Today, we delve into Exodus 32:1-4 to examine how the Israelites quickly fashioned a god of their own convenience, contradicting the very essence of their call. It’s a study of how they reshaped their understanding of God to suit their preferences. However, let’s tread with caution before we judge them harshly, as we too have been culpable of similar transgressions. Before we start looking at these first, let’s look at some of the key events that led up to it.
Moses ascended the mountain to commune with God. Prior to his departure, he entrusted Aaron and Hur with the responsibility of managing the people’s concerns. Thus, Aaron and Hur are tasked with resolving any issues that arise during Moses’ 40-day absence. Meanwhile, the people had already witnessed God’s power and received His laws. They were present at the foot of Mount Sinai, witnessing awe-inspiring phenomena such as thunder and lightning. They had experienced God’s miraculous deliverance from Egypt, including the parting of the Red Sea, which allowed them to cross on dry land. Despite these miracles, they grumbled and complained in the wilderness, even threatening Moses. In response to their discontent, God instructed Moses to strike a rock with his staff, causing water to gush forth, thus providing for the people’s needs. So they have had the tendency to quickly resort to corrupted ways to get their needs met. Now let’s look at Exodus 32:1-4,
When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” 2 So Aaron said to them, “Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden[a] calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”
Quick To Forget The Instructions of The LORD
The scripture tells us that the people, growing impatient with Moses’ prolonged absence on the mountain, gather around Aaron. They demand him to make gods who will lead them because Moses, the man who led them out of Egypt, is nowhere to be found. In response, Aaron instructs them to bring him their gold earrings. He then crafts a golden calf from these offerings, which the people hail as their deliverer from Egypt.
This sequence of events is significant. The people ask for gods to go before them, despite God’s promise to send an angel to lead them. While it may seem that Moses was delayed, it’s hard to fault him. After all, when one is in the presence of the LORD, leaving is the last thing on one’s mind. However, that wasn’t the case here. The people were simply impatient, perhaps even panicking. They depended on Moses, who had led them out of Egypt, and his absence was unsettling.
Their reference to Moses in verse 1, “As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt – we do not know what has become of him,” seems somewhat condescending. The way they speak of Moses, “As for this fellow Moses,” reveals a lack of respect in their tone. I wasn’t there, of course, but I believe that’s the sentiment the scripture aims to convey.
The people’s dialogue about Moses reveals their perceptions of him. They acknowledge his role in their escape from Egypt, but his delay has caused anxiety. They turn to Aaron and demand, “Make us a god who shall go before us.” But before we delve into Aaron’s role, let’s examine the people’s behavior a little more closely.
Unwillingness To Know the LORD on An Intimate Level
We must understand what the people of Israel already knew. In Exodus 20, God communicates His commandments to them. He identifies Himself as their liberator from Egyptian enslavement and commands them to have no other gods before Him, emphasizing His uniqueness and holiness. He also instructs them against creating idols or worshipping created objects, see Exodus 20:1-6,
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before[a] me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands[b] of those who love me and keep my commandments.
This is followed by a display of divine power that leaves the people in fear and trembling. They ask Moses to be their intermediary, too fearful to directly hear from God. Moses reassures them, explaining that this display was meant to instill a reverential fear of God in them, to prevent them from sinning. Despite witnessing God’s power and receiving His laws, the people preferred to keep their distance. They wanted Moses to interact with God on their behalf, indicating their knowledge of God was superficial, lacking a personal relationship. This reluctance to engage directly with God would later come back to haunt them.
In the twentieth chapter, God once again delivered His instructions to Moses. He said, “Tell the people of Israel this: ‘You have personally witnessed My communication with you from the heavens. I ask you not to create idols; do not fashion gods of silver or gold to stand alongside Me. Instead, construct an altar of earth for Me and offer your burnt offerings and peace offerings upon it. Use your sheep and oxen for these sacrifices. In every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you.’ This was God’s clear instruction to them.
After hearing these commandments, the people responded, ‘We will follow all the words that the Lord has spoken.’ Their agreement, voiced in unison, is recorded in Exodus 24:3. They committed to obeying everything that God had instructed.
This covenant was then confirmed. Moses relayed all the words and rules of the Lord to the people, and they pledged, ‘All the words that the Lord has spoken, we will do. We will be obedient.’ This commitment is reiterated in verse 7, after Moses read the Book of the Covenant to them. They reaffirmed, ‘All that the Lord has spoken, we will do, and we will be obedient.’
However, this pledge was short-lived. By the time we reach Exodus 32, the people’s patience had worn thin due to Moses’ alleged delayed return. They turned to Aaron and said, ‘Make for us a god of gold to lead us.’
