A Molten Calf (Exodus 32)

2022-03-03

What makes the molten calf event in Israel’s history so evil? It was the not just the creating of an idol; they created this calf and called it the LORD:

And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD. (Exodus 32:4-5)

Even the newly appointed high priest, Aaron, was not innocent. His defense to Moses makes it sound like he was intimidated by them, shifting blame. “And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief” (Exodus 32:22). But the evidence Moses saw betrays Aaron: “for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies” (Exodus 32:25).

What was the excuse of the people for doing this? “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).

Can you see the danger for us? In our modern day, we could stop looking for the return of Christ, just as they stopped looking for the return of Moses. “But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming...” (Matthew 24:48). Keep looking for the Master’s coming.