This shameful event started, when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him. "Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him." Ex 32:1

Before Moses ascended the mountain he informed the people, after forty days, I shall return." So, why was Moses late, or was he late at all?

        Well a new day doesn’t start till sundown, on a Hebrew calendar. This is noteworthy, because what Moses meant, was within six hour, from sunrise on the fortieth day, he would return. That said, the people consisted of a mix multitude of people, {Ex 12:38} that like the western world, didn’t have a Jewish mind set.

        Thus, when Moses didn’t appear at sunrise on the fortieth day, they created, doubt and confusion in the camp. It should be noted though, in the midst of this darkness and confusion, according to the sages. Satan appeared and showed the people, an image of a coffin ascending up to heaven. Then Satan asked, where is your leader now?

         I find this interesting, because when Satan gained a toehold of doubt, it led the people to ask, Aaron to mold the golden calf. Thus, I’m remindful Solomon stated, "scoffers set the city aflame." Pro. 29:8

         I’m also remindful that "G-d’s word declares the end from the beginning." {Isa 46:10 } How so? Well, Peter said, in the last days, there will be scoffers, like they were in the camp though, these scoffers, will scoff at the promise of Messiah’s return. 2 Pet 3:4

        Oddly enough Aaron responded by saying, "break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me." So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. Ex 32:2 - 3

What compelled Aaron to agree to such a thing?

        According to the sages, when Moses left the camp, he placed Aaron and Hur, {Ex 24:19} the son of Miriam and Caleb, in charge of the camp. Thus, when the people suggested, molding a golden calf. Hur stood up and rebuked them. In turn the people slain, Aaron’s nephew Hur, because of his stance.

       Then they approached Aaron and said, we will kill you too, unless you meet our demand and mold a golden calf. So in light of being killed, Aaron agreed to mold the golden calf. However Aaron had a plain.

       According to the sages Aaron thinking, was the wives and daughters, would refuse to give up their gold ear rings. So, Aaron instructed the men, to go and retrive them. Why?

         Well, Aaron was in hope that Moses would return before the men, could preside their wives and daughters, into giving up their ear rings. Though to Aaron’s surprise, according to the sages, the the wives and daughters, not only forked over their ear rings. They ripped the flesh from their ears, in taking their ear rings off, in excitement, to contribute to the making of the golden calf. Even the slaves, who had a ear ring in their ear, to mark them as slaves. {Ex 21:6} Broke off their ear rings, in order for Aaron to mold the golden calf.

         In turn Aaron received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, "this is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!" So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, "tomorrow is a feast to the LORD." Ex 32:4-5

         Now all of the preachers that I heard have, have condemned Aaron for his actions. Though, remember my stated intension, was to examine this shameful event, from a Hebrew perspective. That said, the question the sages wrestle with is why, didn’t the Lord condemn Aaron for his action? In light of this question, if you are a sports fan, then you know, Andy Pettitte was named in the Mitchell’s report for taking HGH, which is a form of steroid.

        I mention this fact, because Pittittte in answering a question, if he viewed himself as a cheated or not? Stated, "no, the Lord knew my heart, and I didn’t take HGH in order to gain an edge. I took HGH, to aid me, in recovering from an injury." How does Pittittte’s reply, relate to our lesson?

         According to the sages, the Lord understood, what Aaron’s intension was. Aaron hopes, was to delay in molding the golden calf, until Moses returned. Thus, in doing so, the people’s sin of worshiping a pagan god, wouldn’t come to pass.

         Thus explaining why, when the people demanded, Aaron to build an alter. Aaron refused to build it, until the following day, hoping Moses would return, before then. However the people rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Ex 32:6

         I remember the late Adrian Rogers stating, "sin begat sin." I mention this fact, because the following Hebrew word for play "tsacheeq," denotes sexual intercourse. So, after Aaron had molded the golden calf, the people indulged further in sin.

         Meanwhile while all of this is going on, the LORD said to Moses, "go, get down! For your people whom you brought 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 themselves a molded calf, and worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said,'This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!" Ex 32:7-8

       In lou that Moses foreshadow Yeshua, I find it interesting that after the people had sinned. The Lord instructed Moses to "go down." Why?

        Well let me answer this question by saying, in order for Moses to descend the mountain, he first had to ascend it. In light of this fact Solomon asked, "who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son's name, If you know?" {Prov 30:4 } If you can’t answer this question.

