Disobey and Have A Party?
“And they made a calf in those days, offered sacrifices to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands (the idols)…” Acts 7: 41
“And…he…made a molded calf…and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Exodus 32: 4-6
“It is…the sound of singing I hear….He saw the calf and the dancing.” Ex 32: 18-19.
The verses above show that you can disobey the Lord and still have a party---at least for a while.
One of the problems with human nature is that it so often loses sight of both reward and consequences. When we get caught up in the temptation of the moment or in what we want right now, we forget that there is a reward for faith and obedience, and a consequence and a reaping for evil and disobedience. And so like Israel, we make our “golden calves” and have a party.
Moses had gone up the mountain to meet God face to face and to receive the commandments and the laws for Israel’s life as a nation. The people became impatient, discontent, perplexed, and maybe bored during the 40 day wait while Moses was on the mountain. They felt that God was taking too long, and maybe Moses was dead. So they decided to make their own gods. This would liven things up a bit and provide a more cheerful atmosphere. It would help them to feel better. They made an idol and rejoiced before it,” They were singing, dancing, and feeling good. It actually appeared to be one of their happiest moments since leaving Egypt. Sounds like something wonderful, but what a fleeting deception! 3,000 people died as a result of this egregious sin (the idol, not the singing and dancing).
The enemy of our souls is so very deceptive. He inhabits our idols and pretends to offer so much. And we foolishly rejoice in those idols because they indulge our flesh and allow us to do as we please. They help us to feel better by providing a quick momentary fix. They help us to temporarily drown our fears, and to forget our deeply troubling thoughts and unanswered questions. They appeal to our selfishness and our self-centeredness. They appeal to and feed our rebellious nature while also keeping us distracted from the one true God.
God calls a person to surrender now, and to pay the price of obedience up front. For now it may mean self-control, waiting, sacrifice, suffering, and doing the right thing when we would rather be doing something else. The cost is now, but the rewards will surely follow. The blessing is beyond the obedience.
The enemy, on the other hand, offers all the “good stuff” up front. He offers pleasures and “what you want” now. He makes you think it’s free or at a discount, and with no waiting. As a result, many have eaten at his table not realizing the horrible price they will inevitably pay. If you think God is asking too much of you now, just wait until the devil comes to collect later.
Israel sang, danced, and rejoiced before their idol, and shortly thereafter 3,000 lay dead. By contrast, Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than enjoying the passing pleasures of sin he could have experienced by ignoring God's call on his life. He was able to do this because by faith he saw the rewards that would follow. (Heb 11: 25-26). Jesus said that the world will rejoice while you are sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned to joy” (John 16: 20). In His own example, Jesus in His hour of suffering was able to endure the cross because of the joy that was set before Him, because He knew that His travail of soul would redeem man back to God (Heb 12:2). Impending sorrow and regret await those who live in disobedience; but for those who take up their cross to follow Jesus, joy will come in the morning.
It is an honor and a privilege when the Lord calls upon you to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). And if you really knew the gift that is being offered, you would not be blinded by what you think is too great a price to pay. If you could really see who it is that calls you, you would fall at His feet in complete surrender knowing that He and the treasures He brings are inexpressible and far beyond comprehension.
The bible says they "rejoiced in the work of their own hands" (i.e., their idols). But this joy was fleeting, tenuous, and false. "Idols" are deceptive. They lie and are like clouds without water boasting of false gifts. I have a good friend who says he has his own religion, but he lives in fear of death, and with tremendous anxiety about growing old. Our idols can only offer a temporary "high" or a temporary "sleep" to help us avoid facing life, truth, and the reality of eternity. Grind up the "golden calf" and cast it away. Look up to the living and true God, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Only in Him is true joy and real peace.
[For those theologians among us, let me say that I know that salvation is a fee gift, and can not be earned. Please understand the terms such as "price" and "cost" in context of Luke 14].
