A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
Tuesday, February
26, 2019
"A
Lesson From A Golden Calf"
Message
summary:
The golden calf was
constructed due to the
Israelite's disobedience
in waiting as
instructed. In our own
lives we need to
consider the peril of
constructing golden
calves when we fail the
waiting test.
"He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, 'These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt'" (Exodus 32:4). "Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him" (Isaiah 64:4).
Last Friday, in the course of driving between our chaplain visits, we stopped by "Down On The Farm" creamery, which is on an Amish farm south of Strasburg, PA. Next to the creamery were some calf hutches with two calves born this month, including Tommy, shown in our lead photo. Tommy's golden color prompts a lesson on the golden calf fiasco as recorded in Exodus 32. The golden calf is what the people had made when they failed to patiently wait as instructed by Moses.
In one way or another it seems we are all waiting for something in life. Realistically much of our waiting is trivial such as waiting for a traffic light to change or waiting in a long line at the grocery store.
But the wait periods of life are often hard. Like waiting for medical test results or news from a loved one we are anxious to hear from. It may be waiting for a specified change of direction in our life, perhaps in our work or ministry. Certainly for all of us it is waiting for the blessed hope. (Titus 2:13)
Obedience in waiting is one of the most important tests we have in life. Prior to going up to Mount Sinai, Moses gave a very specific command to the leaders of the children of Israel. "He said to the elders, 'Wait here for us until we come back to you'" (Exodus 24:14).
But the wait was long and the people grew impatient. Much to their shame they took matters into their own hands. "When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, 'Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow, Moses, who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him'" (Exodus 32:1). Soon they're worshiping and carousing around a golden calf with Aaron as their leader! They miserably failed the "wait test" and grave consequences followed.
The Bible has many examples of waiting tests such as Abraham for the promised son, Jacob for Rachel, Saul for Samuel and others. Many of them failed the test of obedience in waiting which resulted in long-term, sometimes life-long consequences.
We also have many waiting tests in our lives. Even as you read this you're likely considering a situation you're praying about and waiting to see how God brings about His will in the matter. Trusting, praying and obeying during the wait can be very challenging, since we're tempted to take things into our own hands rather than fully trusting God to work things out according to His will and His timing. In the wait process we may even hit rock bottom. But Tony Evans says that "When we hit rock bottom we discover that Jesus is the Rock at the bottom."
Here's a great truth to hide deep in your heart today based upon our second Bible text: God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. This verse is a real treasure buried in a portion of the Bible not as familiar to many. "Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him." Today may this truth fill your life with peace as you trust in God, who always acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. God grant us grace to obediently wait.
"He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, 'These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt'" (Exodus 32:4). "Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him" (Isaiah 64:4).
Last Friday, in the course of driving between our chaplain visits, we stopped by "Down On The Farm" creamery, which is on an Amish farm south of Strasburg, PA. Next to the creamery were some calf hutches with two calves born this month, including Tommy, shown in our lead photo. Tommy's golden color prompts a lesson on the golden calf fiasco as recorded in Exodus 32. The golden calf is what the people had made when they failed to patiently wait as instructed by Moses.
In one way or another it seems we are all waiting for something in life. Realistically much of our waiting is trivial such as waiting for a traffic light to change or waiting in a long line at the grocery store.
But the wait periods of life are often hard. Like waiting for medical test results or news from a loved one we are anxious to hear from. It may be waiting for a specified change of direction in our life, perhaps in our work or ministry. Certainly for all of us it is waiting for the blessed hope. (Titus 2:13)
Obedience in waiting is one of the most important tests we have in life. Prior to going up to Mount Sinai, Moses gave a very specific command to the leaders of the children of Israel. "He said to the elders, 'Wait here for us until we come back to you'" (Exodus 24:14).
But the wait was long and the people grew impatient. Much to their shame they took matters into their own hands. "When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, 'Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow, Moses, who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him'" (Exodus 32:1). Soon they're worshiping and carousing around a golden calf with Aaron as their leader! They miserably failed the "wait test" and grave consequences followed.
The Bible has many examples of waiting tests such as Abraham for the promised son, Jacob for Rachel, Saul for Samuel and others. Many of them failed the test of obedience in waiting which resulted in long-term, sometimes life-long consequences.
We also have many waiting tests in our lives. Even as you read this you're likely considering a situation you're praying about and waiting to see how God brings about His will in the matter. Trusting, praying and obeying during the wait can be very challenging, since we're tempted to take things into our own hands rather than fully trusting God to work things out according to His will and His timing. In the wait process we may even hit rock bottom. But Tony Evans says that "When we hit rock bottom we discover that Jesus is the Rock at the bottom."
Here's a great truth to hide deep in your heart today based upon our second Bible text: God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. This verse is a real treasure buried in a portion of the Bible not as familiar to many. "Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him." Today may this truth fill your life with peace as you trust in God, who always acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. God grant us grace to obediently wait.
Be encouraged
today as we obediently
wait on Him.
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, many
times Scripture
that speaks of
waiting on You
is followed by
the directive of
being
courageous.
Indeed it does
take courage for
me to trust You
and not take
matters into my
own hands since
that comes so
naturally to my
way of thinking
and doing
things. But as a
loving,
protecting and
omnipotent
Father You
tenderly care
for me as I
commit my
concerns to You.
My unbelief and
impatience leads
to fearsome
worry and unwise
behavior.
Getting ahead of
Your divine plan
and perfect
timing only
leads to more
frustration and
difficulty. Help
me to remember
that waiting
coupled with
prayer brings
about growing
courage and
dependence on
You rather than
myself. Amen.We may
still get some
winter weather
but we enjoy
sharing snow
photos while we
can. These were
taken last
Thursday
following the
snow we had
Wednesday.
We
enjoy this view
of a large
old-order
Mennonite farm
north of New
Holland, PA due
to the orchard
to the left and
the corn shocks
in front of the
farm.
(Click
on photo to
enlarge)
This
farmhouse has a
resemblance to
the farmhouse
near Harwood, MO
built in 1882
where my grandpa
was born and
where I went as
a child to be
with my Uncle
Gentry and Aunt
Dora and a large
group of
extended family.
(Location
on Google map)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
We
have shown many
photos of the
Silverstone Inn
which always
looks stately,
but especially
with the snow!
(Click
on photo to
enlarge)
The
spring house
behind the
Silverstone Inn
also has some
nice stone work.
(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"Teach
Me, Lord, to Wait" Video
Reggie
& Ladye Love Smith, Wesley
Pritchard
"While
I Wait" Video
Lincoln
Brewster
"Wings
Like Eagles" Video
Scripture Memory Songs
Gazebo
report: Yesterday we
mentioned the strong winds and
the concern we had for the
canvas-topped gazebo on our
deck. The winds subsided late
yesterday afternoon and the
gazebo stands assisted by bungee
cords. Whew!
Finally
today:
This
was on a poster in the choir
room at church and I couldn't
resist taking a photo. If you're
in choir you'll especially get a
kick out of this kind of
response from choir members
since there's some underlying
humor but also truth exposed.
For many years I longed to sing
in a choir rather than direct.
Though I directed choirs for
nearly 25 years I wanted to
worship freely while singing and
be less nervous about the
presentation. I'm enjoying this
season of my life singing as a
soprano and not accompanying at
the piano. Admittedly, I have a
much lighter workload in
preparation of the worship music
and musical selections.
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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