Daily Reading: Exodus 32
Scripture Focus: And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. (Exodus 32.6b)
Devotional Thought: The teacher has left the room! I'm not sure what it's like in school today, but I remember when I was in school, if the teacher left the room pandemonium broke out! And the longer the teacher was gone, the greater the chaos!
That's what happened when Moses 'left the room' in Exodus 32. He had been called up the mountain to receive the Law of God. He had been up there almost 40 days - a long time, certainly longer than a classroom full of children could behave! The children of Israel certainly didn't behave. They made for themselves an idol and then "sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play."
As we look around at American culture today, it seems as if the teacher has left the room. In politics, in ethics, in sexuality, in manners, in respect, in family, in law enforcement - you name the social arena - the guidelines for life have been disregarded, and pandemonium has broken out. I wonder sometimes, "How long can God remain patient?"
There is good news, however! God looks down from the mountain of his holiness and sees the situation and stands ready to forgive, to mend, to put in order. But, he is waiting for a Moses to stand in the gap - to intercede on behalf of a wayward people. He is waiting on the church...
Two things prevent this. Either the church would rather stay on the mountain and ignore the problem below, or the church has joined in the pandemonium. So, let us stir ourselves into action, and let us forsake the sins of our culture. Then may we stand in the gap for lost souls.
Prayer: Father, thank you for your patience. Thank you that you are not willing for any to perish. Help your church to be set ablaze with a holy zeal for God and for souls. Help me to be a Moses to stand in the gap. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: 46 How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire? 47 Remember how short my time is! For what vanity you have created all the children of man! 48 What man can live and never see death? Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah 49 Lord, where is your steadfast love of old, which by your faithfulness you swore to David? 50 Remember, O Lord, how your servants are mocked, and how I bear in my heart the insults of all the many nations, 51 with which your enemies mock, O LORD, with which they mock the footsteps of your anointed. 52 Blessed be the LORD forever! Amen and Amen. (Psalms 89:46-52)
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