~ From God-Centered to Self-Centered
~
The proper
progression in the Christian life is from being self-centered to becoming increasingly
God-centered in all aspects of living. However, we have an example in Exodus 32
where we find individuals moving in the opposite direction!
As the
chapter opens we find Moses doing God’s will in God’s way and according to
God’s timing. But the people became impatient.
Wrong Attitude (Impatience) ~ “When the people realized that Moses was
taking forever in coming down off the mountain, they rallied around Aaron and
said, ‘Do something. Make gods for us who will lead us. That Moses, the man who got us out of Egypt — who knows what's happened
to him?’” (Exodus 32:1, The Message).
Impatience soon became
the basis for wrong actions. They quickly moved from being God-centered to
completely self-centered.
Wrong Reasoning ~ “So Aaron told them, ‘Take off the gold rings from the ears of your
wives and sons and daughters and bring them to me.’ They all did it; they
removed the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. He took the
gold from their hands and cast it in the form of a calf, shaping it with an
engraving tool” (Exodus 32:2-4a).
Wrong Decision ~ The people responded with enthusiasm: ‘These are your gods, O
Israel, who brought you up from Egypt!’ Aaron, taking in the situation, built
an altar before the calf. Aaron then announced, ‘Tomorrow is a feast day to God!’ Early the next morning, the people
got up and offered Whole-Burnt-Offerings and brought Peace-Offerings. The
people sat down to eat and drink and then began to party. It turned into a wild
party!” (Exodus 32:4b-6, The Message).
A wrong attitude led to
wrong reasoning which ended in a wrong decision. They reverted to doing their
own will instead of God’s will for them. As the chapter continues, we find that
God was not pleased with their actions.
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
