Growin' Up Gregory

Last week we looked at the story of The Golden Calf and how the people allowed an inanimate object take God's place of priority and worship in their lives.  Now in Exodus 33, the fallout of idolatry and sin continues for the Israelites. The Lord said to Moses, "Depart; go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, 'To your offspring I will give it.' "  God then promised Moses to send an angel before the people to drive out the current inhabitants of the land (Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites).  The Lord continues, "Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people."  (Exodus 33:1-3) Following the Israelites idolatry, God sent a plague on the people in Exodus 32:35.  This plague (if in the form of a disease) like...

In Moses' absence, we have seen the Israelites quickly turn away from God and begin to form idols to worship instead of remembering the commands and promises of the one true God.  So what happens next?  What happens once we begin to idolize something and place it over God in our life? In Exodus 32:7-10, as the people are worshipping the golden calf at the base of the mountain, the Lord says to Moses, "Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves.  They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them.  They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped and sacrificed to it and said, 'These are your gods, O Israel!' "  The Lord continues, "I have seen this people and behold, it is a stiff-necked people.  Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you." A lot of times, when Thomas is ...

Think about your favorite athlete, TV personality, or celebrity.  It could be a Super Bowl winning quarterback, a player with an enviable work ethic, or someone with success and popularity beyond our wildest dreams.  Think about what it would be like to hang out with someone like this.  Now ask yourself, "Do I tend to idolize individuals like this or put them on a pedestal?" It's fine and good to have role models and to appreciate someone's talent and work ethic.  But there is a difference between appreciation and worship.  How do these athletes and celebrities compare to God?  Does he value them more because of their name or position?  Remember that God is the only one deserving of our worship and we need to ask Him to remove any idols from our lives.  Most church people would scoff at the notion that they have an idol.  But how does it start?  Where does it go?  And what are the consequences?  Let's see how this played ou...