Kingdom Foreshadowed Part 7
At Keys Vineyard Church, we are presenting a series called ‘Kingdom Foreshadowed,’ which we post here on Online Bible Institute.
This week, in our ongoing Kingdom Foreshadowed series, we will continue our discussion on rest as we discuss the Sabbath.
Exodus 32:1-4 (NIV)
1 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.” 2 Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”
In Exodus 32:1-4, the Israelites, restless and anxious in Moses’ prolonged absence, implore Aaron to make them a tangible god. Their impatience and fear culminate in creating the golden calf, an idol they can see and touch. This narrative underscores a timeless truth: most of our idols and false gods are birthed from restlessness and anxiety. When our hearts are troubled, and our minds seek quick solutions, we are prone to creating substitutes for the divine.
In today’s context, these idols may not be golden calves, but they take various forms—addictions, unhealthy relationships, materialism, or the relentless pursuit of success. Each of these is a symptom of a deeper issue: a restless soul seeking comfort and assurance in something other than God. This restlessness fuels our anxieties and leads us down paths that offer temporary relief but ultimately deepen our discontent.
Addictions, for instance, often begin as a means to escape pain or discomfort. Whether it’s substance abuse, compulsive shopping, or even excessive screen time, these behaviors mask a more profound yearning for peace and security. Similarly, the quest for material wealth or status can become an idol, as we mistakenly believe that achieving certain milestones will finally bring the rest our souls crave.
This is why entering into the Sabbath rest of God is so vital. The Sabbath is not merely a day off but a profound spiritual practice of trust and surrender. It reminds us that we are not defined by our productivity or possessions but by our relationship with the Creator. In Sabbath rest, we find the space to recalibrate our hearts and minds, release our anxieties, and remember that our ultimate security and peace are found in God alone.
By embracing the Sabbath, we acknowledge our limitations and our dependence on God. We allow Him to fill the voids our idols and false gods can never truly satisfy. It is in this rest that we break the cycle of restless idol-making and find true, lasting peace.
We will discuss all this and more this weekend at Keys Vineyard Church, so be sure to join us in person or online.
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.