Behavior When Delayed

Behavior When Delayed

Exodus 32: Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for 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 And Aaron said to them, “Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” ³ So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. ⁴ And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf.

 

Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!”

 

⁵ So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord.” ⁶ Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

 

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GOD turned from speaking to Moses to observing what the people were doing while Moses was gone. They made an idol, ate food and played.

 

My Observations:

• The children of Israel immediately left GOD when Moses was not around.
• Aaron, who saw GOD do amazing things, made an idol when people pressured him.
• The children of Israel did not go anywhere; rather, they sat, ate food and played.

 

Tired of following the rules, the people wanted something to represent a higher being, but did not want to follow one. They did not need an idol to go somewhere else. They could have simply left and went the way they thought they should go. But instead, they chose to ask for something that represented GOD. They also chose to eat and play, not producing anything or going anywhere.

 

Aaron was not surprising in his actions. He was not ready to lead the people. In fact, Moses asked GOD to bring Aaron along. Aaron did not ask to lead the people out of Egypt, nor did GOD ask him. When he thought he was about to lead, he simply pleased the people.

 

Aaron made a golden calf. This seems to represent commerce. The children of Israel came into Egypt tending herds by the advice of Joseph. They could see their economic growth based on this industry icon. We do the same when we celebrate economic success that is not based on GOD’s direction. GOD saw the people leaving HIM in droves.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about what the people did when he was on the mountain?
• Has GOD delayed your dream?
• How do you behave when GOD has delayed your dream and it seems like the leading is gone?