The Golden Calf in Our Lives

Do you know the story of the people of Israel and the golden calf? When Moses received the 10 Commandments from God and was on Mount Sinai, the Israelites grew impatient. Aaron then collected gold from them and formed a golden calf, which they worshipped. How could the Israelites be so short-sighted, despite the fact that God had just freed them from slavery in Egypt? God had clearly shown them His power by parting the sea and supernaturally providing for His people. Why did they still need an image of God to worship?

• Fear of the Unknown: Their leader Moses had literally left them alone in the desert with their uncertainty about the future.
• Zeitgeist and Cultural Influences: In ancient Egypt, idol images and animal worship were widespread. In times of fear and uncertainty, this was a familiar and safe option.
• Impulsivity and Peer Pressure: In crises, we tend to act impulsively and follow the decisions of the crowd.

We may not live in the desert, but we also know what it’s like to find ourselves in unfamiliar situations and feel abandoned. Where do we worship seemingly precious things that are actually worthless? Perhaps we believe we are too young or need to work full-time to be good parents. Or we find it hard to accept God's provision in the area of finances, so we plunge into the search for the "right" stock savings plan or are convinced that the grade of our next exam will determine our future.

But how do we manage to trust God even in these challenging situations? Jeremiah sets a perfect example by relying on God’s faithfulness and sovereignty in a seemingly hopeless situation. He buys a piece of land, even though it is already surrounded by Babylonian troops and the city of Jerusalem is on the verge of capture. He praises God, seeks His guidance in prayer, and receives an answer. He acts in faith and trust.

Next Step: Go into prayer and ask God to show you which area you need to trust Him anew. Write your area on a piece of paper and underneath, write God’s first response to Jeremiah’s prayer. “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27) Hang the paper visibly in your home as a reminder and encouragement.