Aaron Gives In

Aaron Gives In

Q: After Moses had been up on the mountain for a long time, what did the people talk Aaron into doing?

• a. moving on without Moses
• b. making a golden calf
• c. throwing a surprise party for Moses

Has anyone talked you into doing something you didn’t want to do? Jenna’s friends decided they didn’t like another sixth grade girl, and they said mean things to her. They told Jenna if she wanted to be their friend, she had to say something unkind too. Jenna did it, but she felt sick inside later thinking about the look on the girl’s face.

Moses’ brother, Aaron, gave in to what other people wanted him to do. Moses had been up on Mount Sinai for a long time. The people got tired of waiting for him, so they asked Aaron to make them a new god to serve. Aaron, who had witnessed many miracles of God, should have been the one to say no and remind the people of all God had done for them. But he melted down gold the people had brought to him and shaped it as a calf.

God sent Moses back down the mountain to deal with the wayward Israelites. Moses was angry. He destroyed the idol, and God sent a plague on the people for what they’d done.

The people had seen God’s miracles, but they quickly turned to an idol. Aaron went along with them even though he should have acted as their spiritual leader. If Aaron had been willing to say no to the plan, the story might have had a different ending.

For You

Decide you will do what’s right even when friends try to talk you into doing something wrong. If your friends do that very often, it might be time to look for some new friends.

Answer: b

All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!”   Exodus 32:3-4

(The Whole Story: Exodus 32)