Have I Made A Golden Calf?
Scripture Passage: Deuteronomy 9:13-21 (NASB)
13 The Lord spoke further to me, saying, ‘I have seen this people, and indeed, it is a stubborn people. 14 Let Me alone, that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven; and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.’
15 “So I turned and came down from the mountain while the mountain was burning with fire, and the two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands. 16 And I saw that you had indeed sinned against the Lord your God. You had made for yourselves a molten calf; you had turned aside quickly from the way which the Lord had commanded you. 17 I took hold of the two tablets and threw them from my hands and smashed them before your eyes. 18 I fell down before the Lord, as at the first, forty days and nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all your sin which you had committed in doing what was evil in the sight of the Lord to provoke Him to anger. 19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure with which the Lord was wrathful against you in order to destroy you, but the Lord listened to me that time also. 20 The Lord was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him; so I also prayed for Aaron at the same time. 21 I took your sinful thing, the calf which you had made, and burned it with fire and crushed it, grinding it very small until it was as fine as dust; and I threw its dust into the brook that came down from the mountain.
SUMMARY
While Moses was receiving the tablets of the covenant from God at Mt. Horeb, the Israelites were making a golden calf. God was infuriated with Israel’s idolatry and said He would destroy them and make Moses a nation mightier and greater than they. As soon as Moses came down from the mountain and saw the rebellious act of the Israelites, he smashed the tablets before their eyes. Moses fell down before God and fasted for forty days and nights for the Israelites and Aaron. God listened to Moses and turned away His wrath from destroying them. Moses burned the calf with fire, ground it to dust, and threw into the brook.
MEDITATION & REFLECTION
Moses fasted and earnestly prayed for forty days to plead with God for mercy on Israel. When I meditated on these passages, I felt his genuine love and care for his people who came out of Egypt with him. Moses just came down from the mountain from fasting for forty days and listening to God’s commandments, statutes and judgements which he would teach the Israelites. His heart was broken to see that golden calf and he destroyed the calf completely. In his disappointment, Moses did not turn away from the people to make a new nation. Although he was afraid of God’s wrath, Moses chose to fast and pray for mercy.
The Israelites were blessed to have Moses as their leader, and in my life I am so blessed to have Jesus as my Savior. Despite my countless sins and mistakes, Jesus keeps covering me with His blood. Without Jesus, I could not have survived to this day. I reflected and asked God to search my heart today. Have I made a golden calf? I was reminded of how I compartmentalize my relationship with God. I would do my Sunday worship time, quiet time and prayer time focusing on God, and then throughout the day I would live in my own flesh and with my own will. I’d often fail to acknowledge God and thank God unless I sit down in my secret place. I have habitually put God in a box.
APPLICATION
Today, I ask God to cover my sins with Jesus’ blood and fill me with Holy Spirit to help me break this habitual sin of mine. I will take pauses in my life to know the presence of God, utilize my break times between working and homeschooling my children to thank God, and be mindful of God’s mighty hand around me. Further, before putting food into my mouth, I will thank God for this daily bread and actively talk to God throughout the day and listen to Him. Also, I will intercede for people as soon as I hear or sense a need.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me of my sin. Thank You for giving me Jesus, the forgiveness of my sins, and purifying me from all unrighteousness. Help me to abide in Jesus and remain in Your love. In Jesus’ name I pray.
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