Stiff-Necked People

In the story of the golden calf, I think it’s very easy for you and me to look down upon the Israelites for them being so thick-headed and dumb, or as we read in Scripture, stiff-necked.  They seemed to have a lot going for them. God Himself had got them out of slavery in Egypt and they were headed to the promised land.  

Moses had been gone for a while, and before long they are falling for the temptation to attempt having control of their lives by turning their backs to God and doing what they wanted, not what God wanted.  Somehow, they had managed to bring with them from Egypt a substantial amount of gold, and they used their precious treasure to build a statue that they then proceeded to worship. Here we have yet another chance to look upon the Israelites in disdain, wondering why of all things did they make a statue of an animal, something that they would normally utilize for food, farming, and clothing.  

Before we get too busy looking down on these Israelites and their stupidity in the face of what God had given them and promised to give them, we need to look around us. Isn’t our society doing the same thing, giving up its precious treasure of time, monetary resources, unborn children, all so that today’s society can worship the false gods they have made, really their priorities? You and I probably readily answer that question by thinking, “Absolutely, what’s wrong with society? They are so messed up!”   

Now let us shift gears, step away a bit, and look upon ourselves from a distance, as we might the Israelites and our society.  Ask ourselves if instead of facing God, have we ourselves turned our backs on Him in our attempt to control our lives? What false gods have we made from our precious treasures and other things that God has given us, to satisfy our priorities? 

May God bless you,
Deacon Bob