Freedom, Slavery, and Idolatry - Israel's Failure: A Nation of Unrighteous Judges

Paul took as his third evidence of Israel's failure the episode involving the bronze servant. The golden calf incident highlighted Israel's fundamental idolatry, while the Balaam episode showed how the people's idolatrous hearts expressed themselves in spiritual adultery. So this third circumstance highlights Israel's fault-finding posture toward Yahweh. Rather than loving and trusting Him, the children of Israel condemned Him as an unfaithful Father. The same unbelief that caused them to redefine Him led them to find Him lacking when measured against their expectations.