Turning Aside from God's Commands

The People of God Set Priorities
Living as a Community of Believers
Overcoming Temptation

Exodus 32:1-10  The Message

“Make Gods for Us”

32 When the people realized that Moses was taking forever in coming down off the mountain, they rallied around Aaron and said, “Do something. Make gods for us who will lead us. That Moses, the man who got us out of Egypt—who knows what’s happened to him?”

^2-4 So Aaron told them, “Take off the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters and bring them to me.” They all did it; they removed the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. He took the gold from their hands and cast it in the form of a calf, shaping it with an engraving tool.
The people responded with enthusiasm: “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up from Egypt!”
⁵ Aaron, taking in the situation, built an altar before the calf.
Aaron then announced, “Tomorrow is a feast day to God!”
⁶ Early the next morning, the people got up and offered Whole-Burnt-Offerings and brought Peace-Offerings. The people sat down to eat and drink and then began to party. It turned into a wild party!
^7-8 God spoke to Moses, “Go! Get down there! Your people whom you brought up from the land of Egypt have fallen to pieces. In no time at all they’ve turned away from the way I commanded them: They made a molten calf and worshiped it. They’ve sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are the gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt!’”
^9-10 God said to Moses, “I look at this people—oh! what a stubborn, hard-headed people! Let me alone now, give my anger free reign to burst into flames and incinerate them. But I’ll make a great nation out of you.”

 
For Reflection

"When the cat's away..."

We humans are an impatient bunch.  We often respond to the voices in our midst who are ready to offer an easy road, a quick fix, a false promise of security and hope. And we like braying asses follow singing off key songs in drunken folly.

Eternity is God's time.  We have only today.  We are indebted to God for our lives.  So live as though you are grateful, in humble obedience in patient expectation in the hope that never ends.

 

Pray

Pray that you will not abandon the faith that has led you to the Kingdom.  Pray that you will have the confidence in God's promise that overrides all temporal issues.  Pray for patience.  Expect grace.