12/8 How to cross the Desert
/Acts Sermon 35
Date: 12/8/2024
Title: How to cross the Desert
Text: [Acts 7:38-45]
38 He was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us.
39 But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.
40 They told Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!’
41 That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and reveled in what their own hands had made.
42 But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon, and stars. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets:
“‘Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings
forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel?
43 You have taken up the tabernacle of Molek
and the star of your god Rephan,
the idols you made to worship.
Therefore I will send you into exile’ beyond Babylon.
44 Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen.
45 After receiving the tabernacle, our ancestors under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them. It remained in the land until the time of David.
With the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, the Israelites escaped from Egypt. When Moses stretched out his hand again, the walls of water collapsed, wiping out Pharaoh and his elite army entirely.
Here lies the profound wisdom of God. Although we cannot fully comprehend His plans, we can glimpse some of His divine purposes now, which were unknown at the time.
God orchestrated this situation intentionally.
Looking at the map, there was a route to Canaan that didn’t require crossing the Red Sea. Yet, God chose to show this extraordinary event. Why? Firstly, it was to establish Moses’ authority among the Israelites, who were quick to complain. Through Moses, God demonstrated the kind of people He wanted Israel to be.
Secondly, it was to completely annihilate Pharaoh and the Egyptian army. The Israelites were about to embark on a long journey through the wilderness. Who could guarantee that Pharaoh wouldn’t change his mind and attack them again? By this act, God ensured Pharaoh’s forces would never threaten them.
However, these two reasons didn’t necessarily require parting the sea. The most significant purpose behind this method was to make it absolutely clear that there was no going back. How could they return after crossing through a path carved in the sea?
It was God’s strongest declaration: “Do not even dream of returning to Egypt.”
Yet, despite this, some among the Israelites continued to grumble and long for Egypt at every opportunity. Still, God took this extraordinary measure to minimize such thoughts, sealing the way back as if covering it with a lid and stamping it with a seal. Later, the Apostle Paul compared this event to baptism.
Thus began 40 years in the wilderness.
Stephen, in the New Testament, referred to the Israelites in the wilderness as the “church in the wilderness.”
Jesus and His disciples also provided verses defining the purpose of the church in the world. Likewise, Stephen highlighted an essential aspect of what it means to be the church.
The Greek word for church, ἐκκλησία (ekklēsía), derives from “ἐκ” (meaning “out of”) and “καλέω” (meaning “to call”), with “σία” indicating the result of an action. Combined, it signifies “those who have been called out” — a gathering of people who have been summoned out of the world, though still living in it, to form a community.
Stephen further explains what kind of community this is:
a group of people walking together through the wilderness — a wilderness community.
Does this concept of the wilderness feel familiar to you?
Ultimately, the true Canaan where we will dwell forever is the Kingdom of God. From that perspective, our life on earth is, in the grand scheme of things, a journey through the wilderness.
So why didn’t God, after performing such miraculous acts to save the Israelites, take them directly into Canaan? Why did they have to spend 40 years in the wilderness?
Stephen highlights the infamous “golden calf” incident as the root cause of many problems, pointing to it as the most significant reason behind Israel’s failure. Ultimately, every other issue stemmed from this one event.
This incident took place while Moses was on Mount Sinai, spending forty days in God’s presence.
[Exodus 32:23]
“They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’”
The Israelites were overwhelmed with anxiety. They begged for a god they could look at, one that would give them a sense of stability. In response, they collected the gold they had brought from Egypt and handed it to Aaron.
It’s baffling to consider what Aaron was thinking when he complied with their request and crafted the golden calf. Later, when Moses confronted him, Aaron explained his actions by saying he was afraid of the crowd’s demands. However, Aaron described something extraordinary in the process of making the calf:
[Exodus 32:24]
“So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”
This, of course, is not entirely accurate. The Bible explicitly states that Aaron fashioned a mold, poured the molten gold into it, and then carved the figure of a calf. Despite this, Aaron’s statement implies that he experienced something beyond his own capability—a supernatural phenomenon.
This is evident in what Aaron declared to the Israelites after creating the golden calf:
[Exodus 32:4]
“He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’”
Aaron made the golden calf with his own hands, yet he proclaimed to the Israelites, “This is your god, Israel, who brought you out of Egypt!” He even built an altar in front of it and claimed that this idol was “the LORD.” The people celebrated, eating, drinking, and dancing before the idol.
