02.03.2015 Old Testament: Exo 32.1–6

To read the Bible in a year, read Exodus 31–33 on February 3, In the year of our Lord 2015

By Don Ruhl

While Moses communed with God on the mountain, the children of Israel grew weary waiting for Moses to return. They wanted to get to their new land. This led to something bad happening,

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.” 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.” So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. 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!” 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.” 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 (Exodus 32.1–6). 

Quickly they turned from Yahweh God and made their own god, resembling one of the gods of Egypt, if you can believe it. Then they played before their new idol, whereas, we have made an idol out of play. Which is worse? Which is better? Both are bad and none is better. Let us worship the one true and living God.