patriarchs and prophets-第58章

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been　shielded　from　temptation。　But　they　did　not　do　this；　and　they　soon
became　careless；　inattentive；　and　lawless。　Especially　was　this　the　case　with
the　mixed　multitude。　They　were　impatient　to　be　on　their　way　to　the　Land　of
Promisethe　land　flowing　with　milk　and　honey。　It　was　only　on　condition　of
obedience　that　the　goodly　land　was　promised　them；　but　they　had　lost　sight　of
this。　There　were　some　who　suggested　a　return　to　Egypt；　but　whether　forward
to　Canaan　or　backward　to　Egypt；　the　masses　of　the　people　were　determined　to
wait　no　longer　for　Moses。

Feeling　their　helplessness　in　the　absence　of　their　leader；　they

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returned　to　their　old　superstitions。　The　〃mixed　multitude〃　had　been　the
first　to　indulge　murmuring　and　impatience；　and　they　were　the　leaders　in　the
apostasy　that　followed。　Among　the　objects　regarded　by　the　Egyptians　as
symbols　of　deity　was　the　ox　or　calf；　and　it　was　at　the　suggestion　of　those
who　had　practiced　this　form　of　idolatry　in　Egypt　that　a　calf　was　now　made
and　worshiped。　The　people　desired　some　image　to　represent　God；　and　to　go
before　them　in　the　place　of　Moses。　God　had　given　no　manner　of　similitude　of
Himself；　and　He　had　prohibited　any　material　representation　for　such　a
purpose。　The　mighty　miracles　in　Egypt　and　at　the　Red　Sea　were　designed　to
establish　faith　in　Him　as　the　invisible；　all…powerful　Helper　of　Israel；　the
only　true　God。　And　the　desire　for　some　visible　manifestation　of　His　presence
had　been　granted　in　the　pillar　of　cloud　and　of　fire　that　guided　their　hosts；
and　in　the　revealing　of　His　glory　upon　Mount　Sinai。　But　with　the　cloud　of
the　Presence　still　before　them；　they　turned　back　in　their　hearts　to　the
idolatry　of　Egypt；　and　represented　the　glory　of　the　invisible　God　by　the
similitude　of　an　ox！

In　the　absence　of　Moses；　the　judicial　authority　had　been　delegated　to　Aaron；
and　a　vast　crowd　gathered　about　his　tent；　with　the　demand；　〃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。＇*　SEE　APPENDIX；
NOTE　4。＇　The　cloud；　they　said；　that　had　heretofore　led　them；　now　rested
permanently　upon　the　mount；　it　would　no　longer　direct　their　travels。　They
must　have　an　image　in　its　place；　and　if；　as　had　been　suggested；　they　should
decide　to　return　to　Egypt；　they　would　find　favor　with　the　Egyptians　by
bearing　this　image　before　them　and　acknowledging　it　as　their　god。

Such　a　crisis　demanded　a　man　of　firmness；　decision；　and　unflinching　courage；
one　who　held　the　honor　of　God　above　popular　favor；　personal　safety；　or　life
itself。　But　the　present　leader　of　Israel　was　not　of　this　character。　Aaron
feebly　remonstrated　with　the　people；　but　his　wavering　and　timidity　at　the
critical　moment　only　rendered　them　the　more　determined。　The　tumult
increased。　A　blind；　unreasoning　frenzy　seemed　to　take　possession　of　the
multitude。　There　were　some　who　remained　true　to　their　covenant　with　God；　but
the　greater　part　of　the　people　joined　in　the　apostasy。　A　few　who　ventured　to
denounce　the　proposed　image

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making　as　idolatry；　were　set　upon　and　roughly　treated；　and　in　the　confusion
and　excitement　they　finally　lost　their　lives。

