I was just giving people what they wanted, it's not my fault - beware the golden calf

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S

ServantStrike

Guest
#1
#1
I was recently reminded of the story of the golden calf. You know it has some elements that are quite humorous in their childish assertions



When confronted with what he had done, this is what Aaron says happened in Exodus 32
[SUP]22 [/SUP]And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.

[SUP]23 [/SUP]For they said unto me, 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.

[SUP]24 [/SUP]And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.




No really, that's his argument. He didn't want to disappoint the people, so he had to do something right? And then, rather than accepting full responsibility, he tries to claim that the calf just magically appeared out of no where after he put the gold in the fire. That's not a KJV error either, it's there in other translations too. Be careful - those golden calves, they just sneak up on you!


As ridiculous as what Aaron said is, I see it a lot. How many times have you seen Christians back down on an issue and stay silent because they don't want to offend someone?

We've forgotten Ephesians 4
[SUP]24 [/SUP]And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
[SUP]25 [/SUP]Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.


Too many have made silence their creed, and they have sacrificed their integrity on the altar of political correctness. Out pops a perfectly formed golden calf. It's not our fault is it? I mean, we were just trying to make everyone happy right?
 
Hizikyah

Hizikyah

Senior Member
#2
Aug 25, 2013
11,634
372
0
#2
Isayah 66:17, "They who sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens, following after the one in the center (aka religious leader) of those who eat swine's flesh, that which is offered to gods and the rodent--will be consumed together: says Yahweh."

Exodus 23:2, "Do not follow the crowd in doing evil. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd."

Speaking the truth of Yahweh and Yahshua is a testimony.
 
Hizikyah

Hizikyah

Senior Member
#3
Aug 25, 2013
11,634
372
0
#3
Re: I was just giving people what they wanted, it's not my fault - beware the golden

Deuteronomy 12:3, "You must destroy their altars, break down their sacred pillars and burn their sacred poles. Cut down the images of their gods and wipe out their names from those places. You must not worship Yahweh your Father in such ways."

Deuteronomy 12:29-32, “When Yahweh your Father cuts off the nations from in front of you, and you displace them and live in their land, Be careful not to be ensnared into following them by asking about their gods, saying: How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do the same. You must not worship Yahweh your Father in their way, for every abomination to Yahweh, which He hates, they have done to their gods. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods. Whatsoever I command you, be careful to observe and do it, you shall not add to it, nor take away from it."
 
S

ServantStrike

Guest
#4
#4
Well.. my favorite verse about idolatry is this one here in Isaiah 57

[SUP]4 [/SUP]Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood.
[SUP]5 [/SUP]Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks?
[SUP]6 [/SUP]Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these?
[SUP]7 [/SUP]Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.
[SUP]8 [/SUP]Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered thyself to another than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it.


Check out how debauched those verses are.


I usually prefer the KJV, but the NASB reads "looked upon their manhood" in verse 8.

“Behind the door and the doorpost
You have set up your sign;
Indeed, far removed from Me, you have uncovered yourself,
And have gone up and made your bed wide.
And you have made an agreement for yourself with them,
You have loved their [SUP][i][/SUP]bed,
You have looked on their [SUP][j][/SUP]manhood.
 
dcontroversal

dcontroversal

Banned
#5
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,395
113
#5
Re: I was just giving people what they wanted, it's not my fault - beware the golden

ServantStrike said:
I was recently reminded of the story of the golden calf. You know it has some elements that are quite humorous in their childish assertions



When confronted with what he had done, this is what Aaron says happened in Exodus 32
[SUP]22 [/SUP]And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.

[SUP]23 [/SUP]For they said unto me, 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.

[SUP]24 [/SUP]And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.




No really, that's his argument. He didn't want to disappoint the people, so he had to do something right? And then, rather than accepting full responsibility, he tries to claim that the calf just magically appeared out of no where after he put the gold in the fire. That's not a KJV error either, it's there in other translations too. Be careful - those golden calves, they just sneak up on you!


As ridiculous as what Aaron said is, I see it a lot. How many times have you seen Christians back down on an issue and stay silent because they don't want to offend someone?

We've forgotten Ephesians 4
[SUP]24 [/SUP]And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
[SUP]25 [/SUP]Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.


