“Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain …” (Exodus 32:1)

One of the biggest problems that afflicts God’s people is IMPATIENCE. We want instant results. This is certainly true in our “microwave era”, although we see here that it was manifest in Moses’ day too. The people of Israel couldn’t wait for Moses to come down from the mountain. They couldn’t wait for God to finish what He was doing.

But aren’t we just the same way today? We are not willing to WAIT for God to work:
— We are impatient with His work in ourselves. Why aren’t we making progress spiritually?
— We are impatient with what He is doing in others. We give up on them way too quickly.
— We are impatient with His work in His church. We don’t allow time for God’s Spirit to use His word to grow people and His church.

All of this takes time. Just like a crop, spiritual maturity and growth doesn’t just “spring up” all at once. Don’t give up yourself, your church, or others, and go off in the search for the next “spiritual quick fix.” You’ll be tempted with a lot of them these days, because many other impatient people are offering a lot of “shortcuts” to “success” in personal and church growth.

But don’t give in to that carnal impatience. Stay the course. Plant your seeds, water, and wait for God’s harvest. Read His word daily and pray for His Spirit to change you and those you love. Consistently preach and teach God’s word, and standards of holiness, in your church. Resist flashy compromises. And be willing to wait. Even when, with like Moses on the mountain, God seems to delay. Remember, Hebrews 6:12 says it is “through faith and PATIENCE we inherit the promises.”