God Is Our Rock

AS WE CONSIDER OUR Key Verses, we are reminded that our God is the Rock or great foundation upon which our hopes are built. All his ways exhibit perfect judgment, and he is a God of truth and without iniquity. He is just and right, and, indeed, he is worthy to be praised.

Israel, Jehovah’s chosen people, on the other hand, proved to be “perverse and crooked,” especially since they repaid the Heavenly Father with ingratitude as well as acts of rebellion. This was in spite of the many blessings they had received, including but not limited to their deliverance from bondage in Egypt.—Deut. 32:5,6

God’s watchful care over his people also was evidenced in their desert journey. “The Lord’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So, the Lord alone did lead him.”—vss. 9-12

The events described in our lesson occurred during the period when Moses had ascended Sinai and received the Law Covenant to guide the Israelites concerning God’s requirements for them. At the close of forty days, however, as he descended he heard the shouts of the people but discerned that they did not indicate either victory or dispute in warfare. Rather, he heard voices of singing and revelry. As he came in sight of the golden calf and the people’s idolatrous worship, he manifested great anger at what had occurred under his brother Aaron’s leadership during his absence from the people.—Exod. 32:15-25

“Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord’s side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. And he said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. …And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the Lord; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.”—vss. 26-28,30

Although this incident occurred many centuries ago, it has profound implications for the followers of Christ during this Gospel Age. There have been many admonitions given to natural Israel to render service to Jehovah alone instead of any other gods. Let us always reverence the Creator only, rather than any creature, earthly treasure or association, bearing in mind the following admonition: “Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”—Ps. 29:1,2