Exodus 32 "The Gift Giver"

Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - Brandon Hatmaker

"The gift giver."

(Exodus 32)

“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 cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt." – Exodus 32:2-4

I was thinking this morning as I was reading this how odd it was that they even had gold earrings. Imagine, here they are out in the desert, camping, with moments of wonder where the next meal will come and they are adorned in gold jewelry.

How easily we forget that God gave them all they needed when they left Egypt. He told them to ask the Egyptians for silver and gold and clothing. And they willingly gave. They didn’t have to plunder them like pirates on their way out. They didn’t steal what they needed. God went before them and he provided. And they made an idol out of it.

God has given us so much. In faith, in life, and in love, he has provided. We should be careful not to take it and make selfish use of it. We should remember who offered it to us. We should remember the grace that accompanies it. We should remember whom it belongs to. Our family, our church, our friendships, and our provision, truly, do we have anything outside of the gifts of God?

“Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” – James 1:16-18