Month: February 2010

Golden Calf – Pt 2 – The People

“Come make us a god that shall go before us” (Exodus 32:1)

One of the things we must always be on guard against is making God in our image or according to our imagination. History has shown that it is innate in the sin nature to do this and so we need to be watchful lest we too follow Israel’s example.

Moses had been up on the mountain with God for a long while and the people had no idea whether he would return to them or not (v 1). Like us, they were impatient and also like us they would prefer to have a God they can see. It would appear that the contingent that approached Aaron was a vocal minority (cf. v 28) who may have been as intimidating to others as they were to Aaron.

It is difficult to see from logic just why they wanted an image of God since they had the cloud by day, the fire by night, the manna daily and the memory of their miraculous deliverance from Egypt but such is the nature of sin.

Why did they claim that Moses brought them out of Egypt? Could a man do those great signs? No! It was God who brought them out so why did they say Moses brought them out?

The reason is the same as is used by us today and the clue is in their request. They knew they had made a covenant not to make an image of God. If that covenant was with God they would not be able to entice Aaron to do as they asked and not expect any sympathy from the people. However, by suggesting that the covenant was with Moses and with Moses’ words then it was just opinion against opinion.

Aaron then tried to make their abominable act appear spiritual by making sacrifices and a feast of celebration. How far from reality they were and did not know it.

Few people in our churches take time to really study God’s Word. It is easier to read or hear what others say and choose cafeteria style what we will accept. That way we avoid and sense of guilt when we do the abominable thing.

The consequences for this act of foolishness were not light. God disowned them (v 7) and condemned them to death (v 10) and the tabernacle would be outside the camp instead of in the midst (33:7). Moses intervention spread the execution of the sentence over a period of 40 years.

Like Aaron and Israel we are all too ready to minimise our sin and claim ignorance when we have made no attempt to discern the truth. We do so to our condemnation and the Lord’s just judgment.

Golden Calf – Pt 1 – Aaron

“Aaron had not restrained them, to their shame” (Exodus 32:25)

If Aaron were alive today he might be sought after by many churches to be their pastor. He had been seconded because Moses (his brother) had refused to speak to the people directly and therefore he wasn’t God’s choice for the role. As spokesperson for Moses, who was God’s spokesperson, Aaron was most likely seen as the number two in seniority. The commandments had been given (Exodus 20) and the people had declared they would do all the Lord had said (24:7) and it had been sealed as a blood covenant (24:8). The deal with a blood covenant is that if either party does not keep their part the penalty is death.

By making the golden calf Israel had not kept their part of the covenant and therefore God would be justified in destroying the nation (32:10) and in fact must do so or be unjust.

Why did Aaron lead the people astray? Moses clearly laid the blame for Israel’s sin on Aaron because he had allowed himself to be manipulated by the people (32:21) and there are several reasons why he was able to be so led:

  1. He did not spend time with God
  2. He was a democratic leader – he did what pleased the people
  3. He enjoyed the praise of men
  4. He enjoyed being #1 in Moses’ absence.

Aaron would be in demand today in many churches because he listens to the congregation and not to God. He did not see what he had done as being much of a sin but Moses corrected him calling it “a great sin” (there is no other kind). We, like Aaron prefer to call sin by some other name more politically correct but all sin is great sin.

Like us Aaron tried to methods to excuse his behaviour and shift blame. First, he blamed the people (v 22). If he knew the people were set on evil as he states then his sin is even worse for doing as they demanded.

Second, he tried to make what he had done appear spiritual (v 24). All he claimed to have done was throw the gold into the fire and, presto, out pops a golden calf. It must have been a Divine act and therefore divinely approved. How dare Moses criticize a Divine act!

However Moses did spend time with God and he knew that Israel had sinned greatly and were now under God’s condemnation and sentence of death.

We are our father’s children and like Adam when we sin we will call it by some less condemning name, blame someone else and as a last resort claim that God is responsible. Hopefully we will realise our gross error and repent.