Week 6  Day 6 

we are pressured often to simply go along
with whatever is said in a conversation
       sometimes devoid of sensitivity
       ignoring the consequences
             as though we have a right to be rude
             as though we have a right to hurt others
 
courage is something we expect of others
which we often excuse in ourselves
      others should be strong in the face of pressure
      while we try to find reasons to just go along
            and we rationalize
            and we defer

Aaron faced the pressure by going along
giving the people what they wanted
      gods of their own making
      gods they could control
           
and when confronted with what he had done
proclaimed it an accident
       wanting to be seen as the victim
       wanting to be known as the persecuted

but we need to repent of our sins
and not simply excuse them
      we are the people of God
      a people called
            to integrity
            to responsibility
            to faithfulness
            to courage

                                                            --rus  

                                         BURNING ANGER 
        Will God's presence forsake us because of our sin?
                                              Exodus 32

    7The Lord said to Moses, "Go, get down!  For your people
have corrupted themselves.  8They have turned aside quickly
out of the way which I commanded them.  They have made
themselves a molded calf, and worshiped it and sacrificed to
it."  9The Lord said to Moses, "I have seen this people, and
indeed it is a stiff-necked people!  10Now, therefore, let Me
alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may
consume them.  And I will make of you a great nation."
    11Then Moses pleaded with God, and said:  "Lord, why
does Your wrath burn against Your people?  12Why should
the Egyptians speak, and say, 'He brought them out to harm
them, to kill them in the mountains.'  Turn from Your fierce
wrath, and relent from this harm to your people. 
13Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants.'' 
14So the Lord relented from the harm which He said He
would do.
    15Moses went down the mountain, and the two tablets
of Testimony were in his hand.  19As he came near the camp,
he saw the calf and the dancing.  Moses' anger become hot,
and he cast the tablets out and broke them at the foot of
the mountain. 20Then he took the calf, burned it in the fire
and ground it to powder; and scattered it on the water and
made the children of Israel drink it.  21Moses said to Aaron,
"What did this people do to you that you have brought so
great a sin upon them?
    22So Aaron said, "Do not let the anger of my lord become
hot.  You know the people are set on evil.  23They said to me,
'Make us gods that shall go before us; as for this Moses, we
do not know what has become of him.'  24And I said to them,
'Whoever has any gold, let them break it off.'  So they gave it
to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out."
    30Next day Moses said to the people, "You have committed
a great sin.  I will go to the Lord; perhaps I can make
atonement."  31Then Moses returned to the Lord and said,
"Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have
made a god of gold!  32Yet now, if You will, forgive their sin--
but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book You have written."
    33The Lord said, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will
blot him out of My book.  34Now go, lead the people to the
place of which I have spoken to you.  Behold My Angel shall
go before you.  Nevertheless, in the day when I visit for
punishment, I will visit punishment upon them for their sin."
                           _{This Bible passage was condensed from the NKJV}

                  < prev page                                                next page >