Exodus 32:4 Heavenly Patterns or Hasty Idols

Exodus 32:4

And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 

 

I’m struck by the contrast between what God designed and what the people fashioned for their own god. Think of the detail God delivered to Moses: forty days’ worth of instructions, ensuring that everything was made according to a heavenly pattern. Every element, every shape, and every color had meaning. There was gold, brass, wood, skins, and fabrics—each with a specific purpose. Furthermore, God had gifted particular men, not just with skills but with the Holy Spirit, so that each crafted item was not merely the work of men, but the work of God through them.

 

Now, contrast that with the molten calf. The concept was impromptu, with no forethought. The people, unsure of what had become of Moses, felt they needed to act. Gold was collected, melted down, and shaped, and before they knew it, a calf emerged! Aaron even explained this haphazard process to Moses:

 

Exodus 32:24 (KJV)

And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.

 

The entire effort was chaotic, shoddy, and spur of the moment, reminiscent of the gods of Egypt. It lacked meaning, pattern, and intent. When they didn’t know what else to do, they did what they had always done—and it was the wrong thing.

 

Slavery, in whatever form—whether to sin, religion, or tradition—is tough to break. While we long for freedom in its snare, once freed, we often miss its chains. If we aren’t careful, we’ll forge new chains to bind ourselves.

 

True liberty, the kind God offers, requires patience, care, thoughtfulness, and vigilance. It is heavenly, not earthly, and there is nothing on earth with which to compare it. Those who have never experienced it will not understand it. Those who possess it must labor to keep it.

 

Exodus 32:26 (KJV)

“Who is on the Lord’s side? Let him come unto me.”

 

#FaithLessons #SpiritualFreedom #BiblicalTruth #GodsDesign #TrustInGod

Heavenly Patterns or Hasty Idols: The Contrast Between God's Design and Man's Desperation

 

• Are there any “golden calves” in your life that you need to surrender to the Lord?
• Dedicate time this week to seeking God’s will and patiently waiting on His guidance,

👉 Join our community in studying God’s Word and strengthening your faith.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6400 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Exodus 32:4 Heavenly Patterns or Hasty Idols

Exodus 30:7 (KJV) From the Brazen Altar to the Throne of Grace

Exodus 30:7 (KJV)

And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.

 

There were two altars in the tabernacle of the wilderness. The first was the brazen altar of sacrifice, which stood outside the tabernacle within the courtyard. The animals sacrificed were slain outside the camp and then brought into the courtyard area to be burned on the altar. These sacrifices were offered as atonement for sin. They were ineffective in themselves and had to be offered repeatedly, yet they pointed to the one sacrifice for sin forever—Jesus Christ.

 

The second altar, mentioned in our passage, was the altar of incense. It stood inside the holy place, near the veil that separated the holy place from the holy of holies. It was positioned close to the mercy seat, which symbolized the presence of God. This altar of incense represented the prayers of the saints.

 

Revelation 8:3-4 (KJV)

And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.

 

While sacrifice was necessary to enter the holy place, the incense—representing prayer—was that which was nearest to the Lord. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ was essential and pleasing to God, but what draws God’s ear toward us is our prayers.

 

Hebrews 4:16 (KJV)

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

 

#PrayerLife #SacrificeAndGrace #HolyPlace #SweetIncense #BoldlyToTheThrone

From the Brazen Altar to the Throne of Grace: The Power of Prayer

 

• How this lesson change the way you approach God's throne of grace?
• Come boldly before the throne of grace today, lifting your prayers with a renewed sense of purpose.

👉 Join our community in studying God’s Word and strengthening your faith.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6400 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Exodus 30:7 (KJV) From the Brazen Altar to the Throne of Grace

Exodus 29:46 (KJV) The God Who Saved Us

Exodus 29:46 (KJV)

And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God.

 

The entire chapter is focused on the anointing of Aaron and his sons for the priesthood. Toward the end of the chapter, God promises to sanctify the tabernacle, the altar, and the priests by His glory. They were never sanctified by the offerings themselves—those were acts of obedience and symbolism. The reality is the Lord.

 

The function of

•       The altar

•       The tabernacle

•       The offerings

•       The priesthood

 

was this: “they shall know that I am the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God.”

 

Everything pointed back to deliverance from Egypt. The God who saved them is the LORD their God. Whatever else was true, this was the foundation of it.

 

1 Corinthians 10[1] reminds us that Israel’s deliverance from Egypt serves as an example for us. 

 

Here’s my takeaway today: whatever else is true, regardless of what comes our way—no matter the trials, victories, leadership, or lack of it—the God who saved us and forgave our sins did so by His own glory and not by any doing of our own. 

 

The God who saved us is the LORD our God.

 

#FaithfulGod #BiblicalTruth #SpiritualDeliverance #GodsGlory #KJVScripture

The God Who Saved Us: The Foundation of Our Faith

 

---

[1] 1 Corinthians 10:1-6 (KJV)

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

• How has God’s deliverance shaped your understanding of His presence in your life?
• Open Exodus 29 and read it with a heart of gratitude.

👉 Join our community in studying God’s Word and strengthening your faith.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6400 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Exodus 29:46 (KJV) The God Who Saved Us

James 1:2-3 (KJV) Joyful Endurance in Times of Testing

James 1:2-3 (KJV)

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

 

I’m just going to say it outright: I don’t know anyone who gets this. No one I know finds joy in “divers temptations.” The reason for the joy is that the temptations produce patience. The value of patience is that it produces wisdom. When going through temptations, we ought to be asking the Lord for the wisdom He intends through the trial.

 

But wisdom and patience cannot happen without faith. This is the ticket; it’s the key that makes it all lock together. An unwavering faith—absolute trust in the Lord—sees our prayers for wisdom answered, our patience bear fruit, and our temptations become effective. That’s something we can have joy over.

 

#JoyInTrials #FaithAndPatience #WisdomThroughTemptation #UnwaveringFaith #ChristianEncouragement

Joyful Endurance in Times of Testing: The Power of Patience and Faith

 

• Are you willing to see your trials in a new light?
• Trust that He is working to shape you into someone complete, lacking nothing.

👉 Join our community in studying God’s Word and strengthening your faith.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6400 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

James 1:2-3 (KJV) Joyful Endurance in Times of Testing