How could such a thing happen?
Aaron was astonished at the outcome of his craftsmanship, perhaps believing that God had assisted him in creating the golden calf. Despite being chosen by God, Aaron failed to discern between the true God and deceitful spirits.
Even today, people celebrate great inventions and admire those who make life easier for humanity, often elevating them as heroes. However, if such talents and popularity truly come from God, it will be evident through the fruit of their lives. It’s critical to remember that such abilities are not always from God.
How shocking is it that the Israelites, along with Aaron, were dancing and rejoicing before Satan in worship, proclaiming that the golden calf was the LORD who had delivered them from Egypt?
The oldest literary work in human history is considered to be the “Epic of Gilgamesh” from Mesopotamia. Gilgamesh is believed to have been a real figure who lived in the region of Uruk (modern-day Iraq). The oldest archaeological record of him is found in Sumerian tablets, which are clay tablets dating back to around 2100 BCE.
Later, Akkadian versions of the clay tablets are estimated to date from the 19th to 18th centuries BCE, while the most complete form of the Epic of Gilgamesh is found in Babylonian tablets from the 12th century BCE.
The discovery of these clay tablets caused a significant stir in Western societies because the epic contained a story strikingly similar to Noah’s Flood as described in the Bible.
Moses, who is traditionally believed to have written Genesis, is thought to have lived around the 15th century BCE. This means the most complete version of the Epic of Gilgamesh is three centuries later than Moses. However, the Sumerian tablets mentioning Gilgamesh date back to 2100 BCE, making them over 500 years older.
This has led some scholars to argue that Moses might have drawn on ancient Near Eastern myths that had been passed down through generations. In the flood story from the Epic of Gilgamesh, the protagonist is named Utnapishtim, who parallels Noah in many ways.
Let’s compare the two stories.
It is astonishing how many striking similarities exist between the two stories. For example, both Noah and Utnapishtim sent out a dove, a sparrow, and a raven to check if the waters had receded. Such specific details are hard to dismiss as mere coincidence.
How should we understand this?
Scholars generally agree that both the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Bible were first passed down orally before being written down at a later point.
This means that no matter when these stories were recorded, what we have today are merely manuscripts, not the originals. Finding an older manuscript doesn’t necessarily mean that the oral tradition it represents is older as well.
When comparing the two, it becomes clear which narrative is more logically structured and even verifiable through modern understanding.
For instance, Utnapishtim’s ark is described as a perfect square, with its length and width both measuring 120 cubits. Have you ever seen a square-shaped ship? It’s impossible for such a vessel to stay afloat; it would spin uncontrollably and capsize with the slightest waves. On the other hand, Noah’s ark was built with dimensions of 300 cubits in length, 50 cubits in width, and 30 cubits in height—ratios remarkably similar to those used in modern shipbuilding. How could Noah have known these precise, scientifically sound proportions?
Moreover, when reading the Epic of Gilgamesh, even in its best-preserved versions, the narrative appears disjointed, its logical flow weak and superficial. It lacks the emotional depth and progression needed for readers to connect with its characters and events.
Contrast this with the account of Noah’s flood in Genesis. Can you not sense Noah’s emotions and God’s feelings toward him? This narrative exhibits a literary quality that surpasses even the standards of 15th-century BCE literature, let alone the manuscripts of the 1st century CE. Its vivid, cohesive storytelling is unparalleled.
What does this suggest? It points to the idea that the flood story in Genesis is a divinely revealed and accurately recorded account, where God showed Moses the true events and guided him to write them down. The Epic of Gilgamesh, by contrast, seems to be a distorted retelling of the same historical event, passed down through oral traditions and gradually transformed into myth.
There is another critical point to consider. While Noah was a flawed but faithful servant of God, Utnapishtim in the Epic of Gilgamesh becomes an immortal being, almost godlike by the end of his story.
This reveals not only the corruption and distortion of the original event but also the direction of that distortion. Polytheistic systems like Greek, Roman, Norse, and Hindu mythologies show similar patterns, where humans and gods blend and interact in exaggerated ways. These traces are visible in Utnapishtim’s transformation.
