THE GOLDEN CALF 1- Making the golden calf 1 - 6 2-God’s wrath against the people of Moses 7 – 14 3- Moses gets angry and breaks the two tablets 15 – 19 4- Grinding the golden calf to powder 20 5- Moses chastising the people 21 - 29 6- Moses’ intercession 30 – 35 1- Making the golden calf The people in Egypt used to worship calves, and to commit fornication behind them (Exod. 20.4; Lev. 17.7;Josh. 24.14). They used to worship a seen and touched god. The presence of Moses before them, presenting to them the amazing visible works of God, has temporarily satisfied their need for a materialized God before their eyes. That is why, when Moses disappeared from their sight, they said to Aaron, “Come, make us gods1 that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him” (Exod. 32.1). They did not mean to disregard God who brought them up out of the land of Egypt. They intended to worship Him through the calf2 that is in their hearts, which is apparent in Aaron’s response, “Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord” (Exod. 32.5). We cannot disregard that what they did had been through the influence of their old worship to the calf, that was still inside them. St. Ephraim the Syrian says, “For Moses was for a little removed from before them, that the calf that was before them might appear, that they might worship it openly also; for they had been secretly worshipping it in their hearts.”3 He also said, “Moses was taken away from them, that the wickedness that was within them might become manifest.”4 Actually, they had no excuse. If Moses was temporarily delayed, yet the works of God through Moses did not stop: the manna kept coming down every morning; the rock kept following them; the pillar of fire kept guiding them by night; and the pillar of cloud kept shading them by day. They were without excuse. The Book of Deuteronomy gives another cause for that deviation, which is their care for carnal pleasure through eating, drinking, and having fun saying, “You grew fat and thick ...Then (you) forsook God who made (you); ... Of the Rock who begot you, you were unmindful; and have forgotten the God who fathered you” (32.15-18). St. John Chrysostom believes that having fun and being drunken were the tools that drew the people toward idol worship5. Likewise, through his craving for food, Esau lost his birthright, and threatened to kill his brother6. St. Jerome quotes the words of the Bible, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play” (Exod. 32.6), to prove the role of greed in provoking sins saying, “First the belly is crammed; then the other members are roused.”7 He also comments, “The toil of so 1 The true translation is “God” instead of “gods”. 2 Edersheim. Bible History. Vol. 2 p.126. 3 Hom. 2 On our Lord. 1:17. 4 Ibid. 1:42. 5 St. Chrys. In Matt. Hom. 57:5. 6 In Acts. Hom. 27. 7 Ep. 22:8. 227 many days perished through the fullness of a single hour.”1 He also says, “Moses boldly broke the tables: for he knew that drunkards cannot hear the word of God.”2 Finally, those people represent corrupt humanity, that seeks for itself a god after its whims; a god that satisfies their wicked consciences, and allows for its carnal lusts. They are in no need for a cross or passion. 2- God’s wrath against the people of Moses Having chosen for themselves another god according to their wicked hearts, God could not refer these people to Himself. He, no longer, called them ‘My people’, but we see Him say to the prophet Moses, “Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves” (Exod. 32.7). The scholar Origen comments on that saying that as the people are counted as “God’s people”, when they obey Him, and are not referred to Him when they do not; so also are their feasts; when hated by God, He calls them “feasts of sinners”; although, when He presented their statute, He called them “Feasts of the Lord”3. Although God got angry for what the people did, He left the door open before Moses to intercede on their behalf saying to him, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people; Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them, and I may consume them; and I will make of you a great nation” (Exod. 32.9-10). Saying to Him, “Let Me alone”, He is giving him the chance to intercede and proclaim his love for his people, to practice his fatherly emotion. Actually, Moses pleaded with the Lord, presenting Him with three excuses: First, reminding Him, of how He brought this people out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand (Exod. 32.11); second, that the enemy would say, “He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth” (Exod. 32.12); and third, he reminds Him of His promises to their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, His servants, to whom He swore by His own self to multiply their descendants as the stars of heaven and to give them the land of promise (Exod. 32.13). Before Moses’ pleadings, the Book says, “The Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people” (Exod. 32.14). We shall leave, for now, talking of Moses’ loving fatherly heart, to say that God is not like man, who would transgress then relent. He speaks to us here in a way that we can understand. When we repent, we come under God’s mercy and compassion, and become no longer subject to punishment. 