Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-07-11
Lesson for Iulx 14.


Golden Text-"Little children, KEEP
yourselves from idols."--I. John 3: 21.
The subject of this lesson. found in
Exodus 80: is, 30-35, is The Golden
Calf. "And there came out this calf. =
So said Aaron. weakly, in justification OF
himself. He did not assume to know ey'
actly what was going to become the out
come or output of his little furnace. HI
simply made. a fire as It were. in answer
to the peoples demands, and they brought
them gold and gave it to him and, says
he, II cast it into the fire, and there
came out this calf" You have heard the
text, somewhat accommodatively, used as
limiting the poor product of great labor
collegiate, it may be.
1t rightly does suggest the bad product
of lame or injudicious indulgence. Aaron
heard the clamor of the people for some
thing to please their Egypt-taught, SEN
suous fancy. Perhaps lie did not mean II,
nor altogether did they. Idolatry was
what they expressly intended, but idolatry
was the express issue of their act, and for
that both Aaron and the people are held
responsible. 1t is lesson for the times.
There is n golden calf preparing in much
perhaps that we call religious, and doubt
less the man of God who yields to the pop.
ular cry is particeps criminis.
Points in the Lesson.
when the people saw that Moses de.
layed." The delays Of providence are a
test to Gods people. But, o the base in
gratitude that will make the time while
mercy is preparing an occasion for want.
onness and sin!
''The people gathered themselves to.
gether unto Aaron" Aaron is not to be
excused, but there is something to be said
for him. He was left alone in the midst
of an idol-trained people. The word unto
in the expression unto Aaron" is strong
word; against or upon more literally rem
ders it, and so a Jewish writer gives it.
The people, as it were, pounced upon him,
and made formidable demand for the
image. And Aaron was not strong enough
to resist. Alas for him; alas. for them!
Tomorrow is feast of the Lord. -
Aaron was evidently endeavoring to give
as healthy and pious direction as possi-
BILE to the impious observances. And the
people were disposed to fall in with the
priests suggestions, so perhaps calming
what Of conscience they had. But there
stood the command, Thou shall not make
unto thee any craven image" This they
broke. And what they did at the instiga-
ton of Aaron was simply a compromise,
and compromise in such matters, seems
doubly offensive and blasphemous. They
were serving God, they were serving the
world. "The people sat down to eat and
drink, and rose up to play" There is a
deal of such playing at religion still. The
~, n H. d.
says Christ, "Ye cannot serve God and
mammon."
And yet Aaron does not seem to have
wholly yielded to the people. His report
of the occurrence to Moses Tvs. 22-24) as
well as the account here implies that he
was dealing with the people with some.
thing of contempt for their overtures and
in the possible hope that he might either
burden or shame them out of their in
sistence. But the sequel proves again
how fruitless of permanent or genuine
good is the policy of expediency or of
worldly wisdom. "And the Lord plagued
the people because they made the calf
which Aaron made"
The last part of the lesson ". 30-35) is
the brighter part. There we see the weak
ness of Moses and the amazing mercy of
our God. Even his seeming wrath turns
to mercy. His chastisement of the peo-
pie for their sins is further saving of the
nation and the world. For whom the
Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth
every son whom he rcceiveth." His deal
ing thus with Israel in spite of her de-
lection was proof that he had not given
her up. In wrath he was remembering
m and W his th rnp,iphinU Of II
o the saddest calamity that can befall
nation or an individual is to be let alone
of God, to be given up, as the heather
nations were, since they did not like
(choose) to retain God in their knowledge,
to a rcprobate mind and to believe a lie.
And the cheering note is this, that God
still leads. The people he hath chosen
no one shall pluck out of his hand.
Therefore now go, lead the people unto
the place of which l have spoken unto
thee; behold mine angel shall go before
thee" Lead on, Angel of Jehovah, we
follow, stumblingly, it may be; but, by
Gods grace, we follow on.
Hints and Illustrations.
Aaron ana Moses are thrown into strong
here. They are alike in this re.
spect that each one is willing to sacrifice
for the people, but one sacrifices principle,
the other, self. Aaron listens to the de-
mands of the multitude and makes for
them calf, a supposed image of the God
hood and expressly forbidden of the Lord.
See the last lesson, and the second com.
Moses seeing the sin and
hearing the waiting of Israel asks that
for their sakes he be, so to speak, cast
owny He ronresanfe tho mind IF his
Master and the true spirit that should
actuate the leader of Israels hosts. What
faithful pastor has not at times, behold
ing the wanderings of his people, cried out
In their behalf and wished himself verify
blotted out for their sakes. But God is
rich in mercy; he is kinder than our
prayers.
BE careful how you use your gold, or
your golden trinkets. 1t may turn out
10 You a golden calf of idolatry. So use
wealth and advantage that you may glori-
fy the God of heaven rather than the
coarse and groveling gods of this world
Look this way" said the wealthy farmer
10 the minister of the gospel, who was
calling upon him; and he pointed toward
the waving grain fields at the right of the |
house. ut is all-mine," he added. Then |
70 the left, where the corn tassels were
lodding: call NINE" Then back at the |
standing timber: "all mine;" and again |
lown toward the sweeping meadows at the |
front. where the cattle were grazing; "all |
nine," he said, complacently. Quoth the |
prophet wise, with quick |
glance above, "Have you anything IN |
herew Enough said. God will not hold |
ls guiltless for the way we act in orr com.