From Miracle to Menial

Exodus 32:1, “When the people saw Moses was so long in coming down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come make us gods, who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses… we don’t know what has happened to him.”

Exodus 20:18, “When the people saw the thunder and lightening and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”

The second verse above occurred about 30 days before the first verse.

The Israelites went from fear to pride. This is such a natural progression it is almost unbelievable. It might “seem” natural but it is from hell.

When God gives me a blessing (job, baby, wife, provision, direction) I am at first in awe and wonder. I am thankful. Something happens over time, that blessing begins to look normal. (keep in mind, when the Israelites were dancing around a golden calf the mountain above them was STILL ON FIRE). I take my wife, my job, my health for granted and don’t view them through the same eyes.

A thankful heart is the cure for this. The more you thank God for his goodness and blessings, the more you are reminded of the fact that HE DID IT. Eventually you will begin to view those “normal” things as God’s blessing for you.

Trying to be obedient to God? Opposition is coming

Exodus 5:7-9

“You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don't reduce the quota.”

I have never had a “burning bush” experience but I know one thing: if I intend to be obedient to God, opposition will come; Things will likely get worse before they get better. Take Moses for instance: God told Moses to go and speak to Pharaoh. God told Moses that Pharaoh would not listen. God did not tell Moses things would get much harder for the Israelites before they got better.

Moses’ reply is oh so familiar in verses 22 and 23, “Moses returned to the LORD and said, "O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all."”

As if God needed to be reminded that He has not yet rescued His people!

I tend to think if God is leading me to do something or I am obedient to something in His word that my success is easy or guaranteed quickly. (As an example, look at the life of John the Baptist. If success is getting you head chopped off in prison, then he was successful. Although, he was certainly obedient to God to the end.)

God is aware of His obligations and he will fulfill them but he is not a Cosmic Credit Card to be charged at my whim.

My responsibility is to trust God, to trust his heart, to trust His ways. This is what it means to love.