Adam, Aaron and “typical human nature”

What an awesome Torah portion Parsha 21 was!  So much to cover, including the "golden calf" issue. You would think that after Israel had personally witnessed YHWH's deliverance of His people from Egypt's Pharoah, and after seeing YHWH part the Red Sea so they could cross over onto dry land, and after He was supernaturally feeding them manna, etc., they would know better than to forge a golden calf!

One would definitely think that Aaron, the High Priest would know better....

But what happened? While Moshe was receiving the Ten Commandments, the community was down below, making and worshiping a "golden calf." What's absolutely mind-boggling is that YHWH never chastised or killed Aaron, even after Aaron made excuses for his own ungodly behavior (Ex. 32:22-24)!

Aaron blaming the people for causing him to stumble reminds us of another person who attempted to place blame on someone other than himself ... Adam! Remember, Adam said, "The woman you gave to be with me - she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate." (Genesis 3:12)

Typical human nature, isn't it?

Note, however, in Exodus 32:33, ADONAI answered Moshe, "Those who have sinned against me are the ones I will blot out of my book." This is reiterated in the Book of Revelation:

Revelation 20: 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life was hurled into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21: 27 Nothing impure may enter it, nor anyone who does shameful things or lies; the only ones who may enter are those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

In other words, we are ALL forgiven through the Blood of the Lamb, but you're still responsible for your own destiny. Once we have the Holy Spirit residing within, we should NOT continue to act in a carnal manner, for there is no Sin Sacrifice for continued, deliberate sinning!

What a contrast to today where most seem to think that they can purposely sin and still be forgiven .....

Numbers 15: 30 "'But an individual who does something wrong intentionally, whether a citizen or a foreigner, is blaspheming ADONAI. That person will be cut off from his people.

Hebrews 6: 4. But they who have once descended to immersion and have tasted the gift from heaven and have received the Ruach haKodesh 5. and have tasted the good Word of Elohim and the power of the world to come, 6. cannot again sin and a second time be renewed to repentance; or a second time execute him on a stake and insult the Son of Elohim.

7. For the earth that drinks the rain which comes often upon it and produces the herb that is of use to those for whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from Elohim. 8. But if it should put forth thorns and briers, it would be discarded and be approaching closely to a curse, and its end would be a conflagration. (AENT)

NOTE: Huge contrast between Aramaic and Greek. The Greek reads: "once having been enlightened..." This "enlightening" seems logical until we look at Aramaic: "But they who have once descended to immersion..."

The difference is acute, since baptism is clearly a subject being introduced just two verses earlier. The reason for the Greek redaction to "enlightenment" may well have been due to early Gnostic influence that stressed Mashiyach's knowledge over his actual power and incarnation of Deity. See also Hebrews 10:32.

Hebrews 10: 26 For if we deliberately continue to sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but only the terrifying prospect of Judgment, or raging fire that will consume the enemies. (CJB)

The above scripture is not referring to those unclean bondages that dwell in our flesh but to the conscious choices believers make. It refers not to our unintentional sins but to those we pursue knowingly and willingly.

2 Peter 2: 19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for a person is slave to whatever has defeated him. 20 Indeed, if they have once escaped the pollutions of the world through knowing our Lord and Deliverer, Yeshua the Messiah, and then have again become entangled and defeated by them, their latter condition has become worse than their former. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the Way of righteousness than, fully knowing, to turn from the holy command delivered to them. (CJB)