"A God Who Will Go Before Us!"

  In Exodus 32:1, the people cried out to Aaron, "Come, make us a god who will go before us!" These weren't just any people. These were those under bondage, slaves and God took them by His mighty hand and delivered them from the greatest kingdom of oppressors that existed in their day and time. They had witnessed God's protection, provisions and direction and yet when things settled down, they wanted a "god" to go before them. A man-made god in their own image.

  God responded if He were to go before them in their midst for one moment, they would be destroyed! (Ex. 33:5) Their own mind and desires had led them away from God who rescued them. That's a good description of man. What does all this have to do with us today?

  We are more sophisticated with more technology and education that any people that have ever existed on this earth, aren't we? We marvel at how far we have come and the great insights we have learned from our medicines to religion. We have travelled from the dark ages to the age of enlightenment. We don't worship a golden calf or cut some tree and make an idol out of it! That's silly and immoral! Just look how far we have come in our worship alone!! We have introduced things the word of God doesn't condemn and have found in this our god! Worship for the body of Jesus has become so little because many have made it about us! Who needs Jehovah God? We are wise among ourselves, aren't we?

  How many ideas have taken hold, promising us the greatest of blessings while breaking away from the chains of the past? Where has it taken us really? It has created more division. It has created confusion. It has created labels on one another. The very shackles many have tried to take off have shackled us more. More and more "smarts of man" are being employed yet we look around and more and more people are feeling lonely, hurting and wondering when they are going to find relief. To the resuce we come with supplies and help, but where is the spiritual help? Wasn't it Jesus who spoke the the multitude to work for the true food which endures to eternal life (John 6:27)? We use to ask, "Is it true?" Today we ask, "Does it make us feel good and bring us worth?" What are we missing?

  Israel paid a high price looking for a "god who will go before us." What are we doing? We will never be free from the need of the Almight Jehovah but until we go back, look at His record, listen to His voice and apply His word properly without our philosophies and higher education, we will continue to set up others gods to go before us. The price is being paid!