The Hebrew word for “god,” Elohim, literally means “heavenly beings” and broadly refers to spiritual entities. This term can denote God Himself, as well as angels or other celestial beings, depending on the context.
However, Yahweh is used exclusively to refer to the one true God we worship.
Thus, the gods and idols that appear in various mythologies could be understood as fallen angels who were falsely revered as deities by humanity.
The ancient Greek word “εἴδωλον” (eidolon) later transitioned into Latin as “idolum.”
In Korean, the term for idol is “우상” (usang), derived from the character “우” (偶), which means “likeness” or “image.” Interestingly, “우” can also mean “ox” or “cow” in Korean, making “우상” interpretable as “the image of a cow.” This is fascinating given that one of the most common objects of idol worship globally is the “horned bull or ox.”
In today’s passage, there is a warning against the golden calf, as well as Molek and the star of Rephan. Both the golden calf and Molek are known to have been represented as horned oxen.
Little is known about the star of Rephan. However, considering the Bible often personifies stars and frequently associates them with angels, it is reasonable to view Molek as one of these fallen stars, a fallen angel.
The name Molek frequently appears in the Bible as Baal, which means “lord” or “master.” The original form of Molek, Melek, means “king” in Hebrew. The similarities between the two outweigh their differences. Both were idols worshiped in the Canaanite region, and both were often depicted as bull-like figures.
This suggests that these names were less about specific deities and more about titles or descriptors of divine-like beings.
Outside the Bible, rituals dedicated to Molek reportedly involved a bronze statue of a bull with human arms. Infants were placed on its outstretched arms, and fire from the hollowed body consumed them as sacrifices. To drown out the cries of the children, drums were beaten, and festivities ensued.
Amos 5:26
“So you offered sacrifices to Molek and worshiped the gods you made for yourselves, bringing offerings to them.”
This practice wasn’t due to a lack of value placed on children. As seen in the stories of Abraham and Moses, children were regarded as great blessings and extensions of one’s legacy. They were cherished deeply.
Ironically, the desire for prosperity—often sought for the well-being of their offspring—led people to offer those very children as sacrifices. This starkly reveals the essence of idol worship: it promises abundance while taking away what is most precious.
Idols are not always tangible objects. When Jesus came, He rebuked the religious leaders of His time for idolizing the law itself and treating obedience to the law as a form of righteousness. About them, Jesus said:
[Matthew 15:14]
“Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
These leaders meticulously observed not only the Ten Commandments but also the 600 additional laws derived from them. Yet, they had forgotten the original purpose of these commandments.
At that time, the law, rituals, and acts of worship themselves had become idols.
It is not that observing the law is wrong—after all, the law was given by God. However, if the purpose of keeping the law is not rooted in love for God and for one’s neighbors as commanded by Him, then even outward obedience can become idolatry.
Today, it’s unlikely that the law itself becomes an idol for us. So, what could be our idols?
Let’s examine whether the desires that once led humanity to worship idols in the past continue to tempt us today.
The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche famously said, “God is dead,” and he predicted that money would replace God’s place in society—a claim that has been proven true.
But that’s not all.
Most ancient gods shared common characteristics: they never aged or died, and they embodied health and youth. Are these desires significant in our culture today?
Moreover, the gods of mythology were often portrayed as physically attractive and sexually alluring. Their appeal was centered around their sexiness.
Isn’t this reflective of our era? Today, being described as “sexy” is often considered the highest compliment, regardless of age or gender.
Respecting and maintaining the health of our God-given bodies is not idolatry. However, the problem arises when good things become the ultimate things.
For example, love and addiction share similar traits. Love fosters trust and freedom, while addiction breeds anxiety and traps people in bondage.
The feeling of being loved or happy is a good thing. Achieving this requires effort and patience. But what happens when we bypass the process and seek instant gratification, wanting happiness whenever and however much we desire? The pursuit of the feeling itself becomes the goal.
A clear and extreme example is drug addiction.
You may have heard of the opioid crisis in the United States during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Misleading claims that opioids had low addictive potential led to countless patients being prescribed these drugs, only to become lifelong addicts. This tragedy culminated in Purdue Pharma, the company at the center of the crisis, admitting its responsibility in 2020 and agreeing to a settlement of $40 billion.
