What color is your calf?

"And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves." (Exodus 32:7)

As I was reading this passage today, there were a few things that jumped out at me and brought conviction. The verse above takes place after Moses brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, and also during the time that God was laying out to Moses the pattern He wanted His people to follow. 

God was in the middle of giving instruction to Moses about the priests and tabernacle and had just given him the table of stones that the ten commandments were written on, when all of a sudden He tells Moses to leave the mountain and go back to the Israelites. God knew that they were wickedly sinning and had built an idol to worship. 

The first question that came to my mind when I was reading was: What if God wasn't finished giving Moses instructions and was cut short because of sin? The children of Israel suffered much in their wilderness days before they reached the promised land. Could it be that God would have continued to give instruction to Moses had they not committed this despicable sin, and that instruction could have helped them avoid some of their peril? 

I do not believe that God erroneously forgot to mention something important to Moses or that He did not plan for enough time to speak to him, but I do believe that sin keeps blessings from us that we would otherwise have had. Sin has consequences, and our choices effect our future. 

Now, before we bash the idol worshipers too harshly let's remember that even though we may never construct a giant golden calf to worship, we have idols in our lives too. We also commit sin that may have an impact on future blessings from God. 

In this passage when God talks to Moses, He refers to the Children of Israel as "thy people" and not "My people." God was reminding Moses of his responsibility of care for His children. Sometimes we are not pleased with our responsibilities, but if they were given to us by God, then we are accountable with how we act on those responsibilities. Parents are responsible for their children and will be held accountable --  not with the choices of their children -- but with how they choose to act with their authority. A leader's role is just as important as a follower's role, and we will all be accountable for the choices we make. 

Before God sends Moses back down the mountain, He gives him a little more background on what exactly is happening at the edge of Sinai's hill and what was happening in the hearts of His people. He says in verse 8: 

"They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshiped it and have sacrificed thereunto, and said; These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt."

First, Moses learns the disheartening truth that the Israelites have denounced God and have replaced Him with something made from their very own hands. What must have been going through Moses' mind at this news? Shock? Anger? Disbelief? Disgust? 

Actually, surprisingly enough Moses did not react with judgement, but with compassion. God was angry with their sin and was getting ready to destroy them, but Moses stepped in and advocated for the sinners by reminding God that these were His people whose lives He had just saved from captivity. He reminds God of His promise to Abraham that He would multiply his children to be as the stars in heaven. God did turn away His wrath at Moses' words, and did not destroy the idol worshipers at that time.

Second, I look at the last part of verse 8 which says, 

"These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt."

The Israelites believed that a statue they just created had been the one to save them from captivity. How could they be so foolish? They gave credit to a false source when God was the one to free them and meet their needs! Yet how often do we do the same? 

When we get sick with a cold we give credit to orange juice, zinc, or  the herbal tea we ingest that "heal" us, instead of our loving Father. 

When we get that job or promotion we wanted, we give credit to our experience or education instead of a blessing from our Lord. 

When we avoid spending too much money on something because we have used our analytical minds to research and find the best option, we often give credit to ourselves and not to the God who gave us our minds and the ability to discern and reason.

How often do we merit the successes in our lives to something (or someone) other than our Provider? When I think about it, I am saddened to learn that this merit-placing sin is indeed an idol in my life. I am reminded to not be judgmental with other peoples decisions, because I make the same decisions. 

Our choices are often not the same golden color of that calf, but our calves are real nonetheless. 

I am reminded to remain humble in my judgement of others, and remember that I am made of the same stuff they are. Let's remember to pray and ask that God reveal any idols in our lives, and to thank Him for all that He has given us! 

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

~Tiffany~

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