When the people saw that Moses had not come down from the mountain but was staying there a long time, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, “We do not know what has happened to this man Moses, who led us out of Egypt; so make us a god to lead us.” (Exodus 32:1 GNT)
Our opening text records an account that we can learn from. When Moses went to the mountain to speak with God and was delayed, the Bible records that the Israelites asked Aaron to make them another god that could lead them. So Aaron asked each of them to bring their gold jewelry, and made a golden calf from it. And they said, ‘This is the god who brought us out of Egypt.’ It was such a terrible thing to do, and every time we read this, we may feel indignant because it was clearly wrong.
However, do you know that to this day many believers do the same thing without realizing it?
I took time to ponder why the Israelites did this, and I realized it was primarily because they lacked patience and had no deep revelation of who God truly is and what He can do. Aaron, too, was merely following Moses; he apparently lacked his own strong conviction or revelation about God, so he yielded to their demands. Why did they demand this? Because they felt that since Moses, the man who connected them to God, was not returning quickly, God must have abandoned them. But that was not true. They failed to understand that if God did not abandon them in Egypt, He certainly wouldn’t abandon them now that they were in the wilderness.
Unfortunately, this mirrors how many believers behave today. When they are praying and waiting on God to act, and they see no immediate sign of His intervention, they conclude that God is done with them and is not coming to their rescue. Consequently, they begin to look for another ‘god’ – another source – that can offer solutions and leadership in life. I have heard stories of people who left the faith claiming they found peace afterward, but is that really true? The answer is a resounding No. They have likely been deceived, and perhaps only when they leave this world will they realize the truth, unless God graciously gives them another chance to see clearly.
I say all this to emphasize this point: no matter how silent God may seem in your situation, stay with Him for solutions and leadership. Any leadership or solution sought outside of God is ultimately false and unsustainable. It is only a matter of time before you find this out. Make a conscious decision to remain true and loyal to God. Even if you feel like you are drowning, cling to God, because our walk with Him transcends this physical realm. We don’t only need Him in this world but also for eternity. As you hold on to Him, do it in faith, remembering His promise: When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burned; the hard trials that come will not hurt you. For I am the Lord your God, the holy God of Israel, who saves you… (Isaiah 43:2-3 GNT)
Today’s Rhema
No matter what, stay with God because He will never leave you nor forsake you!
Confession for the Day
Father, I am grateful for inspiring me with this teaching. I choose to hold on to You both in good times and in bad times. I choose to stay faithful and loyal to You because I know that You are always with me. Praise God!
