Modern Day Golden Calves

Exodus / When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, 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 happened to him.” 2 Aaron answered them, “Take off the

Modern Day Golden Calves Exodus / gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods,

Modern Day Golden Calves O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” 5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival to the Lord.” 6 So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship Exodus / 18-24

Modern Day Golden Calves offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry… 18 Moses replied: “It is not the sound of victory, it is not the sound of defeat; it is the sound of singing that I hear.” 19 When Moses approached the camp offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry… 18 Moses replied: “It is not the sound of victory, it is not the sound of defeat; it is the sound of singing that I hear.” 19 When Moses approached the camp Exodus / 18-24

Modern Day Golden Calves and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain. 20 And he took the calf they had made and burned it in the fire; then he ground it to powder, scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it. Exodus / 18-24

Modern Day Golden Calves 21 He said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?” 22 “Do not be angry, my lord,” Aaron answered. “You know how prone these people are to evil. 23 They said to me, ‘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 happened to him. Exodus / 18-24

Modern Day Golden Calves Exodus / So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”

Modern Day Golden Calves Exodus / The people were in a crisis because they came to the wrong conclusion about God t t t t t A crisis in life brings us to a crisis in faith Why do we cross the line and let things become idols? Idols are good things that become the God-factor

Modern Day Golden Calves Four things that help us recognize idols… Idols always reflect our culture we can turn to our culture to worship what is known Idols always reflect our culture we can turn to our culture to worship what is known t t t Idols always have a repetitive nature attached to them have an addictive power to them idols take you farther than you bargained for Idols always have a repetitive nature attached to them have an addictive power to them idols take you farther than you bargained for

Modern Day Golden Calves Four things that help us recognize idols… Idols always compete for the place of God Matthew 6 / be careful where you set your focus idols get your eyes, your time and your energy Idols always compete for the place of God Matthew 6 / be careful where you set your focus idols get your eyes, your time and your energy t t

Modern Day Golden Calves Four things that help us recognize idols… Idols are fiercely defended you will rationalize and depend on idols conclusion: we drift easily Idols are fiercely defended you will rationalize and depend on idols conclusion: we drift easily t t

Modern Day Golden Calves Five things that cause us to drift… The god of materialism we cannot serve both God and money Psalm 106 we bow before something that is perishable The god of materialism we cannot serve both God and money Psalm 106 we bow before something that is perishable 1 1

Modern Day Golden Calves Five things that cause us to drift… The god of winning or success it is more subtle than money those who are driven by the winning and success factor and wanting more The god of winning or success it is more subtle than money those who are driven by the winning and success factor and wanting more 2 2

Modern Day Golden Calves Five things that cause us to drift… The god of “me” my body, my mind, my leisure, my pleasure — they all revolve around “me” “I” becomes the goal and “I” becomes the god The god of “me” my body, my mind, my leisure, my pleasure — they all revolve around “me” “I” becomes the goal and “I” becomes the god 3 3

Modern Day Golden Calves Five things that cause us to drift… The god of relationships we believe there is a relationship that will be better than our relationship with God family, marriages, friends, children — good, but not God The god of relationships we believe there is a relationship that will be better than our relationship with God family, marriages, friends, children — good, but not God 4 4

Modern Day Golden Calves Five things that cause us to drift… The god of religion worship can become our addiction we may have religious forms, but God is not the center of the worship we cannot have a dependency on religious practices, but a dependence on God The god of religion worship can become our addiction we may have religious forms, but God is not the center of the worship we cannot have a dependency on religious practices, but a dependence on God 5 5

Modern Day Golden Calves God’s response to idols is swift. Moses made the people drink their golden calf! God says that any other exchange except for Him will not be worth it! t t Five things that cause us to drift…

Modern Day Golden Calves We will be tempted to give our hearts to someone else… When that day comes, do these three things… t t Five things that cause us to drift… Run, run & run! [ flee! ] Replace this idol with God Ask for forgiveness

Modern Day Golden Calves These idols are empty… when we are tempted — and we (you) will be — you will want to turn to an idol t t Five things that cause us to drift…

Modern Day Golden Calves