Recently, I was reading in Exodus 32 after specifically praying about the difference between stewardship and control. I had asked the Holy Spirit to guide me as I dug deeper into that concept. My Bible reading plan had me in Exodus so that is where I went, and as I read the Holy Spirit illuminated something powerful that I want to share with you.
The portion I was in takes place after God had already led the Israelites out of Egypt. They had crossed the Red Sea, and His glory was with them—manifested as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. At this point, God called Moses up to Mount Sinai to give him the laws and commandments for the Israelites, now that they were their own nation and free from Egyptian control.
Moses, knowing he would be away, left Aaron and the elders in charge. He expected to be gone for about seven days, but it ended up taking much longer. While Moses was on the mountain, the glory of God was physically present—in that same visible form of a cloud.
I can’t help but wonder: couldn’t Aaron and the Israelites look toward the mountain and see the presence of God? We know they were camped at the base of the mountain and the other times when the glory of God descended on the mountain they could see a visible manifestation of it, so, I imagine they could this time as well. Maybe they could look up and say, “Yes, that’s where Moses is. And the cloud of God’s presence is still on the mountain with him.” If so, then they should have known God was still at work on their behalf, God was still moving, they were not forgotten.
Could you imagine being able to physically look and see God working- how amazing would that be!? They could physically see evidence of God working on their behalf- no guessing needed, no blind-faith! How much easier would it be to be patient if we could simply look and see God’s presence like that!?
Impatience Leads to Control
But the timing of Moses up on the mountain wasn’t what the Israelites expected. Moses was delayed. God’s movement didn’t match the Israelites timetable. And we can all relate to that—when something we thought would take a month drags into a year, or when we expect a miraculous answer that instead unfolds slowly.
The Israelites became restless. They wanted control. And in their impatience, they decided to “fix” the situation by making their own god. They brought their plan to Aaron, who had been entrusted with stewardship over the people. Instead of standing firm, Aaron conceded. The pressure of the crowd’s expectations outweighed his role as a steward of God’s plan.
God was still working. His plan was still in motion. But because the people couldn’t see results fast enough, they shifted their trust.
Turning Blessings into Idols
Instead of pointing the restless people back toward the mountain, back towards God, back towards the promises of God- Aaron conceded. Aaron asked them for gold to make them an idol.
Where did the gold come from? If we look back a few chapters, we see it was given to the Israelites by the Egyptians before they left Egypt—given freely without war, without fighting, without more death because “the favor of God” was upon them.
This gold was a blessing from God. They didn’t earn it, fight for it, or steal it. It was given. Yet now, because of their impatience, their need for control, their need for more right now that blessing from God became the very idol they worshiped.
They took the praise and worship that belonged to God and gave it to something He had provided. What was once a blessing and a gift from God was now their idol and downfall.
Our Modern Golden Calves
We might not build golden calves today, but the principle is the same. What has God delivered you from? What blessings has He placed in your life that you now give credit to instead of Him? Was there something given to you as a blessing from God that you now have elevated beyond its rightful place?
- Has God blessed you with wisdom and discernment, but now you lean on your own intellect and plans?
- Has He blessed you with wealth, but now you credit your investments or financial skills to all you have gained?
- Has He given you strength or health, but now you give credit to your own abilities to create and fix anything?
What once was a gift from God can quietly become an idol when our trust shifts from the Giver to the gift.
Aaron’s Missed Opportunity
Aaron was called to steward the people, but he did not lead them in their weaknesses and during their struggles. He could have said, “Look—there’s God on the mountain. Moses is still with Him. The plan is still in motion.” They had the manifest presence of God before them, yet they missed it.
Instead, Aaron tried to play both sides—making them the golden calf and building an altar to the Lord in front of it. He knew what the Israelites asked him to do was wrong and he did not have the courage to stand against them. He thought he could appease the crowds by making them their idol, and also ask them to sacrifice to the Lord. It was too little, too late. He didn’t lead with conviction. He appeased the crowd instead of shepherding them back to God. He tried to play both sides and it failed.
What landed for me when I read this passage, and what I am hoping connects for you too, is a vivid picture of how impatience can cause us to trade stewardship for control. The Israelites had visible proof of God’s presence, yet they still turned to something they could manage and manipulate. They even used the very blessing God had given them to create their idol. Like Aaron, we face moments when the pressure to please people collides with the call to steward God’s plan. In those moments, our choice will reveal whether we truly trust God’s timing—or whether we’ve let our blessings become our gods.
Reflection Questions
- What blessing in your life could quietly become an idol if you’re not careful to keep your trust in God?
- Where have you been tempted to “take back control” instead of waiting on God’s timing?
How can you practice spiritual stewardship this week—redirecting your focus back to God’s presence and plan?
