Excuses Excuses Excuses!

Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded and tooled it into the shape of a calf. Exodus 32:4 (New Living Translation)

Have you ever done what Aaron did? That's an easy one to answer. No, I can honestly say I have never taken gold, melted it down and molded it into the shape of a calf.

But lets read on, in Exodus 32:19-24 Moses sees this calf that Aaron made and confronts him about it. Aaron responds "I threw them into the fire - and out came this calf!"

What was that? First we read that Aaron intentionally melted, molded, and tooled, yet when confronted his story changed, "I threw them in and - poof - this is what came out!"

So, let me ask again, have you ever done what Aaron did? Have you been there? Wishing you could go back and get a re-do, knowing that you cannot, wanting to save face and changing the details, just a bit, so that you do not look quite so foolish, quite so wrong.

I have.

Keep reading. Exodus 32:25-28 goes on to say that Moses recognized what had really happened and when he called Aaron and the people of Israel out on it there were severe consequences. All of this happened according to verse 25 "much to the amusement of their enemies".

You know who our enemy is? Yes, you know, it is Satan. It amuses him to no end when we find ourselves in a tight spot and instead of turning to God and saying, "I was wrong, forgive me, help me, and give me the strength to remain honest even in the midst of this mess" we change our story, giving excuses, softening our wrongdoing, and usually walking right into a bigger mess in the process.

That changed story, (those details that are retold just a bit differently yet always in our favor) no matter how we justify our action, it is still a lie. We allow pride to put us in a place where we want to look good in front of others, fearing their opinion instead of humbly confessing before our God and allowing Him to walk with us through the path of consequences. And the thing is, that path of consequences often leads to a path of righteousness when we allow God to guide us!

Dear Heavenly Father, help me to remember to confess my sin quickly, help me not to make excuses or play the blame game. Forgive me, help me, and give me the strength to remain honest even in my mistakes. Thank You for giving me Your word to guide and direct my life. Please give me the strength to live life with honesty and humility. Amen

Beth Beechy