Out of an abundance of caution bugs me. The phrase arose during the height of covid, when the virus raged and everything shut down. It’s a convenient expression to hide behind, because in our days of control, who can blame someone for avoiding harm at all costs?
I wonder if the children of Israel constructed their golden calf out of an abundance of caution?
Sitting at the base of a smoking mountain, where Moses met with God Himself, watching the eruptions and tasting the smoke, they built an idol of a placid cow. Then declared these are our gods who brought us up out of Egypt!
Why?
The God of the mountain overwhelmed all who came near, proving too powerful, too uncontrollable, too wild.
In fear the Israelites turned to the safety of a god they touched, one staring back with make-believe eyes. They watched their masters in Egypt keep the gods in place. So they followed suit and closed their hearts to the blazing God before them.
The story pushes me to look inward. Am I in danger of the same mistake? Do I fear a wild God? Does my desire for controlling my own destiny turn me away from the mountain toward shiny objects I finger contentedly?
I have a hunch that living out of an abundance of caution keeps me from experiencing the fullness of God, and prevents people around me from knowing such a wild, wonderful God exists. Following the Lord means giving up control (as if I ever had it anyway).
Turn to the wild and let God take you where He will.
Exodus 32 in reading the Bible in 2023
Photo by Yosh Ginsu
So good. Great love requires great risk, demonstrated by our God in his allowing us the freedom to choose. Unfathomable the risks he took to save us. Christ give us courage to follow you in all your risky wildness.
Excellent! I just read that passage and wondered why they did that. Control or the illusion of it is so tempting.