In yesterday's blog entry, we decided to -together- practice some Bible study methods. Specifically, we are going create a list of observations from Exodus 32. When observing a particular Biblical passage all you need to do is try to answer the question "what do I see?"
To help get us dialoguing about our observations from that chapter, here are some of the things I observed:
-the people got impatient and were tired of waiting on God and on Moses
-the people's impatience led them to make the idol
-Aaron was involved in making the idol (remember that for a lot of the story, Aaron has been Moses' most trusted leader, confidant, and friend)
-Aaron pointed to the idol as being the entity/god that had helped rescue and provide for the people
-God saw what the people were doing and how they were sinning
What did you observe? What was Moses' response to the people's sins? How did God want to punish the people? What kind of leadership did Aaron exhibit? What kind of leadership did Moses exhibit?
Post some of your observations, as they can help deepen our understanding of this chapter. Once we have a good list of observations, we can then think about what these observations mean and what we ought to do.
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Things that I observed.
Aaron being a people pleaser. Showing weak leadership in the absence of Moses.
The people making an image they could see and follow. Something visible and tangible. Serving others god's and not the true God.
The people willfully sinning and forgetting all the miracles and blessings God had bestowed on them while in the wilderness.
Moses bringing the Two Table of Stones down from the mountain. God's Law for the people.
Moses always interceding on behalf of sinners.
People being punished for their sins. Consequences.
More observations:
1. Uncertainty leads to sin (v. 1-2)
2. God describes his emotions as a "fierce anger. I never think of God as the angry type. Is it okay to be angry? Always seems like a frowned upon emotion in Christian circles, but God is angry throughout the Bible. (v. 10)
3. Moses' praying style is unique. He shows audacity when he calls God out of the promise He made to Abraham (v.13)
4. "...So the Lord changed his mind". Found this a curious verse. I always think of God as a sit back while his plan unfolds. However, this reveals God as an active participant in his decisions willing to change his mind. (v. 14)
5. Aaron's lack of accountability towards his actions reminds me of Saul. (v.22)
6. God has Israelites kill other Israelites in rebellion. God is not a cosmic "nice guy". God doesn't mess around (v.30)
7. Moses approaches God about Israel's sin without the certainty that God will forgive them. Glad I don't have to worry about that. (v. 30)
8. God holds people accountable for their sins (v. 34)
--Bill Hnat
The people were inpatient and wanted guidance.
Aaron had an opportunity to lead and he dropped the ball. This may reveal why God chose Moses as the leader and not Aaron.
However verse 5 Aaron says "Tomorrow will be a festival to the Lord." Is this referring to the Pagan god he had created or was he confused and mixing his religions?
God says that he wants to destroy them.
Moses interceeds for the people.
He reminds God of His oath.
Israel's enemies even saw how the people were acting.
The Levites (the Preist's) were the only ones were on the Lord's side.
Moses had the Levites kill everyone else.
Moses praised them for their dedidcation to the following the Lord. He said that they earned a blessing.
Moses name was kept in the record which God had written but the name of everyone who had sinned was erased. Wow.
Wow, I'm glad I'm a new testament Christian. All the laws and rituals would be overwellming. I would be like Aaron's sons, make a mistake and then be dead. Thank goodness Jesus provided a way that we don't have to do that stuff anymore. God is Good.
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