Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-09-17
THE GOLDEN CALF.

Moses and his servant Joshua leave
Aaron and Hur in charge of the peo-
pie and go up again into, the mountain.
On the seventh day Moses entered the
cloud and remained for a period Of 40
days during which time he received
the pattern of the tabernacle and the
order Of worship. II was during this
period Of time that the people sinned.
The first part Of this chapter tells
US the fact Of the casting of the calf,
w. 10 Gods righteous anger and
Moses prayer Of intercession, w. TIA.
lsraels boast, 1873, 24:3, 7, is now re-
vealed as being but utter weakness
and illustrates the worthlessness and
unreliabllity of human nature. The
drunkard's promised sobriety, the un-
clean mans promised purity, alike
melt in the fierce heat of temptation.
Their sin was a direct, positive vio-
lation Of the first commandment, and
in 1t they also broke the second. They
did not want 10 substitute but rather
sought a similitude Of God Aaron
here appears in a poor light; he did
not like their proposition wv. Z, 81.
but did not have strength of character
sufficient to stand against 1t. Aaron
is like those in the church and out Of
1t who prefer to control a movement
which is bad rather than to combat
the movement in its entirety.
Human Flckleness.
Notice Aaron's attempt to link old
ideas. with this new-fangled religion,
this modern expression" tomorrow
is the feast Of Jehovah" v. 5. Men
and women are today attempting to
gloss evil teaching and open sin by
associating with it the name of Christ.
To call such an association scientific
is a travesty. The fact, however that
Aaron gave the Israelites what they
asked for, shows that he had some
idea at least of Gods attitude towards
his people We have here presented
also the flckleness of human gratitude.
Moses is with God on their behalf
Heb. 7:25), yet they forget him and
God who had performed such mighty
signs on their behalf, and demand new
new leadership ". and Ps. 106:2D.
Art has a place in religious life, but
a spiritual worship alone is acceptable
to God, John ARA.
1t was a sacrifice wv. 2, 81 of gold
to make possible this calf which was
doubtless a representation Of the
Egyptian god Apis and may or may
not have been life-size, and may have
been solid or only veneer, but Meth
er such earnestness nor sacrifice
saved them.
Gods Word lmmutable.
Moses prayer of intercession, Wv.
lila, is wonderful 1t centers about
the idea that Israel is Thy people"
| ". 11), and that Gods word is i'm
mutable, Remember" etc. ". 49,.
Moses was moved with pity and had a
passion for the honor of Gods name.
AS Moses and Joshua approached the
camp they heard music, v. II. What
a commentary upon the debasing use
Of one Of Gods noblest gifts to man,
the gift of music. Reaching the camp
they beheld the fullness of iniquity
and depravity which was the develop
ment of this disobedience, v. 25 See
also Rom. 1:21-25, Rom. 1928, Jas. 1:15.
Moses passion also manifested itself
against their sin by breaking the Ia
bles, grinding the calf to powder and
compelled them to drink the water
into which 1t was flung. His anger
was not a passionate outburst, for he
called Aaron to account (vv. 21-24)
and sent forth the avenging sword to
punish the evil doors and Israel was
again purged by the shedding Of
blood wv. 26-29).
In order to complete this story we
should call attention wv. 9O,35) how
Moses returned into Gods presence,
made confession for the people, truly
taking the place of intercession when
he desired to be blotted out rather
than have their sin go unforgiven. Go
on into the next chapter, w. 10, IA,
anu ACead his 6ACeAb hOdA u t1lu NOu 2
answer of grace.
The Teaching. We have here story
of the frailty of human nature and
the feebleness of human resolutions
We see in Aaron the weakness of a
religious leader who attempts to com.
promise or to yield to the clamor OF
a mistaken people. There is also pres
emit in this lesson the possibility Of
prostituting right things. The Israel
ties made a proper request In their de
sire to go forward, They lacked pa
thence, and made the mistake Of de
string something that appealed tC
, their senses. We thus see the disas
, ter of disobedience, even though the
, end desired be a good one. If in the
, interest of good, men do wrong wha
will be the outcome? A comparison o.
Moses and Aaron raises the question
of leadership. Shall we adhere Il
, individuals rather than principles
! This lesson also raises the query al
, to some of the modern gods OF gold
Look up scripture references TO Nam
mon.