How is worshipping the gold bull-calf NOT the worst of it here?
…all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took the earrings… and made a gold bull-calf. The people said, “Israel, this is our god, who led us out of Egypt!” Then Aaron built an altar in front of the gold bull-calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival to honor the Lord.” Early the next morning they brought some animals to burn as sacrifices and others to eat as fellowship offerings. The people sat down to a feast, which turned into an orgy of drinking and sex.
(Exodus 32:3-6)
OK, the people got a little off track here… [sarcasm!] Now as perverse as worshiping an idol is and all the behavior that followed, it’s the underlying motivation behind the “festival to honor the Lord” just prior that is most disturbing. “Oh, God, we worship you, we adore you. Thank you, God! Yes!” [Long Pause] “…OK, Enough of that – party time!” Do you see the perversity here?
- At best, this “compartment” of my life is consecrated to God: “But all the rest is mine!”
- At worst, religion becomes a cover for license: “I’m entitled now to indulge myself!”
The account goes on…
The Lord said to Moses, “…your people, whom you led out of Egypt, have sinned… they have made a bull-calf out of melted gold and have worshiped it… They are saying that this is their god, who led them out of Egypt. I know how stubborn these people are. Now, don’t try to stop me. I am angry with them, and I am going to destroy them. Then I will make you and your descendants into a great nation.”
But Moses pleaded with the Lord his God and said, “Lord… Why should the Egyptians be able to say that you led your people out of Egypt, planning to kill them in the mountains and destroy them completely? Stop being angry; change your mind and do not bring this disaster on your people.” …So the Lord changed his mind and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.
(Exodus 32:7-14)
Moses had every reason to say, “Yes! Destroy this people and make me a great nation!” He didn’t. And his heart was exposed for all to see. God’s OTHERS paradigm was birthed in Moses – just like it had been in Abraham. So what do you think then: did the Lord really change his mind? 😊
(btw, have you noticed how the appearance of what is happening can mask the reality?)