Give It Up

Exodus 32:1-8 - the Golden Calf

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.”

2 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.” 3 So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. 4 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!”

5 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.” 6 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.

7 And the LORD said to Moses, “Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!’ ”

-------------------

It’s been said, when you have gov’t of the people, by the people and for the people, it can be hard to avoid having religion, of the people, by the people, for the people.  This is what Aaron dealt with and caved in to, in making a golden calf.  They didn’t want to wait for Moses any longer.  They wanted a god they could see and touch and use to indulge their sensual appetites.  When it says they rose up to play in verse 7, that isn’t innocent playground time, it means messing around sexually.

Aaron gave them what they wanted and slapped God’s name on the whole blasphemous charade.

We need to confess: we try to keep our sinful desires and indulge them, all while wanting to worship God and name His name.  We don’t fight back against our desires for other gods – we give in and try to have it both ways.  On Mount Carmel, Elijah told Israel: “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.”  And do you remember what the people said?  Nothing. 

I plead with you today, from the Word of God, give up your sin.  It will keep you from God.

Let us confess our sins to God.

9/30/18