January 31, Exodus 32:1-34:35

Exodus 32:1-14

New International Version (NIV)

The Golden Calf

"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^[a] who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”

² Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” ³ So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron.⁴ He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods,^[b] Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”

⁵ When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival to the Lord.” ⁶ So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.

⁷ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt,have become corrupt. ⁸ They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’

⁹ “I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. ¹⁰ Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”

¹¹ But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? ¹² Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. ¹³ Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’” ¹⁴ Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened."

"It has been only a brief time since the Israelites enthusiastically accepted the terms of God's covenant and vowed obedience to it's laws. Yet their commitment was apparently more a matter of emotion than of sincere dedication, for with Moses gone up into the mountain only a month, the people ask Aaron to give them a tangible god to worship - an idol. God, of course, has specifically forbidden such worship. Nevertheless, Aaron is persuaded and builds a golden calf, which the Israelites worship. God's response is one of anger, and Moses must intercede on behalf ot the people. Moses' own reaction is also one of anger, as is witnessed by his response to this disheartening turn of events. Yet God is forgiving and, with firm repetition of His laws, He agrees to renew the covenant." Daily Bible commentary

This reminds me of people today. Myself, sometimes. Sometimes I can have such firm resolve and commitment, and be so excited about my decisions, and a few days later I have for whatever reason (the deep emotion I was feeling at the moment may have vanished), forgotten everything. 

Also I have mentored people who do the same thing! Shocking! They leave my office, and I breathe a sigh of relief that their mind seems to be once again pointed toward God. Then I hear a couple days later that they went out and did the very thing they had committed NOT to do!!! I'm completely shocked EVERY time! Even though people have been doing these types of things since they were formed from the dust of the ground. 

At other times in our lives, we find ourselves in difficult relationships that are very hurtful. Over and over. I have been shocked and upset over and over, but then I had to remind myself, is this person's behavior any different than it has been in the past? No. It's exactly the same. 

Some people you just need to eliminate from your life. As in be polite, but disassociate yourself from them. But there are others you can't eliminate. They are firmly in your life either as a brother or sister in Christ, or as a family member, or as a co-worker you may work closely with, or maybe a boss, to name a few examples.

You may feel like your relationship with them is like riding a roller coaster. One day you think, We are making progress!, and the very next day they do are say something that lets you know nothing has changed. This can be devastating. 

I have found from personal experience that I can't change people. In the past I thought if I could be convincing enough this type of person would have a change of heart and realize just how hurtful their behavior toward me has been. (I have been so kind and loving to them for heavens sake and how can they treat me this way!!!) If they really value our relationship, they would at some point understand how destructive their actions are! Not so. I've tried over and over to reason with these types of people and they wont budge. 

One time I was pouring all this out to God and He reminded me He goes through this over and over as well. 

Think about the many, many incredible miracles He did for the children of Israel and how He completely delivered them from the awful bondage of slavery they were in. How could they do something so utterly evil to Him! And Aaron, the spokes person God allowed Moses to have (because Moses didn't feel like he could speak properly) cheerfully made the golden calf for them! 

I can understand why God wanted to destroy them all. 

Fast forward to the Cross. The Almighty God came down, robed Himself in flesh, and was beaten so much that His face was marred more than ANY man.

Isaiah 52:14

Amplified Bible (AMP)

^"14 [For many the Servant of God became an object of horror; many were astonished at Him.] His face and His whole appearance were marred more than any man’s, and His form beyond that of the sons of men—but just as many were astonished at Him,"

Then He DIED on the Cross, for heavens sake!!! Then man continued, and continues today, over and over, to throw this great Sacrifice back in His Face by turning his back on Him, and sinning, and sinning and sinning, time, and time, and time again.

Why? How can people behave this way? In the Bible, we find the answer, even though it doesn't really make us feel much better.

Ephesians 6:12

Amplified Bible (AMP)

^"12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere."

(If you are in a physically abusive situation that's harming you or your loved ones, seek and follow the counsel of someone you trust and respect - your Pastor or Christian counselor - asap. I'm not advocating abusive behavior.) 

"Dear Jesus, I realize You have been hurt so deeply by those You love the most time and time again. Please transform my mind and help me to see things the way You see them oh God. If You can go through this deep pain and hurt over and over, then I can too. Because I have Your power working inside me. When I feel like I simply can't take any more pain, help me remember the Cross. When I want to walk away from someone, give me the courage to keep loving as You loved. I thank You for the work You are doing in me. I thank You for changing me instead of changing my situation. Because above ALL else, I MUST be saved. To You be ALL glory and honor. In Jesus precious name, the Name above every name, AMEN."