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
who will go before us …”
Exodus 32:1
Have you ever watched someone do something real stupid? (You can make a fortune broadcasting videos of people doing stupid things.)
Well, of all the events in his history, today’s verse has to tell of the stupidest.
The people of Israel have just watched God produce ten phenomenal signs to rescue them from slavery in Egypt. Then He topped that by parting the Red Sea. Then daily he provided bread and water for them miraculously. It was amazing. God was God with a capital G!
But … when he didn’t show us for a few days – while meeting with Moses on top of Sinai – they decided to trade in their old deliverer for a newer model. And dare I mention that this new model was to made with human hands. Aaron would say, “take off your golden ear rings … and bring them to me” and they literally sculpted a new “god” in the shape of baby cow. And then they “revel[ed].”
It was stupid on top of stupid.
You and I may say, “How ridiculous.” And yet you and I do it every day!
No, we haven’t melted our jewelry and forged a cow to put on our mantle. Nevertheless, day after day we treat our own selves as “gods.” We do what we want … when we want. We follow our own wisdom. We follow our own priorities. Our own desires are on the throne of our hearts. How ridiculous. And yet we do it, don’t we?
In the wake of Israel’s unholiness, Moses had to plead with the Holy Lord to win a reprieve for his people. In the wake of your unholiness and mine, it is Jesus Christ who intercedes for us.
It’s the exact same story. We’re stupid. We rebel and sin. But God sets us free. Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
In Christ’s Love,
a guy who has
an olive wood camel
from Israel on his mantle …
but no golden cow
(and to be clear,
I don’t worship camels!)
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