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1 When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered around Aaron, and said to him, "Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him." 2 Aaron said to them, "Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me." 3 So all the people took off the gold rings from their ears, and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took the gold from them, formed it in a mold, and cast an image of a calf; and they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!" 5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation and said, "Tomorrow shall be a festival to the Lord." 6 They rose early the next day, and offered burnt offerings and brought sacrifices of well-being; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to revel. 7 The Lord said to Moses, "Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; 8 they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf, and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!' " 9 The Lord said to Moses, "I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are. 10 Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation." 11 But Moses implored the Lord his God, and said, "O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, "It was with evil intent that he brought them out to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, "I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.' " 14 And the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people. (Exodus 32:1-14 NRSV)
Happy Thursday! May God's rich blessings be with you and yours, dear Friend.
The small Methodist Church in a small, rural community, prided itself on being a generous church. They were ahead in their monthly bills, paid their pastor a nice bonus twice a year, remembered that October was Pastor Appreciation Month and every Sunday of October did something special for her. And when one day a family of five kids showed up at their door, they were elated! The welcome committee took each of the kids to their respective classes, the man went to the Men's Sunday school, and the woman to the UMW class. When the welcome committee met after church, the only concern was the clothing the kids wore. They were clean and ironed, but they were old, and the shine of old clothing when pressed, was clearly visible and they decided they would surprise the family with new clothing. So the plan was set in motion, two ladies were to pick up the kids after school and with the parents' permission, took them to the Walmart in the next town, where they got them a couple of school type clothing, and proper Sunday-go-to-meetin' clothes. That next Sunday word got out and so most of the church showed up early to watch the arrival of the properly dressed new family. They waited and waited. That Sunday, the new family was a no-show. The same two ladies who took the kids to shop decided they would check up on the absentees. After knocking on the door, the mother let them in and offered them coffee. They soon got to the subject of where they had been? The mother smiled and said, "We loved the clothes and so did the kids; and once they were all dressed up, my hubby and I said, 'They're dressed so nicely, they'd look really better at the Episcopal Church!'"
Yes, "that's gratitude for you!" And that's what this account of the wandering Hebrews is about in this reading. Being impatient people, Moses' time with God took way longer than they were used to; and on that particular day, the Cowboys were playing at noon, Luby's was having their special turkey and dressing combo for $3.99 per person, and if they didn't hurry, the Baptist Jews would beat them to the line. And what made it worse, was that the associate pastor, Rev. Aaron was in on the scheme; just because Lead Pastor Moses was late. In fact, Associate Pastor, all me A-A-ron, encouraging the making of this false gods by asking that all the jewelry in the camp be brought to a bonfire in the children's playground. Then he himself, yes, the associate pastor, formed the mold for this new "god." And the final product was a calf. Yep. There's your god, Israel! Never mind the fact, the one, true, living God who made you and loves you, delivered you from bondage and you're being formed into the people he wants you to be; fine. Be that way, and go that way! And the people did. They partied all night, having bought all the liquor in nearby Waco.
Well, guess who saw all that was going on? Yes, you're right! God. God saw the "festivities" and ordered Moses back down. And God was very clear about what was next; the complete destruction of the people, and God would start again with only Moses. And we see the true character of lead pastor Moses; he pleads with God to reconsider, reminding Him of what He had promised to the people. And God changed His mind!
Has this ever happened to you? Did someone in your life whom you thought would be loyal to you forever, turns around and then does a silly thing against you? Then you have an inkling of the feeling that God had when He, Who had delivered His people, gets betrayed by those same people. And all because, in their opinion, God was late. The heart not anchored in love with someone needs only a small excuse to wander. And this is made sadder when we realize that He Who made us, and saved us, gets betrayed every day by any small excuse. Yet, like Jesus taught in the chapter of the lost in Luke 15, God always welcomes us home. Where's your heart? Near to God, or far from home?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for being all about forgiveness and love, and not about harboring anger and vengeance. We seek forgiveness for those times we sought any excuse to wander away; but yet You welcomed back at any time. Help us guide others to find You; we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be a guide of love to those who are wandering lost.
Receive my blessings of love and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
