Follow the Gold

Ever have money thrown at you? Israel did, as they left Egypt…

Exodus 12:35-36 (ESV) 35 The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. 36 And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

I’m sure the clothing helped as they went into the desert.

The silver and gold, however, what became of that?

What becomes of the gifts the Lord has given you? How do you steward over the things God has graciously placed in your hands? Not just money – your time, your personality, your art?

It’s probably bad enough that for most of us, our gut reaction to the things we have or the artists we are, is that it’s ours, and we do with these things as we please.

But sometimes it gets worse.

Exodus 32:1-4 (ESV) When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” So Aaron said to them, “Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden[a] calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”

Perhaps some of that gold had been given to them as they left Egypt?

All good things come from our loving, merciful, heavenly father. You will find your highest joy in giving them back to him in service, and your least joy by taking those gifts and holding them for your self, or worse yet, using your gifts to serve the idols of your heart – the things you hold more dear than the Lord.

Follow the gold.


Here’s a question you can use for self-coaching. Share your thoughts in the comments section or contact me directly.

  • Where does your gold lead?

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3 Responses

  1. Mary T says:

    I’ve never thought about the fact that the gold that was used to make the golden calf came from the Egyptians. Some how that makes what they did sound even worse. Yet have I ever created an idol out of a blessing God has given me? Ouch…

  2. Jennifer Eby says:

    I think this is a good challenge for all of us in nearly any area of life. It certainly is for me. We have this treasure in earthen vessels. We of our own will become marred in the hands of the Potter. We are too much our own golden calf, rising us of ourselves out of the fiery trial meant to purify us for His glory and honor. Ouch indeed if I cause God to turn up the heat! Or worse begin searing my conscience. Only when I wait on the LORD and let Him make me anew can I be pure gold, a gift refined and beautiful to behold.

    • Jim says:

      Thanks Jennifer for the revisioning of gold refined… by the Lord.

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