You shall have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3).
A new king in Egypt is intimidated by the ever growing multitude of Jacob’s descendants and enslaves them. But God raises up Moses to deliver them out of Egypt and sets them apart as his people. Moses, in the presence of God on a mountaintop, receives the law to govern the people. When he returns, he finds them worshiping a golden calf. This was no surprise to God. In fact, he told Moses it was happening.
In his anger, Moses breaks the stone tablets that contained God’s law. But our merciful and gracious God is “slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6). He knew beforehand how stubborn his people would be and how often we would break his law and in so doing, break his heart.
God’s law is a standard we can never meet. It shows our need for a savior found only in Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfills the law and trades our sin for his righteousness.
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).
Lord, reveal areas of our lives that aren’t wholly submitted to you. Forgive us for thinking we can try harder and do better, when all we truly need is to surrender.
