Tuesday: Corrupting Themselves
Daily Lesson for Tuesday 9th of September 2025
Read Exodus 32:7-8. Why did God send Moses back to the camp of Israel?
By turning to an idol, the Israelites were in the process of divorcing themselves from the true God, the One who had delivered them from Egypt. The Lord squarely placed the blame on them, saying that they have “corrupted themselves” (Exodus 32:7, NKJV)—even crediting this statue with having delivered them from Egypt.
Image © Pacific Press at Goodsalt.com
What a direct contradiction to what God said to them (Exodus 20:2)! This denial of God’s presence and mighty acts was a serious matter. Their thinking and feelings were distorted and completely corrupted.
For the prophet Ezekiel, idolatry lay at the core of all the misery of God’s people, and from there springs all other sins (see, for example, Ezekiel 8:1-18, Ezekiel 20:1-44, Ezekiel 22:1-12). We often wonder why ancient believers were so naïve and uncorrectable when they engaged in worshiping different human-made idols. We are quite sure that we would never do something like that. Are we really free of idols? The idols of today may have different shapes and forms, yet they have a similar appeal.
An idol is something that replaces God, and even though we know it is not right, we still worship it, often repeatedly. It captures our imagination, affection, time, and mind more than does God. It can even enslave our thinking. In fact, we become what we behold, and we will rise no higher than whatever “god” we serve.
If God is not at the center of your life, then other gods will fill His place. If we do not enjoy and cultivate God’s living Presence, we will enjoy and devote our lives to something or someone else. What we substitute for Christ may have different appearances: pride, self-centeredness, money, power, sex, food, TV, drugs, alcohol, impure thoughts, pornography, pleasures, work, sports, family, video games, films, shopping, ideas, politics, music, position, titles, grades, and so forth. The list has no end.
We are very creative and inventive in this regard. We can turn anything that is good, beautiful, and meaningful into an idol. Idolatry is extremely dangerous because it transforms our personality, our way of thinking, our affections, and our social life. It changes our identity and replaces genuine personal relationships with hollow and ultimately meaningless interactions that, in the end, cannot save us.
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In my comments this week I have made it fairly clear that this calf-worshiping episode was not a new-fangled idea the Hebrews were trying out. It was a return to the status quo. It is the old, “When in doubt, use the old method!” approach to solving problems.
My youngest grandson is currently studying for his HSC examinations, and because one of his subjects in Maths, he comes here nearly every day to do his study and get some tutorial help. Mike has a tried and tested method of doing maths problems he does not understand. He guesses the answer. Yesterday evening, I observed him attempting to provide an answer by guessing, but his response was incorrect. So, we had this little discussion where I pointed out the “grandad” method. When you find yourself guessing, you admit you need to learn something. We went online (what happened to good old textbooks with indexes in them) and within ten minutes we had a sure-fire method of solving the problem. But, knowing Mike, in the upcoming exam, there are going to be a few guessed answers. That is his status quo.
The Hebrews had a problem, their leader who had introduced them to a new religion had disappeared for 6 weeks, so in his absence they went back to their old religion. It was a return to the status quo. We like to make a lot of noise about what they should have done and how the Hebrew elders should have led out, but in the circumstances, we would have probably done the same: gone back to the old ways that we had done for all our lives.
The application of this to our own spiritual journey is potentially unsettling. We need to ask ourselves how much of our spiritual activity is “maintaining the status quo”. In our journey, are we going back to the old ways. Maybe there are idols within our perception of our beliefs.
The Gospel is all about a dynamic relationship with Jesus, yet so often we fall back into the status quo of quoting platitudes, stating rules, and reciting prophecies. Are we acting as though Jesus has taken six weeks leave. We like to think we are so much better than the Hebrews because their idolatry was so blatantly heathen but is it possible that our own golden calf is hidden in plain sight and we are too blind to see it? When we see ourselves as better than others it is usually time to go and seen an optician.
The history of man says it all
As seen in Genesis 3:6,
This desire for wisdom, though seemingly noble, was rooted in self-exaltation. Similarly, at the Tower of Babel, humanity's desire to "make a name for themselves" drove their actions (Genesis 11:4). Lot's willingness to face Sodom reveals a compromising spirit (Genesis 13:10-13). The Israelites' creation of the golden calf exemplifies this further, as they attributed their liberation from Egypt to a handmade idol, proclaiming, (Exodus 32:4).
