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The People's Idolatry

When Moses was delayed in coming down from Mount Sinai, the people saw him gone and began to gather around Aaron. They said, "Come now, make us gods who will lead us, for we don't know what has happened to this Moses, the one who brought us out of Egypt." But God had entrusted Moses with a great mission, and they had already seen his power.

Aaron heard their request and told them to bring him all the gold earrings from their wives, sons, and daughters. They quickly gathered these items and handed them over to Aaron. He took the gold and fashioned it into a molten calf using a graving tool. Then he built an altar in front of this new idol and proclaimed, "Tomorrow will be a special festival in honor of the Lord."

The people rose early the next day, eager to celebrate. They offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings, then sat down to eat and drink. As they revelled, Moses was still on the mountain, waiting for God's instructions. But when he finally came down, he saw what had happened and his heart burned with anger.

The Lord spoke to Moses, "Go down at once! Your people have corrupted themselves by making a molten calf and saying it brought them out of Egypt." The Lord told Moses that the Israelites had turned away from the path He had commanded them. They had quickly fallen into idolatry, worshipping this new god they had created.

The Lord said to Moses, "I've seen these people, and they are stubborn and resistant to change. Let me alone, so my anger can burn hot against them and consume them." But then God changed His mind, saying, "Let me alone, that I may consume them; but you, Moses, shall be to Me a nation, mightier than they."

Moses pleaded with the Lord on behalf of his people, asking Him not to destroy them. He reminded God of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, promising to multiply their descendants and give them the land they were promised.

The Lord relented from His original plan to destroy the Israelites. Moses went back up Mount Sinai with the two stone tablets in hand, written on both sides with God's own handwriting. The tablets themselves were made by God, but the writing was done by Him as well.

As Moses descended into the camp, he heard a loud noise and saw people dancing around the molten calf. His anger flared up, and he threw the stone tablets down in disgust. He took the idol they had made, burned it to ashes, ground it into powder, and scattered it on the water.

Moses asked Aaron, "What have you done? Why have you brought such great sin upon these people?" But Aaron blamed the Israelites for demanding a new god, saying, "Don't let my lord's anger burn hot. The people are bent on evil."

The Lord instructed Moses to call out to all those who were loyal to Him. Only those who stood with God would be spared from judgment. The sons of Levi rallied around Moses and obeyed his instructions. With their swords in hand, they went through the camp, slaying anyone who refused to turn away from idolatry.

The next day, Moses addressed the people, saying, "You have sinned greatly against the Lord, but I will go up to Him on your behalf and try to make atonement for you." He then returned to the Lord and reported the Israelites' actions, asking Him to forgive their sin. The Lord agreed to do so if they would turn away from idolatry.

However, God also said that those who had sinned against Him would be removed from His book of life. Moses was instructed to lead the people to the place He had chosen for them and told them not to stray from the path again. When the day of judgment came, God would hold them accountable for their actions.

The Lord inflicted suffering on the Israelites because they had made the idol that Aaron created. They suffered for their sin, but Moses remained faithful to his God, interceding on behalf of his people and pleading for mercy.