They made a calf in Horeb, and worshiped the molded image. Thus they changed their glory into the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt. – Psalm 106:19-21

Brief — very brief — history lesson: Israel, God’s chosen people, found themselves enslaved in the land of Egypt. They called on the Lord, He heard their cries, remembered His covenant with Abraham, and led them out of bondage. It was because of God and the miracles that He preformed that the people of Israel found themselves free to worship Him. 

But they traded their glory. 

Shortly after being set free, the people created a statue of a calf and chose to worship it. They worshiped an animal that is know for grazing on grass! They chose a cow — a fake cow at that! — over the living God. God, who demonstrated His might in order to free them from the strongest nation of the time. 

Their glory was that they were chosen by God. Their glory was that He loved them and showed them great mercy. 

God was their Savior. 

He was their glory. 

And they traded their glory for a fake grass-fed cow. 

I trade my glory too. 

God should be my glory too. He is my Savior. Because of His love and mercy I am free from the bandage of sin. I do not have to face eternal death. 

I have done nothing to earn or receive the blessing He gives me. I am His and He is mine. He is my glory. Yet…

Yet I constantly choose to trade my glory for the fake and phony treasures of this world. What a shame!

I exchanged time in the Word for time on social media.  I exchanged the privilege of prayer for meditating on how to receive the praise of people. Worship of work replaces the worship of God. 

I trade my glory for things that I can never quite get my hands on or for things that never fully satisfy.

I exchange and am then left wanting more. 

If only I would stop trying to trade up and be content, be satisified, with my true glory, God my Savior.

Lord in heaven, You are my glory. Thank You for using the moments I spent in your word this morning to convict me of the idolatry. I praise You, oh Lord! You are good and Your mercy endures forever!