Our Mis-used Gifts?

The Pentateuch! The first five books of the Bible, such a rich beginning to our Christian heritage, oh we may be grafted into the family, but heritage all the same. I never get tired of the story of God delivering, guiding, providing and dwelling with His people. One story stands out to me and is summed up in three sad scenario words … The Golden Calf.

While Moses is up on top of the Mountain getting the instructions for the building of the Tabernacle, the children of Israel were down below… ‘playing’. In short, God tells Moses to have the folks bring Him an offering, offerings of ‘gold, silver and bronze’ and other various unique items. These were to be used in the building of the Tabernacle. God’s Tabernacle. (Ex 25:1-3,8) Out in the middle of nowhere, wandering around in the desert wouldnt afford quick errands to Home Depot or Kay Jewelers. God’s foresight didn’t allow the folks to leave Egypt empty-handed. “And the people of Israel did as Moses had instructed; they asked the Egyptians for clothing and articles of silver and gold. The Lord caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the Israelites, and they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for. So they stripped the Egyptians of their wealth! (Ex. 12:35-36 emphasis mine)

The people grew extremely impatient waiting for Moses, he was their leader, the spokesman for God. No leader, no God was their mindset. We can’t see our God, we can’t touch our God, so what did they do? Make a god. Isn’t that so true today! We want and we make to fill and feed our insecurities. The people went to Moses’ sidekick and brother Aaron, telling him, “Make us gods, who will go before us.” So Aaron told them “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing and bring them to me.’  WHERE did they get all this fancy blingy gold? Remember the verse above, God provided it. God gave it.

They did so and the golden calf was made. Aaron built an altar in front of the calf and sacrifices were presented by the people. They continued on as they, “…rose up to play.” and “ran wild.” God sends Moses back down off the mountain where he finds the folks were out of control. In his anger, AFTER he throws the tablets to the ground, he melts down the golden calf and grinds it into powder, then adds it to the water making the people drink it. It was the only way to ‘completely’ destroy the idol. (You can find this action-packed story in Exodus 32)

What a stinkin waste of good GOLD! Gold that was provided by God for the people for a specific purpose. Interesting!  We do the same thing today. God provides something, someone, even a circumstance intended to be used for HIM. His use, His presence, His glory. Often what do we do with it? We make it into something for … US!  Once it is made, we place it in the middle of the room  (our lives) we adore it, we dance, we play and run off wild.  WHAHOOO!

But WAIT!  May we seriously consider what the Lord has given us. Gifts we have (are) mis-using, that is intended for HIM. Dont get me wrong, He wants to BLESS us. Being direct and specific, do we have talents, skills, finances, time, position and titles, even relationships (the list goes on) are we taking those and making for US and us alone? All in all wasting what God has given.  God wants us to use them wisely, generously and … for Him.  Perhaps we are out playing and running wild and out of control.  It is time to come back.

Personally, I don’t want God to make me ‘eat’ or drink something that was meant for a blessing, because I mis-used it! I get enough of humble pie! How about you?

Our mis-used gifts.  Pondering.

In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love & good deeds.” – Heb. 10:24)

Taking another look at Aaron, yes he messed up with the fashioning of the calf, but there is more to his story: https://inspiredfountain.com/2015/05/14/crossing-the-line-again/