How Not to Bow. Part [11] 07/18/2025 (Morning thought)

Exodus 32:1 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 know not what is become of him.

This is what took place with Aaron, who was facing the possibility of being stoned if he didn’t acquiesce to the demands of the people. Even though Aaron himself may never have worshipped the golden calf, in the most literal sense, the fact that he succumbed under pressure, means that he bowed….. Exodus 32:3 And all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.

Exodus 32:4 And he received them at their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, these be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 5 And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, tomorrow is a feast to the Lord. 6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 316>317] Such a crisis demanded a man of firmness, decision, and unflinching courage; one who held the honor of God above popular favor, personal safety, or life itself. But the present leader of Israel was not of this character. Aaron feebly remonstrated with the people, but his wavering and timidity at the critical moment only rendered them more determined.

 Exodus 32:7 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou brought out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!

How Not to Bow. Part [10] 07/18/2025 (Evening thought)

Esther 3:1 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.

Again, as sacred history shows, severe pressure was exerted against Mordecai to bow down to Haman, a mere mortal man. Day by day, just as it happened in Joseph’s experience, pressure was mounted against the one who would not bow. At first, entreaty was used, then political pressure and peer pressure were employed daily, to try and wear down the servant of God, but when Mordecai refused to bow down, the last resort was the use of force, as it has always been.

That pattern of exercising, and increasing pressure, used by satan through human agents is particularly troubling, and must be thoroughly understood, for it almost always begins with entreaty, but always ends with the use of brute force…. Esther 3: 2 And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.

Esther 3:3 Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, why do you transgress the king's commandment? 4 Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

Esther 3:6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!