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Patriarchs and Prophets
Egyptians as symbols of deity was the ox or calf; and it was at the sug-
gestion of those who had practiced this form of idolatry in Egypt that
a calf was now made and worshiped. The people desired some image
to represent God, and to go before them in the place of Moses. God
had given no manner of similitude of Himself, and He had prohibited
any material representation for such a purpose. The mighty miracles
in Egypt and at the Red Sea were designed to establish faith in Him
as the invisible, all-powerful Helper of Israel, the only true God. And
the desire for some visible manifestation of His presence had been
granted in the pillar of cloud and of fire that guided their hosts, and in
the revealing of His glory upon Mount Sinai. But with the cloud of
the Presence still before them, they turned back in their hearts to the
idolatry of Egypt, and represented the glory of the invisible God by
the similitude of an ox!
In the absence of Moses, the judicial authority had been delegated
to Aaron, and a vast crowd gathered about his tent, with the demand,
“Make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the
man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is
become of him.” [
See appendix, note 4.
] The cloud, they said, that had
heretofore led them, now rested permanently upon the mount; it would
no longer direct their travels. They must have an image in its place;
and if, as had been suggested, they should decide to return to Egypt,
they would find favor with the Egyptians by bearing this image before
them and acknowledging it as their god.
Such a crisis demanded a man of firmness, decision, and unflinch-
ing courage; one who held the honor of God above popular favor,
personal safety, or life itself. But the present leader of Israel was not
of this character. Aaron feebly remonstrated with the people, but his
wavering and timidity at the critical moment only rendered them the
more determined. The tumult increased. A blind, unreasoning frenzy
seemed to take possession of the multitude. There were some who
remained true to their covenant with God, but the greater part of the
people joined in the apostasy. A few who ventured to denounce the
proposed image making as idolatry, were set upon and roughly treated,
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and in the confusion and excitement they finally lost their lives.
Aaron feared for his own safety; and instead of nobly standing up
for the honor of God, he yielded to the demands of the multitude. His
first act was to direct that the golden earrings be collected from all