         Yeshua answered this question by saying, "no one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven." {John 3:13 } So Yeshua then is a prophet liken unto Moses, {Deut 18:18 } in that he ascended then descended, which is what Yeshua did also.

         Before you quickly condemn the people. When I read the phase, "they have turned aside." I thought how the prophet Isaiah stated, "we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way." In turn the Lord, laid on Yeshua the iniquity of us all. "{Isa 53:6 } So, the people like us, gravitated toward evil.

          Returning to the text, the LORD said to Moses, "I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation." Ex 32:9-10

         Regarding the term, "stiff-necked." I remember in my childhood, my father owned a mule, which he plowed. Though my father’s mule, had "a stiff neck." Meaning often my father’s mule, often didn’t obey my father’s commandment, which angered Daddy.

        I mention my father’s mule, because the Lord portrayed the people, as "a stiff neck people." The Lord portrayed the people as such, because the people refused, to heed the Lord’s commandments. In turn the Lord’s wrath, burned against them.

         That said, when the people sinned in making the golden calf, the Lord’s wrath was so severe against them that the Lord threaten to destroy the people, by a plague.{Deut 14:12 } Then make a great nation, from Moses.

        Though, Moses pleaded with the LORD and said, "LORD, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, 'He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth'? Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them,'I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spoken of I give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever." Ex 32:11-13

             "O Lord why does your wrath burn?" Often it is a man of power, who is jealous of someone, who is more powerful, than he is. I alluded to this fact, because the sages state that Moses was asking, why O’ Lord does your wrath burn? When there is no one more powerful than You, for example. The Lord demonstrated His power, by splitting the Red Sea, and drowning what was then, the most powerful army in the world, the Egyptians.

                   Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. Ps 119:89

                 Knowing that "G-d word is sealed in heaven." Moses reason with G-d by saying, G-d for no other reason you should spare Your wrath, because of your covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. {Gen 26:3 } In turn the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people. Ex 32:14

           Moses then turned and went down from the mountain, and the two tablets of the Testimony were in his hand. The tablets were written on both sides; on the one side and on the other they were written.

Ex 32:15

          Moses at this point, turned and descended the mountain, with the Ten Commandments, while the mountain was ablaze in fire.{Deut 9:15 } Note the tables, were inscribe by G-d with His fingers, on both sides. {Ex 31:18}

         This is noteworthy because when John seen, the Messiah in a vision. He seen the Lord sitting on the throne, holding a scroll in His right hand, with writing on the both sides of the scroll, for example. John witnessed, a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice,"Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?" And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals." And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. Rev 5:1-7

         Returning to the text, when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, "there is a noise of war in the camp. It is not the noise of the shout of victory, Nor the noise of the cry of defeat, But the sound of singing I hear." Ex 32:17-18

          The Psalmist state, "clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!" {Ps 47:1} Though the noise that Joshua heard, wasn’t clap in praises to the Lord. Neither was the noise, shout of victory, or cries of defeat. The noise that Joshua heard, were sounds of the people, reviling in sin and it bedeviled him.

         When Moses came near the camp, he witnessed what the Lord had witnessed. The golden calf along with the people, dancing around it. In turn Moses' anger became hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. Then he took the calf which they had made, burned it in the fire, and ground it to powder; and he scattered it on the water and made the children of Israel drink it. Ex 32:19-20

        The Lord had already informed, Moses of the people’s sin, in making the golden calf. Though when Moses witnessed, how the people reviled in their sin. Out of rage, Moses cast down the tables of stones. Moses then took the idol god and burn it, then he ground it into powder, before scattering it in the water, making the people drink it.

         Not knowing the people, had murdered his nephew, Hur. Moses then turned to Aaron and asked, "what did this people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?" Or in other words, what painful torture did you endure Aaron, before you submitted to molding this pagan god? To which Aaron said, "do not let the anger of my lord become hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil." Ex 32:21-22

         Aaron reminded Moses, the people gravitated toward evil. That said, often we condemn Aaron for his action, then for not owning up to them. However in defense of Aaron, let me just say this. If the sages teaching is right, in regard to Hur’s death. Then we should view Aaron’s actions, in a different light.

