EXODUS 32:1

When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”

TO PONDER

I remember my first experience of participating in an 'escape room'. The idea, for those unfamiliar with the concept, is that you, along with a group of friends, enter a room or space in which there are a number of clues, and keys, and combination locks and you play out a scenario in which you have to solve all the clues in order to escape the room in the allotted time. But never having done one before I was a bit unsure of the process.

Luckily for our group though, one of our friends had become something of an escape room aficionado, and confidently and expertly led us through the room until we escaped with a good 10 minutes up our sleeves.

Without that friend, we would have been hopelessly lost. It helps me to understand how the Israelites may have felt in the absence of Moses who had been leading them and talking with God on their behalf. It makes me realise how important it is that each of us take the opportunity to develop our own relationship with God, otherwise when our favourite YouTube or televangelist preacher passes away or is caught up in some kind of scandal, we are left like the Israelites, clueless and wandering in the desert.

God sent His son Jesus so that he could have a direct and personal relationship with you - not a vicarious relationship lived through your pastor or favourite 'celebrity' Christian. So open up your Bible and let God speak to you today.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you that you opened up the way for me to have my own relationship with you. May your love for me spur me on to direct others into your loving and personal embrace. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle