As Moses was receiving the law and instructions from God, the children of Israel began to doubt if he would return. They asked Aaron to make then an idol, a god, which they could serve in his absence. Aaron took the gold from the people and formed a golden calf from it with an engraving tool. Aaron then proclaimed it as their god.
God spoke to Moses and alerted him as to the sacrilege being done by the Israelites. He sent Moses back down the mountain to deal with them, and then offered to destroy them and make a new nation from Moses. Moses refused, and interceded on behalf of the children of Israel and reminded God of His covenant with Israel. The Lord relented from harming Israel. Moses descended the mountain with Joshua and the tablets of the testimony written by God.
Moses and Joshua came down the mountain to the sound of singing, and found them worshiping the golden calf. He threw down the two stone tablets and broke them, and inquired of Aaron as to how this evil came about. Moses destroyed the golden calf, burned it in the fire and ground it to powder, scattered it on the water and made Israel drink it. Aaron made excuses, lied about the origin of the calf,and the people were unrestrained. Moses called for the people to come to him if they were on the Lord’s side. The Levites came to Moses, and the rest of the camp stayed on the other side. Moses sent the Levites into the crowd to kill with the sword, and 3000 died that day. The point was made, and the nation repented the next day of their sin. And a plague came upon them.
When they were given the command to leave Sinai, they were warned to take off their ornaments, lest God come up in the midst of them to consume them. What does this story tell us?
First, do not rush the work of God. Trust Him and wait upon Him and you will be blessed. Run ahead of Him and you will be running alone and face the consequences of sin. Second, repent when faced with your own sin. Do not be stiff-necked and refuse the conviction of God. He is always right, just, and holy. Third, when God says go, then go. God will not lead you into a place where He cannot keep you.
Wait on God, Refuse Sin, Repent when Convicted, and Go Where God Leads!
Devoted To You 