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This week’s Parasha is Ki Tisa, which means “when you take up”.  It covers Exodus 30:11-34:35.

Today we will concentrate on the golden calf.  Israel has come through the Red Sea toward Mt. Sinai.  Moses goes up the mountain for 40 days. God gives him the Law and carves out the Ten Commandments.  During Moses’ absence, the Israelis become restless. There is an old saying: “When the cat’s away, the mice will play”.  Despite so recently having celebrating their first Passover, leaving Egypt and seeing God’s great miracles, their faith is weak.

God calls Israel a “stiff-necked” people, but I think this applies to all of us.  We all lean on our own understanding instead of what God commands us to do.

So while Moses is away, the people play.  They want their own god to worship, and tell Aaron to make them a “god” in the shape of a calf.  In his moral weakness, Aaron obliges them and decrees a festival to the Lord the next day.  Aaron builds an altar in front of the calf.  The people rise early, sacrifice burnt offerings, eat and drink, and engage in revelry.  It was no wine and cheese gathering; this was outright debauchery.

Meanwhile, atop the mountain, Moses is receiving instructions from the Almighty.  Moses has come a long way.  This former murder and excuse-maker is now leading the nation and mediating for them. He is beginning to be the man God wants him to be, not on his own, but by the power of Adonai.

God, being fully aware of what is going on at the base of the mountain, tells Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves.  They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them.  They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshipped it and sacrificed to it.”

Moses is grieved.  He pleads with God on behalf of Israel.  Moses seeks to persuade Adonai not to destroy these people.  Here we see the humility and loyalty of Moses.  He says, “Do not take it out on them, Lord”.  Moses suggests that the Egyptians would certainly interpret it the wrong way – as if God’s purpose was to destroy the Jewish people.

Moses asks God to remember His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Some people might think that Moses is changing the heart of God.  This is incorrect.  God does not change his mind.  God knows what He is going to do. He has seen the end before we even see the beginning. In this case, He is allowing Moses to act as Israel’s mediator by pleading their cause before Him.

Moses continues down the mountain.  He meets Joshua, who tells him that something is going on in the camp.  Moses already knows.  When they arrive at the bottom of the mountain, Moses sees the depravity and his anger burns, just as God’s anger had on the mountaintop.  Moses smashes the tablets of the Ten Commandments and destroys the golden calf.

Moses can hardly believe that Aaron could be manipulated by the people to do this evil thing.  Aaron shifts the blame to the people and asks Moses not to be angry. He tells Moses that the people thought he was dead, and wanted Aaron to make a god to go ahead of them. Aaron says that he asked for all their gold and then, absurdly, claims he threw the gold into the fire, and out came the golden calf.

Dismissing Aaron’s ridiculous claims, Moses stands at the entrance of the camp and declares, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me”.  Only the tribe of Levi rallies to him.  Moses tells them to take swords and do as Adonai has said.  Moses instructs the Levites to go throughout the camp, killing those who caused all of this trouble.  3,000 men were put to death that day.  Moses commends the tribe of Levi for putting the holiness of God even above their love of family.

Though the Chosen People had disregarded God’s commands so soon after seeing all of His miracles, God was still willing to forgive.  They would be punished, but God would continue to fulfill the promises He gave to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  God is a promise keeper.  His unconditional promise was not based on what the people deserved; it was a gracious gift He gave them – mercy, and forgiveness for their repentant hearts.

A few closing thoughts:

On that Shavuot, when the Torah was given, 3,000 Jewish people died for their idolatry. About 1,500 years later, on another Shavuot, the one following Yeshua’s resurrection from the dead, the Holy Spirit was given, and 3,000 thousand Jewish people were made alive! This shows us the contrast between Law and Grace; between futile attempts at self-righteousness, and the true righteousness which Messiah gives us as a gift. One leads to death, the other to life!

Today, the Holy Spirit is given to all who follow the Lord.  For the past 2,000 years the Spirit has indwelt believers to guide and help us. Just as God helped Moses to mature, He also helps us. Like Moses, we can assume the responsibility God gives us to be the leaders of our homes and families, and to help and guide others.

Finally, brothers and sisters, we should remember that when Moses summoned all who would be faithful to rally to him on that terrible day, only the tribe of Levi responded; just one tribe out of twelve! The majority were unrepentant. This is a good reminder to choose wisely, to have courage, and never to blindly follow the majority.