Aaron　feared　for　his　own　safety；　and　instead　of　nobly　standing　up　for　the
honor　of　God；　he　yielded　to　the　demands　of　the　multitude。　His　first　act　was
to　direct　that　the　golden　earrings　be　collected　from　all　the　people　and
brought　to　him；　hoping　that　pride　would　lead　them　to　refuse　such　a
sacrifice。　But　they　willingly　yielded　up　their　ornaments；　and　from　these　he
made　a　molten　calf；　in　imitation　of　the　gods　of　Egypt。　The　people
proclaimed；　〃These　be　thy　gods；　O　Israel；　which　brought　thee　up　out　of　the
land　of　Egypt。〃　And　Aaron　basely　permitted　this　insult　to　Jehovah。　He　did
more。　Seeing　with　what　satisfaction　the　golden　god　was　received；　he　built　an
altar　before　it；　and　made　proclamation；　〃Tomorrow　is　a　feast　to　the　Lord。〃
The　announcement　was　heralded　by　trumpeters　from　company　to　company
throughout　the　camp。　〃And　they　rose　up　early　on　the　morrow；　and　offered
burnt　offerings；　and　brought　peace　offerings；　and　the　people　sat　down　to　eat
and　to　drink　and　rose　up　to　play。〃　Under　the　pretense　of　holding　〃a　feast　to
the　Lord；〃　they　gave　themselves　up　to　gluttony　and　licentious　reveling。

How　often；　in　our　own　day；　is　the　love　of　pleasure　disguised　by　a　〃form　of
godliness。〃！　A　religion　that　permits　men；　while　observing　the　rites　of
worship；　to　devote　themselves　to　selfish　or　sensual　gratification；　is　as
pleasing　to　the　multitudes　now　as　in　the　days　of　Israel。　And　there　are　still
pliant　Aarons；　who；　while　holding　positions　of　authority　in　the　church；　will
yield　to　the　desires　of　the　unconsecrated；　and　thus　encourage　them　in　sin。

Only　a　few　days　had　passed　since　the　Hebrews　had　made　a　solemn　covenant　with
God　to　obey　His　voice。　They　had　stood　trembling　with　terror　before　the
mount；　listening　to　the　words　of　the　Lord；　〃Thou　shalt　have　no　other　gods
before　Me。〃　The　glory　of　God　still　hovered　above　Sinai　in　the　sight　of　the
congregation；　but　they　turned　away；　and　asked　for　other　gods。　〃They　made　a
calf　in　Horeb；　and　worshiped　the　molten　image。　Thus　they　changed　their　glory
into　the　similitude　of　an　ox。〃　Psalm　106：19；　20。　How　could　greater
ingratitude　have　been　shown；　or　more　daring　insult　offered；　to　Him　who　had
revealed　Himself　to　them　as　a　tender　father　and　an　all…powerful　king！

Moses　in　the　mount　was　warned　of　the　apostasy　in　the　camp

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and　was　directed　to　return　without　delay。　〃Go；　get　thee　down；〃　were　the
words　of　God；　〃thy　people；　which　thou　broughtest　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　them　a　molten　calf；　and　have
worshiped　it。〃　God　might　have　checked　the　movement　at　the　outset；　but　He
suffered　it　to　come　to　this　height　that　He　might　teach　all　a　lesson　in　His
punishment　of　treason　and　apostasy。

God's　covenant　with　His　people　had　been　disannulled；　and　He　declared　to
Moses；　〃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。〃　The　people　of　Israel；
especially　the　mixed　multitude；　would　be　constantly　disposed　to　rebel
against　God。　They　would　also　murmur　against　their　leader；　and　would　grieve
him　by　their　unbelief　and　stubbornness；　and　it　would　be　a　laborious　and
soul…trying　work　to　lead　them　through　to　the　Promised　Land。　Their　sins　had
already　forfeited　the　favor　of　God；　and　justice　called　for　their
destruction。　The　Lord　therefore　proposed　to　destroy　them；　and　make　of　Moses
a　mighty　nation。

〃Let　Me　alone；　。　。　。　that　I　may　consume　them；〃　were　the　words　of　God。　If　God
had　purposed　to　destroy　Israel；　who　could　plead　for　them？　How　few　but　would
have　left　the　sinners　to　their　fate！　How　few　but　would　have　gladly　exchanged
a　lot　of　toil　and　burden　and　sacrifice；　repaid　with　ingratitude　and
murmuring；　for　a　position　of　ease　and　honor；　when　it　was　God　Himself　that
offered　the　release。

But　Moses　discerned　ground　for　hope　where　there　appeared　only　discouragement
and　wrath。　The　words　of　God；　〃Let　Me　alone；〃　he　understood　not　to　forbid　but
to　encourage　intercession；　implying　that　nothing　but　the　prayers　of　Moses
could　save　Israel；　but　that　if　thus　entreated；　God　would　spare　His　people。
He　〃besought　the　Lord　his　God；　and　said；　Lord；　why　doth　Thy　wrath　wax　hot
against　Thy　people；　which　Thou　hast　brought　forth　out　of　the　land　of　Egypt
with　great　power；　and　with　a　mighty　hand？〃

