When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. “Come on,” they said, “make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.” So Aaron said, “Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!” Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf. Then he announced, “Tomorrow will be a festival to the LORD!” [Exodus 32.1-5]
Israel and that gold calf! I mean, how gullible could they have been?
To most I am sure it seems I am overzealous in calling debt, insurance, medicine and technology idols just like Israel's gold calf. While everyone is entitled to believe what they want, that certainly does not make what they believe correct, right? This includes me. But, read on...
What the Bible teaches is indisputable because it is God's Holy Word. We all owe it to ourselves before God to at least consider the passage above as it relates to idols in our current age.
The gold calf was the product of Israel's impatience then. Debt, insurance, medicine and technology are the products of man's impatience today.
The gold calf required costly payment from Israel then. Debt, insurance, medicine and technology require costly payment from man today.
The gold calf was the accomplishment of Israel's effort then. Debt, insurance, medicine and technology are the accomplishments of man's effort today.
The gold calf was given false accolades for what God had done for Israel then. Debt, insurance, medicine and technology are given false accolades for what God said He does for man today.
The gold calf was justified by guilty attribution to the LORD then. Debt, insurance, medicine and technology are justified by guilty attribution to the LORD today.
As the story goes, Israel had in fact rebelled against God in the matter of the gold calf then. Where should we suppose that leaves us in the matter of debt, insurance, medicine and technology today?
Here are the idol identifiers found in Exodus 32.1-5.
- They are a product of impatience,
- They require costly payment,
- They are accomplishments of man's effort,
- They are given false accolades, and,
- They give God guilty attribution.
Among all of God's numerous contextual pleas with Israel to trust Him alone, He confirmed His desire to be their only God summing it up in the First Commandment:
“You must not have any other god but me. [Exodus 20.3]
Not to be overlooked is another profound statement made by God Himself that is not ironically included in today's One Year Chronological Bible reading:
You must worship no other gods, for the LORD, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you. [Exodus 34.14]
Any married person understands that the "jealousy factor" is non-negotiable within the realm of that covenant relationship regardless how a spouse justifies their "innocent" relationship with another person (of the opposite sex). God openly declares His very name is "Jealous" in regard to man's devotion and trust.
But of course, any action based on what is suggested here would upset the entire economy of society today, so, there's no way that God would require that of us, is there? IS THERE?
Father, help Your people today understand that Your jealousy has not changed, especially since "Jealous" is Your very name. Help Your people know how to navigate the idol-littered waters of life without jumping in. May Your name, "Jealous," be on our hearts and minds today as we consider all we trust in... May we be found methodically eliminating every idol from our lives as we encounter and recognize them. So help us! So be it!
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