Man wants to make gods off their own hands and might.
Today, we see similar patterns in our priorities. Our wealth, wedding parties, birthdays, and even pulpits have become platforms for self-exaltation.
It's time to reflect on what aspects of our lives might be taking away God's glory. By acknowledging these tendencies, we can strive to redirect our focus toward genuine worship and humility.
The lesson author is very correct when he writes in today’s lesson, “In fact, we become what we behold, and we will rise no higher than whatever "god" we serve”. Certainly, he was echoing (Psalm 115:4–8, Psalm 135:15–18).
"But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see… Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them."(Psalm 115:4–8, NIV).
The Bible is explicitly clear by saying that worshiping shapes the worshipper; you become what you worship. If what you worship is lifeless, powerless, and empty, then you yourself become spiritually lifeless, powerless, and empty. We worship the true God; His Spirit transforms us and gives power to reflect His character (2 Corinthians 3:18). When people worship idols, they slowly become like that idol. For instance, if one worships money, gradually and surely the person becomes consumed by greed and selfishness. If pleasure is your idol, gradually but surely you will be consumed by all sorts of crazy appetites.
Why does this happen? The “principle of imitation” starts to operate. Imitation is a very powerful human behaviour that compels someone to adopt psychologically. Our hearts open to what we worship. What we are devoted to shapes our behaviour. What we worship influences our choices, values, and perspectives in life. As time goes on, our values influence our habits, and finally, our habits become our character. Those who fix their eyes on Jesus start to imitate His love, humility, compassion, and truth.
“The idols of the nations are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and mouths but cannot breathe. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them”(Psalms 135:15-18, NLT).
Powerful, Amen
More often, it is the refinement of civilization, restraints of culture, a sheltered upbringing, or a lack of opportunity that have kept us from doing the same (Romans 3:23). If we had been under the same pressures as others, we too might have yielded, which is a humbling truth to acknowledge. In Exodus 32:1, the Israelites grew impatient when Moses delayed on Mount Sinai. In their spiritual blindness, they lost confidence in God just when heaven was actively at work on their behalf. God was giving Moses the blueprint for the tabernacle where His presence would dwell (Exodus 25:8–9), and He was preparing laws that would set Israel apart as His holy nation (Exodus 19:5–6). He was arranging for their future victories, peace, and blessings, including homes, orchards, and vineyards they had not built or planted (Deuteronomy 6:10–11).
Yet while God was working for their good, the people were grumbling, saying, “Where is God? Why has He left us?” Forgetting the miracles of the Red Sea, manna, and daily provision, they demanded action and chose their own way by making a golden calf (Exodus 32:4). Their impatience and unbelief led to idolatry, showing how easily we too can turn from God when His timing does not match ours. Like Israel, we must trust that even in silence or delay, God is still working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).
They corrupted themselves, the tendency was within them, they were just waiting for the opportunity, and it presented itself in the absence of God's representative. What are we waiting for before we corrupt ourselves? We need to stay in the presence of God, or we too will stray far away into apostasy.
Is it possible to be idolatrous while "doing good" - while "serving the Lord"?
Is it possible for us who read these lessons to be idolaters.
The lesson includes a pertinent paragraph for us, rather than them.
I can look at the list and say, "I don't substitute any of those for Christ." But do I?
Is it possible to put even good things before Christ and thus put self first? (And that is self idolatry.)
What or who has my attention first thing in the morning?
What or who has my attention just before I go to sleep?
I find that if I allow anything (even looking at the weather app) to come before my time with Jesus in Bible reading and prayer, usually the time is lost. And the blessing is lost. (That doesn't mean that I can't spend time with Jesus later in the day. But there's something special about that early morning appointment.)
The Bible teaches us that day begins at sunset. So it seems to me that we need to spend special time with Jesus before we go to sleep - and before we feel too sleepy to give Him our attention.
As families, do we spend time in morning and even worship? (These times are ideally in addition to private devotions, not instead of them.) Or do the world's media hold our attention?
