A careful reading of Exodus 32, wherein the story of the golden calf can be found, reveals several important truths impacting our personal lives in 21st century America. • Wait on God’s timing. When Moses lingered on Mount Sinai for 40 days, the Israelites, encamped at the mountain’s base, grew restless. They wondered what would become of them if Moses never returned. Because of their impatience, fear, confusion, and lack of trust in God or Moses, they rashly acted on those doubts and almost sidetracked God’s plan for their lives. How many times have I earnestly prayed for something that did not materialize in the way and timeframe I preferred and…

In Exodus chapters 13-14, Moses recorded how God freed His people from the bondage of slavery in Egypt. After the tenth plague, where firstborn males throughout the land suddenly dropped dead, the Pharaoh finally decided to let the Israelites go. Even as Moses and Aaron quickly guided their people out of the country in battle formation, Egyptians wailed over their inconceivable loss. They readily bestowed livestock and wealth upon the Israelites so that they would get out of Egypt as soon as possible. It appeared that the Egyptians and their Pharaoh had had enough of the Israelites and this mysterious, powerful God they followed. Appearing as a pillar of cloud…