3.114 Out of Sight
Show Notes
Join Allen Roberds for a reflection on Exodus 32:1, exploring the Israelites' immediate turn to idolatry with the Golden Calf when Moses delayed coming down from Mount Sinai. This episode delves into the critical importance of self-governing and maintaining a strong personal testimony, even when leaders or authority figures are out of sight, drawing parallels to modern spiritual independence.
Key Points
- Exodus 32:1 reveals how quickly the Israelites abandoned their covenant, requesting Aaron to make idols like the Golden Calf after Moses' 40-day absence.
- The episode challenges listeners to consider their own spiritual commitment when external accountability (like parents, bosses, or church leaders) is removed.
- Allen emphasizes that true spiritual strength and a robust testimony are developed through 'self-governing' – consistently living principles and commandments without needing to be forced or constantly reminded.
- The concept of 'self-governing' is presented as a vital test of one's faith and the true depth of their relationship with God, highlighting agency and independent spiritual growth.
How many times do we not do the thing because the leader or the parent or the boss isn't there to tell us to do it? That is called self-governing.
Episode Resources
Full Transcript
In Matthew 5, Jesus calls us the salt of the earth and the light of the world, reminding us that our lives are meant to preserve, illuminate, and point others to Him. This season on Savory Salt, we'll walk through the Old Testament, one verse and one thought each day. Perhaps these moments will add greater savor and brighter light to our lives as we seek to truly live as Savory Salt.
Hello my friends, it's a new day with new opportunities. Choose ye this day whom ye will serve. Hello once again, it is hope, I know this is getting common and I'm so happy.
Today I have a verse for you and it's probably going to be a bit more of a check up from the neck up as my dad would say. So today we are going to be in Exodus 32. And so Moses has gone up into the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights getting the commandments from the Lord.
So the people down below start wondering where he is. And we're going to jump right into the verse, which is what they do when they see that Moses isn't coming down after a day or two. So it Exodus chapter 32 verse 1 and it says And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron and said unto him Up make us gods which shall go before us For as for this Moses the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt we want not what is become of him So this verse is pretty much saying, oh, Moses isn't here.
So make us some idols, make us some gods that we can worship. And how quickly did that go from let's worship the Lord to hey Aaron make us some idols so we can worship them. Right after the Lord gives them the commandments that says don't worship idols.
Isn't that crazy? Of course Aaron makes the idols and it's the golden calf and we all know how that ends. Moses isn't very happy with them and has a little rampaging rage for a moment.
But I wanted to focus on this verse. As soon as Moses leaves, suddenly all of the camp of Israel doesn't know what to do. They're like, oh, well, if Moses isn't here, then let's make some fake gods and worship them instead, you know, like how we did in Egypt.
And it got me thinking about what do we do when a leader-like figure leaves? So Moses was their leader As soon as he leaves no one telling them not to do the bad thing So they like oh well we can do it now How many times do we as soon as the leader leaves go oh well now we can do the bad thing Or if you in work and your boss tells you to do this thing over here and then leaves and you like well they never know if I don do it Kind of the same concept. Or like me as a teenager, if my parents are not in the house and they tell me to do my chores before they leave, and then I'm like, well, they're not in the house and they'll never know that I didn't do them.
So I'm just not going to do them. They're not here to make me do them. So it's the same concept.
How many times do we not do the thing because the leader or the parent or the boss isn't there to tell us to do it? That is called self-governing. When we can do the thing without someone telling us to do it.
And that to me is very vital. Do we just not do it because we're no longer forced to do it? If that our mindset then we can progress We stuck But if we can do the thing keep the commandments do all the things without someone telling us we have to do it that when our testimonies get really strong That is when we truly are tested That is when he tests us Can you do the thing without being forced to do it He won take away our agency He will let Names of the Bible Book of Mormon Doctrine and Covenants Pearl of Great Price Names of the Bible Book of Mormon Doctrine and Covenants Henry B Eyring Dieter F Uchtdorf Church leaders going, hey, you got to do it.
You got to read your scriptures, blah, blah, blah. And like, as soon as they're gone, as soon as they're not doing it, are you still doing the thing? To me, that is very important.
And I'm so thankful that my parents have given me a little bit of a leave to choose and to learn how to self-govern and figure out for myself what my testimony is and if I actually want to do the thing or not. And even though I'm not perfect, I still That's all for today my friends. You and I have come here for such a time as this.
Step forward in faith and let's be savory salt. We will be here tomorrow. We hope you
This transcript was generated using AI and may contain errors. I do my best to review and edit them when I can.