This morning, I read from Acts 7:39-41: “And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt, saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods to go before us; as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ And they made a calf in those days, offered sacrifices to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.”

WHEW! What a passage to uncover…

At first glance, I couldn’t help but think Really? You’re gonna turn back to Egypt? To slavery? To bondage? You’re gonna put your trust in golden calves? I thought to myself; What were they thinking?

But, as with many passages, the words on the page grabbed hold of my spirit and I couldn’t read on.

Why did they turn back? What circumstances were they experiencing? Unfortunately, as I pondered the fickleness of their hearts I recognized my own.

Could it be that (like me) the Israelites feared the unknown? Did they get distracted because they couldn’t see their promised land? Could it be they wondered how they would ever reach the Land filled with Milk and Honey? Did they ponder in their mind, “At least we’ve seen Egypt; we know what to expect.”?

When they urged Aaron to “Make us gods to go before us.”Could it be (like me) they wrestled with insecurity and just needed to see a little glimmer of hope? Did they need to see something bigger and more beautiful than their current situation?  Did they give in because of feelings of helplessness?

Think about their reality! Their ruler, Moses, was missing in action. Perhaps they struggled with feelings of abandonment. After all, Moses had been gone a lot longer than they anticipated. At this point, he was absent for nearly FORTY days…Maybe he had died…maybe he wasn’t going to return…what if they would be stuck in the wilderness?

In their minds, they had risked it all to follow where they thought God was leading; now the leader was missing; maybe they had missed God; either way, what they knew to be true is they were stranded in the middle of the desert and their fearless leader, the man with all the answers and road map was missing.

Can I share transparently? When I took time to consider their whys, I witnessed the temptations and frailty of my own heart.

I have experienced moments where I felt as if I had abandoned it all, in an attempt to follow after God. In frustration, fear, or fatigue, I’ve wanted to go back to my own personal Egypt. I’ve questioned whether God would really come through for me or if He was going to leave me stranded in a desolate habitat. I’ve longed to see something greater than myself; I needed something that I could put my hope in.

Honestly, kike the Israelites, I’ve gotten distracted and rejoiced in the works of my own hands…just like they did. AHHH! UGHHHH! And urrrrrrggghhh!

Friend, desolate areas and situations of powerlessness will challenge our faith! The question we must consider, Will we turn our hearts back to what we know and rejoice in the works of our own hands or will we wait for GOD?

Today, I have MANY battles before me. My heart is weary. I want to retreat. I want to SEE my salvation and hope…but what I KNOW is that ONLY GOD can give my deliverance. ONLY HE has the power to position me in my promised land!

Perhaps you feel abandoned in your relationship? Lost in the wilderness of broken dreams? Maybe you need to see your deliverance from failing finances or in your work? Children? Family? Or Ministry?

NO MATTER what you desert…no matter how hopeless…no matter how alone…GOD HAS PROMISED…HE WILL GO BEFORE THE FAITHFUL AND MAKE THE ROUGH PLACES SMOOTH…but those who trust in their own salvation will be put to shame.

Isaiah 42:16-17 says: “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth.These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back in utter shame.” (NIV)

FRIEND, STAND STRONG! GOD IS NEAR! HE IS FAITHFUL! HE WILL DO ALL HE HAS PROMISED!

Today, if you are struggling, I want to encourage you to do the following:

  • Remember WHO you serve. Consider HIS character. God is faithful. He loves you.
  • Remember WHAT HE HAS PROMISED. God will fulfill all HE has promised you.
  • REMEMBER NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD AND HE LOVES YOU PASSIONATELY!