Remember Your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; do not turn Your attention to the stubbornness of this people, or to their wickedness, or their sin. (v. 27)

I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8)

And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. (Matthew 13:8)

This chapter summarizes the events that happened in Exodus from chapters 19 to 32. It is easy to focus on what the Israelites did – making a molten calf and worshiping it. But we need to remember what caused the Israelites to do such a thing. The Israelites simply did not know or understand God even though they saw many miracles. They had the leader, Moses, who taught them about God and His law but they did not obey God from the heart.

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from people, but from God. (Romans 2:28-29)

This false obedience was clearly shown in Numbers 16. The Israelites supported Korah and his group secretly and were angry at Moses when they were punished.

But on the next day all the congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You are the ones who have caused the death of the Lord’s people!” (Numbers 16:41)

The obedience of the Israelites was false. It did not start from the heart of flesh because God did not give them the heart of flesh.

Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear. (Deuteronomy 29:4)

Even in the OT, God gave His elect people the Spirit to understand His words and works. But they were chosen regardless of their background. The Israel nation was built to teach the elect that one’s salvation is not from his/her will or works. It appears that the Israelites suffered for our education. But their suffering was from their own sins. In fact, they enjoyed sinning and rebelling against God. The new Israel, the church on the earth, is the same. Christians say that they reform continuously but they have adopted false doctrines. I am referring to the Covenant Theology, the Dispensationalism, and other false doctrines. They misinterpret the OT starting from Genesis chapter 1.

One must understand the purpose of all creation – the Kingdom of God. God plans and carries out all His plans without changing. Therefore, grace is 100%. Salvation is not from our will or works. God is faithful and fulfills all promises to His chosen people.

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— and He made us into a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:4-6)