"When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down they said “We don’t know what happened ......”
Exodus 32:1
In this scenario, Moses and Joshua were on their way from Mount Sinai bringing back two tablets written by God. Unfortunately, the Israelites had forgotten the powerful deliverance from Egypt and doubted if Moses would ever come back. Was it a short memory or disobedience, or wanting to do their own thing? What could they have engaged themselves in so that they don't fall into this temptation? The report was that they were stubborn and managed to convince Aaron to make an idol and an altar so they could have (a festival to the Lord) so they said - but they actually indulged in pagan revelry. Instead of dancing to the Lord they were dancing to the idols!
As the story develops, it is easy to ask why would they do such a crazy thing after such an amazing victory! I thought about this and asked this question: Are there times in our lives when we have had victory, got so excited and then slowly started getting comfortable and less dependent on God? Perhaps not the Israelites style - worshipping those kind of idols but modernized ones?
God was watching and saw how they had corrupted themselves and disobeyed then He decided that he was going to destroy them and make Moses into a great nation. Well, Moses was so close to God, that he managed to pacify God to change his mind based on the oath bound to Abraham. This reveals what kind of relationship Moses had with God! What an encouragement to us to know that we can also develop a close relationship with God to be able to approach him.
When Moses encountered the chaos and the dancing, he was filled with anger, dropped the tablets and broke them, ground into them powder and forced the Israelites to drink! The people were totally out of control so Moses asked all who were with him to join him. Those who disobeyed had serious consequences as it is stated in Exodus 32:27-28.
We are reminded in Romans 3:23 that “For the wages of sin is death” Romans 3:23. There are consequences to disobedience – it sounds harsh but we see here that forgetfulness is costly! We have such a gracious and merciful God. Jesus made a hard decision to go to the cross so that we could have a choice. He is our greatest example.
Dear Lord, Help me to trust you like Moses and know that you are in total control at all times even when it seems that the answer is taking longer than I expected. Amen.
Meditate on: “Trust in the Lord at all times. Pour out your hearts to Him. For God is our refuge.” Palms 62: 8
Comentários