Thursday 1 August 2024
When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered around Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make gods for us, 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.” (v. 1)
Background
In earlier chapters of Exodus there were various accounts of Moses going up a mountain to meet God, and bringing back messages about the way the people were to behave, in preparation for entering their ‘promised land’ and establishing themselves as a settled people. Having come out of slavery, they had been a disordered group but gradually Moses had managed to pull them together, dealing with their grumbles and encouraging them to look forwards rather than back.
In today’s reading we can see issues of leadership, loss and loyalty. Moses had been their leader, but he seemed to have disappeared, taking a very long time to return from his latest mountain climb. Those of us with family members who go climbing may recognise here some of the feelings of the people when he failed to return at the expected time!
In Moses' absence they look to his ‘second in command’, Aaron, Moses’ older brother. He comes across as rather weak, going along with the people as they move towards worshipping idols. As a young person, I lived in the shadow of my very clever older sister. I wonder if Aaron’s reactions are shaped by living in the shadow of his gifted younger brother?
The people of God were experiencing loss. They had lost their homes in their mass exodus from Egypt and now the person who had insisted on leading them out of Egypt had apparently vanished. They needed a focus, something to cling to, somewhere to bring their hopes and fears. They might have had Aaron, but he wasn’t yet up to the job. So, they persuaded him to make idols (a golden calf) to worship. In this way their loyalty to Moses and to the God of Moses and their ancestors, was tested and failed.
I think the depiction of a God who seems rather like a child having a tantrum and then saying, ‘Oh alright then’ (v. 14) under Moses’ persuasion is not very appealing. Hopefully though it didn't detract from the central question that comes later in the story: 'Who is on the Lord’s side?’ (v. 26)
To Ponder:
- The people in this story had great expectations of Moses, but knew they could manipulate his brother, Aaron. What do you expect of leaders and what would suggest to you that a leader could be manipulated?
- An idol doesn’t have to be something physical: the dividing line between respecting something or someone and idolising them can be a very fine one. Can you think of examples in your own life or situation?
Prayer
Gracious Lord, in times of loss and turbulence, we pray for those in positions of leadership. May they resist easy answers and apparently tempting solutions, and instead seek the good of the people and the planet. Amen.
Bible notes author: The Revd Pamela Cram
Pamela worked in several circuits and ecumenical posts in Wales before retiring in the Swansea Valley, where she is involved in a non-denominational community project; a church partnership with a Welsh independent church; and action for Fairtrade.