Exodus 32:5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival to the Lord.”
Remember way back to Exodus 6 when Moses convinces God to let Aaron help him because Moses is not an eloquent speaker and is afraid Pharaoh won’t listen to him? I wonder how Moses is feeling about that decision now that Aaron has leaned so quickly and so willingly into the golden calf.
Exodus 32:6 So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.
I wonder if anything would have been different in today’s verses had Aaron not been allowed to assist Moses. Would someone else have sanctioned the idol? Would someone else have stopped the wandering of the waiting Israelites? Did this scene need to happen to help the Israelites truly understand that God is the One True God and there is no other?
Exodus 32:7 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt.
Precious Savior, Thank You for the ability to read Your word and wonder about what is happening, what could have happened, why it needed to happen. Help my reading, studying, and wondering to lead me closer to You. Always. Amen.
Exodus 32:8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’
Have a blessed day.