The book of Exodus has amazing stories which we can learn from and in chapter 32, we find the story of the golden calf that the Israelites made to lead them after according to them, ‘Moses had stayed on the mountain for too long.’
God called Moses on Mt. Sinai, and Moses left Aaron & Hur in charge as we read in Exodus 24:14 “Moses told the elders, stay here and wait for us until we come back. Aaron and Hur are here with you. If anyone has a dispute while am gone, consult with them.” So yeah, Aaron was one of the leaders put in charge, but he failed to stop the people from sinning, when the people gathered around him saying, “come on, they said, make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt” Exodus 32:1. At first, you’d think that Aaron would stop the people from making this atrocious wicked sin, but no! he doesn’t stop to think or flinch but goes ahead and tells the people, “take the gold rings from your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me” Exodus 32:2. Pause! What made a man who had been Moses spokesman, and who had seen God’s powerful hand at first sight go back and make an idol out of gold? Could it be that Aaron had doubt of whether his brother Moses was alive or not? What makes people go back and not believe anymore yet they had seen God’s hand in their lives?
So, all the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!” Exodus 32:3-4. Like seriously? The audacity? How could a calf they had just molded be their god? Okay let’s go back into their history. Yes, the Israelites were descendants of the great Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. When they went to Egypt, they were about 70 of them but their numbers grew and multiplied until they became a nation. However, it seems like the people had gotten accustomed to the many gods of Egypt. Life Application Bible Study gives a commentary & states, ‘two popular Egyptian gods, Hapi and Hathor were thought of as a bull and heifer.’ No wonder the Israelites molded a god in the image of a calf – it was something they had seen and was stored at the back of their minds as a subliminal message.
We’ve all seen how people who used to be saved and knew God turn & stop believing. What of faith believing Christians who have seen the power and hand of God in their life but somehow, they still cling to their past traditional believes? What about those of us who have raised idols in our lives instead of God. We are all guilty of trying to make God to fit in our own image and try to box Him or mold Him to fit our expectations, desires, and circumstances. Every time we do this, we end up worshipping ourselves. Apostle Paul brings this scenario all too well in Romans 1:19-20 “they know the truth about God because He has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invincible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature. So, they have no excuse for not knowing God.”
Yes, we live in times where people know God but have made deliberate intentions not to follow Him, for lack of a better word we have rejected Him. Romans 1:21 “Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship Him as God or even give Him thanks.”
In my church we have a confession which states, ‘I let go of past traditions & failures I have held until today. I embrace Gods principles, new revelation, and a new mindset.’ The question we need to ask ourselves as believers is have you truly let go of your past traditions, customs & culture way of doing things? Jesus speaks of this in Mark 7:7-9 “their worship is a farce (ridiculous) for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God. For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition. You skillfully sidestep God’s law in order to hold on to your own tradition.”
Apart from traditions, we’ve also created our own modern-day idols. We may not have curved a golden calf like the Israelites, but an idol is anything we have placed or given priority instead of God. The gods we create blind us to the love that our loving Father wants to shower on us. Ask yourself this question what idols have you erected? Could it be your job, money, children, husband, wife, mobile phone, social media, influencers & super stars whom we follow & do everything they do just because they are doing it. It’s crazy!
Just like the Israelites who had seen God’s power but fell short of disobeying His commands by running to alternative sources & creating their own gods, we too are culpable. We have fallen short in one way or the other. We have raised idols instead of God, we have followed and relied on our past way of doing things instead of relying on God’s power. Yes, sometimes we must wait for our miracle, but waiting doesn’t mean it’s a decline. In the waiting, our patience and perseverance grows. In the waiting, we learn to depend on God’s strength instead of relying on our own. In the waiting we get to learn God’s attributes and character. In the waiting we learn that He will never leave you nor forsake you. In the waiting, you grow stronger and stronger in Christ.
Don’t raise idols, look to Jesus the author & finisher of your faith. For the leaders amongst us, don’t lead the people into sin like Aaron did, instead shepard them into the ways of Christ. When they get weary, remind them of God’s goodness and mercy. For those who knew God & you stopped believing because of one reason or another, remember God loves you & He wants you back home, receive His Love, Grace & Mercy. How sad it will be to let go of the one true God and cling to ideologies, worshipping God’s creatures instead of Him our Creator. Always remember the words of Psalms 55:22 “Give all your cares to the Lord and He will give you strength. He will never let those who are right with Him be shaken.”
God bless you!!
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