While Moese is talking with God up the mountain, the Hebrews below become anxious. Someone comes up with an idea: lets summon a god who would be for us.
They must have been scared. They are not used to the wilderness. They have put their faith into Moses, who is no where to be found. And without their leader to talk for God, and without something tangible to remind them of faith, they do what their instinct tell them: let's found ourselves a "god".
In the idol worship of their time, the way to catch a god is to craft a statue, dance and sing around it, and then captures a spirit that you can control and manipulate. It is precisely the things God says they should stop doing, and never try doing with him.
And so they collected precious metals and melted it down into a golden cow.
Needless to say, God is mad - so mad that he is prepared to destroy them, and start over with Moses alone.
The historian doesn't seem to be concerned with the questions we might have about why God wouldn't know ahead of time of their disobedience. He seems only want us to know that disloyalty makes God mad.
Write
Think about your faith story: how have you in fear and anxiety taken matters into your own hands and turned to other saviours?
Presently, what situation and relationships cause you anxiety, and tempts you to turn to other saviours? In what ways might you be disloyal to God?
Who do you know feels distant from God, and is turning to other gods in their anxiety?
Pray
What
is God saying to you today? What's Good News to you?
Talk to God about the times when you have been disloyal. Thank God for the ways he forgives you, and makes a way for you to come back under his care and protection.
Pray about the things that make you anxious, and tempts you to turn to other saviours.. Ask God for the wisdom and support to trust God and wait for him to make his presence felt.
Pray for your friend who is turning to other saviours in their fear. Pray for the wisdom and opportunity to come along side them and wait with them for God to make his presence felt.
Pray for an experience of God's love, grace and mercy in the way he hows himself as the God who is truly on your side, and the ways he welcomes you back when you turn from other saviours.