Day 48: Uncertainty and Unraveling, Gold or God

Today we read Exodus 32, Leviticus 23, and Psalm 80. This is the famous story of the golden calf. As Father Mike Schmitz says, it starts with uncertainty. Dr. Brene Brown describes how some see faith and reason as natural enemies when certainty is the enemy of both. When we want certainty we cannot reason well, we are more likely to seek to support whatever outcome we are hoping for, in the academic world we often refer to this as a confirmation bias - where you search only for the answers that support the outcome you’ve already assumed is correct. Alternatively, certainty is also the enemy of faith, if faith moves from being certain of what you do not see to uncertain because you cannot see. This story challenges the reader to consider how we respond to uncertainty and or desire for certainty? Do we wait in the story God gave us for the when and what to do next, or do we try to take control instead of reign and rest in our role as representatives?

Resources:

Dr. Carmen Imes, Exodus Class - Exodus 1-40, (14 hours) Bible Project. https://bibleproject.com/classroom/overview/exodus-overview/ 

Father Mike Schmitz, Bible in a Year

Keller, Timothy. (2008) The Prodigal God. Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith. https://www.amazon.com/Prodigal-God-Recovering-Heart-Christian/dp/1594484023  

Credits:

Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.