God　had　signified　that　He　disowned　His　people。　He　had　spoken　of　them　to
Moses　as　〃thy　people；　which　thou　broughtest　out　of　Egypt。〃　But　Moses　humbly
disclaimed　the　leadership　of　Israel。　They　were　not　his；　but　God's〃Thy
people；　which　Thou　has　brought　forth　。　。　。　with　great　power；　and　with　a
mighty

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hand。　Wherefore；〃　he　urged；　〃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？〃

During　the　few　months　since　Israel　left　Egypt；　the　report　of　their　wonderful
deliverance　had　spread　to　all　the　surrounding　nations。　Fear　and　terrible
foreboding　rested　upon　the　heathen。　All　were　watching　to　see　what　the　God　of
Israel　would　do　for　His　people。　Should　they　now　be　destroyed；　their　enemies
would　triumph；　and　God　would　be　dishonored。　The　Egyptians　would　claim　that
their　accusations　were　trueinstead　of　leading　His　people　into　the
wilderness　to　sacrifice；　He　had　caused　them　to　be　sacrificed。　They　would　not
consider　the　sins　of　Israel；　the　destruction　of　the　people　whom　He　had　so
signally　honored；　would　bring　reproach　upon　His　name。　How　great　the
responsibility　resting　upon　those　whom　God　has　highly　honored；　to　make　His
name　a　praise　in　the　earth！　With　what　care　should　they　guard　against
committing　sin；　to　call　down　His　judgments　and　cause　His　name　to　be
reproached　by　the　ungodly！

As　Moses　interceded　for　Israel；　his　timidity　was　lost　in　his　deep　interest
and　love　for　those　for　whom　he　had；　in　the　hands　of　God；　been　the　means　of
doing　so　much。　The　Lord　listened　to　his　pleadings；　and　granted　his　unselfish
prayer。　God　had　proved　His　servant；　He　had　tested　his　faithfulness　and　his
love　for　that　erring；　ungrateful　people；　and　nobly　had　Moses　endured　the
trial。　His　interest　in　Israel　sprang　from　no　selfish　motive。　The　prosperity
of　God's　chosen　people　was　dearer　to　him　than　personal　honor；　dearer　than
the　privilege　of　becoming　the　father　of　a　mighty　nation。　God　was　pleased
with　his　faithfulness；　his　simplicity　of　heart；　and　his　integrity；　and　He
committed　to　him；　as　a　faithful　shepherd；　the　great　charge　of　leading　Israel
to　the　Promised　Land。

As　Moses　and　Joshua　came　down　from　the　mount；　the　former　bearing　the　〃tables
of　the　testimony；〃　they　heard　the　shouts　and　outcries　of　the　excited
multitude；　evidently　in　a　state　of　wild　uproar。　To　Joshua　the　soldier；　the
first　thought　was　of　an　attack　from　their　enemies。　〃There　is　a　noise　of　war
in　the　camp；〃　he　said。　But　Moses　judged　more　truly　the　nature　of　the
commotion。　The　sound　was　not　that　of　combat；　but　of　revelry。　〃It　is　not　the
voice　of　them　that　shout　for　mastery；　neither　is　it　the　voice　of　them　that
cry　for　being　overcome；　but　the　noise　of　them　that　sing　do　I　hear。〃

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As　they　drew　near　the　encampment；　they　beheld　the　people　shouting　and
dancing　around　their　idol。　It　was　a　scene　of　heathen　riot；　an　imitation　of
the　idolatrous　feasts　of　Egypt；　but　how　unlike　the　solemn　and　reverent
worship　of　God！　Moses　was　overwhelmed。　He　had　just　come　from　the　presence　of
God's　glory；　and　though　he　had　been　warned　of　what　was　taking　place；　he　was
unprepared　for　that　dreadful　exhibition　of　the　degradation　of　Israel。　His
anger　was　hot。　To　show　his　abhorrence　of　their　crime；　he　threw　down　the
tables　of　stone；　and　they　were　broken　in　the　sight　of　all　the　people；　thus
signifying　that　as　they　had　broken　their　covenant　with　God；　so　God　had
broken　His　covenant　with　them。

Entering　the　camp；　Moses　passed　through　the　crowds　of　revelers；　and　seizing
upon　the　idol；　cast　it　into　the　f