Exodus 32:1-15
When God created man, he was unlike anything else God had created. Every living thing up to that point was spoken into being. God spoke and what He spoke appeared. Man on the other hand was created by God personally. God scooped the dirt out of the ground and breathed life into it (
The term jealous is not what we typically think of when we think of jealously. God is not a mad and brooding God, but passionate. He is passionate about His relationship with us. After God brought out the children of Israel from Egypt, he gave Moses the divine law to reveal His heart to the people He loved so much. In the commandments He gave, God instructed the people to have no other God before Him. He also told them not to make any images or objects to worship above Him. In
I grew up in the 70s and 80s. The music of that era really has a special place in my heart. When I began to choose songs for this series, this song just jumped out at me. In “Take It on the Run,” REO Speedwagon tells the story of a girl who has been seen with other men around town. She was caught cheating, and the rumors were starting to spread.
This song depicts a very similar event in the Bible. This event deals with the children of Israel cheating on their God. After Moses led the people out of Egypt, He went up to Mt. Sinai to meet with the Lord. While he was there, God began to reveal a moral law that would be a guide to the Israelites as they followed God into the Promised Land that was promised to Abraham long ago. Moses was away from the camp for some time, and the people were getting restless and worried. They thought God had led them to the desert and had forgotten about them. Their faith was slipping because they had lost sight of the promise. They were also growing tired of worshiping a God they could not see and began to remember their time in Egypt and the many gods they saw on display in the cities and temples. So, they decided to make a golden calf to worship. They wanted to “take it on the run” or commit adultery against the very God who had miraculously saved them from utter destruction.
The first four of the Ten Commandments, commonly called the first table, puts the emphasis on our relationship with God. It is appropriate that those should be put first, because we had a God to love before we had a neighbor to love. The first commandment concerns the object of worship: Yahweh and Him only. The worship of creatured things is forbidden. Whatever comes short of perfect love, gratitude, reverence or worship, breaks this commandment. Whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God.
The second commandment refers to the worship we are to render to the Lord our God. It is forbidden to make any image or picture of the Deity in any form or for any purpose, or to worship any creature, image or picture. The spiritual impact of this command extends much further. All kinds of superstition are forbidden as is the use of human inventions in the worship of God.
In a world that is so complex and busy, we tend to fill our lives with idols of convenience rather than live a live of obedience to God. Many Christians believe that as they are better able to discipline themselves, God’s grace becomes available to them. Actually, as we become more dependent on God to empower us in these areas of discipline, and then apply the grace that God gives us, then we will mature as Christians.
In order to truly experience God’s grace, we must be disciplined in the area of obedience. Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” Jesus expounded on this in
Such a commitment plays a big role in a pursuit of holiness and grace. First, we need to be committed to living lives that are pleasing to God. It is a resolute commitment, and commitment is a choice. Whatever plan of action we take in our Christian lives speaks to our commitment level. In order to truly understand God’s grace, we must search our hearts and see how committed we are to the cause of Christ.
“Take It on the Run” by REO Speedwagon
