I have been reading through Exodus and it is always a favorite of mine because of the exodus story and the principals in the stories of the people after they leave. In case you did not know the title of the book Exodus just comes from the Greek translation and basically means leaving. The people in Exodus left Egypt. It is a book of leaving. But it is more than just leaving Egypt.

One of the stories I like in the book is from chapters 24-31 and this is where Moses is on the mountain with God. God called Moses up Mount Sinai and God gives Moses the details of the tabernacle, how to ordain the priest, how to make special perfume and incense, how to offer sacrifices, and some other things. It is a long 8 chapters and I will be honest sometimes it feels like it goes on forever. But what God is doing here is showing Moses and us what He wants. He is giving the instructions for how to do it right. He is trying to spell out how to live in covenant with Him.

The reason I say I like this section and not love it is because I know Exodus 32 is coming. I know that in Exodus 32 we read about the people asking Aaron to make a golden cafe and Aaron doing it. He does not even seem to put up a fight he just does it. For 40 days Moses was up on the mountain getting God’s instructions and the people grew tired so they wanted to something they thought up.

The people left Egypt physically, but they had not left Egypt mentally. Egypt was still a part of their thinking. They lived there their whole lives. Generations of Israelites lived there. It is not surprising but was wrong. The problem is that God was giving the plan and the people had their own ideas of what life should look like.

What about you and me? Do we grow impatient while God is working in the silence? Do we start to drift off and go back to what we know, which is to do things our way, to make our own plans, to make our own Gods? We have two and only two choices when we are waiting on God to move. We can either think or act like God has forgotten about us and do things our own way or we can wait in the silence.

Acting impulsively and taking matters into our own hands might accomplish something but it does not mean it was something worth accomplishing. However, if we wait, no matter how long, and trust that God is working in the silence we can see miracles, blessings, and God’s best.

The people had things they need to do while waiting on God. It was not like they were just sitting around doing nothing, but they needed to wait for God’s plan before entering the promise. The people left Egypt, but they still had Egypt in the brain. We must leave our own Egypt. We are no longer citizens of the old place when we accept Christ but just like the people in desert, we need to get our old Egypt thinking out of our heads.

I just want to encourage you today. If you are waiting in the silence, then wait. Do what you are supposed to be doing but wait on the move and instruction of God. If God has finally spoken and you are now walking in what He has done, then walk in it. Do it with grace and humility rejoicing that God has given you His best for your life. Whatever it is, wherever you find yourself we should always be pushing towards God, His best, His glory, and His holiness. Things are so much better on that side of it.

Just a thought,

Mike