Wednesday Reflection, December 8, 2021

Wednesday Reflection, December 8, 2021

Greetings, brothers and sisters! The story is told of a man who was told to take a particular set of people to a particular place. He was responsible for all their needs and wants (and boy did these people ask for alot) but this man, although he first doubted his capabilities, grew into his role and relied on God to lead him in order for him to be able to lead these people.

If you guessed correctly, then yes, the man was Moses. And so, we also now have no doubt who said people were. We know the children of Israel to be a stubborn and rebellious lot. God Himself referred to them as ‘stiff-necked’ and over and over their attitude led them to disobey Moses, God’s representative and also their own advocate which led them to sin against God.

In one particular instance, Moses went up to Mount Sinai to meet with the Lord on the people’s behalf but the people thought he took too long to return, they became impatient and craved a ‘quick fix’. They asked Aaron to make them gods. Aaron instructed them to bring all their golden jewellery to him, he took them and made a golden calf. The calf was then presented to Israel as the new god and the people quickly took their offerings, made sacrifices and worshipped the image.

God was angry, but Moses pleaded with Him. Reminded him of His enemies and the purpose for delivering them from pharoah’s enslavement and the promise God made to Abraham, Isaac and to Israel to multiply their descendants. The Lord relented. Moses went back to the people and was enraged by what he saw. He chastised both Aaron and the people but still wanting to advocate on their behalf, Moses went back to the Lord.

In today’s watchword, Exodus 32:31,32, “then Moses returned to the Lord and said, they have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin.”

Throughout scripture, it is clear that consequences for sin comes in stages and varies in degrees of severity, providing opportunity for repentance. Moses knew that although the nation on Israel was not destroyed, the matter of consequences from their sin with the golden calf was not yet settled. His showed intent to offer himself as a sacrifice for the people.

Friends, Hebrews 3:12-13 reminds us to ‘take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But exhort one another everyday. I want to encourage someone today, that although the answer/directive you await may seem to be delayed, believe God, trust God, serve God as you await the response.

In the same way Moses advocated for the people, Jesus Christ advocates for us even now. Wait on the Lord and trust in the power of His might.

Amen