As Slaves in Egypt, the people of Israel seemed trapped in a hopeless cycle. Our lives are so easy in comparison to that era. Sometimes we get into great difficulty over very trivial things and our attitudes turn negative. We probably have difficulty identifying with someone who had absolutely no control over his own life, enduring intense physical labor and cruel beatings at the hands of compassionless taskmasters. All his life seemed to offer was another day of misery in the hot sun, making bricks and mortar. There was no evident hope for his children to have a better life. Maybe you can imagine what kind of an attitude he would develop. We know deliverance was promised, but the day-to-day backbreaking experience would have been disheartening.
A stiff-necked people
The cynical attitude the children of Israel developed was evident when Moses came at the direction of God to begin their deliverance. When things got worse before they got better, the officers of the children of Israel exclaimed: “The Lord look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savor to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us” (Ex. 5:21). We know the Israelites were a stiff-necked and stubborn people from their recorded history in the Bible. Perhaps we may be able to understand their actions a little better, realizing the dismal life they experienced in Egypt and its long-term effects.
Israel then had the amazing experience of seeing Yahweh’s incredible power revealed right before their eyes. You would think seeing the ten plagues poured out on Egypt would have effected an attitude change on the slaves. What an amazing thing it would have been to view the parting of the Red Sea and to walk through it with walls of water on both sides! Shortly thereafter, their pursuing enemies were vanquished under the collapsing walls of water. From our viewpoint, it would seem convincing enough to recognize God’s power and submit to His will just knowing He could blot out our existence in a heartbeat.
As we all know, it wasn’t long before they began to rebel and seemed to forget the all-powerful God who was looking over them. We do not know if we would have acted any differently, however, had we endured the same conditions of brutal slavery for many years. It is to our benefit we have their story to contemplate and analyze.
When Moses was delayed in the mount, the people “rose up to play” (Ex. 32:6). This implies some abominable activities associated with pleasing the flesh. God told Moses, “Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves.” It appeared they were bored waiting, became uncertain as to their leader’s absence and sought some distraction to pass the time and stimulate their senses. Many forms of idol worship were apparently just an excuse to perform immoral and disgusting practices to satisfy the lusts of the flesh. This appears to be the case here. Though Israel had the privilege of seeing the most spectacular, miraculous works of the Almighty, it quickly rebelled and turned to carnal gratification.
Our own danger of distraction
Certainly, if we are left to our own devices, with time on our hands and no proper direction, we also can be tempted to stray from the right path. There is certainly a wider variety of distractions than ever before considering the high-technology toys, communications, and great array of swift and reliable forms of transportation. Coupled with the increased leisure time available to the modern citizen, the possibility for misuse of that time is an ever-present danger to the followers of Christ.
We are immensely grateful to our Heavenly Father for the great benefits we enjoy in our western society. We live in peace and safety under the significant military umbrella of the western countries. Because of this, our safety is not challenged by armies camped on our borders, poised to destroy our comfortable way of life. It is easy to get fat and complacent, not having to fear foreign conquest as did most cultures throughout history. Entertainment has become the focus and pursuit of the lives of millions.
Television has become as important as eating and breathing to the majority, as evidenced by the number of these devices in the U.S. and Canada. More homes have televisions than telephones. Certainly this is indicative of a lot of free time and a lack of regard for spiritual considerations. This is not to say that TV is all bad; it does have valuable aspects in regard to education, including subjects related to the teaching of the Truth. However, the major use of this medium is for frivolous entertainment and reflects the industry’s almost total disregard for moral and spiritual standards.
The Israelites’ traumatic experiences in Egypt no doubt caused them to respond to events in a rather erratic manner; ill treatment can cause people to react to situations in abnormal ways. Israel had a firm leader in the person of Moses, and powerful enforcement from the strong hand of Yahweh, yet it quickly sought ways to distance itself from its Creator. From our perspective, this may seem to be the result of weak minds and a lack of self discipline.
Consider our situation. We are not generally in danger of any physical maltreatment. We are free to do as we please and go where we want. We have reasonably comfortable lifestyles, more comparable to the kings of old than the common people. We are well educated (comparatively speaking) and have enormous resources to enhance our spiritual well-being. But we also seek to distance ourselves from our Creator. We don’t exactly bow down before statues of wood and stone to engage in vile practices. Our distractions come in the form of transistors and microchips which convey images that we allow to permeate and pollute our minds. Whatever the means, the result is similar. We are separated from the good graces of our Lord through our own choice.
Idleness creates temptations
The thing in common between Israel and us is the temptation that can result when idleness occurs. Israel’s idleness occurred after a period of intense adventure and excitement. They may have felt a let-down after the excitement of their escape and may have responded by seeking a distraction. The Israelites witnessed fascinating and unbelievable miracles by their all-powerful God, events that were unimaginable to people in our era. The ensuing span of idleness was a dangerous time ripe for pursuing ungodly endeavors. Matthew Henry comments: “While Moses was in the mount, receiving the law from God, the people made a tumultuous address to Aaron. This giddy multitude were weary of waiting for the return of Moses. Weariness in waiting betrays too many temptations. The Lord must be waited for till he comes, and waited for though he tarry. Let their readiness to part with their earrings to make an idol, shame our laziness in the service of the true God. They did not draw back on account of the cost of their idolatry; and shall we grudge the expenses of religion?”
Our lives cannot compare to Israel’s adventures or the difficulty of daily survival they experienced. However, because of the various avenues of diversion, each day holds the lure of fleshly temptation and worldly excitement within easy reach. Modern media is so good at making their products attractive, it is difficult to resist their drawing power. Some of it is inescapable, yet to some we willingly subject ourselves. The more we allow ourselves to be drawn into this worldly extravaganza, the more difficult it is to break away from its grasp. Our society seems to have us convinced that entertainment is some sort of God-given right that we must have on a daily basis. The more we access it, the further away from God we get.
It is interesting to note that the Israelites were quite willing to give their gold to produce the molten image. How true it is today that we are also willing to pay dearly so we may have things that entertain and distract.
Avoiding the mindset of this age
It is highly important that we are not overcome by the mindset of this age. We need to be continually mindful of the need to keep our focus on the things concerning our Lord Jesus and the coming kingdom. The information age has made Bibles and related study materials almost as accessible as the negative merchandise. We have a golden opportunity to enhance our knowledge of God’s word and our spiritual growth. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Tim. 2:15). Quite obviously, if we channel our time into reading and studying His Word, our character will develop and our actions will become more Christ-like and pleasing to our God. Also, that will give us less time to pursue things that are valueless distractions detrimental to the building up of a godly life.
Bible study is important, but it is also necessary to put the principles contained therein to good use. “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1: 27) There is plenty of opportunity for us to use this exhortation. There are many who could benefit from our efforts. It is far easier to stay out of trouble if we are busy in the Lord’s vineyard, concentrating on things that will please our Maker and ultimately end in a glorious future in the Kingdom of God.
Fortunately, God knows how weak we are and has provided a way to put our past mistakes behind us. That way, of course, is through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is now that we turn our thoughts and attention to the remembrance of the life and sacrifice of our Lord and of our thankfulness of the great mercy and grace Yahweh has provided through His son.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One