just a delay

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 wot not what is become of him.
Exodus 32:1 KJV

As I read this verse, I really focused on that first line, "And when the people saw that Moses delayed."
Moses was busy with God, getting direction and law, communicating with the God who had just miraculously delivered Isreal from slavery in Egypt. They had seen the mighty deliverance of God with the plagues in Egypt, had walked across the sea on dry land, and had seen God provide food and water. Yet, the minute they feel like He isn't really there, the moment Moses is delayed, they choose to turn from God and make an idol. They talked Aaron into making a golden calf and began to worship it so loudly that Joshua, waiting up on the side of Mt. Sinai, thought they had went to battle. God knew what they were doing and sent Moses down to the camp. He was ready to destroy them. If it had not been for Moses reminding God of His promises to Isreal and Abraham, Isreal would have faced the wrath of God.  Moses returned and in his anger and disappointment, reprimanded and punished the people. On that day, three thousand were slain for this great sin.

We need to take this as a lesson. How many times have we turned to sinful ways all because we think God has delayed to bring about a blessing for us. We may whine or go back to our old ways of living because something didn't go the way we thought it should. The whole time, God was preparing something for us, but we may not have seen it taking place. We get upset and frustrated, and return to old ways of thinking. We may ask 'where is God' and 'is he even doing anything for us?'  How disappointed he must feel when  we do this.  Just like Isreal, we turn to an idol. Maybe not a literal idol, but an idol, nonetheless. 

When we feel there is a delay, we need to turn to God rather than turn away. Isreal could have waited, just as Moses had asked them to do. We need to choose to pray, get into the Word, and seek God when we aren't finding what we think we need. God may be preparing a blessing while we wait. We jeopardize the blessing with impatience and fretting when all we need to do is remain steadfast and firm in faith.

I have remembered thy name, O Lord , in the night, and have kept thy law.  This I had, because I kept thy precepts.  Thou art my portion, O Lord : I have said that I would keep thy words.  I entreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.  I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.  I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.  The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.
Psalms 119:55‭-‬61 KJV

We can keep the law of God, follow His word, and continue to worship Him as we wait. The delay is for our good. His delay is for a purpose that will being good.  So rather than giving up and giving in to the despair and temptations to run to an idol, let's be strong in faith, steadfast in hope, and wait on the Lord. Afterall, it may just be a delay for good to come to pass.

As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
Psalms 18:30 KJV