“Then they believed His words; They sang His praise. They soon forgot His works; They did not wait for His counsel, But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul. When they envied Moses in the camp, And Aaron the saint of the Lord, The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan, And covered the faction of Abiram. A fire was kindled in their company; The flame burned up the wicked. They made a calf in Horeb, And worshiped the molded image. Thus they changed their glory Into the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt,”
Psalms 106:12-21 NKJV
Normally I find the Psalms encouraging – but today, I was quite convicted.
Psalms 106 is a quick summary of the Israelites journey out of Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the promised land. It’s a “re-telling” meant to teach, direct, and encourage the people.
As I read the passage above, I couldn’t help but wonder how often I do / have done the same thing – singing His praise loudly on Sunday, confident in His Word and truth, only to be thrown into discouragement on Monday or Tuesday or any other day of the week when I embrace worry, fear, doubt, discouragement, disappointment, unforgiveness, and more. Perhaps it’s just me, but my heart can be fickle and forgetful and my feelings cannot be trusted.
As I read this part of the passage, G-d arrested my heart:
“They made a calf in Horeb, And worshiped the molded image. Thus they changed their glory Into the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt”
After rereading it a couple of times, G-d spoke lovingly to me, bringing conviction:
“What is your golden ox eating the lush green pastures I’ve placed you in? Worry? Doubt? Busy-ness? What is your ox? He’s destroying the field. It’s time to corral him.”
Anything that takes my focus off of G-d, capturing and consuming my thoughts and affections, causing me to forget or question His goodness is a “golden ox” in my life.
The question the snake spoke to Eve in the garden is the same one that drove the people to create a golden ox to worship and is the same one that plagues me today: Did G-d really say?
When I worry, withhold forgiveness, and doubt, I’m exchanging the Glory of G-d in my life for an golden ox and repeating the age old question that draws my heart away: Did G-d really say?
This I know, G-d DID say:
He fashioned every part of me – Psalms 139
He supports those who’s hearts are loyal to Him – 2 Chronicles 16:9
He will never leave me or forsake me – Deuteronomy 31:6
He is good – Psalms 100:5
He loves and forgives me – John 3:16-18
When my heart wanders and is distracted by an Ox that wanders by, may His truth corral the ox and stand guard over my heart and mind.
Father – Thank You for Your Word that convicts me once again. Show me the little oxen in my life trying to distract me from Your truth. You alone are good. You alone can be trusted. Your leadership alone is perfect and I trust You with my heart, my fears, and my worries today. Amen.
Daily Reading: Psalms 106-107