Exodus 32:35 (ESV)
Then the LORD sent a plague on the people, because they made the calf, the one that Aaron made.
Aron denies that he made it.
Exodus 32:22-24 (ESV)
And Aaron said, “Let not the anger of my lord burn hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. For they said to me, ‘Make us gods who shall go before us. 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.’ So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”
He told Moses that he just tossed the gold into the fire and out came a golden calf to worship. Quit the story. Neither God, nor Moses, believed him however. Moses was so upset, his righteous anger exploded:
Exodus 32:19 (ESV)
And as soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses’ anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.
The tribe of Levi didn’t buy Aaron’s story either:
Exodus 32:26-28 (ESV)
then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the LORD’S side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. And he said to them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘Put your sword on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor.’” And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell.
This is why God sent a plague on the nation. The point of the entire story is found in these two verses:
Numbers 32:23 (ESV)
But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.
Galatians 6:7 (ESV)
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
We cannot pretend that our choices to sin will not be discovered and come with consequences. Yes, there is no longer condemnation for sin under God’s grace for believers (Romans 8:1). But there are consequences for the decisions we make to disobey God. God is NOT mocked. Ask these two people:
Acts 5:1-6 (ESV)
Ananias and Sapphira
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
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