Justification; live safe!
My family and I were reading in Exodus 32 this morning in our bible study and we came across something very interesting… I am sure you have seen it, but for us, especially the kids, it was a great epiphany!
Moses had been gone for awhile up on the Mountain and the children of Israel were getting restless. It says
“they gathered
around Aaron and said, come make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of
Egypt
, we don’t know what has happen to him.” Aaron told them to take off their earrings, he melted them and in verse 4 it says
“He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, FASHINONG IT WITH A TOOL”.
Then they eat, drank and indulged in revelry!
Moses heard them, (Read Chapter 33 as well, Joshua never left the tent; God make us a generation that never leaves the tent), then Moses goes to interceding for the “Stiff-necked people” I love that Moses changed God’s mind and literally offers himself for the people, verse 32,
“But now, please forgive their sin-but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.”; Moses approaches the camp, his anger comes out once again, breaks the tablets, and asks Aaron, verse 21,
“What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin”? This is an amazing, but common answer,
“You know how prone these people are to evil, they made me do it!” and then he says,
“THEN THEY GAVE ME THE GOLD, AND I THREW IT INTO THE FIRE, AND OUT CAME THIS CALF!”
My kids laughed out loud as they realized that they do this with me; “I don’t know what happen, I just threw it in and it came out like this, it’s not my fault”! And then, I had to confess to them, I still can do the same thing with God.
As people of God, we can almost justify anything, and, like Aaron and the Israelites, if we depend on another to feed us, we drift away quickly … the only safe place is radical humility, intimacy and accountability; who has the right to speak into your life? Who do you allow to point out your justifications? Find a friend and have them shout into your life, pray and feed yourself the word of God; live safe!
Gary – I loooooove your family!! Really, I’m not just saying that! You are probably the most amazing family I have ever met. And, believe me I have met and had the privledge of knowing a lot of amazing families in my lifetime. I wish I could line them all up in a room so you could see the ranks in which you fall!! I had such a beautiful time with you on Sunday night and then to be able to be with you and Lisa, Seth & Karen praying and worshiping. Being with yoyr kids – they are all so precious. And Noah & I really bonded yesterday morning!!! Thank you Gary & Lisa for loving me and speaking truth and grace over my life!!! I feel “Home” when I am with you!!
Gary – I loooooove your family!! Really, I’m not just saying that! You are probably the most amazing family I have ever met. And, believe me I have met and had the privledge of knowing a lot of amazing families in my lifetime. I wish I could line them all up in a room so you could see the ranks in which you fall!! I had such a beautiful time with you on Sunday night and then to be able to be with you and Lisa, Seth & Karen praying and worshiping. Being with yoyr kids – they are all so precious. And Noah & I really bonded yesterday morning!!! Thank you Gary & Lisa for loving me and speaking truth and grace over my life!!! I feel “Home” when I am with you!!
Gary – I loooooove your family!! Really, I’m not just saying that! You are probably the most amazing family I have ever met. And, believe me I have met and had the privledge of knowing a lot of amazing families in my lifetime. I wish I could line them all up in a room so you could see the ranks in which you fall!! I had such a beautiful time with you on Sunday night and then to be able to be with you and Lisa, Seth & Karen praying and worshiping. Being with yoyr kids – they are all so precious. And Noah & I really bonded yesterday morning!!! Thank you Gary & Lisa for loving me and speaking truth and grace over my life!!! I feel “Home” when I am with you!!
I love you guys sooooooo much that I just had to post it 3 times!!!!
i wish i was as cool as amy to post something three times….
i wish i was as cool as amy to post something three times….
i wish i was as cool as amy to post something three times….
oh.. i guess i am
I looooove you Ally!! You made my day reading that! I can’t wait to see you guys again (hopefully soon). You and your sister are 2 of the greatest girls I have EVER met! Keep loving each other and God. I am so proud to know you!!
the love for one another is contagious on this blog…it is literally so touchy feely that i began hugging myself and saying nice things to people around me as i read it..i should post this 3 times but i am too A.D.D….bottom line everyone loves Gary and Lisa and the fam and all commentors love each other…ALOT