The Golden Calf
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Exodus 32:1-
1 When the people saw that Moses delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god who will go before us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!”
2 Then Aaron replied to them, “Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters and bring them to me.”
3 So all the people took off the gold rings that were on their ears and brought them to Aaron.
4 He took the gold from their hands, fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it into an image of a calf. Then they said, “Israel, this is your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!”
To this point in the story of Moses, God has been faithful. He promised that he would deliver the people of Israel from Slavery and he did. He gave them victory over Pharoah and His army, He gave them a cloud by day and a fire by night to lead them. He has provided them with water and manna to eat.
God has been nothing but faithful and trustworthy.
Some may continue to be here this morning and questioning God in your life, but God has been nothing but faithful and trustworthy.
Moses has been meeting with God for 40 days. He has been out for 40 days. I figured it up and 40 days from today would have been August 14th. So imagine Moses the leader is gone since August 14th.
Here at Bridge of Faith, if Moses had been out since August 14th he would have missed some very big moments. He would have missed the call to get a new bus and the fact that it broke down on the side of the highway, the reach volunteer planning meeting, the first night of Wednesday night Reach, Speaking at BSU and Chi Alpa, 5 Sunday morning worship services in a row, Food co-op at wal-mart, two mission teams, village construction, 3 Wednesday nights of Reach.
The point is in the last 40 days here at Bridge of Faith if I the leader was out the entire time then I would have missed a lot of stuff here. There have been times when I have taken a week off and come back to a lot of problems or things I missed out on. I can’t imagine being gone for 40 days.
Watch what happens when Moses goes to meet with the Lord for 40 days.
1 When the people saw that Moses delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god who will go before us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!”
Who’s idea was this? Scripture says they gathered around Aaron and said to him, Come make us a god who will go before us because this Moses the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt-we don’t know what has happened to him!
The people had the idea to gather around Aaron. Some interesting things about this instance here in the beginning is that who do they believe brought them up out of the land of Egypt. They say Moses.
This is the early stages of the problem. Who really brought them out of Egypt? God did. Remember last week that this promise God had made to them predated Moses and this promise will also outlast Moses. Does God use Moses to take them into the promise land? NO. It was God in the beginning and it will be God in the end.
The people once again lose focus as they say we need something else because the guy who brought us here is gone. It was God that had brought them to this point.
They are longing for something or someone to lead them.
2 Then Aaron replied to them, “Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters and bring them to me.”
3 So all the people took off the gold rings that were on their ears and brought them to Aaron.
4 He took the gold from their hands, fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it into an image of a calf. Then they said, “Israel, this is your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!”
Exodus 32:2-
These people are still trying to understand who the Lord is. In this process of discovery, they want something tangible that they can see.
Sound familiar? How often have you tried to discover who the Lord is and in the process wanted something that you can touch or see. Lord just give me something so that I know you are here. Show me something so that I know you are alive.
Notice what they are willing to give up for the sake of something tangible. They take off their gold rings and bring it to Aaron. This is more than likely the same Gold that God had promised them they would get from the Egyptians. Oh the irony here. They take off the very thing God had provided them with in order that they might be able to see something tangible that would lead them.
This begs the question of what do I take off that the Lord has provided so that I can see something that is not God because I think God does not here?
Notice it says he fashioned it with an engraving tool and made it into an image of a calf.
This is your God who brought you up from the land of Egypt.
Exodus 32:5-
5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; then he made an announcement: “There will be a festival to the Lord tomorrow.”
6 Early the next morning they arose, offered burnt offerings, and presented fellowship offerings. The people sat down to eat and drink, then got up to play.
Again look at what they are willing to do for this thing they think is God but it is not. They get up Early, offer burnt offerings and present fellowship offerings. They eat and drink and play all for the sake of this thing that is not God.
This story is our story. How often are we willing to sacrifice daily for the sake of the things that are not God. We jump out of bed every weekday to head to work thinking that work is our provider but we struggle to make it to worship on Sunday mornings to worship the One who actually provided for us this week.
The Lord’s Response
7 The Lord spoke to Moses: “Go down at once! For your people you brought up from the land of Egypt have acted corruptly. 8 They have quickly turned from the way I commanded them; they have made for themselves an image of a calf. They have bowed down to it, sacrificed to it, and said, ‘Israel, this is your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.’ ” 9 The Lord also said to Moses: “I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked people.
