"The Molten Image"

"They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image." (Psalms 106:19)

 It might seem as though the spell cannot be broken, as though our life must always be faced with the prospect of failure and temptation; but it might be the fact that something else is being worshipped between us and God. It could be something as simple as doubt, doubt that you have been delivered, doubt that God is for you, even doubt that everything you have been told is real. Then again, it could be the image you have fashioned of God; an image that denies Him the power and majesty He deserves, and image that limits the power He has over your life. These are the two things that I believe this Scripture is speaking of, the power of doubt and denial. Horeb basically mean desert; but more than that, it means the desert around Mount Sinai, in which one might ascend up to the mountain. Picture the illustration, as the people wait in the desert which ascends to the mountain; they wonder what happened to Moses, they see the rumbling coming from the mountain, and they begin to be filled with doubt; doubt about why they were called out of Egypt. Was it to be free from the slavery of Egypt, or was it to be taken out to the wilderness; were they there to be given a new life on their own, or were they there to simply worship. You can imagine the complexity of what might have been going on in their hearts and minds, but there was only one thing that they could do to satisfy their doubt, and that was to worship. Worship is just about the only thing you can do anywhere that you are; whether lost at sea, or locked up in prison, we can always worship God no matter where we might find ourselves and in whatever situation. We were created to worship, so it is not that hard to understand why worship would be such an easy choice. But it is important that we know who it is that we are worshipping and why it is that we worship whatever we worship. But do not be deceived, because we all worship something; and if you are not worshipping the God of creation, then it is no doubt something created that has captured your heart; something that has less power to move mountains, less power to change a life, and maybe, just maybe, less power to provide you eternal life...

"These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, or worship idols as some of then did. As the Scriptures say, "The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry." And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day. Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. And don't grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age. If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols." (1 Corinthians 10:6-14) NLT