146. THE GOLDEN CALF
God's purpose in His people was to make them a "kingdom of priests and an holy nation". It was a difficult task because human nature does not readily accept God's laws — it has to be trained. Before concluding our lessons on Israel's worship and service at the Tabernacle, we need to consider the warning of how quickly Israel forgot about Yahweh. In this lesson we shall see how easily the children of Israel fell back to fleshly ways learned in Egypt.
Moses is revealed as a mediator for his people and Yahweh's love is shown as He corrects and chastens His people.
Exodus 32
ISRAEL AT SINAI
In the third month after leaving Egypt, Israel came to Sinai and there received the ten commandments and many other laws and ordinances. There God made a covenant with them. If they would obey Him, He would make them a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exod. 19:5-6). The people agreed to God's offer accepting it and making it binding upon themselves. They were now a covenant people, separate from all others because they worshipped the true God instead of idols. They were the only people to have laws given by God.
Chapters 25 to 31 of Exodus describe how Moses received the Law and the design of the Tabernacle. Chapter 32 describes events in the camp of Israel at the same time.
MOSES IN THE MOUNT—ISRAEL GROWS IMPATIENT (Exodus 32:1-6)
While Moses was in the mount 40 days, Aaron had been left in charge of the people with the elders. He wasn't strong enough to resist their wish to break God's law. He complied with Israel's wishes for, "gods which will go before us", fearing the people. Taking their golden ear-rings he melted them down and moulded a golden calf which they worshipped. They said, "these be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt" (v.4). What a terrible insult that was to Yahweh, their deliverer!
The following day was proclaimed by Aaron to be a feast to Yahweh. Rising early in the morning, the people came and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on an altar erected in front of the calf. Aaron may have hoped they would worship Yahweh but Paul says that they were idolaters and pleasure seekers who "sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play" (1 Cor. 10:7). How evil the people had become in the absence of their leader. In worshipping the calf they had:
•broken the first and second commandments (Exod. 20:22-6);
•insulted Yahweh;
•shown how extremely unfaithful they were in returning to the idolatrous ways of Egypt at the first chance.
MOSES INTERCEDES FOR HIS PEOPLE (Exodus 32:7-18).
With all that idolatry going on among His people, Yahweh's jealousy rose up in terrible anger. God told Moses what was happening in the camp. He was so angry that He had decided to destroy Israel and start a new nation from Moses. Moses interceded for his people, whom he knew to be unfaithful. He saved them from destruction by pleading with God to remember the honour of His name among the nations. God would be mocked if He let them perish after He had delivered them from Egypt. Moses also called on God to remember His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to give their seed (Israel) an inheritance in the Promised Land.
The wonderful character of Moses as a mediator is shown at this time. Instead of grasping at the honour of a nation starting from him, he pleaded strongly for Israel's forgiveness. He was willing to have his name blotted from the Book of Life, if only God would forgive them (Exod. 32:32). God showed him however that anyone who sins must be punished, as in Colossians 3:23-25 "He that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done, and there is no respect of persons." Sins may be forgiven, but to be forgiven, the wrong doer himself or herself must repent and seek forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
MOSES RETURNS (Exodus 32:15-24)
Moses went down the mountainside carrying the two tables of stone on which the Law was written. He was joined by Joshua. As they neared the camp they could hear the people shouting around the gods that Aaron had made. Joshua thought it was the noise of war (v. 7) but Moses knew that it was not so.
MOSES DEALS WITH THE PROBLEM (Exod. 32:25-35)
When Moses saw the extent of Israel's sin, he was so angry that he broke the tablets of the law that God had given him (v.19). Turning on the golden calf he burnt it with fire, and ground it to powder, mixed it with water and made the Israelites drink it. Moses blamed Aaron for leading the people astray and he in turn blamed the people (v.24).
Moses appealed to those who were prepared to stand for the things of God, to stand with him. His own tribe of Levi did so; with sword in hand they went through the tribes of Israel in judgment, killing 3,000 idolators.
God's anger was still not appeased and he sent a plague upon the people. It was only through the constant pleading of Moses that finally He forgave the people and promised that He would send His angel to guide them to their inheritance.
Moses was told to go into the Mount again with two new tablets, on which God would write the ten commandments as before.
ISRAEL'S SIN A WARNING TO US
In all the things that happened to Israel the scriptures show us that there are many strong warnings for us (1 Cor. 10:6-14). Paul tells us that these things were written as figures or types, stories with a warning for us who live so many years later. They lusted after evil things and were idolaters but we must be on guard never to slip into their wicked ways. They had many signs of Yahweh being with them, yet they acted as if they didn't care or believe in Him. We are surrounded by an evil society, so let us take special care to be faithful to God.
As Moses ascended into the Mount, so the Lord Jesus Christ has ascended into heaven where he intercedes for those who approach God through him. It is possible for us to tire of his absence (2 Peter 3:4). We may doubt, as they did, whether he will come again. The Israelites broke their promises to love and serve Yahweh alone. We don't make idols like the calf, but we can forget God and worship other things, such as money, pleasure, or a high position in the world, and may be as unready for the return of Christ as Israel was for the return of Moses. Then, instead of receiving his blessing and commendation, we will witness only his anger and receive his condemnation. We must resolve to wait in faith, reading His word, thinking about His truth and be ready for His return, doing the will of our Master.
REFERENCE LIBRARY:
"The Story Of The Bible" (H. P. Mansfield)—Pp. 313-327
"The Visible Hand Of God" (R. Roberts)—Chapter 17
PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:
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Why was it wrong for the people to construct the golden calf?
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How did Moses learn of Israel's idolatry and what did he do?
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How did Moses deal with the problem of the golden calf at his return ?
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What part did the tribe of Levi play in overcoming the problem of the golden calf?
ESSAY QUESTIONS:
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What lessons do we learn from Israel's sin in making a golden calf?
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Tell what Moses did when he descended Mount Sinai and found that the people had turned to idols. How does this incident parallel what Jesus Christ will do when he returns?