YOU NEVER SAW A CALF LIKE THIS
Exodus 32:1-26
INTRODUCTION: In the Disney movie Dumbo, one scene finds Dumbo, caught in a tree. Timothy the mouse concludes that the only way he could have gotten up there is that he flew! This conclusion brings a hearty laugh from some nearby crows, and a song that goes like this:
Music composed by Oliver Wallace.
Lyrics written by Ned Washington.
I saw a peanut stand, Heard a rubber band, I saw a needle that winked its eye. But I think I will have seen everything when I see an elephant fly.
I saw a front porch swing, Heard a diamond ring, I saw a polka-dot railroad tie. But I think I will have seen everything when I see an elephant fly.
I seen a clothes horse he r’ar up and buck, and they tell me that a man made a vegetable truck. I didn’t see that I only heard. But just to be sociable I’ll take your word.
I heard a fireside chat, I saw a baseball bat, and I just laughed till I thought I’d die. But I’d been done seen about everything
when I see an elephant fly.
The crows had seen some strange things, but no stranger than what Moses saw as he and Joshua descended Mount Zion. They saw a strange calf in the midst of the people.
This brings up an interesting question – How do we get Golden Calves in our live? By that I mean how do we get idols or things not worthy of our worship in our lives? Cause once they get in, they are difficult to get out!
I HOW DO WE GET GOLDEN CALVES IN OUR LIVES
A Look At Men Instead Of God
1 People of Israel were looking at Moses
2 People of Israel were looking for Moses – he had been gone 40 days
a People saw Moses as the sole contact with God
b With Moses lost – “God was lost”
c Looked for something to replace God
WE BEGIN TO MANUFACTURE A GOLDEN CALF IN OUR LIVES WHEN WE LOSE OUR “POINT MAN” FOR GOD.
§ They have offended us
§ We have lost sight of them – maybe they are too far out in front
§ In reality what we have done is put our relationship with God on the shoulders of somebody else
B Stay Away From Ministry Too Long
1 People had stopped worshipping God
a No longer regarded the sight as holy
b In spite of the evidence fo God’s presence – the cloud was still around the mountain!
2 Waiting for Moses
3 Not doing anything
4 Relationship with God had gotten dry and distant
WHEN WE STOP SERVING GOD, IT WILL NOT BE TOO LONG BEFORE WE WILL NOT WANT TO SERVE SOMETHING OTHER THAN GOD.
§ One of the first steps we take away from God and towards a golden calf is to stop serving
§ This last Wednesday evening, in Daniel chapter 4 , we made the following observation:
o Worship is a sign of spiritual health
o Worship is what separates man from animals
C Follow The Crowd
1 Need to understand that the crowd is a powerful force
2 Even the best of people can get sucked up by the crowd
3 The crowd consumed Aaron in its desires
4 The will of the crowd moved people to do what they would not have normally done
a We know that there is safety in numbers
b What we did not know was that there is danger in numbers too!
IT IS IMPORTANT TO DETERMINE WHERE THE CROWD IS GOING BEFORE WE DETERMINE WHETHER WE WANT TO FOLLOW THE CROWD
D Create Something Else To Worship
1 For the people of Israel it was a golden calf
2 Something to replace God
3 Some characteristics about the calf
a It was valuable – it cost them something
1) Sometimes I think people forget the value of the cross because God gave it to them!
b It was something they knew
c It consumed their time – in its construction
d It was something they could be proud of
1) Have a party
e It was something that could give them an excuse
1) To engage in activity they would not have done
2) After all the calf is looking down and not doing anything to us!
SCRIPTURE TELLS US THAT WERE OUR TREASURE IS – OUR HEART WILL FOLLOW.
§ Value something enough and you will spend time to spend time with it
§ We forget that everything we value is really God’s to begin with
§ We forget that God is aware of what we have done and are doing with what we value
E We Refuse To Consider The Possibility That We Were Wrong
1 The people of Israel never considered whether they were wrong in what they were doing.
2 Had seen God’s Power
3 Were aware of God’s presence
4 Believed they were acting rightly
WHEN OUR WAY IS THE ONLY WAY – WHEN THERE IS NO ROOM FOR ANY OTHER SOLUTION, WE WILL CREATE A GOLDEN CALF.
§ We may be saved, but our minds have yet to be glorified
§ We are always exposed to the affects of a sinful world
§ Scripture warns us concerning the danger of pride
§ Only one person NEVER had to consider any other possibility
II HOW TO AVOID THE GOLDEN CALF
A Have an advocate
1 Israel had Moses
2 You have Jesus
B Have an accountability
1 People had Moses
2 Find somebody
3 Make sure you have somebody looking out for your back
C Have a confession
1 Confession is ALWAYS needed to begin the process of restoration with God
2 Confession is declaring the wrong you have done
a Directed towards God
3 We cannot begin new without dealing with the old junk that got you to where you are
D Have a repentance
1 Repentance is always needed to restore the position of fellowship with God
2 Repentance is the actual turning away from the wrong you have done
3 Seeing the need to turn
E Have a correction
1 Correction is the necessary evidence of the reality of repentance
2 It is the actual doing of the right things!