3- Moses gets angry and breaks the two tablets The prophet Moses could not bear to hear God’s words against his people, so he interceded on their behalf, that God relented from the harm which He said He would do to them. As he went down from the mountain, he could not stand to see the calf and the dances; so, with extreme anger, he cast out the tablets from his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain (Exod. 32.19). On the top of the mountain of Knowledge, Moses entered into glories and was given the divine commandments; but, going down to the foot of the mountain, he broke the two tablets. Thus, we should always stay up and rise from glory to glory. Going down to the foot of the mountain would make us break the commandment and lead us to fall under God’s wrath. 1 Against Jovinianus. 2:15. 2 Ibid. 3 On John. 10.11 228 Even in his anger, Moses prophesied. By breaking the tablets, he manifested the status of humanity, fallen under the curse of the Law, because of breaking the commandment. Here it is now, waiting for the work of divine grace instead of the Law, according to the words of St. John the evangelist, “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1.17). In his epistle, St. Barnabas says, “And Moses understood [the meaning of God], and cast the two tables out of his hands; and their covenant was broken, in order that the covenant of the beloved Jesus might be sealed upon our heart, in the hope which flows from believing in Him.”1 Breaking the two stone tablets revealed the burden of the law and its curse over humanity being unable to keep it. That stone had to be taken away, namely, the killing letter of the law only to be replaced by the grace of the Lord Christ. This was clarified by St. Augustine, in his symbolic interpretation of the words of the Lord Christ: “Take away the stone” (John 11.39), when He raised Lazarus from the dead, What mean then the words, "Take away the stone"? Preach grace. For the Apostle Paul calleth himself a minister of the New Testament, not of the letter, but of the spirit; "for the letter," he says, “kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Cor. 3.6). The letter that kills is like the stone that crushes. "Take away," He saith, "the stone." Take away the weight of the law; preach grace. "For if there had been a law given, which could have given life, verily righteousness should be by the law. But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” 2 4- Grinding the golden calf to powder “He took the calf which they had made, burned it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and he scattered it on the water and made the children of Israel drink it” (Exod. 32.20). Why did Moses do that? That was a reference to the fact that every man is committed to drink the fruits of his sins, according to the command of the law, that a woman who is under doubt that she got pregnant by a man other than her husband -but there was no witness against her, or was she caught - to drink the bitter water that brings a curse. If she were innocent, she would give birth with no harm; but if she has defiled herself while under her husband’s authority, the Lord makes her thigh rot and her belly swell; and she becomes a curse amid her people (Num. 5.11-28). St. Augustine comments on Moses’ action saying, “The head of the calf is a great sacrament. For the head of the calf was the body of ungodly men, in the similitude of a calf eating hay, seeking earthly things: because “All flesh is grass” (Isa. 40.6)3. Moses cast it in fire to abolish its form, then ground it to powder, scattered it on the water, and made the children of Israel drink it. What does all this mean, but that the devil worshippers have become a body similar to him? Likewise, those who confess Christ are Christ’s body, “You are the body of Christ and His members” (1 Cor. 12.27) 4. St. Augustine believes that the people drank and consumed that statue, through grinding it to powder and scattering it on water, as a reference to the fact that, 1 The Epistle of Barnabas. 4. 2 St. Augustine. On the Gospel of St. John. 49:22. 3 On Ps. 62. 4 On Ps. 74. 229 from the Israelites who have abolished the devil’s body emerged the apostles, who preached among the Gentiles, to deprive the devil of its body members1. 5- Moses chastising the people When Moses saw that the people were unrestrained (got out of control), to become a laughingstock to their enemies (Exod. 32.25), he interceded on their behalf to protect them from the evil that was about to befall them, and the Lord accepted his intercession (Exod. 32.14). Yet, he firmly commanded those who were on the Lord’s side (the sons of Levi) to kill all those who were outside their tents; about 3000 men of the people fell that day (Exod. 32.28). The people sinned, and should be chastised: Those who retreated to their tents, ashamed of their sin, were spared the sword, as proved by the fact that they were told by Moses on the next day, “You have sinned a great sin; so now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin” (Exod. 32.30). While those who remained outside their tents, not caring for what they did, were killed. 6- Moses’ intercession God said to Moses, “Let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them, and I may consume them; and I will make you a great nation” (Exod. 32.10). However, Moses, with his paternal love, refused to forsake his people, however hard their hearts are, and strongly interceded on their behalf saying, “Now, if you will forgive their sin - but if not, I pray blot me out of Your book which You have written” (Exod. 32.32)2. This intercession remained a living well, from which priests and ministers draw the water of love, up to this day. The following are some of the comments of the fathers on that intercession: * God said to Moses, “I will make you a great nation” (Exod. 32.10). But he did not accept it; he cleaveth to the sinners, he prayeth for the sinners. And how does he pray? O signal proof of love, my Brethren! How does he pray? Mark that, as