Day 22 – The Golden Calf - Exodus 32:1-34:35
This is another day full of more material than we can really discuss in detail or even attempt to cover. My guess is that for many who even have some familiarity with the Bible, with today’s reading new, territory is entered.
The chapters have an overall pattern: Sin (ch. 32), negation with God, with Moses as the intermediary, and God taking the initiative to redo the covenant with the Israelites. While this is occurs as a community (and I think we must not forget the communal focus of scripture, for our individual based society) this is a pattern which we can relate to in our own lives. The good news is that we have Jesus as the intermediary as God brings us into the covenant.
As you read this note how the people quickly give up. Note Aaron’s attempt, using the greatest excuse of possibly all time to cover his actions: “you know the people, that they are bent on evil … So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, take it off’; so they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!” (Ex. 32: 22-24) How often do our own excuses sound as feeble to our ever loving God?
Despite these terrible sin, God is the faithful one, promising to still give the Promised Land to the people. God once again takes the initiative: “I hereby make a covenant.” (Ex 34:10) The rest of this covenant, as revealed in Exodus 34, reminds us that grace is not cheap for us either…
I also recommend spending some time with Ex 34: 6-7. Great words are used to describe God: merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, faithful, keeping steadfast love and forgiving. The Hebrew is even more spectacular and in some ways beyond translation. The word we translate for steadfast love for example has entire books written just for this one Hebrew word, and probably my very favorite: hesed. Take some time to think about these words.
In Christ,
Randy
I often hear I don't need to go to church I have my time with God. I think this shows how difficult it is to stay connected with God. Moses leaves and the mob says he is gone we need to depend on something and make a god. Even in groups we tend to lose focus and if individually who will bring us back? It may take a village but without a center on God all go astray. Sin is all around us pulling us in many direction but always away from God.
ReplyDeleteI am impressed that Moses was able to change God's mind. Sometimes I wonder how much good it does to pray. I think God already knows what he is going to do, but maybe our prayers can change his mind.
ReplyDeleteI am confused as to why the Levites needed to kill 3,000 people, and that made them have favor with God. Were those the people who had sinned? Aaron build the calf, nothing happened to him.