"THIS IS YOUR GOD, O ISRAEL!"
Exodus 32:4

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Aaron made an idol and presented it with the declaration "This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!" (vv.1-4).

I. This idol was contrary to the acceptable worship of Jehovah (20:4f). It violated His unity (Deuteronomy 6:4f) and solitariness (Isaiah 43:10f) and incorporeity (John 4:24). No wonder it provoked His consuming jealousy (Deuteronomy 4:23f)!

The same is true today (Galatians 5:20f; 1 Corinthians 10:14). The only image through which we can acceptably worship Jehovah is Christ (as in Matthew 2:11; John 20:27f; see also John 5:23). He, the divine Son, is alone the essential image of the invisible God (2 Corinthians 4:4; Hebrews 1:3; John 14:9).

II. The desire for this idol arose during the absence of God's minister (v.1). Moses undoubtedly would have immediately thwarted any attempt to worship God in an unacceptable manner.

The same is true today. Those who are the less frequent in sitting under the ministry of a gospel preacher are the more susceptible to lapsing into error and idolatry (Hebrews 10:25).

III. This idol was desired by people who walked by sight, not by faith (v.1; cp. 2 Corinthians 5:7). This point is a necessary consequence of the preceding. Their faith in God waned when their minister was out of sight. They trusted him whom they could see more than Him whom they could not see. They needed something physical to credit for their salvation (see also vv.4, 8).

The same is true today. Where the gospel of "salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone" (see Ephesians 2:8f) is not preached, the desire for salvation through that which is physical arises - be it a mortal prophet to extol, an aisle to walk, a baptistery in which to get wet, a written confession to obey, a sabbath to keep through physical means, an image to adore, an amulet to fondle, .... All such things are idols! The true child of God walks by faith, not by sight. He therefore faithfully loves and worships Him whom he has never seen (1 Peter 1:8).

IV. This idol was worshipped with the approbation of a priest of God (vv.2-4). In a moment of inexcusable weakness (of which he later repented), Aaron bowed to the rebels' demands.

The same is true today. Whenever and wherever rebels against God posing as children of God desire an idol, they will be accommodated by some spineless member of "organized Christianity" eager to please the masses for personal gain.

V. This idol was worshipped in an unholy manner. Israel worshipped it with the "burnt offerings" and "peace offerings" which belonged to Jehovah alone (v.6). In its name, they "rose up to play" (v.6) in an orgy of "dancing" (v.19) which was "unrestrained ... to their shame" (v.25). And they "rose early" in their diligence to do so (v.6). Having corrupted the person and worship of God, they "corrupted themselves" (v.7).

The same is true today. The idols of Churchianity are worshipped with the offerings and ordinances belonging to Jehovah alone. Their worshippers rise early to play church. They often are seen unrestrainedly and shamefully playing and dancing in an orgy to their own further corruption. They deny that "God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints" (1 Corinthians 14:33). They therefore willfully mock the admonition "Let all things be done decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40).

VI. This idol was worshipped by "stiff-necked people" (v.9). They were so obstinate and self-willed as to refuse to even turn their heads toward God in repentance (cp. Acts 7:51).

The same is true today. Churchianity's idolaters are so convinced they are in the truth that they refuse to turn an ear to the preacher who dares to declare Christ to them (as in Acts 17:16-32).

VII. This idol and its worshippers were destroyed (vv.20, 25-28). Moses was appointed by God to destroy them all.

The same will be true in our own day. Christ has been appointed by God to destroy them all (Acts 17:22-31). Jesus Christ is the only Image of God of whom it can be truthfully said, "This is your God, O Israel." Let us therefore heed the admonition of gospel preachers who present Him with the declaration "Behold your God!" (Isaiah 40:1-9).