The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-06-30
INPIDELITY,
Exodus xxi. 1920

FAITHLESSNESS.-W Moses went up
into the Mount of COP, to record the COM
mandments upon stone tablets, in accord
ance with the divine direction contained in
the last lesson xiv. 12), he appears to have
taken with him Joshua, his mini,tsr of war
xvii. 81 and successor in the Leadership of
Israel, and left the administration of the
camp, or host, of Israel, with the elders, and
appointed his brother Aaron and brother-in-
law Hur to represent him in matters requir-
ing the supreme decision (xxiv. 14). Accord
ing to Josephus, Hur was the husband of
Miriam, the distinguished sister of Moses
Exodus ii. 4; XIV. 16). Moses was absent
forty days, on account of which the charac-
teristic faithlessness of the Israelites was
again manifested. They probably thought
that he had been killed on the mountain by
the lightning which they had seen there, and
thinking themselves without leader they may
have determined to return again to Egypt,
and sought new guide or symbol of GoD to
lead them. They appeared before Aaron with
the demand that he provide them with such a
guide. They were apparently unable long to
maintain their faith in the care and protec-
ton of COP in the absence of his representa-
tive, and without visible manifestation of his
presence and power. We are liable to mani
fest similar infdelity and hesitate or refuse
to go resolutely forward in the way of diff
cult duty and experience, because the Divine
approval and reward is not Immediately
manifest. We need, as much as the Israel
ties, to trust in the invisible COP, who is our
Guide and Protector.
"When we cannot see our way,
Let us trust and still obey"
THE CRAVEN IMAGE. In response to
the demand of the people for symbol of
COP, Aaron requested that the golden orna-
ments worn by their wifes and children should
be brought to him. Perhaps he cunningly
thought that their vanity would refuse the
sacrifice. But while he may have been if
resolute and crafty in his desire and purpose
to oppose their demand, they were earnest
and eager to procure pledge of the Divine
protection through an image of COP, and his
cleverness was put to shame by their ready
response. Unable now to resist the demand,
if, indeed, he so desired, he took the golden
ornaments which had been contributed for
the purpose and made, or caused to be made,
golden calf, which the people accepted as
the image of GoD, who had brought them out
from the land of Egypt. In the idolatrous
Egyptian religion. a fabulous bull represent
ed the principal deity. The Asiatic people,
who resided or traded in Egypt, with whom
the Israelites may have been intimate, en-
ployed in their worship an idol, Moloch,
which is represented as being in the form of
an OK. One of these may have been the
model after which the golden calf was fash
toned. Having accepted it as their GoD,
that is, as symbol of JEHOVAH. Aaron pro-
claimed religious festival in its presence
which was celebrated with feasting and rev.
cling, apparently after the manner of idola-
trous worship. The Israelites had trans
crossed the second commandment in max
ing the image, and the first two if they wor-
shipped it, though it is probable that they
adopted the image as the symbol of the invis-
ible JEHOVAH, whom they attempted to wor-
ship.