The Work Of Our Hands
At the burning bush, the Lord commissioned Moses to deliver Israel but he protested, “Lord, I can’t speak to Pharaoh. I have a speech impediment, you must find someone else.”
Moses clung to his perceived inability, finally, God said Aaron had the ability to use words well. He used dabar, signifying Aaron was fluent, able to set words in a row, and bring order. Used twice, dabar denotes one who leads flocks or herds to pasture, who has the ability to rule, or direct a people. It also means to arrange words in order to lay snares, or to plot against.1 Dabar foreshadowed both the harm and the glory of Aaron’s ministry as Israel’s first high priest. Exodus 4:14 was also a prophecy about the High Priest who would lead His flock in true worship of God Almighty.
Aaron means “light bringer”.2 Destined to lead his people to the Light, his name, like Miriam’s, was prophetic. Charismatic with a sanguine temperament; people liked him. He enjoyed speaking, but tended to passivity; acted upon, he did not initiate strong leadership with a righteous voice. Under Moses’ guidance, he spoke God’s words. His faith seemed solid until Moses left to receive instructions on establishing the nation’s laws, worship, and governance from the Lord. Used to visible leadership that made its presence felt, the people felt Moses would never return. When they shared with Aaron, he failed to remind them of their commitment to follow the Lord God, of Jehovah’s faithfulness, or His mighty deliverance. When they requested gods to lead them back to Egypt, he did not speak words of truth, encourage them to seek the Lord, or tell them to wait another day for Moses to return. His ability with words, became an impediment far worse than Moses’ stutter, for he plotted against the word of the Lord.
We mistakenly believe Israel was ignorant of the Ten Commandments. That is not true. At Mount Sinai, the Lord came down and spoke to all Israel to verbally give them the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 19 & 20). Israel heard Him command not to make a graven image of anything in heaven or earth. Frightened by the thundering, lightning, sound of trumpet, and the sight of the mountain smoking (20:18), they said, “Moses, you speak to us. Please, don’t let us hear God speak, lest we die” (20:19).
Golden Calf
Aaron was chosen as high priest for Almighty God. Yet his first decisive action was an act of treason; in rebellion he made a graven image of a male calf. Hearing their desire for a god, he nodded as he spoke with authority. But whose authority was he under? What was he thinking? We can only speculate according to the innate desire we have for success, acclaim, and control, that it was his moment of glory. “Go break off the earrings your wives and children are wearing and bring them to me.”
God designed men to take responsibility for their family, to protect their wives and children, and lead them to worship Him. Bypassing God’s words, in effect Aaron said, “Men, you can avoid responsibility for your choice. Don’t bring me your gold, take the gold from your wives and children; make this a collusive act where everyone is involved.” They obeyed.
Aaron never hesitated as he led the people into idolatry. With intentionality, using his imagination, his creativity, and his own hands, he designed a mold or cast shaped like a calf. We don’t know what he used, or how long it took, but that first stage of designing a mold or cast was crucial to making the image. Once completed, the cast had to be hardened, and probably was put through a firing process. Fully engaged in the act of creativity, he collected gold, chose the pot to place it in, then slowly heated the fire to melt the gold. He sat as a refiner, stirring the gold, and removing any dross. When he could see his face reflected, he carefully poured the molten gold into the cast. Poured comes from a root word to pour out, offer, cast. Besides casting a metal image, or anointing a king, it means to pour out libations in honor of a god, and carries the idea of making a covenant with that god.3
The gold had to cool and harden. Once he decided the gold was ready, he patiently worked to chip off the cast. During the final stage, he carefully perfected its design as he “fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf”. This was not an accidental act of creativity. Aaron’s work was an intentional religious act. From start to finish, it was symbolic of worship. With hands formerly used to worship the Lord, he skillfully wielded tools to cut and shape an idol. Finished, he stepped back in proud satisfaction. Reflected light shone off the golden bull. Having no inner light, light from God’s sun reflected off it, and gave it a glorious appearance. The image was beautiful. In awe, the people cried, “This is the god who brought us safely out of Egypt!”
Aaron compounded his act of idolatrous creativity by building an altar before it. Completed, he proclaimed, “Tomorrow will be a feast day to the Lord” (Exodus 32:5).
Little thoughts, may lie hidden and seem insignificant, yet have the power to stir the heart to defiant acts of self-worship. Is it possible a work you have dedicated yourself to, a work you are crafting with excellence, might actually be a work of idolatry?
1Spake: H1696 - dabar דָּבַר verb – p.r. The root has the concept of “setting in a row, ranging in order”, to lead or guide with the purpose of bringing order or subduing. It also denotes laying snares or plotting against with the intent of destruction. Accessed 18 Feb 15.
2Aaron: H175 'Aharown proper masculine noun. “light bringer”. Ibid.
3H5258 nacak verb – p.r. To pour out, offer, cast: (Qal) to pour out, to cast metal images, to anoint (a king); (Niphal) to be anointed; (Piel) to pour out (as a libation); (Hiphil) to pour out libations. To make a libation in honor of a god; to make a covenant. Gesenius.
