“When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, the gathered around Aaron and said “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses, we don’t know what has happened to him.” (Exodus 32:1 NIV)
It took less than forty days for the Israelites faith to fade to apostasy.
Moses, had stood up to Pharaoh on their behalf. He had shepherded them through all ten plagues. He had instructed them on the first Passover and kept their families intact as the Egyptians systematically succumbed the death of the firstborn. He had led the way out of slavery and into the wilderness. When Pharaoh and his armies followed suit, Moses had cooperated with the hand of God to split the sea and send them through it, unharmed. And then he had stretched out his hand again and the sea returned, washing away the enemy troops. Here, just a few weeks into their great journey to the Promised Land, the Israelites had reduced their fearless leader to a mere fellow; an acquaintance they happened to follow out into the desert, no less. Within a month, they had lost confidence in Moses and the mighty God he represented.
(Keep in mind, Moses was on the mountain taking notes on a new system of government for the nation they were about tho establish. To put this in perspective: forty days is nothing, it took our country four years to accomplish what this man and God got done in a mere six weeks.)
So often we get silence from God and we assume He’s left the premises. We interpret stillness as abandonment, when truly, He’s working behind the scenes. We must recall: abandonment is not a part of God’s nature.
“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave You nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; and do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV)
We impress upon God the truth about ourselves. We are deserters. Abandonment is our nature, not His! When we suspect God of absconding, it is projection, not reality. We assume He is like us and we are sorely mistaken.
Friend, we will inevitably experience seasons of radio silence in our relationship with the Lord. There are times where, in His wisdom, love and sovereignty, where we may not hear Him as clearly or closely. It’s been said, “Teacher is always quiet during a test.” We prepare to pass the exam when we allow our soul to grow accustomed to stillness. If we practice solitude regularly, we begin to discipline our inner man. We learn to live by our principles rather than our feelings. Then, when God seemingly steps away to deal with some hidden part of our story, we don’t panic and blow things up.
Be assured, even when God feels far off, He is still with us. Can you recall who pulled the alarm on the Israelites bad behavior with the golden calf? It was God Himself who reported the pagan party to Moses.
God may feel far off, but our emotions betray us. He is always close enough to know the inclinations of our heart. It is in these moments of perceived distance that we anchor ourselves in truth and hold fast until we feel Him near again.
“”Am I a God who is only close at hand?” says the Lord.”No, I am far away at the same time. Can anyone hide from Me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 23:23 NLT)
The nearness and fairness of God are each a blessing to the believer. He is up close and personal in our frame but He is equally at work in the big picture of humanity. He is as near as our breath but as vast as the universe. And in all that detail and enormity, He elects to interact with us.
Lord, thank You for the times when we feel Your manifest presence so powerfully. Firmly establish our faith in You. Let Your word take root in our hearts and may we hold fast to Your promises on the days You feel far off. Help us stay the course when a month passes by and You are on the mountain making plans for Your people. Keep us from making up lesser gods and bowing before powerless idols. May we love and follow You all the days of our lives, even when You feel far away. Amen.