“And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, 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.”
The root of Idolatry is, when men think that God is not at hand, except they see him carnally.
“And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.”
Thinking that they would rather forego idolatry, than to resign their most precious jewels.
“And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.”
Such is the rage of idolaters, that they spare no cost to satisfy their wicked desires.
“And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.”
They smelled of their leaven of Egypt, where they saw calves, oxen and serpents worshipped. Cross references: : Ps. 106:19 1 Kings 12:28
“They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.”
Whereby we see what necessity we have to pray earnestly to God, to keep us in his true obedience, and to send us good guides. 1 Kings 12:28
“Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.”
God showeth that the prayers of the godly stay his punishment.
“Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.”
Num. 14:13 Or, blaspheme. Or, repent.
“Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.”
That is, thy promise made to Abraham. Gen. 12:7 ; Gen. 15:7 ; Gen. 48:16
“And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.”
All these repetitions show how excellent a thing they defrauded themselves of by their idolatry.
“And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.”
Partly to despite them of their idolatry, and partly that they should have none occasion to remember it afterward. Deut. 9:21
“And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) their enemies: Heb. those that rose up against them”
Both destitute of God’s favor, and an occasion to their enemies to speak evil of their God.
“And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.”
This fact did so please God, that he turned the curse of Jacob against Levi to a blessing, Deut. 33:9 .
“For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day. For Moses: or, And Moses said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, because every man hath been against his brother, etc Consecrate: Heb. Fill your hands”
In revenging God’s glory we must have no respect to person, but put off all carnal affection.
“Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.”
So much he esteemed the glory of God, that he preferred it even to his own salvation.
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.”
I will make it known that he was never predestinated in mine eternal counsel to life everlasting.
“And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.”
This declareth how grievous a sin idolatry is, seeing that at Moses’ prayer God would not fully remit it.