Creating A god that fit one’s own agenda
Often when we read Exodus 32:1-4, it might seem as though the people are rejecting God. While this is true, it’s important to delve deeper into what exactly they are rejecting.
Take a closer look at verse one of Exodus 32. The people acknowledge Moses as the man who led them out of Egypt under God’s guidance. However, when Moses is delayed, they grow anxious and demand Aaron to create a golden calf for them. They say, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” This clearly indicates that they aren’t denying God’s role in their liberation from Egypt. Instead, they’re creating a tangible representation of God, which is a direct violation of Exodus 20:4 which states, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath.”
They also violate God’s instruction in Exodus 20:23, “You shall not make gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourself gods of gold.” They knew these commandments, yet chose to ignore them, asking Aaron to create a golden calf, essentially saying, “This is what Yahweh is like,” even though God had explicitly told them not to do so.
Aaron, despite knowing better, caves under pressure and complies. His actions are puzzling, especially considering his previous experiences with God. In Exodus 4, Aaron meets Moses in the wilderness and is relayed all of God’s words and signs. Aaron then performs these signs in front of the Israelite elders, which leads them to believe in God’s promise of deliverance.
So, when the people ask Aaron to make gods for them, it’s likely because they associate him with divine power. But rather than leading the people faithfully in Moses’ absence, Aaron succumbs to their demands. Perhaps he was afraid or intimidated by the people’s insistence, but whatever his reasons, he failed in his responsibility.
What Can We Learn From This?
This incident serves as a stark reminder for us. Often, we may think we would never commit such an act of idolatry, yet we too can be guilty of creating our own versions of God that suit our needs and desires. This is no different from what the Israelites did. We need to be cautious not to misrepresent God based on our own perceptions or convenience.
In our time, idolatry might not involve golden calves, but it can manifest in more subtle ways. We must strive to understand the nature of God as revealed in the scriptures and obey His instructions faithfully.
While it’s easy to claim that we would never repeat the same mistakes as the Israelites, the truth is, we often unknowingly do. We sometimes craft an image of God that isn’t consistent with the scriptures. We shape Him into a figure that fits comfortably within our lives, making Him convenient for us.
When we create a god that caters to our needs, we are essentially doing what the Israelites did – molding a deity that suits our own desires. We claim to know God, but do we truly? Or do we simply construct a version of God that aligns with our own quirks and idiosyncrasies?
People often say, “my God is a God of love,” and while this is true, it’s also an incomplete portrayal of His nature. This misrepresentation mirrors the actions of the Israelites, who misrepresented God by creating the golden calf.
Therefore, we must be cautious not to pass judgment too quickly, as we run the risk of repeating their mistakes when we misunderstand the nature of God and disobey His instructions, particularly regarding idolatry. In today’s world, our idolatry can be even more insidious than in biblical times. Instead of physical idols, we may surround ourselves with things we believe to be godly, saying, “this is my God.”
But there is only one God, and He has revealed Himself through scripture. We should avoid trying to create our own version of God to fit our worldview or understanding. It’s concerning how often people manipulate the concept of God to fit their personal agendas, essentially trading God’s glory for their own convenience.
Let’s consider Aaron’s role in this story. It serves as a reminder that we must resist succumbing to pressure, as it can lead us down dangerous paths.
In our next lesson, we’ll look at verses 5-10. But for now, the key takeaway is not to exchange the glory of God for any image. The Israelites knew God was the one who led them out of Egypt, but they chose to represent Him in a way that suited their own perspectives. This was a grave error.
They sought a tangible connection with God and saw the golden calf as a means to achieve this. What followed was a frenzy of worship and celebration. It may have seemed like the greatest act of worship, but it was idolatry.
Similar scenarios play out in many of our churches today. We believe we are worshipping Jesus, but are we truly? Let’s be cautious not to cast stones too quickly. We must first examine ourselves.
So, let’s continue this discussion next time.
PS: I started Tayibs.com for the sole purpose of exploring difficult questions about the Christian faith that most of us shy away from. All the content generated on this website is thoroughly analyzed prior to being shared. And the site is run solely by myself, your generous support is very much appreciated
My name is Tayib Salami and I started Tayibs.com for the sole purpose of exploring difficult questions about the Christian faith that most of us shy away from. In 2017, I entered a very dark time in my life and it’s only by the grace of the Living God that I’m still alive today. It led me to really go deeper in my faith and consider a myriad of questions that I never thought about asking myself or others before. Welcome and enjoy the ride with me.