Day 30

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Golden Calf--Idolatry


Scripture

January 30—Exodus 32-34: Golden Idol and Glorious Lord

Observation

In Moses absence, the people have been busy and the scene is not pleasant. Ignoring their pledge of obedience to God, and assuming Moses had died on the mountain, they return to the pagan ways of Egypt. In righteous anger, Moses shatters the two stone tablets, destroys the golden calf, and orders the Levites to slay the guilty offenders. His selfless intercession brings about a renewal of the covenant between God and his chosen people. And when Moses returns from yet another to Sinai—this time to replace the shattered tablets—his face radiates the glory of Israel’s forgiving God.

Application

Freedom has been defined as the opportunity to make decisions, and character as the ability to make right decisions. If that is true, then one of the quickest ways to reveal the true character of a person is to give him the freedom to choose his own path.

Israel’s leader, Moses, was away, and in his absence the people had to make certain choices. The majority chose to worship a god of gold, to ignore their pledge of obedience, and to return to the morally harmful lifestyle of Egypt. The minority—Moses’ relatives from the tribe of Levi—stood firm against public opinion and refused to worship the golden calf even when the elders, leaders, and Aaron himself sanctioned it. “All of you who are on the Lord’s side… (32:26)! It is a ringing call to commitment you’ll find frequently in the Bible. Look at Joshua 24:15 and 1 Kings 18:21. Then ask yourself. “Have I answered the call yet? Does the way I live daily show that I have?”

Prayer

Oh my God, please do not let our circumstances catch us turning away from you and becoming disobedience to your word. That was awful what happened to the people when Moses came down from Sinai to deliver the law and discovered they were worshiping the golden calf—3,000 lost their lives. This is what happens when we part from your word and apart from you. And, apart from you oh Lord we are doomed. Help us keep our mind stayed on you in obedience to your word always! In Jesus name amen!

Moses Radiates the Glory of Israel's Forgiving God!







© Odessa Mathis about my Father's business! 2019

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