Don’t Be Stupid- The Children of Israel and the Golden Calf

I recently taught a series called, "Stupid People in the Old Testament". The concept is that it's very easy to look back at the past and see where people made "stupid" mistakes but so easy to overlook the fact that we often still make the same poor decisions today.

In Exodus 24, Moses goes up on a mountain to receive instruction from God. He is there for 40 days. During this time, although God has blessed them in many ways- release from Egypt, parting of the Red Sea, daily manna- the children of Israel grow restless. So much so that they turn to polytheism (the worship of many gods) and ask the priest Aaron, the brother of Moses, to build another god for them, a god that they can see. Aaron takes their earrings and crafts a golden calf (Exodus 32: 3,4).

When Moses comes down from the mountain, he is so disappointed and angry that he melts the golden calf, grinds it into powder, then scatters the powder into the water and makes the people drink it  (Exodus 32: 19, 20).

The people’s impatience led them to take their focus off of their loving, wonderful God and to seek another option for guidance, leadership and direction.

Don’t be stupid: You may have grown tired of waiting for an answer from God- for a parent’s salvation; for answers to your sister’s substance abuse issues; for having a child; for getting a new job- but don’t give up and turn away from God. Keep praying. Keep waiting.

My Pastor, Hollie Miller, recently said, “Just because you don’t see the hand of God working doesn’t mean God is not working”.  

Don’t be stupid.