Day 10 - A Faithful Heart
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A Faithful Heart - Lindsey Lautsbaugh
It is hard for me to fully grasp how hard it must have been for God to love the Israelites.
They honestly do not seem like people I would have wanted to be associated with. Liars, deceivers, fickle, impatient.
They do not look like an all-star squad that any God would have chosen to be His own people.
At one point, Moses left them alone so that he could go up the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments. The Israelites were like toddlers who couldn’t even behave for five minutes.
Within days of Moses’s departure, they were collecting all their gold jewelry, melting it down and making a cow statue for themselves. In that moment they then spoke words of absolute betrayal.
A declaration so full of rejection and dismissal to God, it is hard to hear without wincing. While looking at this little golden cow, their leaders shouted out for all to hear, “These are your gods Israel! The one who brought you up out of Egypt!” (Exodus 32:5)
Just imagine this act of power, love and goodness: To deliver an entire nation from brutal slavery in Egypt. Can you imagine a greater act of betrayal? To deliver to God’s ears and eyes a total rejection of who He is and what He has done.
What is God’s response?
In the midst of seeing who Israel truly is, God declares who He truly is.
Right after the golden calf betrayal, God reminds Moses that He is, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.” (Exodus 34:6-7)
It is hard for me to fully grasp how hard it must have been for God to love the Israelites.
That is, if it weren’t for His faithfulness.
It is hard for me to fully grasp how hard it must be for God to love me. That is, if it weren’t for His faithfulness.
Have you ever considered the unrelenting and unbreakable faithfulness of God to you?
Paul reminds us of this in 2 Timothy 2:13, “If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”
God’s faithfulness is not a transaction: “We give him some loyalty and obedience and He agrees to stick with us a little longer.“
No. God’s faithfulness is the essence of who He is. He is and will be faithful.
He cannot betray us because he cannot betray himself.
No matter the depths of our betrayal, He remains faithful. No matter how many years we feel apathy, He burns with faithful love. No matter the distance we wander, He will be faithful.
No matter the lies we are tempted to believe about Him, He will tell us the truth… “I am faithful”.
Scripture Reading: Exodus 34:1-14
Spiritual Practice
Spend time in worship and adoration of God’s faithful love towards His people. Thank Him for specific times He was faithful to you and those you love.
