Title: We Are Not Helpless
Exodus (94) We are not helpless
(Exodus 32:7-14)
<The Great Intercession of Moses>
Aaron was doing his job well up until the Golden Calf incident. Instead of Moses, who was not good at speaking, he preached the word of God in front of Pharaoh and the people, and performed various miracles. During the battle with Amalek, he also supported Moses' arms while he was praying while sitting on the mountain (Exodus 17:10). He was a great supporting actor helping the lead role named Moses. However, while trying to become the main character on his own, he deviates little by little and commits the decisive sin of making a golden calf.
Of course, the situation is understandable. As Moses' prayer at Mount Sinai became longer, the people who were overcome with fear wanted to see God, so he told them to make a visible god. At that time, Aaron, who was supposed to lead the people correctly, yielded to the voices of the people and eventually made a golden calf (verse 4). And, intoxicated with what he had done, he offered burnt offerings and peace offerings in front of the golden calf, sat down to eat and drink, and held a festival celebrating the birth of the Aaronic religion.
Seeing this, God became angry and said to Moses. “My people are corrupt. These people who have gone out of my way to make a golden calf and worship it are a stiff-necked people. I will be angry with them, and I will destroy them all” (verses 7-10). It sounds like a very decisive statement, and there seems to be no hope anymore. If so, do I have to give up saying “It’s all wrong!” after hearing those words? no. A child of God can undo that wrong state any number of times.
What did Moses do when he heard the voice of God? Moses knew that he could change the will of God and prayed earnestly to change the will of God (verses 11-13). Then, in verse 14 of the text, these words appear. “Then the LORD changed his mind and did not bring the woe he had spoken to his people.” The will and choice established by the saints have the power to change even the will and course that God has established. We are never powerless.
< We are not helpless >
It is important to know your own shortcomings. But don't just look at your own shortcomings. If God moves you to do something, respond like this even if you realize your own shortcomings. "God! I'm not good enough, but if it's God's will, I'll do it. Give me the strength, the ability, and the wisdom to deal with it!”
Even if he is powerless by himself, if he follows God's will, he is never powerless. Even Moses at first said he couldn't because he was lacking, but God did a wonderful job through him. Likewise, if God calls you to do something, He also gives you the ability to do it. When you do God's work, you can't do great things if you plan alone and work centered on human methods, but if you work centered on your relationship with God, you can do great things.
One day, George Mueller, the father of an orphan in 19th century England, said in prayer, “Open your mouth wide! I will fill it.” Then he started the ministry of orphans and asked God for the need for that ministry. God miraculously and miraculously met all those needs. During his lifetime, he received more than $8 million in sponsorship. At that time, the daily wage of a worker was about $1, so 8 million dollars is about 800 billion won in today's money. With that money, he did a lot of good deeds, and when he died, he died leaving 800 complaints with all his fortune. He was powerless, but with God's help, he lived the most powerful life.
We are never powerless. If we live according to God's will, we will be released from the hand of the enemy who bound us and immediately reversed. Rather, we can bind the enemy and solve problems. When a believer establishes the right will in God, great power will arise. Christianity is not a fatalistic religion. If you make decisions according to God's will, your future will be vastly different. Even our good decisions can change God's will.
Sometimes I think like this. “How do we change the mind of God? Everything is God’s heart.” Of course, you cannot go against God's overall providence and will. However, in the process of accomplishing God's will, many difficult training courses set by God can be exempted according to our choices and decisions. Those who live by hearing the voice of God like this are never powerless. Be blessed spirits who always hold on to God and pray while making hope in desperate situations.