A Great Sin

Exodus 32

Moses had been up talking with God on the mountain for about 40 days. We have read all the details that God shared with Moses regarding the building of the tabernacle in the last few chapters. While Moses was up there talking with God, Aaron was left to be in charge of the people. Remember there was about 2 million Israelites that Aaron would have to watch. Because of the idle time the people started to get restless. 40 days is a long time to be away. The people started to wonder what happened to Moses. They started to start wanting to take things in their own hands.

Forgetting the Great Gift

As Moses was gone, the children of Israel went to Aaron and said, “Make us gods.” They were wanting Aaron to make them an idol to worship. Aaron listened and took all the gold from the people and melted it and then made a calf.  This calf was an Egyptian god named Apis. This god was considered to be a manifestation of Ptah, the creator god of Egypt. This god was a calf/bull image that the Egyptians would worship. After the idol was made they took it a step further and said, “These are the gods that brought us out of Egypt!” How sad, they are neglecting that the true God, Yahweh, brought them out of Egypt. Forgetting his constant provision for them, forgetting His leading hand. They took matters into their sinful hearts.

God’s wrath and the Punishment for sin  

Moses was told to go back to the camp and take charge of the rebellious people. God told Moses that he could kill them all for their actions but Moses intervened and said, “no.” Moses went back and was shocked by what he saw. He took the two stones that had the commandments on them and broke them. The whole camp was singing and dancing around this golden image and worshipping it. They were proclaiming that this man made thing brought them to where they were. Moses asked Aaron what happened and Aaron responded with, “The people gave me their gold and I threw it in the fire and look what popped out, this golden calf.” Aaron was guilty because he should have been the one to make a stand for what was right and for the Lord but he did not. OH Aaron, what a missed opportunity.

Moses then said, “Who is for the true Lord, stand by me.” It was a choice of whom you will serve. The sons of Levi stood up and stood by Moses. They were commanded by God to kill those who would not follow after the Lord. Three thousand men and people fell that day because of the result of sin. 

Today

We may not have a golden calf that we dance around but we have our own times of not worshipping the true God. We tend to take for granted, just like Israel, his daily provisions, his protection, and most important his salvation which is through Jesus Christ. We may have had a great time with the Lord and grew and maybe there are some slow times in our life. We become idle in our Christian walk and we wonder what God’s will is for our life. Usually idle time equals trouble because I can think of all the idle time I had and how I have found myself in some kind of trouble.  Joshua 24:15 says, “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in who land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” We have a choice to serve the Lord with all our heart or choose the to please sin. Romans 6:6 says, “We know that our old self, was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” We do not have to choose sin. The sin nature died with Christ. I desire for sin to be killed in my life so that it will not erupt in my camp.  Choose this day whom you will serve!