Too many have made silence their creed, and they have sacrificed their integrity on the altar of political correctness. Out pops a perfectly formed golden calf. It's not our fault is it? I mean, we were just trying to make everyone happy right?
Click to expand...
Aaron's lack of backbone and his sin cost him his right to enter the promise land under the law as both Moses and Aaron lives were forfeit due to their sin under the Law and were not allowed to enter.
 
RedTent

RedTent

Banned
#6
Oct 31, 2011
8,200
182
0
#6
What fascinates me about the Golden Calf is that history tells us the Hebrews didn't think of it as a God, but as a representation of the true God.

Exo 32:4 He took the gold from them, formed it in a mold, and cast an image of a calf; and they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!"
Exo 32:5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation and said, "Tomorrow shall be a festival to the LORD."

Notice he says these are your gods who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. It was the one true God who brought them out of the land of Egypt. Also, after Aaron built an altar the festival was to the Lord. He wouldn't have said that if the worship was to an idol. That seems to verify what other histories tell us.

When King Hezekiah destroyed the idol temples, he left the private ones with the golden calf, because they thought it represented the true God.
 
S

ServantStrike

Guest
#7
#7
RedTent said:
What fascinates me about the Golden Calf is that history tells us the Hebrews didn't think of it as a God, but as a representation of the true God.

Exo 32:4 He took the gold from them, formed it in a mold, and cast an image of a calf; and they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!"
Exo 32:5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation and said, "Tomorrow shall be a festival to the LORD."

Notice he says these are your gods who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. It was the one true God who brought them out of the land of Egypt. Also, after Aaron built an altar the festival was to the Lord. He wouldn't have said that if the worship was to an idol. That seems to verify what other histories tell us.

When King Hezekiah destroyed the idol temples, he left the private ones with the golden calf, because they thought it represented the true God.
Click to expand...
Do you have any scripture for the Hezekiah reference? This is interesting.
 
lydever91

lydever91

Senior Member
#8
Aug 5, 2011
491
14
18
#8
Re: I was just giving people what they wanted, it's not my fault - beware the golden

ServantStrike said:
I was recently reminded of the story of the golden calf. You know it has some elements that are quite humorous in their childish assertions



When confronted with what he had done, this is what Aaron says happened in Exodus 32
[SUP]22 [/SUP]And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.

[SUP]23 [/SUP]For they said unto me, 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.

[SUP]24 [/SUP]And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.




No really, that's his argument. He didn't want to disappoint the people, so he had to do something right? And then, rather than accepting full responsibility, he tries to claim that the calf just magically appeared out of no where after he put the gold in the fire. That's not a KJV error either, it's there in other translations too. Be careful - those golden calves, they just sneak up on you!


As ridiculous as what Aaron said is, I see it a lot. How many times have you seen Christians back down on an issue and stay silent because they don't want to offend someone?

We've forgotten Ephesians 4
[SUP]24 [/SUP]And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
[SUP]25 [/SUP]Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.


Too many have made silence their creed, and they have sacrificed their integrity on the altar of political correctness. Out pops a perfectly formed golden calf. It's not our fault is it? I mean, we were just trying to make everyone happy right?
Click to expand...
I remember being similar to Aaron, blaming others for what I had ultimately done. I do my best to be Christ-like now, though, thanks to the Lord.

Sometimes I am quiet when I should be speaking my voice about an issue. It makes me feel horrible, but I'm praying earnestly that I am able to overcome my....shyness? (the weird feeling I get when I want to talk about Jesus). I am getting better. I guess I'm like Moses in that way. Unable to speak when I feel the need to. I noticed that at the end of Exodus, though, that Moses was able to speak to the Israelites instead of Aaron always speaking.
 
K

Karraster

Guest
#9
#9
Re: I was just giving people what they wanted, it's not my fault - beware the golden

Thanks for this thread SS. Recently I have been taking my family's long held traditions and examining them in light of the Word. I am shocked at what I am finding.

The nature of mankind is to seek to blame, and I certainly am no exception. I stand in need of forgiveness.

Those idols come in many forms. May we all continually renew our minds with the pure wisdom of the Holy Word.
 
