Good morning. I would like to begin this morning by asking if you can recall an event in your life that was so powerful it changed you? I do not mean superficial changes, but serious, profound changes in the way you think, act, pray, and serve?
When we read chapters 32 through 34 of Exodus, we read of dramatic events that were life changing. Moses had left the presence of the people to go to the top of the mountain for an intimate meeting with God. The people grew restless because he was taking so long, and Aaron worried that open rebellion would soon be the result. He told them to give him their gold and jewels. We read in Exodus 32:4 And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” Note that Aaron had the craftsmen use tools to “fashion” the golden calf. When they had finished creating this idol we read: they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.” 32:5 Those whom the people recognized as their leaders made these statements, and they use the plural to indicate your gods. The calf wasn’ the only creation that day. These “leaders” continued with their lies “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” Aaron was completely complicit in this idolatry. How terrible would his blasphemy have sounded to God as Aaron indicated the false idol and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.” Aaron is telling the people that this graven image is the Lord, their God.
Meanwhile, on the mountain, God knows exactly what is going on. He tells Moses that it is in His mind to destroy these idolatrous people, but he assures Moses that this would not result in failure, saying that He would do this “in order that I may make a great nation of you.” Moses pleads for the people and God relents. Moses then descends from the mountain to bring the two stone tablets with God’s Ten Commandments to the Israelites. But seeing things first-hand changed Moses.
When Moses saw what was happening, he threw down the stone tablets, smashing them into many pieces. It was obvious to him that these idolatrous people didn’t deserve God’s attention. One of the more interesting parts of this drama for me is the answers Aaron gives when Moses asks him “What did this people do to you that you have led them into such great sin?” 32:21 Aaron’s first answer is an attempt to blame the people: “You know the people, that they are set on evil.” 32:22 Then Aaron explains the situation with the lie of all lies: “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.” 32:24
God’s anger was severe, and He assures Moses that punishment appropriate to their sin would be coming. (Exodus 32:33-35) In chapter 33 God reassures Moses that His presence would go before the people and that God’s glory would be revealed. In chapter 34 we see what this means. Chapter 34 begins with God instructing Moses that new stone tablets with God’s commandments were to be made. In Exodus 34:28 we read that Moses was fasting in the presence of the Lord for 40 days, and God strengthened him. Finally, Moses again descends from the mountain to bring God’s commands to the people. We read in 34:29-30 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.
Being in the presence of God caused God’s glory to shine from Moses. He was changed. Not only was he changed in his appearance revealing God’s glory, he was changed in his spirit as well. The powerful events recorded in Exodus 32-34 had a profound effect on him, making Moses ready to lead God’s people in the wilderness.
As for Aaron, he too was changed. When these events unfold, including his incredible failure as a leader of Israel and as a follower of God, Aaron is made ready to take his place as the beginning of the priests of Israel who would serve the Lord.
There are many events in our lives that change us. Some of them are wonderful, positive experiences, and some may be devastating challenges. But God is faithful through it all. God will work within us, and God will cause that which changes us to become a blessing. (Romans 8:28) God’s glory is revealed in those who love and obey Him!
God bless you today!
Vern