Moment of Meditation: The Cow (Exodus 32:24)

Original Broadcast: January 2010

Monthly Theme: First Commandment, Graven Images

[Aaron said:] "I said to them, 'Let any who have gold take it off.'
So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf."
(Exodus 32:24)

The Cow

"Moses, I swear to you, this calf just jumped out of the fire! I thought it was a sign from God!"

Can't you just hear the conversation between Moses and Aaron? Moses wants to know where the large golden calf the Israelites are fanatically worshipping came from. Aaron says it just jumped out of the fire. He tried to tell Moses he viewed it as some sort of sign from God.

Don't get me wrong. God gives signs to people. The only problem is that we don't tend to see and understand the signs at the time. God gives them to us yet we don't see them. Sometimes we even see signs that aren't there.

Was the calf a sign from God? Of course not. It was an abomination made by Aaron's own hands because he gave into the pressure of the people. That's the most basic form of idolatry. Giving into the pressure and wishes of the people around you.

Moses stood by God that day. Stand by God and you too will be blessed. Amen.