Scripture:

“The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths.” – Psalm 135:15-17

Reading:

Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt after 400 years of slavery, only with the power of the Lord. By the hand of God, Israel miraculously crossed the Red Sea on dry ground. Then, they followed a pillar of smoke by day and fire by night through the wilderness. Israel was stripped away from their Egyptian lifestyle and was led into a barren wasteland, with only their small faith in God as a guide. As they went, God fed thousands daily with food from heaven. Amazingly, God told Moses to strike a rock and water flowed out of it – a picture of what God would do to Christ on the cross and to our stubborn hearts. Miracles happened!

God proved his power, love, and patience over and over to this wayward people – and at one moment, things seemed out of control.

God told Moses to come up to the thundering mountain of Sinai where he would give the people His commands on how to live a holy life. You may have heard of the ten commandments. This is that time that God would set the standards. Moses was hearing God tell him His second commandment “You shall have no other gods before me,” and Israel was down at the base of the mountain crafting a golden calf, worshipping it, and sacrificing to it!

They thought a golden calf could save them from their current state in the wilderness. As we read the Bible, it tells us that God is the only God. He is a God that was alive then, and is alive now – working in this world to restore us from Egypt to a promise land.

Are you living in Egypt or journeying in the wilderness right now? Don’t settle for a golden calf.

The Lord God should be our praise, the only praise. The Creator, our Maker, and our God is the only one who deserves to be placed in that spot in our hearts and minds – but do you believe that? When you are stripped away from all of the “stuff,” like Israel in the wilderness, what do believe will save you? Israel didn’t believe that it was God for a long time, even when they experienced His power firsthand.

Questions:

Do you feel like you are in a dry season – in the wilderness – and settling for a “golden calf”?

In what ways has God revealed himself to you and made himself known through your life’s journey?