tribe of Levi is another side-story of grace. Levi's father Jacob foretold that the descendants of Levi would be scattered among the other tribes because their bloody acts at Shechem (Genesis 34). But because of their obedience that day at Mt. Sinai, they were set aside for holy purposes... they would assist with the work of the tabernacle and temple and be teachers throughout Israel. 

Have you forsaken God by your actions? Ours is a God who does not forsake us but reclaims sinners like us for his kingdom work.

The curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place… that curtain separated the Holy God from his unholy people. That is the curtain torn from top to bottom when Jesus died. The way to God is open.

On this day before Ash Wednesday, let us begin our Lenten mourning.

Mourn our fickle hearts.

Mourn the times our eyes have looked at things in this life as the source of security when we are afraid. “These are your gods.”

Then let us see the unchanging love of the Son for his Father and the Son's unchanging love for us. Let us confess: The Forsaken One is our God. God’s people are never forsaken. Amen.