The Life of Moses (16)

How many blessings the Lord had given unto His people! He had led them out of Egypt and through the Red Sea, had given them water when they were thirsty and manna to eat. Moses received numerous instructions from Mount Sinai, also about the tabernacle and the ark which was a picture of how there can be a meeting place between a holy and just God and an unrighteous sinner. From above the mercy seat, He would commune with them. What a privilege for undeserving people! The instructions concerning the tabernacle included impressing on the Israelites the Sabbath commandment.

Moses received two “tables of stone, written with the finger of God” (Exodus 31:18b). The people had been waiting for Moses, but “Moses delayed to come down out of the mount.” Then it appeared again what a stubborn and stiffnecked people the Israelites were.

A very serious sin

The length of Moses’ stay on the mountain was a test for the people, which they failed. They gathered together and came with a request, an evil request to Aaron. They 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.” How indifferently they began to speak about God’s servant— “the man that brought us up.” The people were impatient, tired of waiting for the promised land, and tired of waiting for the return of Moses. It was but a little while ago that they had trembled to hear the voice of God which said, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” How soon had they forgotten the fire and the thunder, the smoking and trembling of the mountain; now, they call for other gods. The request of the people showed that being without Moses there was no leader. Other people, as in Egypt, had visible images of their gods. So, the Israelites also came with this request to make them gods.

Aaron was brought into a difficult position, but he showed weakness and gave in to the godless pressure of the whole nation. He told them to take off their golden earrings, or literally “tear off.” He used a rough expression as if he were angry with himself for giving in, or perhaps he thought that they would not be willing to sacrifice their possessions. The whole nation, however, was willing to give up their gold rings for realization of their wish. Aaron now felt that he had no choice but to continue. He melted the gold and made it in the form of a calf, a young bull, which was worshiped in Egypt and elsewhere in the east. Israel unanimously proclaimed that these were their gods who had brought them up out of Egypt.

The seriousness of this sin was evident when we consider:

1. When they sinned: They were camped around Mount Sinai with the dark cloud, when there was the brightness of the glory of God who is a consuming fire.

2. How they sinned: They sacrificed their ornaments and their gold. It was as if they said, “Give us now such a beautiful god as the Egyptians have in their armies.”

3. Aaron’s weakness: He fled to his way of escape and asked for a great sacrifice. It had been but three months since they left Egypt, but now already they were worldly with their earrings and jewelry, and they were more than willing to pay for their golden calf. How much do many sacrifice for their idols today—in the theaters, in the ball fields, or in wearing fashionable clothing!

4. Aaron’s attempt to conceal the sin—with a religious feast, with a burnt offering and peace offering. What a grievous sin is accommodation to the world, that is, following worldly customs and entertainment.

Moses’ prayer

The Lord reveals hidden mysteries. He also proved to Moses that He is an omniscient God. Verse 7b, “Go, get thee down; for thy people…” It was as if the Lord did not want to have anything to do with His people. That was no wonder, for “They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them” (verse 8a). Yes, how soon had they forgotten their Benefactor and how unthankful they also were to Moses. The Lord said that He would consume them, yet He promised, “And I will make of thee a great nation.”

Then Moses interceded. He said “LORD, why doth Thy wrath wax hot against Thy people, which Thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt…?” Moses was concerned about the honor of God, for what would the Egyptians say? It was God’s intent to destroy this people and “to consume them from the face of the earth.” How heartfelt was Moses’ pleading, “Turn from Thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against Thy people.” Had the Lord forgotten what He had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, His servants? Did He not promise, “I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed”?

Here, Moses was a mediator of intercession and, as such, a type of the great Mediator, Jesus Christ who is more than Moses, for Moses could only plead, not demand as Christ did when He said, “I paid the price, I carried Thy wrath, and if Thou seekest Me, let these go their way.”

The punishment of this sin

The prayer of Moses was answered: “And the LORD repented of the evil which He thought to do unto His people.” In the following verses in this chapter, we read that Moses came from the mountain and when he came nigh unto the camp of Israel, he saw the calf, “and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount” (verse 19b). The golden calf that they had made he burned in the fire, ground it to powder, “and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.”

When Moses came down from the mountain, he heard the singing of his disobedient people and cast the tables out of his hands. That was not unholy anger but a visible token of what the people had done. He asked Aaron, “What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?” Aaron tried to excuse himself, but he had made that calf.

The calf was burnt, ground to powder, spread upon the water, and the people had to drink it. Moses asked, “Who is on the LORD’s side?” The sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. They had to use their sword, “and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.” The Lord did not destroy the whole nation. There was still mercy. However, their sin had caused God’s anger to be experienced.

We are also idolaters by nature. Yet, the Lord has not dealt with us according to our sins. He says, “Kiss ye the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way.” God will fulfill His word, His warnings as well as His promises. That should be our expectation if we do not repent, but there also may be a hope for a people who fall before Him and plead for mercy with true repentance.

There is mercy for the sake of Him who was in the fire of God’s holy wrath for the sins of His people. Blessed are they who, though undeserving and guilty, may flee to Him.

(To be continued)

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