Exodus 32:1-14
Thursday, 01 February 2024
Then the Lord told Moses, “Quick! Go on down, for your people that you brought from Egypt have defiled themselves, and have quickly abandoned all my laws.”- Exodus 32:7&8 [TLB]
After all that God had done to rescue His people and make them His own treasure, they turned away from Him to show their true nature, by bowing down to an idol. According to Jewish scholars, this incident is considered the most disgraceful moment in their history. It was just 3 months since they had left Egypt (chap-11) and 40 days since they had received the laws from the Lord (Chap-20) that their hearts went after another god!
This incident is not exclusive to the people of Israel but is prevalent in the church even today.
Why would such a thing happen?
The people did not truly consider GOD their leader– Time and again the people had seen the mighty hand of God perform great deliverances for them through His servant Moses. In all that had happened, the focus moved away from ‘The I AM ’to the arm of man who was sent to them. When Moses went to meet with God for forty days, the people began to feel the loss of a strong, tangible earthly leader. They now wanted something tangible they could proclaim as ‘god’ to lead them into the future. How often we behave in the same manner! All of us have experienced God’s marvelous works in our lives. Yet when we face a new challenge we fail to remember God’s past deeds of power and authority and instead replace it with self-help techniques or earthly counsel- “our own gods”-to see us through the situation. Can we ask ourselves: ‘Who is the first person we turn to in time if difficulty?’ The answer to this will prove who our Lord is.
Fear of man is a snare – Aaron was chosen by God to be Moses’ spokesman- a “prophet” to him (Exodus 7:1), the prophet’s role being to declare God’s will to the people. Sadly we do not see Aaron doing this in this chapter. Instead
Aaron led them into idolatry by making a molten calf- breaking the 3nd commandment
Aaron stated – ‘This is your god, O Israel..’ - breaking the 1st commandment
Aaron declared ‘Tomorrow is the feast to the LORD’ -breaking the 2ndcommandment
This points to us that Aaron loved his own life- he feared man more than he loved God. Through the annals of history, we read of men and women who faced threats and yet did not succumb to it, willing to pay any price so that Christ would be preached. A person’s true loyalty to God is seen in such crucial moments— whether one fears God more than man. Our Saviour left us a great example: ‘He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterwards...’(Heb.12:2 TLB)
As we continue life’s journey, we are sure to face similar situations that would lead us to compromise. The only way of escape is to guard our hearts from every kind of false religion, for which scripture gives us 2 important truths to be etched in our hearts:
· Never lose our vision of God –Let’s say like David: “I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.” (Psalm 16:8)
· Enthrone Him as Lord in our Hearts- As Peter exhorts us in 1Peter 3:15 – But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts…
Jesus, does not want us to fall into a similar situation like the Israelites who went off course and so He has sent us His Holy Spirit to guide us and keep us on track all through our Christian journey until we reach our heavenly home. The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth and glorifies Christ (John 16:13&14).
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me and before me.
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore.
- From St Patrick’s Prayer
Listen: 'Christ be all around me'