Exodus Chp 32
We are all guilty - at least I know I can speak for myself - of seeking other Gods. Here we see how the Israelites (even Aaron!) grow impatient with Moses and God:
2 Aaron answered them, "Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me." 3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt." (Exodus 32:1-4)
Needless to say, God was not happy with this:
9 "I have seen these people," the LORD said to Moses, "and they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation." (Exodus 32:9-10)
Ultimately, Moses pleads for mercy to God on behalf of the Israelites, and while the Israelites are still punished, God does not destroy them.
31 So Moses went back to the LORD and said, "Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. 32 But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written."
33 The LORD replied to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. 34 Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin."
35 And the LORD struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made. (Exodus: 32:31-35)
Perhaps one of the most egregious aspects of this passage is Aaron's really lame excuse:
22 "Do not be angry, my lord," Aaron answered. "You know how prone these people are to evil. 23 They said to me, 'Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him.' 24 So I told them, 'Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.' Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!" (Exodus 32:22-24)
Really!? The calf just jumped out of the fire and you had no idea what you were doing and had no part of this sin?
This excuse, however lame, is familiar though. In fact, it is one that I have used myself. What I really need is honesty/responsibility regarding my own actions, accountability through others to speak truth into my life, I must seek forgiveness, and I must be prepared for whatever punishment God doles out.
My Prayer: Lord, help me own up to my own sin and help me avoid seeking other Gods. Shed light into my life so that I can deal with these other Gods. Help me lean on my brothers and sisters in Christ to speak truth into my life. Help me come to you first....and always.
