Exodus 32
Broken. God’s commandments. Israel’s promise. Moses’ heart. It happened right after the covenant was signed and sealed. It happened while the glory of the Lord, visible from the camp below, set the mountaintop ablaze. To her shame, Israel became a harlot on her honeymoon. Forty days, and still no Moses. In his absence, they weren’t feeling God’s presence. It was only a matter of time before forgetfulness set in. They exchanged the glory of God for the image of a calf. “How could they?” we ask. It seems like a random choice to us, but they were falling back on what was familiar. Aren’t we capable of this too? In times of uncertainty, old habits and patterns of thinking feel safe.