Exodus 32:7-
7 The Lord spoke to Moses: “Go down at once! For your people you brought up from the land of Egypt have acted corruptly.
8 They have quickly turned from the way I commanded them; they have made for themselves an image of a calf. They have bowed down to it, sacrificed to it, and said, ‘Israel, this is your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.’ ”
9 The Lord also said to Moses: “I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked people.
10 Now leave Me alone, so that My anger can burn against them and I can destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”
Who do the people think they are following? Moses Who does God know they are following? God
Learn from the Israelites that you may think you are speaking out against a leaders decision but it may be true that the very thing you are speaking against is God and notice God’s response to them.
7 The Lord spoke to Moses: “Go down at once! For your people you brought up from the land of Egypt have acted corruptly.
8 They have quickly turned from the way I commanded them; they have made for themselves an image of a calf. They have bowed down to it, sacrificed to it, and said, ‘Israel, this is your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.’ ”
Exodus 32:7-
Did Moses want to lead these people? No
Right Response (Moses) vs Wrong Response (Aaron)
Exodus 32:11-
11 But Moses interceded with the Lord his God: “Lord, why does Your anger burn against Your people You brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a strong hand?
12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘He brought them out with an evil intent to kill them in the mountains and wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from Your great anger and relent concerning this disaster planned for Your people.
Right Response (Yes do this)
Recognize what is God’s responsibility
Moses quickly distinguishes that these are your people that you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a strong hand.
Exodus 32:13
13 Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel—You swore to them by Your very self and declared, ‘I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and will give your offspring all this land that I have promised, and they will inherit it forever.’ ”
14 So the Lord relented concerning the disaster He said He would bring on His people.
Go back to the promises of God
Moses says remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel that you promised to give your offspring this land and they will inherit this land forever.
Moses goes back to the promises of God. When you feel deserted or lonely, then go back to the promises of God. This means scripture. This is not the things you have hear quoted in a motivational book or the things that you think have been whispered to you. Go back to the promises of God in Scripture.
Pray and intercede with scripture! Know scripture and pray scripture. Trust the promises of God in Scripture.
The Lord is my shepherd...
Exodus 32:15-
15 Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides—inscribed front and back.
16 The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was God’s writing, engraved on the tablets.
17 When Joshua heard the sound of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a sound of war in the camp.”
18 But Moses replied: It’s not the sound of a victory cry and not the sound of a cry of defeat; I hear the sound of singing!
19 As he approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses became enraged and threw the tablets out of his hands, smashing them at the base of the mountain.
20 Then he took the calf they had made, burned it up, and ground it to powder. He scattered the powder over the surface of the water and forced the Israelites to drink the water.
Wrong response (Aaron)
Exodus 32:
22 “Don’t be enraged, my lord,” Aaron replied. “You yourself know that the people are intent on evil.
Exodus 32:
22 “Don’t be enraged, my lord,” Aaron replied. “You yourself know that the people are intent on evil.
23 They said to me, ‘Make us a god who will go before us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!’
Aaron blames the people
Aaron blames Moses for his delay
Exodus 32:
24 So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, take it off,’ and they gave it to me. When I threw it into the fire, out came this calf!”
My favorite he blames the fire
It is funny what we can blame when it comes down to sin. Moses quoted the promises of God but here Aaron passes blame on the people, Moses and the fire.
Exodus 32:25-
25 Moses saw that the people were out of control, for Aaron had let them get out of control, resulting in weakness before their enemies.
26 And Moses stood at the camp’s entrance and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites gathered around him.
27 He told them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘Every man fasten his sword to his side; go back and forth through the camp from entrance to entrance, and each of you kill his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’ ”
28 The Levites did as Moses commanded, and about 3,000 men fell dead that day among the people.
29 Afterward Moses said, “Today you have been dedicated to the Lord, since each man went against his son and his brother. Therefore you have brought a blessing on yourselves today.”
30 The following day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a grave sin. Now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I will be able to atone for your sin.”
31 So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Oh, these people have committed a grave sin; they have made a god of gold for themselves.
32 Now if You would only forgive their sin. But if not, please erase me from the book You have written.”
33 The Lord replied to Moses: “I will erase whoever has sinned against Me from My book.
34 Now go, lead the people to the place I told you about; see, My angel will go before you. But on the day I settle accounts, I will hold them accountable for their sin.”
35 And the Lord inflicted a plague on the people for what they did with the calf Aaron had made.