May God help us to truly put Him first every day of the week and every moment of the day!
And then there is also the "Idol" of "Legalism" which makes "Professed Christians" appear very holy with what they eat or not eat, what they wear or not wear, and also their "Perfectionistic Theology" about God's perfect, flawless, sinless, expectations of all who also profess to follow Jesus. This "Idol" also makes Churches very "Cold, Formal, ceremonialistic, and void of God's true Love, Joy, peace and all the fruits of the spirit.
Pete, I agree with your comment in essence, but we need to recognize the difference between "perfectionism," which focuses on the perfection of self and the perfection which is God's ideal and requirement for His children.
Perfection in love and holiness is a prevailing theme in the Bible, and we ignore it at our eternal peril. We need to be in awe of God's holiness and realize that only holy beings can stand in His presence. That should make us throw ourselves on the mercies of our Savior, knowing we cannot perfect holiness in ourselves.
Our only hope is a new heart implanted in us by the Holy Spirit. (Good Nicodemus was startled by the though that Christ's kingdom was too holy for him to enter without receiving a new heart!)
An opposition to teachings of perfection and holiness is evidence that we do not have this new heart. The same is true for careless disregard of the teachings.
This is a big subject - enough for many lesson studies, but you can begin by checking out Ex. 15:11; Isa. 35:8; Matt. 5:48; Rom. 6:19, 21; Heb. 12:4. We have had several quarters dealing with the subject recently. In 2017 we had The Holy Spirit and Spirituality and Salvation by Faith Alonee.
Putting God first is spending time with Him in prayer, meditation, and with His word daily. Doing good is a reflection of our relationship with Him. Then the things of this earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace. It is said, they will know we are Christians by our love.
Thank-you for your insight of being with Him, rather than self.
It is impossible for man to survive or thrive without a ‘God’ – an intelligent, leading, motivating source to deal with life’s complexities. The only question is: “Which one is the ‘right/true’ God”? Even when choosing the ‘right’ God, there is no guarantee to go through life on a straight path.
Ecc.1:9 - ”What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done: there is nothing new under the sun.” No matter the technical advancements, man remains the same; facing the same problems and struggles.
Having accepted the Creator of all that ‘is’ to be our God, we choose to step onto the path He gives us to walk in. He is the King, it is up to us to keep the path straight, asking Him to help with clearing it from obstacles - to prepare for Him to lead us in His Way – Mark 1:3-5.
One significant change has taken place which helps us stay on His Path - to walk in His Way. He has given us a new heart and mind that can learn to love Him and our fellow man; a heart and mind remaining faithful when facing temptations, and to remember to call on Him when feeling overwhelmed. The God we chose to serve hears us before we call upon His Name – Psalm 145:8; 1 John 5:15; Isaiah 65:24;
It is incredible how this Lesson's subject plainly burst into our faces. Who does not have problems with things that substitute for God? Crazy is the man who says, "I am God". Perhaps even crazier is the one who carries this man's name by choice!
In Exodus 32:7 God said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt..." The wording is significant for at least two reasons:
1. Expression of Displeasure
By saying “your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt”, God is distancing Himself from Israel in that moment. It’s almost like a parent saying to the other parent, “Your child did this!” when upset. This doesn’t mean they’ve disowned the child, but it conveys displeasure and broken relationship.
2. Testing Moses’ Leadership
God was also giving Moses an opportunity to show his heart for the people. If Moses had said, “Yes, they are my people, and they are hopeless,” then he would have failed the test of intercession. Instead, Moses turns it back around in verse 11:“Why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?” Moses appeals to God’s covenant faithfulness, showing his selflessness and willingness to stand in the gap for Israel.
So, God wasn’t denying that He was the true Deliverer. Rather, He was expressing His displeasure and testing Moses’ intercessory heart. Moses’ response shows his deep love for the people and his understanding that they ultimately belonged to God.
I think it was more of a test of Moses than anything else. I understand what you're saying about what parents say, but I don't know if earthly parents are good parallels to God. As humans, our anger is often about how the child has hurt, embarassed us etc. and often punishments reflect that as much as the actual deed. We often punish more harshly if we've been impacted, which is a selfish motivation.