DAY 139 - BIG PICTURE IN A YEAR - THE EXODUS

by Gillian D'achada June 27, 2021

NOW WHEN THE PEOPLE SAW THAT MOSES DELAYED TO COME DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN, THE PEOPLE ASSEMBLED ABOUT AARON AND SAID TO HIM, “COME, MAKE US A GOD WHO WILL GO BEFORE US; AS FOR THIS MOSES, THE MAN WHO BROUGHT US UP FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT, WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAS BECOME OF HIM”

Exodus 32: 1

Reading: Exodus 32:1-35

There have been many highs and many lows in this incredible story so far - the highs of God walking with His people and the lows of His people forgetting His works for them and grumbling against Him. Today’s topic is surely the lowest of all lows.

The people have just experienced a theophany – a showing of God. They had heard His voice from the cloud; seen the fiery cloud surrounding the mountain. The Elders have seen something of God’s presence (Exodus 24:9) and Moses has gone up to meet with God.

Moses remained 40 days and nights on the mountain with God and the people got frustrated at the delay. They do exactly what God told them not to do (Exodus 20:21-23).

How could the people do this? What was Aaron thinking? But ask yourself “When God delays in answering, how do I respond?” Sometimes God doesn’t answer in our time frame or in the way we want Him to. How do you respond? The delays revealed what was in the heart of the people.

When God delays in your life – what gets revealed?

Prayer

Father, thank You for Your patience and long-suffering. Lord, help me to walk in trust and patience when I feel You are not moving to my timetable. Lord I trust Your timing.

For the family

Explain

Waiting can be a hard thing to understand especially when you don’t know why you are waiting.

Engage

Play a game with your kids; get a small bite-sized treat out, a marshmallow for instance. Then put one in front of each child and ask them to wait before eating it. Then leave the room for 2-3 minutes. Now go back and ask them about their experience in the waiting, what emotions came up? Then do this again except tell them that they can eat it now or they can wait for 5 min and get another one. Then leave the room for the 5 min, go back and have a conversation about what it was like waiting because they knew there would be reward.