“When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. ‘Come on,’ they said, ‘make us some gods who can lead us…’”
Exodus 32:1
The Israelites thought Moses had been on that mountain way too long, so instead of waiting for him to return, they demanded to have some gods who could lead them. The result was a golden calf, shaped with their own hands!
And what disaster this self-made god brought into the Israelite camp. The same people, who only a few days before, had promised to “do everything the Lord has commanded,” were now bowing down and sacrificing to a god they themselves had made! Three thousand casualties resulted when they corrupted themselves in out-of-control rivalry…all because of creating their own god.
When I don’t understand what’s going on in my life or when I think God is taking too long to answer, I may also be tempted to take matters into my own hands. But what kind of god will my hands create? I need to be careful…when the Israelites tried to take control of their situation, they instead created a god who made them out of control!
Moses DID come back down the mountain…the Israelites DID see their leader again. They never needed another god! And neither do I. If I only wait a little longer, the clouds will break and I’ll see my God again, right there beside me, exactly where He’s always been!