it were, mother's fondness, of which I have often spoken. When God threatened the sacrilegious people, Moses' tender heart trembled, and on their behalf he opposed himself to the wrath of God. “Now, if you will forgive their sin - but if not, I pray blot me out of Your book which You have written.” With what a father's and mother's fondness, yet with what assurance said he this, as he considered at once the justice and the mercy of God; that in that He is just, He would not destroy the righteous man [Moses]; and that in that He is merciful, He would pardon the sinners3. [Marvelous love! O insuperable perfection! The servant speaks freely to his Lord, and asks forgiveness for the people, or begs that he himself might perish along with them4]. [Great perfection! He wants to die with the people rather than to cross over alone5.][ Fain would I perish, saith he, with them, rather than without them be saved. Here, verily, is love even to madness, verily, unbounded love . What sayest thou, Moses? 1 On Ps. 74. 2 St. John Chrysostom sees that Moses had the chance to get rid of that cruel, obstinate people, through a Divine consent. However, as a saintly pastor and a loving father, he did not accept to forsake his weak children, to search for others, the matter that fits the shepherd of souls. On the Gospel of St. John. 13:1. 3 St. Augustine. Sermons on the Mount. 38.24 4 St. Clement of Rome. Ep. 1:35. 5 St. Clement of Alexandria. Strom. 4:19. 230 Art thou regardless of Heaven? I am, saith he, for I love those who have wronged me. Prayest thou to be blotted out? Yea, saith he, what can I do, for it is love? 1 He said that for being a friend of God, bearing His nature [love]2. For so also those great and noble persons who were in the beginning made this their chiefest care: … none of them ever looked to his own things, but each one to the things of his neighbor, whence also they shone the brighter. [For so Moses ? (to mention him first) wrought many and great wonders and signs; but nothing made him so great as that blessed voice which he uttered unto God, saying, “Now, if you will forgive their sin - but if not, I pray blot me out of Your book which You have written” (Exod. 32.32) 3. ] Is he not the same person who escaped for fear of one man (Pharaoh), and went to exile? Yet, having tasted the honey of love, he offered to die together with his beloved4. For such are the bowels of the saints, that they think death with their children sweeter than life without them5. The fathers say that Moses was certain that God is loving; He would accept his intercession and would never kill him. In this concern, St. Augustine says, “knowing that he is doing this before One Merciful, who inasmuch as by no means He would blot out him, would even spare them for his sake.”6 St. Ambrose says, “And yet he was not blotted out, because he had no iniquity, but grace flowed.”7 Through that action, Moses has become a living model for love, meekness and patience, as St. John Chrysostom believed that his appearance, together with Elijah, on the day of transfiguration of the Lord Christ before His disciples, was a manifestation of how the disciples should be, to have the meekness and humility of Moses, that made God forgive the sin of the people, and the firmness and zeal of Elijah, who asked God for three and a half years of famine for the sake of chastisement. As to the effectiveness of Moses’ intercession on behalf of his people, St. John Chrysostom says, “For it is true, the prayers of the saints have the greatest power; on condition however of our repentance and amendment. Since even Moses, who had rescued his own brother and six hundred thousand men from the wrath that was then coming upon them from God, had no power to deliver his sister.” 8 St. Jerome also said, “A single man, Moses, oft wins pardon from God for six hundred thousand armed men; and Stephen, the follower of his Lord and the first Christian martyr, entreats pardon for his persecutors; and when once they have entered on their life with Christ, shall they have less power than before?”9 Finally, having accepted Moses’ Intercession, God said to him, “Now therefore, go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. Behold, 1 St. John Chrysostom. The Epistle to the Ephesians. 7. 2 St. John Chrysostom. The Epistle to the Romans. Hom. 27. 3 St. John Chrysostom. The First Epistle to the Corinthians. 25. 4 St. John Chrysostom. The First Epistle to the Corinthians. Hom. 34. 5 St. John Chrysostom. Concerning the Statutes. Hom. 3:2. 6 On Ps. 78. 7 On the Holy Spirit. 3:10. 8 In Matt. 5:7. 9 Against Vigilantius. 231 My Angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit for punishment, I will visit punishment upon them for their sin” (Exod. 32.34). “So the Lord plagued the people because of what they did with the calf which Aaron made” (Exod. 32.35). God accepted Moses’ intercession. He would not consume them, but would go on helping them, and would consummate His promises to them; Yet not without condition. As they sinned, when He visits them for salvation, he will visit the sin in them; He will punish them. That is why He plagued them, until the day He would return and proclaim His salvation work in their life. God’s love or mercy is not in contradiction with His justice. Though He forgives, He does not tolerate carelessness, and would not unite with a man still in his sin. By saying, “I will visit punishment upon them for their sin”, He is probably referring to His paying the price of their sin, and dying for them, on the day He visits them on the cross, to bring them over to the true land of promise.
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