Friday, March 7, 2025
Acts 7:39-42, NIV
But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. They told Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!’ That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and reveled in what their own hands had made. But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets:
“‘Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings
forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel?”
Reflection
Barbara Shaffer, First United Church of Christ, Royersford
Keep the Faith, baby! This famous phrase used by Ralph Abernathy in the late 1960s sums up Stephen’s argument. He was the first Christian martyr and was on tail before the powerful Sanhedrin accused of undermining the temple. Stephen held firm not only denying the charge but accusing the Israelites of turning away from God to idols and rejecting those whom God sent such as Moses and Jesus. Stephen kept his faith!
In his defense argument, Stephen mentions Aaron, older brother of Moses. He was the High Priest and the leader of the Israelites while Moses was on Mt. Sinai. When the people became fearful and upset, they wanted an idol made that they could control. Aaron complied making the golden calf. This is the same Aaron who was with Moses arguing before Pharoh, seeing the ten plagues, and witnessing the parting of the Red Sea! Instead of remaining strong, he caved.
The Lenten season is an excellent time to examine our faith. Is it strong like Stephen’s or weak like Aaron’s? Do we have idols? Not, perhaps, a golden calf but anything that we place higher than God. If so, it’s time to get rid of it and keep the faith, baby!
Father, thank you for giving us your Word and your grace. Now we ask that you open our eyes so that we may see any idols that we have made and rid ourselves of them. In this way it is our hope to become closer to you and become who you would have us to be. Amen.
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