Week 29 – I’ve Waited Long Enough!

I’ve Waited Long Enough!

Exodus 24:1-3, 7, 9-14, 18; 32:1-6 (NIV)

The Israelites witnessed the plagues God inflicted upon the Egyptians. They saw Pharaoh finally relent after the final plague of losing his firstborn son. The Israelites saw the hand of the LORD deliver them from 400 years of enslavement in Egypt. They saw God split the Red Sea as thousands walked through on dry ground, and the same sea drowned their enemy, who was in pursuit of them. Following all of these miraculous events, the Israelites were ready and eager to obey God and all He would ask of them. “Everything the LORD has said we will do”, were their words in Exodus 24:3. 

Moses was summoned by the Lord to go up to Mount Sinai to meet Him and receive instructions on how the Israelites were to live. Moses left Aaron and Hur in charge (Ex. 24:14) and stayed on the mountain for forty days (Exodus 24:18). “When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, ‘Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’” (Exodus 32:1) They were not questioning where Moses was; they were really questioning where God was! Aaron answered them,

“Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons, and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me. So, all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took what they handed him and made it into an idol, casting it in the shape of a calf and fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt’. When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, ‘Tomorrow there will be a festival to the Lord’. So, the next day, the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward, they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” (Exodus 32:2-6)

Forty Days!!! After forty years of slavery and seeing God’s miraculous hand in delivering them from Egypt, it only took 40 days to revert to their old ways? Well, let’s not be too hard on them. How long does it take us to turn to our own devices when we are waiting for God to come through on His Word in our lives? Do we continue to trust Him in our singleness while waiting for Him to bring us a godly spouse, or do we marry a carnal Christian or a non-believer who is a “good person”? Do we trust Him to tithe until we have more month than money, so we rob Him to get our bills paid? What about our young children, adult children, aging parents, careers, friendships, ministry, etc.? Do we go to God’s Word for direction, then wait for Him to give us our marching orders in every area of life? I know I’m guilty of not waiting on Him too many times to count! The result was always DISASTEROUS!!! The consequences were horrific. God demands complete allegiance, for He is a jealous God. He tells Moses to command those who are for the LORD to stand with him, and all the Levites did (Exodus 32:26). He then instructs the Levites to go through the camp with a sword strapped to their side and kill their brother, friend, and neighbor. “The Levites did as Moses commanded.” (Exodus 32:28). We read this quickly, but the Levites killed about 3,000 people. This didn’t take a few minutes. Can you imagine the running, chasing, wailing, and screaming that took place? It’s sobering to think about. 

As I reflect on some of my own consequences for not waiting to be married before becoming sexually active, for not consulting my husband before making knee-jerk decisions, and for not letting my anger subside before blurting out hurtful words that still reverberate today, I’m not so hard on the Israelites. Some of my “not waiting” will be felt for generations to come. Yet God’s grace still abounds.

My friend, let’s trust our sovereign and loving God enough to read His Word, ask for the wisdom to understand it, and then obey it, for He is worthy of all honor and glory. They that wait on the Lord… (Isaiah 40:31).