Exodus 32:1 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods….”
Sadly, the behaviors in this chapter I can relate to all too easily. My default, when faced with uncertainty (whether from delay or any other cause) is anxiety, fear, worry. Do I make a golden image as the Israelites do? Of course not, but the outcome is the same—something takes my attention for my God. In my case, worry, anxiety, and fear eclipse my Savior. Jesus, Help me!
Exodus 32:2 Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings…and bring them to me.”
Moses was gone for 40 days. I’m sure they were pretty patient at first. “God’s got this. Moses will be back soon.” But day after day, that seed of doubt began to grow. “This is taking longer than I thought. What if…? Maybe….” I don’t consciously set up a golden calf, but just as surely, that fear, that anxiety, that worry as I wait is consuming much more of my time and attention than my Savior. Jesus, Help me!
Exodus 32:4a He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this honest look at what happens when You ask me to wait in joyful hope and to trust You. I definitely need to work on learning to wait in joyful hope instead of anxious fear. Thank You for helping me to see it. Now please help me to live it. Draw me closer. Amen.
Exodus 32:4b …Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you out of Egypt.”
Have a blessed day.
My faith, my life, my teaching–it's all a work in progress.