Relationship and Idolatry!
- Ernide
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Earlier this week, I was reading Exodus 32 as part of my journey through the Bible in a year. It took me a while to get through the first four verses because I was stunned by Aaron’s response to the people’s request for an idol to worship.
Exodus 32:1-4:
“When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, ‘Come, make us gods[a] who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’ 2 Aaron answered them, ‘Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons, and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.’ 3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, ‘These are your gods,[b] Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’”
As I was reading these first few verses, I could not believe that Aaron and those in leadership gave in to the people’s request. Why? Well, when you read a few chapters earlier, you will find that Aaron and the other leaders dined with God Himself.
Exodus 24:9-11:
“9 Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up 10 and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky. 11 But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.”
When Moses confronted Aaron regarding the idolatry that arose in the camp, his response stunned me even more. He basically positioned himself as a passive and unwilling participant in this sin against God.
Exodus 32:21-24:
“He said to Aaron, ‘What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?’ 22 ‘Do not be angry, my lord,’ Aaron answered. ‘You know how prone these people are to evil. 23 They said to me, “Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.” 24 So I told them, “Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.” Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!’”
So, what was the disconnect with Aaron and the other leaders between Exodus 24:9-11 dining with God and Exodus 32:2-6, constructing an idol to worship?
Now, although Aaron and the leaders are not solely to blame for this sin of idolatry, I want to focus on them because they were given authority over the people to govern and steward the children of Israel in the ways of God. Also, after Moses, they had greater access to the presence and glory of God. So, what was the disconnect?
First, when you think about Aaron’s role, he was the mouthpiece of Moses. Whatever God spoke to Moses, Moses would speak to Aaron so that Aaron could speak it out. In his role, we can see that there was a difference between the relationship Moses had with God and the relationship Aaron had with God. It’s important to note that the quality of a relationship is a factor in determining one’s loyalty and convictions.
Aaron was loyal to Moses, and with Moses being absent, and being unsure whether he was alive or not, he gave in to the people’s request. But he dined with God, though? Yes, although he dined with God, his conviction and confidence in the law that was given to them were not deeply rooted enough to override the demands of the people.
Did he fully believe in the things of the Lord, or was his belief predicated on the presence of Moses?
Although we are examining Aaron, this is also a good time to reflect on our own relationship with God. Is your relationship with the Father driven by those you esteem in your life, or is it rooted in the Word made flesh, Jesus?
If the quality of your relationship with God is dependent on man, then you should know that it is a faulty foundation and it will not last. But if you have cultivated a relationship with the Lord through His Word and worship, your convictions will run deep. Then, if someone you esteem decides to turn away from God or is no longer present in your life, it does not negatively impact your walk with God or your ability to remain in Him.
Now let's examine Aaron's response regarding this act. He basically states that the people gave him the gold, he threw it into the fire, and it became a calf. At some point, Aaron must have admitted the truth to Moses because Scripture documents that Aaron asked for the gold and was actively involved in constructing the calf for the people to worship.
Aaron attempted to separate himself from the sin, as if he did not have a choice in the matter. Although there was pressure from the people, he could have leaned on the authority God had given him and responded differently.
While Aaron gave an untrue response about how the golden calf was made, I want us to reflect on something else: just how easy it is for something to become an idol. The calf was obvious, but it was really an outward manifestation of Aaron's desire to please the people.
Desire has a way of transforming into idols. Most idols do not begin as sinful things. They often begin as good desires that slowly take on a place in our hearts that belongs only to God. This is why we are called to submit ourselves daily and everything we desire to the Lord.
Like Aaron, I have had things become idols that I did not want to admit I was constructing. I gave the excuse of throwing it into the fire and an idol appeared. But as we read in Exodus, idols don’t suddenly appear, there is a process to its construction.
One of those idols that the Lord helped me tear down, and continues to help me keep down, is the idol of marriage. As a single woman navigating seasons of singleness, we are often encouraged to make a list, write a letter, say all kinds of prayers, and so on, not realizing that we may slowly be constructing an idol. Although these things are not bad in and of themselves, and the desire for marriage is not bad, it becomes a problem when it starts to take priority over your relationship with God and consume your thoughts. At that point, it has become an idol.
If you are unsure about whether or not you may have an idol, ask the Lord to reveal it to you. Once revealed you are able to repent so that God can take his rightful place. Don’t try to hide or make excuses like Aaron did. Instead admit it to God and allow him to give you the tools to tear that idol down.
Two simple takeaways from this post:
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