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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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Exodus 32:19
“When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain.”
This chapter reveals a tremendous amount about the character of Israel’s leader, Moses.
It also reveals a good deal about Aaron and it’s not very nice. Called to be a Priest to God, he revealed his corrupt heart. Not only did he give in to the people and side with them, but he also crafted a golden calf and told them that it had brought them out of Egypt. He then compromised God by holding a festival to the Lord and giving sacrifices to the calf and allowing all their base human instincts to take over. When challenged by Moses, he lied and said that he had thrown their gold into the fire and out walked a golden calf. And ‘he’ was the High Priest (see Exodus 32:24).
Moses, on the other hand, was quite exceptional. In verse 10, God said that He would destroy the rebellious people there and then but make a new nation out of Moses. What a fantastic offer. What a great temptation it would have been to say, “Good idea.” But Moses was a man of character and integrity. He was a ‘big’ man. No, he wouldn’t indulge his pride but rather seek to ‘protect’ the Name of God. He reminded God of His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Israel and said, “You can’t do it. The nations will see and laugh at You.” So God relented and Moses and Joshua returned to the camp.
However, when Moses saw what was going on, his anger got the better of him. He threw the stone tablets, which God had carved out and given him, onto the ground and they shattered. That was a mistake. We read that he had to chisel out and write on the next two himself (see Exodus 34:28).
Moses also burnt the golden calf, spread the ashes on their water and made the people drink it. Moses then challenged the people to get back on track to follow the Lord and the Levites rallied to a man. He despatched them amongst the camp and 3,000 died but their calling and blessing were preserved.
Then he went back before the Lord and pleaded and interceded on behalf of the people. He pleaded for their forgiveness, but if God was unwilling to forgive them, he asked for his name to be removed from ‘the Book of Life’ instead (see Exodus 32:32). In other words, he is prepared to go to eternal Hell so that somehow the people might be saved.
That is totally beyond my comprehension. I can understand pleading with God on behalf of the people but I cannot conceive a situation, which would cause me to suggest that I go to Hell so that others wouldn’t. The Israelites should be very grateful that Moses was their leader and not I.
More than that, for me, it puts Moses in a league completely on his own. No one other than Jesus has got anywhere near Moses. This man is unique. He is the most humble of men, the greatest leader and here the greatest mediator. His love and loyalty to the people is beyond comparison.
No wonder God called him for the most difficult task of all – to lead the people of Israel – the stiff-necked, rebellious race.
God is a righteous God, however, and replied that each was responsible for his own actions and sins and that Moses would not be called to do what Jesus eventually did.
Yes, God calls us to be holy and He holds us accountable for all our actions – even after we are saved.
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