Exodus 32:21-2621And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them? 22And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief. 23For 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. 24And 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. 25And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) 26Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. (Exodus 32:21‑26)
MOSES blames Aaron first of all for his part in setting up the golden calf, saying to him, “What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?”
Aaron is seen here as especially guilty for he was really the responsible leader of God’s people during the time Moses was absent on the mount. Later on when recounting this circumstance Moses says, “The Lord was very angry with Aaron, to have destroyed him.” Deut. 9:2020And the Lord was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time. (Deuteronomy 9:20). But Moses interceded for him and the people, and both were spared.
Aaron makes a sorry excuse, sang: “thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.... For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us:... 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.” Aaron’s sad weakness is evident. It seems that he readily went along with the people in their evil desire. Could he not have cried to the Lord in such a circumstance, and would not the Lord have stood by him? We read of some who were “faithful unto death"; and may we seek grace to be more like Him, the only perfect Servant, whose obedience carried Him not only into death, but “even the death of the cross.”
In sheltering behind the people, Aaron here is like Adam in the garden, who when convicted of sin, put the blame on Eve, who in turn blamed the serpent. If we have failed, we need to ask the Lord for grace to own it, instead of trying to put the blame on others; then God can come in in restoring grace.
Burning with zeal for the Lord, seeing that the people “were naked, (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies,)" Moses took his stand in the gate and said, “Who is on the Lord’s side? Let him come unto me.” There could be no such thing as comprise or neutrality, even as the Lord Jesus could say, “He that is not for Me is against Me.” To gather around Moses was to be for the Lord; not to gather to him was to be against Him. It was a separating challenge.
The effect of this summons was that the sons of Levi came and gathered themselves around Moses. They only of all the tribes of Israel were found faithful; the rest of the camp was in rebellion. Levi’s conduct on this occasion was precious to the Lord and He rewarded them for their faithfulness. We read in Deuteronomy 10:8,98At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day. 9Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance, according as the Lord thy God promised him. (Deuteronomy 10:8‑9), that He “separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord, to minister unto Him.” They were honored in being called to the special service of the tabernacle.
There is a similar call going forth now, dear young believer, urging those who are on the Lord’s side to take a stand.... These are days of eating, and drinking and dancing, just as it was in the camp of Israel. How can a true believer go with the world and take part in its sinful pleasures? Our place is outside it all, gathered around our great Leader, the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us take our stand at His side, before “this present evil world” in which we live.
ML-02/07/1971