We often here the story of the Israelites being rescued from their slavery in Egypt, led by a pillar of fire at night and smoke during the day, given manna when hungry, fresh water from a rock when thirsty and brought to the edge of the promised land and we wonder, “What the heck was their problem? How did they not believe in the God that was obviously real and leading them? Why did they build a golden calf? I am so glad I am not like them?” Maybe you have never thought that, but I know I have and I have heard others comment the same. I think the scripture that Pastor Joel is focusing on in Exodus is so important for us to go back and read over and over again. Why? Because we are much like the Israelites were, human beings with a natural, sinful, selfish flesh.

I know many of you are going to start spouting verse at me about our new creation and that we are more than conquerors in Christ and I know that to be true…in our spirit. But in our flesh we are still at war, a war that is won by the only one who could win it, Christ, but still at war nonetheless, and we will be until the day we die. Victory will be had, but so will struggle. Why? Because we do the same thing the Israelites did, we forget who we are, we lose sight of the truth, we are stuck in space and time and as a result have memory, which often times is short and vague. See the nation of Israel had all these amazing things occur in their midst and they still forgot who it was that was doing them and why. They forgot who He said they were, Exodus 6:7 “I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.” As a result they put their on eyes on whoever was around. Even Aaron the priest fell into this trap and remember they were at the base of a mountain that was covered with fire and smoke, so its not like Moses left them and they weren’t sure what was going on. They had wandering hearts, as do we.

Why are we told this story? Is it to show us how awful Israel was or to let us see how easily led astray all of us can be? Our golden calf may look different (money, security, status, position, people, health, possessions, love, power, busyness, etc) but it is still the same, it is a little ‘g’ god! Just like Israel we have the real, big ‘G” God all around us, providing for us, rescuing us from slavery (drugs, alcohol, sex, etc), leading us (Scripture) and loving us but we too still wander. But there is hope! I think there is another reason this story is so important. What if God was letting us, his people know, that when we fail and are led astray not to lose heart or hope, but to know, because we have seen His faithfulness before (Israel, David, Peter, Paul, etc) with those who have gotten lost. In fact Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:12-14 that He will always go after the 1 sheep out of the 99 because they matter so much to Him! So rest assured we will wander, but He will find us! Better yet be aware of your human tendency to wander and keep your eyes on the big ‘G’ Shepherd all the time, to minimize the wandering you do!