1/30/2026
"Circumstances never create character;
they merely reveal it."
Daily Walk
Moses and the children of Israel had arrived at Mt Sinai, and Moses had ascended the mountain to meet with God to receive the Commandments to govern the people. While he's gone the people are left to the watch care of Aaron. It took 40 days for the finger of God to write the laws on the tablets, meeting with Moses, so the people grew restless, impatient, and since Moses hadn't returned, they wanted a god to lead them. So they presented their request to Aaron, who told them to bring all their gold earrings to him. He melted them in the fire, then "molded and tooled it into the form of a calf." The people were delighted, so Aaron built an altar before the calf and announced that they would have a feast to Jehovah the next day. The people were up early, sacrificing burnt and peace offerings to the calf-idol, then they feasted, and the celebration led into drinking, reveling, and sexual immorality. It didn't take long for them to forget the promise to obey the God of Israel, and it certainly did not take Aaron, who had been consecrated as the high priest, to forget his position before the people.
The story found in Exodus 32 changes to Moses on the mountain with God, and God tells Moses to hurry back down the hill, because the people have defiled themselves. God was so angry that He was ready to destroy all of the people and make a new covenant with Moses. But Moses begged God to relent because of His love for the people, and Moses told God that the Egyptians would say that He had tricked the people so He could slay them. He reminded God of His promise, his covenant, with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and how Abraham's descendants would be as numerous as the sands, and they would inherit the land forever. In response to Abraham's intercession, God spared the people. This is an example of great intercession of Moses for the people, and as the story progresses, it is not the last time Moses would stand between God and man. Earlier in Genesis we learned how Abraham interceded for others as well. This is the gift of intercession, and it requires much perseverance in the face of great adversity.
As Moses was going down to confront the assembly, his anger got the better of him, and he shattered the two tablets of stones on which God had written the laws. Moses immediately takes the calf and burns it in the fire, then he approaches Aaron. He asked Aaron what had made him commit such a terrible sin, and of course, Aaron didn't want to take responsibility for his own sin, so he blamed the people. He told Moses that he had merely tossed the gold in the fire, and the gold calf idol was formed and came out. Moses knew the truth in his heart, and he also knew that Aaron had encouraged the people to revel in an immoral manner. This sin cost Aaron dearly, as he was not allowed to enter into the Promised Land and died in the wilderness after the 40 years of wandering the people endured because of disbelief.
The LORD was still angry at the people later, and although He promised that His Angel would travel ahead of them and clear out the Canaanites and other in inhabitants, He would not travel with them. Moses again intercedes with God, and He tells Him that unless He goes, he will not go:
"Moses talked there with the Lord and said to Him, 'You have been telling me, "Take these people to the Promised Land," but You haven't told me whom You will send with me. You say You are my friend, and that I have found favor before You; please, if this is really so, guide me clearly along the way You want me to travel so that I will understand You and walk acceptably before You. For don't forget that this nation is Your people," and the Lord replied, 'I Myself will go with you and give you success.'" (Exodus 33:12-14).
The rest of the story is well-known, and the journey that finally took them to the land of promise was not an easy one, although God was faithful to His promise in every way. Unfortunately, man continues to fail, and the journey is filled with grumbling and complaining and rebellion that leads to the destruction of almost an entire generation at one point. This story shows the frailty of man and the brevity of life. Throughout scripture and the story of the people of Israel, there have always been a remnant who obeyed God, and so it continued even when they were exiled for 70 years in Babylon.
When Moses confronted the people over the golden calf idol, "Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, 'Whoever is on the LORD's side - comes to me!' And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him" (Exodus 32:26-28). About three thousand died that day as the LORD had the sons of Levi killed the disobedient with the sword.
Later, when in the Promised Land, Joshua also stood his ground with the people: "And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15).
Elijah when he encountered the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, "And Elijah came to all the people, and said, 'How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.' But the people answered him not a word" (1 Kings 18:21).
It seems as if at this time in history man, who has been desperately blinded and controlled by deceiving spirits of darkness in this age, are being called to make a decision. A line is being drawn in the sand, and God is saying that you're either for Me or against Me. The church is being called to wake up and make a stand for godliness and holiness. The church is also being called to stand in support of Israel. The Bible clearly states that salvation comes through the Jews (John 4:22). This was said by Jesus, a Jew, the King of the Jews, to the woman from Samaria whom He encountered at the well. God confirms His covenant with His people in the following scriptures:
To Solomon in 1 Kings 6:13: "And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel."
In Psalm 94:14: "For the LORD will not cast off His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance."
Romans 11:1: "I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin." Following this, Paul explains how Gentile believers have been grafted in as branches, but he also warns that we can be cut off if our attitude changes.
How will we respond when we are asked where we stand? Have we settled the matter in our minds, or will we be like those of Elijah's day tossed to and fro by two opinions? Man has always had his opinion and his plans, but God is the one who has the say. Proverbs 9:10 says that "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
The choice comes to each of us, but my decision is clear: As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. I will stand with Israel, as we await Messiah's return to Jerusalem when He places His feet on Mount Zion. How will you choose? Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly!
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