“When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced,‘Tomorrow there will be a festival to the LORD’ “ (Exodus 32:5).
What?!?! I read this recently and was stopped in my tracks. As many times as I’ve read this passage about the making of the golden calf I never noticed the fact that Aaron had planned a festival to the LORD. What was Aaron thinking? Of course, I don’t know what he was thinking. I have an idea he was trying to appease the people with the golden calf, and at the same time he knew it was wrong. So he built the altar and announced the festival to the LORD.
Was Aaron trying to use the calf as a symbol for God? Apparently, this is what King Jeroboam tried to do later as the kingdom was divided. King Jeroboam made two golden calves because he feared the people would give their allegiance to King Rehoboam in Judah, if they went back to the temple to worship (1 Kings 12:28-29).
It seems that Aaron and King Jeroboam had personal reasons for the making of the idol. King Jeroboam was trying to save his kingdom. Aaron may have been trying to save his own skin by adding the altar for a sacrifice and planning a festival to the LORD. After all, the people had stated earlier they would do what God commanded. He had commanded: no idols, no worship of other gods. As their leader Aaron was responsible for the people. Moses returned and saw the people were out of control and demanded an accounting from Aaron (Exodus 32:21-25).
I can’t help but think there is a lesson for me here. Do I substitute something in place of God? No, I haven’t made any golden calves. Where would I get the gold? Is my worship pleasing to God? Does my life honor Him? I don’t neglect being in my place on Sunday morning, but I sometimes forget that the rest of my life is to be lived in worship of God. The Apostle Paul tells me in Romans 12 to offer my body as a living sacrifice. He says “This is your spiritual act of worship.”
As a retiree I’ve become too relaxed with my time management. It’s tempting to think there’s always tomorrow so I’ll put off the task until then. I’m spending more time watching TV than I ever did. How worshipful is that? I’m reading that novel instead of writing my blog. I’m not saying these things are wrong for me to do. It’s just they sometimes take the place of something better. With God’s help I’m working on it. I need to make a schedule.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship” (Romans 12:1).