“At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped the cast metal image. They exchanged their glory for the image of a grass eating ox.” Psalm 106:19-20 CBS
Glory in this verse is referring to God. This verse is a clear picture of what happens when we exchange the real thing for a substitute, in this verse a grass eating ox. In economics, this is called the Substitution Effect: when the price of something is too high, consumers replace it with a lesser quality substitution. This verse is referring to the Israelites impatience when Moses was on the mountaintop for 40 days with God. The price of waiting was too high for them so they decided to substitute it with a lesser God. We can be guilty of the same thing, the price of waiting on God to move is too high so we decided to take things into our own hands.
The truth is, we’re all in God’s waiting room. We’re all waiting for Him to do something. We could be waiting for a financial blessing, a healing blessing or a relational blessing. The waiting room is where God teaches us some of our greatest lessons. The first one being patience. We have to learn not to substitute a lesser god for what God is doing in our lives. Going on a shopping spree will not make God answer any faster, yelling at your spouse or loved ones will not make God move. Anything we choose to substitute for God will only make things worse, not better.
How can we wait well? First, be prepared for the wait. When you go to the Dr’s. office, you know you’re going to have to wait before your appointment. It’s the same mentality we need when waiting on God. We know God’s time is not our time, so prepare your mind for the wait. Second, read His word. Just like there are magazines strewn around the Dr’s office to help you pass the time, God has given us His word we can read while we’re waiting for Him to act on our behalf. We’ll find, if we stay focused on His word in the waiting room, He turns our waiting into opportunities to grow. Third, talk to the people who are waiting with you. Some of the best conversations can be had in a Dr’s waiting room, the same can be said in the waiting room of God. When we talk to fellow believers who are waiting on God too, it helps pass the time faster. It helps us realize we’re not alone in the wait, everyone is waiting on something. These three tips can help you wait well. When we wait well we don’t substitute God’s glory for a grass eating calf, we wait for the steak.
Let’s wait well today with this prayer:
Lord, we’re all waiting for something. Help us to wait well. Help us to keep our eyes focused on you by preparing our minds for the wait, staying focused on Your word, and letting the people who are waiting with us help us pass the time. Teach us what you have for us in the waiting room, prepare us for the blessing that is coming. Unlike the Israelites, don’t let us settle for the grass eating ox , help us wait for the real thing, You. (Psalm 106:19-20). In Jesus name we pray. Amen
