Moment With The Master
“They Forgot Their Savior”
Categories: Moment With The Master"Thus they changed their glory Into the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt, (Psalms 106:20-21)
It amazes me how often God revealed himself to Israel with mighty deeds. It is frightening to read of how they rejected him. The verses above remind us of the sin at Horeb (Exodus 32:1-10) when they made a golden calf. Their sin was four-fold.
First, Israel disobeyed God’s command. Israel was indebted to God for his delivering them from Egypt. They had already pledged their allegiance to him. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, "All that the LORD has said we will do, and be obedient." And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, "This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words." (Exodus 24:7-8) They were instructed to wait until they received a word from the Lord, but instead they acted without direction. Such disobedience is often due to impatience with God. (Exodus 32:1)
Second, Israel did not believe God. Israel failed to trust God. God had provided abundant evidence by his mighty deeds in Egypt. However, Israel put their trust in an idolatrous image and rejected the one who was truly God, the Savior!
Third, the Israelites followed after their own devices. This is a common pattern of mankind. First, he rejects Jehovah. Next, he fashions a god in his own likeness. Finally, he follows the whims of his own heart. They did what they wanted rather than what God approved. This love of self is the root of all false religion. The triumph over self-will is the objective of God fearing people.
Fourth, Israel dishonored God. The command of God was plain. "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; (Exodus 20:4) The carnal mind walks by sight and not by faith. Thus they changed their glory Into the image of an ox that eats grass. (Psalms 106:20) And, they worshiped the image rather than God.
Like Israel, many in modern times do not rightly value the power of Jehovah God. Thus, they exchange him for a material god who serves their own worldly self-indulgence. The result is tragic.
BY George Slover
