patriarchs and prophets-第79章
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working at the building upon the Sabbath。 To guard them from this error； the
warning was given。 Even the sacredness and urgency of that special work for
God must not lead them to infringe upon His holy rest day。
Henceforth the people were to be honored with the abiding presence of their
King。 〃I will dwell among the children of Israel； and will be their God；〃
〃and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory〃 （Exodus 29：45； 43）； was
the assurance given to Moses。 As the symbol of God's authority and the
embodiment of His will； there was delivered to Moses a copy of the Decalogue
engraved by the finger of God Himself upon two tables of stone （Deuteronomy
9：10； Exodus 32：15； 16）； to be sacredly enshrined in the sanctuary； which；
when made； was to be the visible center of the nation's worship。
From a race of slaves the Israelites had been exalted above all peoples to
be the peculiar treasure of the King of kings。 God had separated them from
the world； that He might commit to them a sacred trust。 He had made them the
depositaries of His law； and He purposed； through them； to preserve among
men the knowledge of Himself。 Thus the light of heaven was to shine out to a
world enshrouded in darkness； and a voice was to be heard appealing to all
peoples to turn from their idolatry to serve the living God。 If the
Israelites would be true to their trust； they would become a power in the
world。 God would be their defense； and He would exalt them above all other
nations。 His light and truth would be revealed through them； and they would
stand forth under His wise and holy rule as an example of the superiority of
His worship over every form of idolatry。
（315）
Chapter 28
Idolatry at Sinai
While Moses was absent it was a time of waiting and suspense to Israel。 The
people knew that he had ascended the mount with Joshua； and had entered the
cloud of thick darkness which could be seen from the plain below； resting on
the mountain peak； illuminated from time to time with the lightnings of the
divine Presence。 They waited eagerly for his return。 Accustomed as they had
been in Egypt to material representations of deity； it had been hard for
them to trust in an invisible being； and they had come to rely upon Moses to
sustain their faith。 Now he was taken from them。 Day after day； week after
week passed； and still he did not return。 Notwithstanding the cloud was
still in view； it seemed to many in the camp that their leader had deserted
them； or that he had been consumed by the devouring fire。
During this period of waiting； there was time for them to meditate upon the
law of God which they had heard； and to prepare their hearts to receive the
further revelations that He might make to them。 They had none too much time
for this work； and had they been thus seeking a clearer understanding of
God's requirements； and humbling their hearts before Him； they would have
been shielded from temptation。 But they did not do this； and they soon
became careless； inattentive； and lawless。 Especially was this the case with
the mixed multitude。 They were impatient to be on their way to the Land of
Promisethe land flowing with milk and honey。 It was only on condition of
obedience that the goodly land was promised them； but they had lost sight of
this。 There were some who suggested a return to Egypt； but whether forward
to Canaan or backward to Egypt； the masses of the people were determined to
wait no longer for Moses。
Feeling their helplessness in the absence of their leader； they
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returned to their old superstitions。 The 〃mixed multitude〃 had been the
first to indulge murmuring and impatience； and they were the leaders in the
apostasy that followed。 Among the objects regarded by the Egyptians as
symbols of deity was the ox or calf； and it was at the suggestion of those
who had practiced this form of idolatry in Egypt that a calf was now made
and worshiped。 The people desired some image to represent God； and to go
before them in the place of Moses。 God had given no manner of similitude of
Himself； and He had prohibited any material representation for such a
purpose。 The mighty miracles in Egypt and at the Red Sea were designed to
establish faith in Him as the invisible； all…powerful Helper of Israel； the
only true God。 And the desire for some visible manifestation of His presence
had been granted in the pillar of cloud and of fire that guided their hosts；
and in the revealing of His glory upon Mount Sinai。 But with the cloud of
the Presence still before them； they turned back in their hearts to the
idolatry of Egypt； and represented the glory of the invisible God by the
similitude of an ox！
In the absence of Moses； the judicial authority had been delegated to Aaron；
and a vast crowd gathered about his tent； with the demand； 〃Make us gods；
which shall go before us； for as for this Moses； the man that brought us up
out of the land of Egypt； we wot not what is become of him。＇* SEE APPENDIX；
NOTE 4。＇ The cloud； they said； that had heretofore led them； now rested
permanently upon the mount； it would no longer direct their travels。 They
must have an image in its place； and if； as had been suggested； they should
decide to return to Egypt； they would find favor with the Egyptians by
bearing this image before them and acknowledging it as their god。
Such a crisis demanded a man of firmness； decision； and unflinching courage；
one who held the honor of God above popular favor； personal safety； or life
itself。 But the present leader of Israel was not of this character。 Aaron
feebly remonstrated with the people； but his wavering and timidity at the
critical moment only rendered them the more determined。 The tumult
increased。 A blind； unreasoning frenzy seemed to take possession of the
multitude。 There were some who remained true to their covenant with God； but
the greater part of the people joined in the apostasy。 A few who ventured to
denounce the proposed image
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making as idolatry； were set upon and roughly treated； and in the confusion
and excitement they finally lost their lives。
Aaron feared for his own safety； and instead of nobly standing up for the
honor of God； he yielded to the demands of the multitude。 His first act was
to direct that the golden earrings be collected from all the people and
brought to him； hoping that pride would lead them to refuse such a
sacrifice。 But they willingly yielded up their ornaments； and from these he
made a molten calf； in imitation of the gods of Egypt。 The people
proclaimed； 〃These be thy gods； O Israel； which brought thee up out of the
land of Egypt。〃 And Aaron basely permitted this insult to Jehovah。 He did
more。 Seeing with what satisfaction the golden god was received； he built an
altar before it； and made proclamation； 〃Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord。〃
The announcement was heralded by trumpeters from company to company
throughout the camp。 〃And they rose up early on the morrow； and offered
burnt offerings； and brought peace offerings； and the people sat down to eat
and to drink and rose up to play。〃 Under the pretense of holding 〃a feast to
the Lord；〃 they gave themselves up to gluttony and licentious reveling。
How often； in our own day； is the love of pleasure disguised by a 〃form of
godliness。〃！ A religion that permits men； while observing the rites of
worship； to devote themselves to selfish or sensual gratification； is as
pleasing to the multitudes now as in the days of Israel。 And there are still
pliant Aarons； who； while holding positions of authority in the church； will
yield to the desires of the unconsecrated； and thus encourage them in sin。
Only a few days had passed since the Hebrews had made a solemn covenant with
God to obey His voice。 They had stood trembling with terror before the
mount； listening to the words of the Lord； 〃Thou shalt have no other gods
before Me。〃 The glory of God still hovered above Sinai in the sight of the
congregation； but they turned away； and asked
