patriarchs and prophets-第80章
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before Me。〃 The glory of God still hovered above Sinai in the sight of the
congregation； but they turned away； and asked for other gods。 〃They made a
calf in Horeb； and worshiped the molten image。 Thus they changed their glory
into the similitude of an ox。〃 Psalm 106：19； 20。 How could greater
ingratitude have been shown； or more daring insult offered； to Him who had
revealed Himself to them as a tender father and an all…powerful king！
Moses in the mount was warned of the apostasy in the camp
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and was directed to return without delay。 〃Go； get thee down；〃 were the
words of God； 〃thy people； which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt；
have corrupted themselves： they have turned aside quickly out of the way
which I commanded them。 They have made them a molten calf； and have
worshiped it。〃 God might have checked the movement at the outset； but He
suffered it to come to this height that He might teach all a lesson in His
punishment of treason and apostasy。
God's covenant with His people had been disannulled； and He declared to
Moses； 〃Let Me alone； that My wrath may wax hot against them； and that I may
consume them： and I will make of thee a great nation。〃 The people of Israel；
especially the mixed multitude； would be constantly disposed to rebel
against God。 They would also murmur against their leader； and would grieve
him by their unbelief and stubbornness； and it would be a laborious and
soul…trying work to lead them through to the Promised Land。 Their sins had
already forfeited the favor of God； and justice called for their
destruction。 The Lord therefore proposed to destroy them； and make of Moses
a mighty nation。
〃Let Me alone； 。 。 。 that I may consume them；〃 were the words of God。 If God
had purposed to destroy Israel； who could plead for them？ How few but would
have left the sinners to their fate！ How few but would have gladly exchanged
a lot of toil and burden and sacrifice； repaid with ingratitude and
murmuring； for a position of ease and honor； when it was God Himself that
offered the release。
But Moses discerned ground for hope where there appeared only discouragement
and wrath。 The words of God； 〃Let Me alone；〃 he understood not to forbid but
to encourage intercession； implying that nothing but the prayers of Moses
could save Israel； but that if thus entreated； God would spare His people。
He 〃besought the Lord his God； and said； Lord； why doth Thy wrath wax hot
against Thy people； which Thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt
with great power； and with a mighty hand？〃
God had signified that He disowned His people。 He had spoken of them to
Moses as 〃thy people； which thou broughtest out of Egypt。〃 But Moses humbly
disclaimed the leadership of Israel。 They were not his； but God's〃Thy
people； which Thou has brought forth 。 。 。 with great power； and with a
mighty
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hand。 Wherefore；〃 he urged； 〃should the Egyptians speak； and say； For
mischief did He bring them out； to slay them in the mountains； and to
consume them from the face of the earth？〃
During the few months since Israel left Egypt； the report of their wonderful
deliverance had spread to all the surrounding nations。 Fear and terrible
foreboding rested upon the heathen。 All were watching to see what the God of
Israel would do for His people。 Should they now be destroyed； their enemies
would triumph； and God would be dishonored。 The Egyptians would claim that
their accusations were trueinstead of leading His people into the
wilderness to sacrifice； He had caused them to be sacrificed。 They would not
consider the sins of Israel； the destruction of the people whom He had so
signally honored； would bring reproach upon His name。 How great the
responsibility resting upon those whom God has highly honored； to make His
name a praise in the earth！ With what care should they guard against
committing sin； to call down His judgments and cause His name to be
reproached by the ungodly！
As Moses interceded for Israel； his timidity was lost in his deep interest
and love for those for whom he had； in the hands of God； been the means of
doing so much。 The Lord listened to his pleadings； and granted his unselfish
prayer。 God had proved His servant； He had tested his faithfulness and his
love for that erring； ungrateful people； and nobly had Moses endured the
trial。 His interest in Israel sprang from no selfish motive。 The prosperity
of God's chosen people was dearer to him than personal honor； dearer than
the privilege of becoming the father of a mighty nation。 God was pleased
with his faithfulness； his simplicity of heart； and his integrity； and He
committed to him； as a faithful shepherd； the great charge of leading Israel
to the Promised Land。
As Moses and Joshua came down from the mount； the former bearing the 〃tables
of the testimony；〃 they heard the shouts and outcries of the excited
multitude； evidently in a state of wild uproar。 To Joshua the soldier； the
first thought was of an attack from their enemies。 〃There is a noise of war
in the camp；〃 he said。 But Moses judged more truly the nature of the
commotion。 The sound was not that of combat； but of revelry。 〃It is not the
voice of them that shout for mastery； neither is it the voice of them that
cry for being overcome； but the noise of them that sing do I hear。〃
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As they drew near the encampment； they beheld the people shouting and
dancing around their idol。 It was a scene of heathen riot； an imitation of
the idolatrous feasts of Egypt； but how unlike the solemn and reverent
worship of God！ Moses was overwhelmed。 He had just come from the presence of
God's glory； and though he had been warned of what was taking place； he was
unprepared for that dreadful exhibition of the degradation of Israel。 His
anger was hot。 To show his abhorrence of their crime； he threw down the
tables of stone； and they were broken in the sight of all the people； thus
signifying that as they had broken their covenant with God； so God had
broken His covenant with them。
Entering the camp； Moses passed through the crowds of revelers； and seizing
upon the idol； cast it into the fire。 He afterward ground it to powder； and
having strewed it upon the stream that descended from the mount； he made the
people drink of it。 Thus was shown the utter worthlessness of the god which
they had been worshiping。
The great leader summoned his guilty brother and sternly demanded； 〃What did
this people unto thee； that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them？〃
Aaron endeavored to shield himself by relating the clamors of the people；
that if he had not complied with their wishes； he would have been put to
death。 〃Let not the anger of my lord wax hot；〃 he said； 〃thou knowest the
people； that they are set on mischief。 For they said unto me； 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。 And I said unto
them； Whosoever hath any gold； let them break it off。 So they gave it me：
then I cast it into the fire； and there came out this calf。〃 He would lead
Moses to believe that a miracle had been wroughtthat the gold had been
cast into the fire； and by supernatural power changed to a calf。 But his
excuses and prevarications were of no avail。 He was justly dealt with as the
chief offender。
The fact that Aaron had been blessed and honored so far above the people was
what made his sin so heinous。 It was Aaron 〃the saint of the Lord〃 （Psalm
106：16）； that had made the idol and announced the feast。 It was he who had
been appointed as spokesman for Moses； and concerning whom God Himself had
testified； 〃I know that he can speak well〃 （Exodus 4：14）； that had failed to
check the idolaters in their heaven…daring purpose。
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He by whom God had wrought in bringing judgments both upon the Egyptians and
upon their gods； had heard unmoved the proclamation before the molten image；
〃These be thy gods； O Israel； which brought thee up out of the land of
Egypt。〃 It was he who had been with Moses on
