101_Waiting on God Exodus 32:1 When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, ‘Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him. Ex 24: 12-14“The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” 13 So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. 14 And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we return to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever has a dispute, let him go to them.” A young musician dreamed of being part of a world-renowned orchestra. She trained diligently for years, enduring long hours of practice, and sacrificed much to master her instrument. Finally, she was called to audition for the orchestra of her dreams. After a good performance, weeks passed, then months, without a response. Doubts begin to creep in. Did they forget about her? Was she not good enough? After two months, she considers quitting, thinking that perhaps she was never meant to be a musician. But behind the scenes, the orchestra conductor was deeply impressed with her audition. In four months, the right position would open up, one that would truly match her talent. He was waiting for that moment to offer her the position. If she had given up, she would have missed the opportunity of a lifetime. In our spiritual lives, waiting can be agonizing. It can feel like silence, like being forgotten. The Israelites at Mount Sinai endured this pain, as did Abraham and Sarah, Joseph, David, and many others throughout Scripture. But God’s delays are not His denials. They are His period of proving and preparation. Waiting refines us, tests our faith, and positions us to receive His best when the opportune time comes. Exodus 24:12-14 narrates how God called Moses up the mountain to receive the law. He had prepared deputies to oversee the people and provide leadership. God is always a God of order, arranging for every situation. However, neither Moses nor the people were given a timeline for how long this would take. Their trust was tested as all they could do was wait. As Exodus 32:1 describes, “When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, ‘Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’” This is the greatest danger of impatience - it leads to idolatry. Israel, standing at the foot of Mount Sinai, had every reason to trust. They had seen God’s miracles in Egypt, His provision in the wilderness,