Exodus 32.  It is hard to resist the temptation to make something happen when God wants you to wait.  Israel had already agreed to keep the covenant, but grew impatient when Moses stayed atop Mt. Sinai. Their solution: worship God on their terms. They told Aaron to make gods who will go before them.  Aaron took some of their gold jewelry and fashioned a golden calf. He told them “these are your gods” (4).  The idea was that the LORD rode upon the calf from Egypt. To worship the calf  (viewed as a minor god) was to worship the LORD (viewed as the major God). Suddenly Israel had two gods. It was a lie that would allow the people to get going, and avoid this annoying delay. It backfired. By starting the celebration early, and under false pretenses, the Israelites brought death to thousands that day, and from the plague afterwards.

LORD, give us the wisdom to wait for your timing when your will is clear. May we not fall for convenient lies that allow us to do what we want.