Theology 7372, Fall 2009

As I was reading this week I came to  Exodus 32 when the Israelites are making the golden calf and God decides to destroy them.  Moses goes on to plead with God not to destroy the people.  This encounter reminded me of in Genesis 18 when Abraham pleaded with God not to destroy Sodom.  Both of these men pleaded with God to not destroy a group of people and God responded to each according to their request.  It is amazing to me that God is so kind that He would provide a mediator to a people group that are not honoring Him.

Again, Exodus speaks to my life.  I love this passage.  Here we see Moses, giving his all, really trying hard to be the servant God believes he can be.  And Aaron, bless his heart, is just trying as hard as he can to please the people.  We read of the crowd becoming anxious, demanding a sign.  We all know the story.  Aaron caves and makes an idol of gold and silver for the people to worship.  You know the rest – God gets mad, sends Moses back down the mountain threatening to kill them all.  (Kind-of reminds me of my father – “don’t make me pull this car over”!)  And so the story goes…

What I find most interesting about this story is that even though I know the story, I continue to be the Aaron in the story.  I am continuously seeking what God has placed right in front of me and when I can’t get it or see it, I make something for myself!  What does it take to be still and know?

This story is remarkable for so many reasons, but most of all because it takes into consideration the humanness of Moses and Aaron and allows the readers to come into the story at a very crucial point.