Broken

Hosea 8:6

“This calf--a craftsman has made it; it is not God. It will be broken in pieces, that calf of Samaria.”

In Exodus 32 the Israelites “gathered around Aaron and said, ‘Come, make us gods who will go before us.’” They lost sight of God, the God in whose presence and glory they had trembled not long before. They lost sight of their God, so they became impatient and looked for anything that they could worship and give their lives to.

The Israelites went for a golden calf, something I’m fairly certain you don’t have chilling in your garden. But if you’re anything like me, you do have a few potential non-golden, non-calf idols scattered around your world. Idols came in all shapes and sizes these days: cars, money, jobs, family, friends, dogs, holidays, dreams, hobbies…

All these things require more of us then I think we often realise. But even worse, they take away from the people who love us: “Aaron answered them, ‘Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” We start taking our time, gifts, energy and resources away from the One who deserves it and the ones that need it, and invest them in unworthy idols.

We give our lives, forgetting that “This [idol]; it is not God. It will be broken in pieces.”

This friend, they are not God. Though they love and care for you, they cannot save or satisfy your heart. They will disappoint you; they will be broken in pieces.

This job; it is not God. Though it will allow you to provide for yourself and your family, it is not your ultimate Provider. It will be broken in pieces.

This dream; it is not God. Though it may be from God and of God, the dream in itself is not enough for you. Don’t hold on too tightly, it will be broken into pieces.

This [______]; it is not God. It will be broken in pieces.

Fill in the blank for your own life, and remind yourself often.

God alone can rescue, save, satisfy, provide, fulfil, forgive and never let you down.

Look to Him, worship Him, give your time, gifts, energy and resources to Him. 

He alone is worthy.

This Jesus; He is God. He will never be broken in pieces.

See also: Last God Standing