T

tkyles1009

Guest
#10
#10
Re: I was just giving people what they wanted, it's not my fault - beware the golden

Nicely worded.
It's true, just as Billy Graham said...
"We're taking every precaution to make sure we don't offend anyone but God"
A lot of time we're presented with situations that force us to make a choice.
either stand firm in the truths of the Holy one, or....
quiet the Spirit and do what's acceptable by society.
I for one as long as God strengthens me have no intentions of sacrificing my convictions for unity.
We must develop and mentality that we'd rather lose our lives than to conform to open rebellion with the enemy.
 
2

2Thewaters

Guest
#11
#11
Re: I was just giving people what they wanted, it's not my fault - beware the golden

If you preached the complete truth your Rep power would be negative
 
4enlightment

4enlightment

Banned
#12
May 15, 2013
4,307
27
0
#12
Re: I was just giving people what they wanted, it's not my fault - beware the golden

ServantStrike said:
I was recently reminded of the story of the golden calf. You know it has some elements that are quite humorous in their childish assertions



When confronted with what he had done, this is what Aaron says happened in Exodus 32
[SUP]22 [/SUP]And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.

[SUP]23 [/SUP]For they said unto me, 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.

[SUP]24 [/SUP]And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.




No really, that's his argument. He didn't want to disappoint the people, so he had to do something right? And then, rather than accepting full responsibility, he tries to claim that the calf just magically appeared out of no where after he put the gold in the fire. That's not a KJV error either, it's there in other translations too. Be careful - those golden calves, they just sneak up on you!


As ridiculous as what Aaron said is, I see it a lot. How many times have you seen Christians back down on an issue and stay silent because they don't want to offend someone?

We've forgotten Ephesians 4
[SUP]24 [/SUP]And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
[SUP]25 [/SUP]Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.


Too many have made silence their creed, and they have sacrificed their integrity on the altar of political correctness. Out pops a perfectly formed golden calf. It's not our fault is it? I mean, we were just trying to make everyone happy right?
Click to expand...
Basically, Aaron was saying to Moses that these people are hostile, so I had to humor them just to keep them calm.
 
A

Ascension

Guest
#13
#13
Truth has been spoken ...
Thank you brother for your understanding and discernment .
 
S

ServantStrike

Guest
#14
#14
4enlightment said:
Basically, Aaron was saying to Moses that these people are hostile, so I had to humor them just to keep them calm.
Click to expand...
Right, but where in the bible are we told to humor people?

What Aaron did was wicked. In fact, this is exactly what he did

Romans 1:25
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.


It's a lame excuse from the man who will become the archetype of a Levitical high priest. Almost as lame as when he said he threw some gold in the fire and out popped this golden calf.

The scary thing is we as Christians have even less of an excuse for our sins. Actually we have no excuse.
 
mystdancer50

mystdancer50

Senior Member
#15
Feb 26, 2012
2,522
50
48
#15
Re: I was just giving people what they wanted, it's not my fault - beware the golden

Every day you see more and more Christians justifying sin in their life under sloppy grace. It is frightening. It truly helps you understand why there will be some who stand before Christ on that day and say that they did many things in His name and He will tell them, "Depart from Me. I never knew you." When we look at what passes for Christianity in America today, we understand why that moment will come. I look closely at my life for any leaven in order that I can hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant." I don't strive for perfection, as I know my state, but I do seek to do all that I can through Holy Spirit power and Christ's grace and mercy to live a holy life. :)
 
4enlightment

4enlightment

Banned
#16
May 15, 2013
4,307
27
0
#16
ServantStrike said:
Right, but where in the bible are we told to humor people?

What Aaron did was wicked. In fact, this is exactly what he did

Romans 1:25
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.


It's a lame excuse from the man who will become the archetype of a Levitical high priest. Almost as lame as when he said he threw some gold in the fire and out popped this golden calf.

The scary thing is we as Christians have even less of an excuse for our sins. Actually we have no excuse.
Click to expand...
The only one that was willing at that time, to go to His grave, rather than to be tempted, or coerce into doing something that will hurt somebody, was Christ. That is why God has overlooked what Aaron has done; because the flesh is weak, and that is why God decided to grant us mercy to the ones that wanted to do what is right, but couldn't go through with it.

Matthew 10:28
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
 
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