“And…he…made a molded calf…and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Exodus 32: 4-6
“It is…the sound of singing I hear….He saw the calf and the dancing.” Ex 32: 18-19.
The verses above show that you can disobey the Lord and still have a party---at least for a while.
One of the problems with human nature is that it so often loses sight of both reward and consequences. When we get caught up in the temptation of the moment or in what we want right now, we forget that there is a reward for faith and obedience, and a consequence and a reaping for evil and disobedience. And so like Israel, we make our “golden calves” and have a party.
Moses had gone up the mountain to meet God face to face and to receive the commandments and the laws for Israel’s life as a nation. The people became impatient, discontent, perplexed, and maybe bored during the 40 day wait while Moses was on the mountain. They felt that God was taking too long, and maybe Moses was dead. So they decided to make their own gods. This would liven things up a bit and provide a more cheerful atmosphere. It would help them to feel better. They made an idol and rejoiced before it,” They were singing, dancing, and feeling good. It actually appeared to be one of their happiest moments since leaving Egypt. Sounds like something wonderful, but what a fleeting deception! 3,000 people died as a result of this egregious sin (the idol, not the singing and dancing).
The enemy of our souls is so very deceptive. He inhabits our idols and pretends to offer so much. And we foolishly rejoice in those idols because they indulge our flesh and allow us to do as we please. They help us to feel better by providing a quick momentary fix. They help us to temporarily drown our fears, and to forget our deeply troubling thoughts and unanswered questions. They appeal to our selfishness and our self-centeredness. They appeal to and feed our rebellious nature while also keeping us distracted from the one true God.
God calls a person to surrender now, and to pay the price of obedience up front. For now it may mean self-control, waiting, sacrifice, suffering, and doing the right thing when we would rather be doing something else. The cost is now, but the rewards will surely follow. The blessing is beyond the obedience.
The enemy, on the other hand, offers all the “good stuff” up front. He offers pleasures and “what you want” now. He makes you think it’s free or at a discount, and with no waiting. As a result, many have eaten at his table not realizing the horrible price they will inevitably pay. If you think God is asking too much of you now, just wait until the devil comes to collect later.
Israel sang, danced, and rejoiced before their idol, and shortly thereafter 3,000 lay dead. By contrast, Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than enjoying the passing pleasures of sin he could have experienced by ignoring God's call on his life. He was able to do this because by faith he saw the rewards that would follow. (Heb 11: 25-26). Jesus said that the world will rejoice while you are sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned to joy” (John 16: 20). In His own example, Jesus in His hour of suffering was able to endure the cross because of the joy that was set before Him, because He knew that His travail of soul would redeem man back to God (Heb 12:2). Impending sorrow and regret await those who live in disobedience; but for those who take up their cross to follow Jesus, joy will come in the morning.
It is an honor and a privilege when the Lord calls upon you to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). And if you really knew the gift that is being offered, you would not be blinded by what you think is too great a price to pay. If you could really see who it is that calls you, you would fall at His feet in complete surrender knowing that He and the treasures He brings are inexpressible and far beyond comprehension.
The bible says they "rejoiced in the work of their own hands" (i.e., their idols). But this joy was fleeting, tenuous, and false. "Idols" are deceptive. They lie and are like clouds without water boasting of false gifts. I have a good friend who says he has his own religion, but he lives in fear of death, and with tremendous anxiety about growing old. Our idols can only offer a temporary "high" or a temporary "sleep" to help us avoid facing life, truth, and the reality of eternity. Grind up the "golden calf" and cast it away. Look up to the living and true God, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Only in Him is true joy and real peace.
[For those theologians among us, let me say that I know that salvation is a fee gift, and can not be earned. Please understand the terms such as "price" and "cost" in context of Luke 14].
Comments
Yes, salvation is a free gift. And to believe the gospel is to obey the gospel--2 Thess 1:8; 1 Pet 4:17; Romans 1:5, 16:26
Blessings, Debbie