The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-26
THE sUNDAY-sCHOOL LESSON.
July 81. 19O2-ExOdus xxi, 1-6, 3O-3o
The Golden Calf.

The rosition of the emigrant nation at Sinai
was without a parallel in history and trying In
the last degree. The region was utterly unequal
by any natural means to the sustenance OF the
vast population so suddenly planted upon H.
There were warlike tribes, the shock OF whose
impetuous valor Israel had already felt at
Rephidim and whose scouts were doubtless still
alertly watching their movements from many an
inaccessible aerie. 1t was not Impossible that
the empire whose invincible might they had
.ruded might yet equip an expedition for their
recapture or determination, for a scant hundred
and eighty miles interviewed between them ana
Rameses their starting point.
To be sure God had undertaken to be their
commissariat and send them rations from the
skies He hs1 Moses go in advance to strike
the rock in Horeb and supply them water IN
abundance. He had brought them out OF Egypt
with a high hand and outstretched arm. He had
hung his lantern in the sky to guide their steps,
had sweetened waters, given them dainty food
10 eat and defeated their enemies. And at this
very moment the mountain top burned and
biazed with His ineffable presence.
BUT the peoples heart was still gross. Their
rt.;Gious perceptions indistinct AS a
,,.ass they had vague notions of the power that
Rad brought them out of Egypt They had not
attained to the idea of the omnipresence of God.
They probably looked upon him tutelary
deity. beyond whose jurisdiction it was possible
for them to stray. They were very far short OF
the idea OF the spirituality Of God. They COW
eted a visible palladium. They were Jealous
also of Moses. and showed their spleen in the
contemptuous language they used concerning
him.
II was crucial hour in Israers history. God
was proving HIS people The test was severe
hut not out of proportion to their ability 10 en-
ahc mt
and of the intermission of divine communica-
t,ors Would faith prevail? Would they be
+r,e ~ the pledge which they had voluntarily
,al,er when they said: "AlI that the Lord hath
spoken will do!
Alas, There was a sudden epidemic Of fear
and unbelief and there was no towering per-
sonality TO Withstand it. The black idolatry OF
Fey,pt eclipsed for them the heavenly light OF
sinai How instantaneous and great was their
darknessl This was Israers great lapse, which
made others possible and easy.
With the ineffabe voice still ringing in their
- ..1,bo,, shalt not make unto thee any
aroren image" they still required Aaron TO
a,o one II the high priest could show such
-sI,1anir7itv as he did, ought 20 wonder at
- ,r,r,aturitv and perversity Of the rank and
file?
charity seems to have suggested that Aaron 5
cor,rliance was in reality, only feigned TO gain
.,-,s in homes Of Moses's return. or that he was
daftlv playing one sinful propensity against an
cher in hopes OF checkmating idolatry with
c,,n,ditv At best Aaron cuts a poor figure He
might do for an easy-going benence, but had no
hero or martyr stuff in HIM
This was the occasion which the Israelites
T., their hearts, turned back to Egypt, as
s+anben affirmed That gittering image carried
IN the van would be substitute for the fire.
loud nillar and the image OF Egypt's famed
Ants would be an aegis under which they might
shelter themselves from the wrath OF their for
mer taskmasters
While the carnival OF idolatry. lust and drunk
s,ress was at its height the towering form Of
Moses appeared upon the cliff like Nemesis
we'll might they fear the wrath OF that meek
man All unconscious. perhaps. OF the symbol
cal character Of his action. he held the tablets
~ the law aloft. then dashed them on the rocks
below. thus giving for all time the strongest
,,ossible emphasis 10 the phrase. the broken
law" He broke both tables. for a law on each
was broken-one against image-making. the
other against adultery. Even II this had not
bsen the case. the breaking OF precept is
the breaking OF the whole law. for it is one law
NSext lie attacked the image. so costly and
,,o,srated Not one OF that idolatrous. lecherous
drunken mob dared utter word OF remon-
STRANGE much less lift a hand in opposition
Moses may have taken the granite fragments OF
the broken tables 10 pulverize the idol
The next step is one OF retribution. Decima-