Seen in historical perspective, mankind has always wrestled with conflicting values, changing standards, the resistance of material thought as it submits to spiritual authority. And yet there have been times when the most profound statement of spiritual values emerged and stood fast in the face of lawless and callous resistance.
Even while Moses was on Mount Sinai, the Hebrew people, weary with their wilderness and tired of waiting for Moses' return, diverted their trust to the making of a golden image. As he came down from the mountain carrying the tablets with Gods radical command "Thou shalt have no other gods before me," Ex. 20:3; Moses was confronted with the riotous worshiping of a golden calf!
In anger he broke the tablets of stone; then he returned to Mount Sinai. Again God gave him the Ten Commandments. This time the hearts of the Hebrew people were stirred, and they resumed their long adventure of trusting in the one God, the I AM THAT I AM.
