Leave Behind Your "Golden Calf"

Whenever a commitment is made to launch a new beginning, some aspect of your previous life has to be left behind. When the Israelites left Egypt for the Promised Land, they would have to forsake the practice of idol worship. The first and second Commandments state: “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourselves any graven images.”

At Mount Sinai they willfully put their future at risk by creating and worshipping a golden calf. Recklessness and boredom can be responsible for a lapse in judgment which becomes a prelude to sin. Experiencing these conditions can lead to poor judgement, which in turn produces painful and negative consequences.

Getting severely stressed out tends to generate thoughts that “Life should be better,” and “I deserve more happiness.” The golden calf looked really good to the Hebrew people, and they imagined it could be the answer to their problems. Can you imagine that? While God could not negate the consequences of their sin, he was willing to forgive them as they abandoned the worship of idols. 

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The Lord said to Moses: "Leave this place, [Mount Sinai], you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt, and go to the land that I promised to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and to their descendants."

~Exodus 33:1 Good News Bible

I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. My friends, I don’t feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead.

~Philippians 3:12-13 Contemporary English Version

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Misjudging God

 When the Israelites left Egypt for the Promised Land, they willingly gave up slavery for freedom. However, they failed to realize how difficult and demanding freedom would be. They misjudged what was required to live by faith in the God who had demonstrated his awesome power against the Egyptians.

They also misjudged God’s tolerance for their disobedience and their bent toward worshiping idols like the golden calf they had constructed while Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. Each of us is capable of constructing a golden calf in one form or another, like beauty, clothes, a house, or an automobile.

Misjudgments will happen, but as you recognize your lapse in judgment, there is hope for new beginnings. Most misjudgments cannot be retracted, yet God gives you courage to face the consequences and provides opportunities for wiser choices. As you realize the extent of God’s grace, you should feel encouraged to love him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. 

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[O Lord,] when my thoughts were bitter and my feelings were hurt, I was as stupid as an animal; I did not understand you. Yet, I always stay close to you, and you hold me aby the hand. You guide me with your instruction and at the end you will receive me with honor.

~Psalm 73:21-24 Good News Bible

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