You Got A Pray-er
Exodus 32:1-8
The Golden Calf Within: Confronting Our Idols and Finding Rest in Prayer
In our journey through life, we often find ourselves wrestling with an uncomfortable truth: we are prone to creating idols. Just as the Israelites fashioned a golden calf in Moses' absence, we too can quickly turn away from the living God to worship something tangible, something we can control. But what are our modern-day golden calves?
Perhaps it's the relentless pursuit of success, the idolization of family, or the elevation of our careers to godlike status. For some, it might be the allure of sports, the siren call of fame, or the comfort of material possessions. Even good things, like church involvement or patriotism, can become idols if we're not careful. As John Calvin astutely observed, the human heart is an "idol factory," constantly churning out new objects of worship.
This tendency towards idolatry isn't just a problem of the ancient past. It's a very real, very present struggle for each of us. We are, as the sermon points out, "idol bent." But why? Often, it's because we struggle with sobriety – the raw reality of life – and seek comfort in things that promise immediate gratification or a sense of control.
But here's the sobering truth: we are not just idol-makers; we are "wrath earners." The Bible is replete with examples of God's judgment falling on those who turn away from Him – from Adam and Eve to the people of Noah's time, from Sodom and Gomorrah to the Egyptians. Even the chosen people of Israel weren't exempt from God's wrath when they strayed.
This might seem like a harsh reality, but it underscores a fundamental truth about God's nature: He is not just love, but holy love. His holiness demands justice, even as His love seeks to redeem.
So, what hope do we have in the face of our idol-making tendencies and our status as "wrath earners"? The answer lies in the concept of intercession – someone standing in the gap between our sin and God's holiness.
In Exodus, we see Moses fulfilling this role, pleading with God on behalf of the Israelites. He even offers to be blotted out of God's book if it means the people can be forgiven. This powerful act of intercession foreshadows an even greater intercessor to come: Jesus Christ.
Jesus stands as the ultimate advocate, the one who not only prays for us but became the very sacrifice needed to atone for our sins. As 1 John 2:1-2 beautifully puts it: "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."
This is the heart of the gospel – that through Christ, we can move from being "wrath earners" to being clothed in His righteousness. We can find rest in Him, as Jesus Himself invites us: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
But this rest isn't passive. It's an active engagement with prayer, both receiving the prayers of Christ on our behalf and engaging in prayer ourselves. Hebrews 4:16 encourages us to "approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
Prayer becomes our lifeline, our constant connection to the One who saves us. It's both a shield against temptation ("Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation" - Matthew 26:41) and a means of aligning our hearts with God's will ("Your kingdom come, your will be done" - Matthew 6:10).
The beautiful truth is that when the world says, "You don't have a prayer," we can confidently respond, "No, I have THE prayer." Christ Himself intercedes for us, and through Him, we have access to the throne of grace.
This truth should radically transform how we live. Knowing that we're prone to idolatry, we can be vigilant, guarding our hearts as Proverbs 4:23 advises. Recognizing our tendency to earn wrath, we can live in grateful dependence on Christ's intercession. And understanding the power of prayer, we can "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests" (Ephesians 6:18).
The story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8) beautifully illustrates this transformation. When brought before Jesus, accused and shamed, she encounters both His holiness and His grace. Jesus doesn't condemn her but calls her to "go and sin no more." This is the dual reality we live in – forgiven and called to holiness.
As we reflect on these truths, let's ask ourselves:
What are the "golden calves" in my life that I need to identify and turn away from?
How can I cultivate a deeper appreciation for Christ's intercession on my behalf?
In what ways can I make prayer a more central part of my daily life?
Remember, we're not alone in this journey. We have an advocate in Christ, constantly interceding for us. We have the Holy Spirit, empowering us to live lives marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
So let's surrender all to Jesus – our idols, our sins, our very selves. Let's rest in His intercession and engage in fervent prayer. And let's live as those who have been rescued from the dominion of darkness and brought into the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13-14).
In doing so, we'll find that our hearts, once factories of idols, become wellsprings of praise to the one true God. And in that praise, we'll discover the freedom and joy we were created for.