Israel's Actions were a Bunch of Bull

The Golden Calf - Exodus 32

Why would the people resort to such an extreme measure as worshiping this idol?

They had recently experienced:

*Delivery from Bondage

*Miraculous supply in the desert of Water, Manna and Quail

*The presence of God in the Cloud and Pillar

*The lightnings, thunderings and an earthquake at Mt. Sinai

Talk about your basic, "but what have you done for me lately?" mentality!

So, what happened?

1. Impatience - people want what they want when they want it.

2. Impertinence - they lacked respect for God and His chosen leader.

3. Impotence - they were so incapable of caring for their own spiritual well-being.

4. Indolence - they were lazy. Rather than being vigilant of the important things of life, they easily let down their guard, and thus were low hanging fruit for the enemy.

5. Incongruence (idolatry) - they wanted an empirical god. One they could see and touch, rather than the true God Who saw their conditions in Egypt, heard their desperate cries, knew their plight and came down to save them. Passing over them on the night of the deaths of the firstborn.

A Lesser Light - Ex 31:1-11

Bezaleel - "In the Shadow of the Almighty"

This special servant of God gets zero mention in modern preaching. He dwells in the shadows of Bible, on the periphery of the attention. People like him give way to the biblical giants: Mary, Abraham, Moses, David, Paul...

But he was definitely big stuff in his day and deserves a look from us!

What was so special about our friend, Bezaleel?

*His Enrichment (Heritage): His dad was Uri ”Fiery,” His grandpa was Hur “White Linen,” and son of Aaron, of the tribe of Judah “Praise.”

*His Empowerment: He was filled with the Spirit of God.

*His Endowment (traits): Wisdom, understanding and knowledge. He was at the same time theoretical and practical. He is noted for his cunning (he was skilled and adept) as a metallurgist, artificer (craftsman), stonemason, carpenter.

*His Compliment: (appointed by God) Aholiab (tent of his father), who was Ahisamach (brother of support). In other words, there should be no Lone Rangers in the Lord's work, we can't go it alone. We need suitable help. Even Tonto was there to support the Lone Ranger. He was there to offer support and wisdom to Bezaleel!

*His Employment: an extremely high calling, crafting the tabernacle, the ark of the testimony, the mercy seat, table of showbread, golden candlestick, brazen altar, the golden laver (pan) and altar of incense. Also, crafting the holy garments of the ministers. As well, he was responsible for compounding the anointing oil and incense (see chapter 30:22-38 for the details of the exacting recipes demanded).

Bezaleel was:

Ø  Essential to the Worship of God

Ø  Responsible to the Work of God

Ø  Integral to the Word of God

You may not receive the lime-light or the marquee billing, but God, your Heavenly Father, has a great work for you to do. He is gifting you to do it. He is surrounding you with encouraging supporters, and the Holy Ghost imbuement is available for your enabling. Do something great for God as you become essential, responsible and integral in your place of service. The Worship, Work and Word of God would benefit from your service today.