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The Beginning of the End
His glory on Mount Sinai. But with the cloud of the Presence still
in front of them, in their hearts they turned back to the idolatry of
Egypt.
[154]
In Moses’ absence, the judicial authority had been delegated to
Aaron, and a vast crowd gathered about his tent. The cloud, they
said, now rested permanently on the mountain; it would no longer
direct their travels. They must have an image in its place. And if, as
some had suggested, they should return to Egypt, they would find
favor with the Egyptians by carrying this image ahead of them as
their god. (See Appendix, Note 3.)
Instead of Leading, Aaron Follows
Aaron feebly protested with the people, but his indecision and
his timid response at the critical moment only made them the more
determined. A blind, unreasoning frenzy seemed to possess the
crowd. Some remained true to their covenant with God, but most
of them joined in the apostasy. A few who dared to denounce the
proposed image-making as idolatry were beaten and 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 crowd.
They willingly gave him their ornaments, and from these he made a
molten calf in imitation of the gods of Egypt.
The people proclaimed, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought
you out of the land of Egypt!” And without using moral principle,
Aaron permitted this insult to Jehovah, and actually did even more.
Seeing how pleased the people were with the golden god, he built
an altar before it and proclaimed, “‘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.” They gave themselves up to gluttony and sinful
reveling.
A religion that permits people to devote themselves to selfish or
sensual gratification is as pleasing to the multitudes now as it was in
the days of Israel. There are still weak-willed Aarons in the church
who will yield to the desires of the unconverted, and thus encourage
them in sin.