Out of Control

Ex 32:21-32

The moral failure of making a false god from golden earrings had produced anarchy and lawlessness.

Commitment to community produces powerful and stabilizing forces which engender and protect individuals from the many threats of isolation. In a moment, these protections were lost and the Israelites were vulnerable. Though it was perhaps their greatest momentary experience of liberty – they had cast off restraint – they were actually the most vulnerable they had ever been since the time of Abraham.

The community teetered in sin.

Still mentally slaves, violence re-oriented their thinking and they sulked back to their places. Not wiser. A smoldering wick of rebellion.

I’m an American. I wear distrust of the government like a badge of honor. But the answer isn’t found in a bag of conspiracy thinking – they had that much in the garden.

Our hope is in wisdom – learned profound knowledge so as to not be fooled by every wind of doctrine: To stop being afraid of authority. Instead, making the determination to hold myself and my community accountable.