By Elisha Mac
When Faith is Misplaced
When Moses came down from Mount Sinai after speaking with God, he found the Israelites deep in idolatry (Exodus 32). Despite witnessing God part the Red Sea just months earlier (Exodus 14), they were overcome by fear, doubt, and human frailty. In their impatience and spiritual blindness, they cried out to Aaron, desperate for someone to guide them because Moses had been gone too long. They demanded, “gods…who will go before” them, seeking something tangible to replace Moses’ leadership, so they carved for themselves a calf made out of gold. The trouble came when their faith was placed in man rather than in God.
The Law and the Need for a Savior
At that time, before Moses brought down the Law, there was no written standard for sin. Even though the Mosaic Law had not been given yet, there were divine commands and inherent moral laws acknowledged since Adam, as evidenced by God’s expectations and judgements earlier in scriptures. Though sin entered the world through Adam (Romans 7:7), the Law made sin known to humanity. It revealed our desperate need for a Savior, because without one, we would have to pay a price we could never afford (Romans 6:23).
God’s Greater Plan
But God—who knows the beginning and the end—already had a greater plan. He knew that the Law alone could not transform human hearts, for the hearts of men are inclined toward evil continually (Genesis 6:5). Instead, He provided a far greater gift: through faith in Christ, we receive life and grace (Romans 5:15).
Trust in the Gift, Not in Works
So, do not trust in human efforts, for they will fail. Instead, place your trust in the Gift freely given to all—a salvation that requires faith, not works. This gift is not something we can earn through our own merit, but rather, it is a reflection of God’s boundless love and mercy. When we surrender to Him, we find true freedom, no longer bound by the weight of sin and self-righteous striving. Through Christ, we are invited into a relationship where grace abounds and eternal life is assured.
A Village of Women 