“Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, they gathered together before Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” – Exodus 32:1 (AMP)

There is a popular saying among Christians that the reason charlatans are rampant is because there are believers who patronize them. In other words, fake ministers thrive and increase in number because there is an increase in the number of fake believers as well. The Lord God used the man Moses to bring the children of Israel out of the land of bondage, Egypt and all along, Moses revealed God to them as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, a relatable God who fulfilled His covenant to their fathers and this was done as Moses lived his life as a representative of God. But, unfortunately, the Israelites didn’t get the message.

For forty days and nights, Moses was on the Mountain with God where he received the two tables of stone which consist the Ten Commandments written with the finger of God but below, in the wilderness where they were, the people were already asking questions. The question they asked showed that they believed it was the visible man, Moses, who delivered and did not acknowledge the invisible God as the Great Deliverer working through Moses.

How did they respond? They persuaded, threatened and spoke to Aaron to make them a god that they could see and worship it as the one that delivered them from Egypt. What an ignorant people! Moses had done what God commissioned him to do and that’s by showing the people that it was the God of their father’s that delivered them from Egypt and that he, Moses, was a vessel He used, but the people refused to accept that.

Possibly the if Moses had not been careful, he would have been turned into a god and he would have been worshipped. And this still later played out thousands of years later when Jesus came. Jesus was showing the Sanhedrins and the Jews the true God but they chose to attribute all to Moses – John.5.45

“Put out of your minds the thought and do not suppose [as some of you are supposing] that I will accuse you before the Father. There is one who accuses you – it is Moses, the very one on whom you have built your hopes [in whom you trust].” (AMP)

Dear believer, in an attempt to honour God’s ministers, do not idolize them. Do not praise them in such a way that they become idols in your heart. Whatever God does through them, He alone deserves the glory. You can acknowledge God’s gifts in their lives but very careful not to idolize them. Let God and His Word be supreme in your life not anyone, no matter the anointing of God upon them. Do not be a snare to God’s servants.

Reflections: Has there ever been a time that I exalted God’s servants above God Himself in my heart because of the anointing upon them? Who do I fear more, God or His Servants?

Confession: I live my life intentionally and I will not allow my heart idolize the men God has placed in my life. I honour them, but I give all glory to God. I will not be a snare to them.

Related Scripture: Exodus 32

Bible Reading: Genesis 23