Giving into the Pressures of Popularity and Pleasing Others

Exodus 32:4-5 “Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt! Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf. Then he announced, “Tomorrow will be a festival to the Lord!”

Observation: Moses was up on a mountain having a conversation with God. God was giving the Law to Moses. This Law would be the foundation to bring His people back into relationship with God. While Moses was away, his “mouth piece,” Aaron, was suppose to be watching the kids. The freshly rescued Israelites were complaining and grumbling. So they pressured Aaron into forming an idol out of gold for them to pray to. Aaron did as they asked. When he saw that it pleased the people, he was pleased..

Application: I will be the first to admit that there have been times in my life when I compromised what was right in the eyes of God in order to please the people around me. We all have at least a small desire to please others, some of us more than others. That is when peer pressure and the idea of popularity can take a Christian and put them in a place of compromise. That is a dangerous place to be in. Jesus told us we would be a people set apart, not of this world. Yet we struggle with the tension of pleasing God and pleasing people. I have learned that we only need to please one. God will be responsible for letting others see what they need to see about us.

Prayer: God, let me please and obey you this week. I know I will be tempted as Aaron was to give into the pressures of those around me, but remind be that I am set apart by you, for you.