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Commentary on Exodus 32:1-14

Dennis Olson
In the prelude to the story of the Golden Calf, Moses has led the Israelites out of their
slavery in Egypt through the wilderness to Mount Sinai, "the mountain of God" (Exodus
24:13).
There the LORD made a covenant of promises and obligations, including the Ten
Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17).
The first and most important commands prohibited the worship of others gods and the
making of idols of any kind (20:1-5; see also 20:23; 23:13). The Israelites agreed three
times to obey these commands (19:8; 24:3, 7). The LORD then gave detailed instructions
for building the tabernacle or tent in which God's presence will dwell with the Israelites as
they travel on to the promised land of Canaan (25:1-31:17). As readers, we expect that the
next step for the Israelites is to begin building the tabernacle which will be the mobile home
of God's glorious presence among them (29:46).
Make Gods for Us!
Suddenly and unexpectedly, these positive expectations of obedience and tabernaclebuilding are shattered. The Israelites make a golden calf at the foot of Mount Sinai and bow
down and worship the idol. They break the most important covenant obligation
commandment against worshipping other gods and idols (20:1-5; 20:23; 23:13).
It all started with the Israelites growing impatient with Moses who has been on the
mountain for a long time (a total of forty days and nights, according to 24:18). The people
turn to Aaron, the brother of Moses, the future high priest, and the person in charge in
Moses' absence (24:14). The people command Aaron, "Make gods (Hebrew elohim) for us"
(32:1), which Aaron translates as a demand to make an idol or image to worship.
Aaron instructs the people to give to him their "gold rings." These gold rings were given by
the Egyptians as an encouragement to get out of Egypt quickly after all the plagues that
God had sent upon Egypt (3:22; 11:2-3; 12:35-36). Their intended use had been for
building and furnishing the LORD's tabernacle as a home to the LORD's presence with
Israel (25:2-3). Instead, Aaron decides to bend to the people's demands and use the gold to
make a statue of a golden calf or bull for the people to worship.
This use of statues of calves or bulls in worship in ancient times has a ring of authenticity
to it. Archaeologists have uncovered images or statues of calves or bulls that were used in
worship in many ancient religious sites from biblical times, both within Israel and in
surrounding cultures. Another biblical story about King Jeroboam and his two golden

calves at Bethel and Dan also sheds some light on the golden calf story (1 Kings 12:2530).
God's Threatened Destruction
The LORD is angered by the people's worship of the golden calf so soon after the rescue
from slavery in Egypt and so soon after the people's agreement to the covenant and its
commandments. The LORD commands Moses to go down to "your people,
whom you brought out of the land of Egypt." Previously, the LORD had repeatedly referred
to Israel as "my people" (3:7, 10; 5:1; 6:7; 7:4, 16; 8:1, 8, 20-23, 9:1, 13, 17; 10:3; 12:31;
19:5-6; 22:25) whom "I brought out of the land of Egypt" (3:17; 6:6-7; 18:1, 12; 20:2;
29:46).
The LORD rejects that past relationship and pushes the Israelites onto Moses; these are
now Moses'people (not the LORD's) whom Moses brought out of Egypt. Note the similar
claim made by the Israelites themselves in 32:1 ("Moses, the man who brought us up out of
the land of Egypt"). The split of God and Israel from one another seems mutual.
The LORD's next statement to Moses is dramatic and terrifying: "Now let me alone, so that
. . . I may consume them" (32:10). The LORD plans to destroy all the Israelites there in the
wilderness and end the whole experiment with God's chosen people. Moreover, the LORD
makes Moses a tempting offer: "I will make you a great nation" (32:10). In effect, the
LORD offers to Moses the chance to become a new Abraham, the sole originator of a
whole new people who will be a substitute for the destroyed Israelites (see Genesis 12:1-3).
Moses' Intercession
Moses denies himself the opportunity to become a new Abraham. Instead, Moses prays and
intercedes for Israel with three strong reasons why the LORD should not carry out the
planned destruction of the Israelites.
1. Remember, these are not my people. They are "your people," LORD, whom
"you brought out . . . of Egypt" (32:11).
2. Destroying your own people, Israel, in the wilderness would be bad for your
international reputation. What would the Egyptians say? (32:12)
3. Remember the promises of land and descendants that you made to Abraham, Isaac and
Israel/Jacob long ago. You always keep your promises! (32:13)
Moses had not always been successful in changing God's mind in the past (see the call of
Moses in Exodus 3:7-4:17). But advocating for others, denying one's own interests, and
appealing to the mercy of God has a particularly powerful effect that God takes very
seriously. In this case, remarkably, in response to Moses' prayer, "the LORD changed his
mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people" (32:14).

Preaching the Golden Calf Story


This challenging and rich narrative offers any number of promising angles for homiletical
treatment.

Which golden calves in our culture today draw our loyalty and love away from God
when we get impatient with waiting for God's timetable?

Have we made the God whom we worship into an idol, a small fixed statue that we
try to control and manipulate as a substitute for the free, untamed, mysterious, and
surprising God of the universe who will not be tied down to small and humanlyconstructed images, ideologies, institutions, and idols?

How do we maintain this story's delicate balance between divine judgment with
consequences for disobedience along with God's dominant leaning toward mercy,
forgiveness, and faithfulness to the promises God has made (see Exodus 34:6-7)?

The preacher might explore the power of prayer and intercession with its potential to have
real effect upon God, especially when advocating for others and leaning hard on God's
compassion and God's missional interest in what others like even the Egyptians might think
about all this.

PRAYER OF THE DAY


Faithful God of an unfaithful people,
The people of Israel doubted your power and turned to other gods to fulfill their needs. We
too, turn to other gods, seeking acceptance, power, and independence. Show us how to live
humbly in you, and walk in your ways, in the name of the one who offered true power to all
humanity, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen.
HYMNS
Lord of all nations, grant me grace ELW 716
Lord of all being, throned afar H82 419
My song is love unknown ELW 343, H82 458, NCH 222
CHORAL
Go down, Moses, David Cherwien (Sacred Music Press)

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