         Yes, he made the golden calf, but only after the people killed Hur, then threaten to kill Aaron, if he didn’t submit to their request. Then throughout the making of the golden calf, Aaron employed, delaying tactics. Hoping Moses would return, before the golden calf was made.

          Aaron continue on by saying the people said, "make us gods that shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him. And I said to them, 'Whoever has any gold, let them break it off.' So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out." Ex 32:23-24

         After defending Aaron it should be pointed out, "there is none righteous, no, not one."{ Rom 3:10 } That said, when Aaron instructed the men to acquire, the golden ear rings from their wives and daughters. Never in Aaron’s wildest dreams did he think, not only the wives and daughters, would fork over their ear rings, but the men would freely hand over their gold too.

         It was at this point that Aaron, should have balked in making the golden calf. Though fearing that the people would kill him, like they did his nephew, Aaron consented.

         What can we gleam from this? Well, no matter how pressure pact the situation, maybe that we find ourselves in. We shouldn’t violate, G-d’s commandments.

         Moving on when Moses saw that the people were unrestrained, for Aaron had not restrained them, to their shame among their enemies. Then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, "whoever is on the LORD's side — come to me!" And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him.

Ex 32:25-26

          As a result of the tamid {daily} offering the people, were clothed in righteousness. Though, when the people sinned, their nakedness was exposed, for example. The people offered sacrifices to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. {Acts 7:41 } Which angered Moses, upon witnessing it. In turn Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, "whoever is on the LORD's side — come to me!" Then all the sons of Levi, {including Aaron} gathered themselves together to him.

         Moses then said, "thus says the LORD God of Israel. Let every man put his sword on his side, and go in and out from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and let every man kill his brother, every man his companion, and every man his neighbor." So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And about three thousand men of the people fell that day.  Ex 32:27-28

         As unsightly as it sounds, according to the sages, in offering sacrifices to the golden calf. Several people laid, with the golden calf. Explaining why, Moses instructed the Levites to draw their swords and kill, three thousand men, who were guilty of such. Ex 22:19

        With that said, it should be pointed out, as a result of obeying the Lord’s commandment. The Levites, were awarded with the priestly duties, in the Tabernacle and later the temple.

A sobering thought: According to the sages, had the first tablets not been broken, no nation or people, could have subjugated the Jewish people. Before you dismiss this teaching, you should consider, the following passage.

         The Lord in describing Himself stated, "the LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation."   Ex 34:6-7

        Note the Lord said, He will visit the iniquity of the fathers, upon the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation." Implying it is quite possible, the Jewish people is still paying, for the sins of their forefather’s, in making the golden calf. Thus, this thought, should serve as a sobering thought, before anyone willingly participate in sin.

         Moving on Moses then said, "consecrate yourselves today to the LORD, that He may bestow on you a blessing this day, for every man has opposed his son and his brother."  {Ex 32:29} According to the law, anyone coming in contact with a dead body, was considered defiled. In turn Moses commanded the people, namely the Levites, to dedicate or consecrate themselves to the Lord, which took seven days. {Num 12:11 - 12 } Because in carrying out the Lord’s commandment, the Levites had defiled themselves. Thus, the Levites had to consecrate themselves, in order to preform, their priestly duties.

         The following day, Moses said to the people, "you have committed a great sin. So now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin." {Ex 29:30} With that said, I hadn’t intended to close on this verse, but when I read where Moses said, he would make an atonement for the people’s sin.

           I thought of how Moses, foreshadows Yeshua. Then I remembered Yeshua saying, "if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?" {John 5:46-47} Why?

          Well, here we have Moses, who had not sinned, in the golden calf episode, offering to make an atonement, for the people’s sin. Can you discern, the picture Moses, who wrote the torah, is painting here?

       If not then, the fact that Moses, didn’t participate in the golden calf episode, is significant, because Yeshua, "knew no sin."{2 Cor 5:11 } Making it possible for Yeshua to make an atonement for our sins. 1 John 1:7

             So Yeshua was correct then, Moses did indeed write of Yeshua. Pointing the reader, to the fact that Yeshua is the Messiah.

            May the LORD bless you and keep you. May the LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you. May the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace." Num 6:22- 26

A footnote: My weekly teachings, can be found on the following two websites.

         http://hugginsnet.com/wiley2/  &  http://www.olivetreemessianicfellowship.com