Called To Stand - Aaron

“Don’t get so upset, my lord,” Aaron replied. “You yourself know how evil these people are. They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will lead us.’”

Exodus 32:22-23

Eugene Corr was an assistant police chief in Seattle, Washington, during a dark time of corruption in the department. In 1969, when police records revealed payoffs to officers and suspicious political contributions, Corr had no choice but to stand up.

Corr risked his career and even his life when he and two other assistant chiefs demanded that Police Chief Frank Ramon resign. Some officers loyal to Ramon called Corr a snitch, and someone scrawled “Kill Corr” over his parking spot.

Corr refused to back down. Though he took a lot of heat for standing up to corruption, his efforts paid off. He emerged as a hero to many and was later credited with making the SPD a more professional, trustworthy force.

Aaron, Moses’ brother and right-hand man, had an opportunity to stand up for God. Unlike Corr, he failed.

Aaron had been with Moses long enough to know better. He knew that God had commanded the Israelites not to make themselves any kind of idol (see Exodus 20:4-5), but as Moses met face-to-face with God on Mount Sinai, the people of Israel had an encounter with an idol made of gold.

Aaron had engineered the whole ugly mess.

Aaron should have led the people to serve and worship the real God, but he failed. He couldn’t find it within himself to stand up to the people when they clamored for an idol to worship. Worse yet, when Moses confronted him, Aaron claimed to be an innocent bystander (see Exodus 32:22-24).

Aaron failed first when he knuckled under to the people’s idolatry. He failed a second time when he refused to accept blame for his part in the people’s sin.

As a follower of Christ, you will encounter many opportunities to stand up and be counted. Will you be ready? It’s not a matter of chance but of preparation. If you want to be able to stand during a time of crisis, you have to practice standing in the daily routine of life.