Watch Out for a Golden Calf in Your Coffee

May 8, 2019

Watch Out for a Golden Calf in Your Coffee

Exodus 32:15-35

Beth Price

Central Truth

Tolerance versus love. Our world says they are the same. But God's Word says differently. We become tolerant of sin when we give only grace because it is easier than speaking truth. In order to love well, we must balance grace and truth.

He took the calf that they had made and burned it with fire and ground it to powder and scattered it on the water and made the people of Israel drink it. . . . But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.

15 Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, tablets that were written on both sides; on the front and on the back they were written. 16 The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. 17 When Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a noise of war in the camp.” 18 But he said, “It is not the sound of shouting for victory, or the sound of the cry of defeat, but the sound of singing that I hear.” 19 And as soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses' anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. 20 He took the calf that they had made and burned it with fire and ground it to powder and scattered it on the water and made the people of Israel drink it.

21 And Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you that you have brought such a great sin upon them?” 22 And Aaron said, “Let not the anger of my lord burn hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. 23 For they said to me, ‘Make us gods who shall go before us. 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.’ 24 So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”

25 And when Moses saw that the people had broken loose (for Aaron had let them break loose, to the derision of their enemies), 26 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the LORD's side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. 27 And he said to them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘Put your sword on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor.’” 28 And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell. 29 And Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for the service of the LORD, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day.”

30 The next day Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” 31 So Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. 32 But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.” 33 But the LORD said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book. 34 But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them.”

35 Then the LORD sent a plague on the people, because they made the calf, the one that Aaron made.

Let's do a little compare and contrast here between Aaron and Moses. Both of these men saw the power of God displayed in the plagues of Egypt. They were given the same information, and both were used by God in bringing the people of Israel out from Egypt. Yet, in this chapter we see big differences form.

Aaron allows the people of Israel to lead him astray (Exodus 32:1-6). We do not see him try to dissuade the people, but rather he follows man's wishes over God's. In Exodus 32:22, Aaron tries to redirect Moses' burning anger and blames the people for "they are set on evil." He doesn't take the blame, but instead lies in Exodus 32:24 about where the calf came from.

Now let's go back and check on Moses. In Exodus 32:15-19, Moses finishes spending time with God and finds out the Israelites have been worshiping an idol while he was gone. In his burning anger, he takes the golden calf, burns it, and grinds it into a powder. And then he makes the Israelites DRINK it! While Aaron was tolerant, Moses was the opposite. He not only felt anger, but he did something about it. He called sin a sin and wanted the people to be aware of the gravity of their sin.

It is easy to be Aaron and let people do what they are going to do. Our world has told us time and time again that we need to accept everyone and be tolerant of their choices. "Love" them. Yet when I look at Aaron and Moses, I have to wonder who loved the Israelites the best. Aaron's acceptance of sin led to 3,000 deaths and a plague against those who lived. Moses spoke out in truth. He refused to allow the people to worship an idol. He asked others to join him. Then, in the most loving act, he showed grace by interceding on their behalf to make an atonement for their sin. He offered to BE the sacrifice for their sin in order for them to experience God's love. That is real love.

1. Where have you been an "Aaron" in your community? Have you allowed people to "get away" with sin because it is easier?

2. Where have you been a "Moses" in your community? Have you called people to live according to God's Word?

3. What sins are you tolerating in your life? What do you need to "burn with fire"?

4. How do you balance grace and truth?

5. If you guessed that "My perfect day is spent on the couch with a cup of coffee while it snows outside" as my lie, then you are correct! Congratulations! You have earned 1,000 points. My perfect day is 75 degrees and sunny. I will be outside all day reading, eating, walking, and being with friends and family. I don't even drink coffee.