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Misusing God
Misusing God
You know the story. The question is, why did Aaron let everything go as far as it did?
“Moses saw that the people were out of control, for Aaron had let them get out of control, making them a laughingstock to their enemies.” (Exodus 32:25)
The event is the golden calves of Exodus 32. The Israelites demanded idols to replace Moses to lead them. Then Aaron said,
“Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters and bring them to me.” (Exodus 32:2).
A Jewish rabbi, wanting to help reinstate Aaron’s reputation, said that Aaron was trying to delay the sin of the people by asking for the ridiculous, thinking they will never accept his conditions. But their inward emptiness propelled them to do what Aaron thought was preposterous:
So all the people took off the gold rings that were on their ears and brought them to Aaron. (Exodus 32:3)
I don’t know if this old Jewish rabbi is correct concerning Aaron’s tactic. If he is, we learn a valuable lesson – shut down sin quickly and don’t give people the wrong hope.
Regardless of Aaron’s motive, I think another lesson is also learned. The Israelites were desperate and stubborn or stiff-necked (Exodus 32:9). They were asking for a leader, and Aaron stood up and became a leader for a false cause. He should have stood up and led righteously and reminded the people that he stood with Moses in facing down Pharaoh! Aaron should have faced down Israel!
Aaron misused his leadership skills.
Speaking of skills, remember that at first Aaron did the speaking for Moses and God (Exodus 4:14-16). God even said Aaron spoke well. Aaron had no issue with public speaking. This time he stood before all and proclaimed,
“There will be a festival to the LORD tomorrow.”” (Exodus 32:4-5)
Aaron misused his speaking skills.
Sadly, that is not all. Aaron was good with his hands,
“He took the gold from them, fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it into an image of a calf…he built an altar in front of it.” (Exodus 32:4-5)
Just because we have a gift from God, doesn’t mean we can use it however we want.
Aaron misused his creative building skills.
Aaron missed his leadership skills by becoming a follower. He misused his speaking skills to say what tickled the ears of Israel. And Aaron misused his handyman ability to build something appealing to the flesh.
If the rabbi is correct in thinking Aaron was trying to trick Israel into waiting by appealing to their greed; Aaron failed there too by not using his leadership and speaking skills to say something very simple.
Aaron failed to say “No!”
Considering Aaron was blessed by God with abilities to lead, speak, and build things…
Aaron misused God. Are we?
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