Yet what happened? Purdue filed for bankruptcy and is now attempting to restart its business under a new name.
Isn’t this pure evil?
While some victims of addiction are tragic cases, many are also the result of their own unchecked desires.
How convenient it would be to feel good without any external reason! To decide when and how much happiness we experience. Yet, the cost is devastating.
Initially, drugs create moments of euphoria, but over time, it’s not about feeling good anymore—it’s about avoiding the misery of not having the drug. What began as a pursuit of happiness leads to deeper despair.
This is the essence of all idolatry.
If something that brings energy or excitement into your life starts making most of your remaining time feel dull or lifeless, it is becoming an idol, much like a drug.
If prioritizing a particular person or relationship makes you increasingly indifferent to everything else—especially God—that’s a red flag.
The most striking part of the golden calf incident is this:
While Aaron and the Israelites were engaging in such an outrageous act of rebellion against God, God and Moses were preparing the stone tablets for them.
After 400 years of slavery, as the Israelites faced a new chapter in their lives, God prepared a priceless gift for them. This gift was the Ten Commandments, a fundamental guide for life and values—ten simple rules that would serve as the foundation of their relationship with God. Alongside this, God planned the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle, symbols of His presence that the people so earnestly desired.
At the very moment God was preparing these gifts, the Israelites, unable to wait just a little longer, committed one of the greatest sins. They violated the first and most important commandment by crafting and worshiping an idol, the golden calf, calling it Yahweh and offering sacrifices to it.
Right before God is about to give His greatest blessings, Satan’s temptations often come strongest. How many times have we, too, made foolish choices because we couldn’t endure those last few moments of waiting?
Earlier, I mentioned how our lives as a whole can be likened to a wilderness journey. But within that larger journey, there are periods of desert and periods of milk and honey—just as the Israelites eventually entered the Promised Land with Joshua. These alternating times are like day and night: the dark hours of the night prepare us to fully embrace the light of the day.
Similarly, small desert moments in our lives teach us to persevere and let go of idols. These moments refine us, preparing us for victories in our own “Promised Lands.”
The purpose of the 40 years in the wilderness was to let go of idols and renew their hearts. Likewise, the recurring desert-like experiences in our lives are God’s way of helping us remove the idols within us.
While God governs the entire universe, He also focuses intimately on His relationship with each of us individually. In the conflicts and struggles we face with others, God is not primarily concerned with those who hurt us but with us—our reactions, our growth, and which idols we will choose to let go of during these times.
Thus, in those moments when the temptation to sin feels overwhelming, we must remember and believe that God is preparing a gift we truly need.
Even in biblical times and still today, idols tempt us by offering many things—wealth, fame, power, health, beauty. Fallen angels can provide these things, but they cannot give the heavenly peace or the freedom and confidence we long for.
What in your life is so important to you that losing it would feel like the end? What unmet desire leaves you feeling a persistent emptiness that nothing else can fill?
These are our idols. As long as they hold that place in our hearts, they will ultimately bring unhappiness to us and those around us.
We must come to a place where, as we sing in our worship songs, we find our satisfaction in Christ alone. Even if we lose everything, even if we lose the people we love most, we must believe that if God is with us, we will be okay. Only then can we truly love others.
When God is the most precious presence in our lives, we stop demanding from others what they cannot give us. This is love, and it is what distinguishes true worship from idolatry.
Remember the God who parted the sea to rescue us from Egypt. See His passionate desire and love in closing the waters behind us, ensuring there is no turning back.
Idols often boast of their size and grandeur, competing with one another in splendor. Yet our God chose to dwell in a small wooden box—the Ark of the Covenant—measuring less than one square meter, made of acacia wood.
The Creator of the universe dwelt in that small wooden box, designed to be carried by just a few people, so that He could go with His people wherever they went.
And now, the God who created the heavens and the earth, who parted the sea, desires to dwell in someone even smaller—you and me. He longs to be with us, day and night, because of His great love.
When something, whether bad or good, begins to steal your focus and devotion, threatening to become an idol, turn back to the Lord. Set it in its proper place, and peace will come to you, to God, and even to those around you.
By faithfully walking through your deserts, you will experience overflowing joy in the radiant light of God’s presence.
Let us pray.
