(1) 32:1 When the people saw that Moses delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, “Get up, make us gods that will go before us. As for this fellow Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him!”
32:2 So Aaron said to them, “Break off the gold earrings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.”
a. BKC- they asked for a substitute or surrogate who will go before us. In suggesting that Aaron make them gods they were not asking for gods to replace Yahweh but for a visible, tangible object to follow.
a. BKC- they asked for a substitute or surrogate who will go before us. In suggesting that Aaron make them gods they were not asking for gods to replace Yahweh but for a visible, tangible object to follow.
b. BKC-Aaron suggested the people give him their gold earrings (probably acquired from the Egyptians on the day of Exodus, 12:35–36), which he then melted into an idol cast in the shape of a calf.
Reflection: Do we also use the resources that God gave us to serve our own idols? Or our interest?
Do we use the education that God provides us to make money for ourselves?
Do we use the talent/gifts that God gives us to glorify ourselves?
Do we use the talent/gifts that God gives us to glorify ourselves?
c. [delayed]=The meaning of this verb is properly “caused shame,” meaning cause disappointment because he was not coming back
Perhaps something went wrong with their mediator, Moses, who usually helped them to communicate with God. Now, they did not want another mediator, but they wanted to have a tangible god. In other words they wanted to go to God directly.
Why they needed a tangible god was because they wanted God leading them to continue their journey.
Reflection: Idol was not necessarily worshipping the wrong object, but using the wrong way to worship. The second comment clearly stated that no idol worship. God told them one way, but they gave that up and came up with their own way. How about us?
God told them to wait for Moses, but they did not want to wait. How about us?
(2) v.4b Then they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”
v.5b “Tomorrow will be a feast to the LORD.” 32:6 So they got up early on the next day and offered up burnt offerings and brought peace offerings, and the people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.
(NET) The fact that they were festive and playing before an idol...
See their enthusiasm and their involvement in their worship. They got up early, offered sacrifices, and eat/drink/play. Why were the Isralites so excited when they worshipped the idols? (see the next point).
(3) v.9b Look what a stiff-necked people they are!
(NET) the image is that of the people walking before God, and when he called to them the directions, they would not bend their neck to listen; they were resolute in doing what they intended to do (Exodus, 943). The figure describes them as refusing to submit, but resisting in pride.
God called them to worship Him, not idols. However, they were not willing to change. When there was anything "wrong" they quickly turned their back to Good and turned to idol. When they worshipped the idols now they were so excited because it was something they longed to do.
Reflection: Are we stiff-necked? Are we so used to sin and when we have a chance we love to do it again? Do we resist to be changed by God? Does the love and excitement to sin reflect what we really love?
Audrey
Comments