Lesson 4: God’s Chief Rival

If you’re familiar with the text of the Old Testament you might assume that Baal was the Lord’s chief rival; perhaps even a great part of the reason for the first two commandments of God’s covenant with Israel (Exodus 20.1-6). After all, the people forsook Jehovah for Baal once they entered the promised land (see Judges 2.11,13) and they would continue in idolatrous worship of Baal until they went into Babylonian captivity (see Jeremiah 32.29-35). However, Baal was not the Lord’s chief rival. Exodus 32 reveals whom Israel chose to serve, and it wasn’t the Lord or the golden calf.

The god we choose…

Chances are your Bible has a header that reads “The Golden Calf” at the start of Exodus 32. Certainly, that is the event we associate with the chapter, but note that the passage doesn’t begin with the construction of the idol. Rather, the passage begins with a complaint: “When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, ‘Up, 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.’” (Exodus 32:1, ESV) Israel was continuing a pattern of behavior they had begun as soon as they left Egypt; whenever conditions were not ideal they would complain!

• At the Red Sea (Exodus 14.10-12)
• Bitter waters at Marah (Exodus 15.22-24)
• Before God provided manna (Exodus 16.1-3)
• Before God provided water from a rock (Exodus 17.1-3) 
• When God spoke to them (Exodus 20.18-19)

Furthermore, Israel’s complaints revealed who their true god was: themselves. They were not devoted to following the will of their god, they were consumed with having their own desires met. By making the golden calf, Israel was attempting to bring God down to their level. And if He was at their level, they could do whatever they wanted! Since this “god” would “go before us” (vs. 1) the people could decide where this god would go. And the god they made would be satisfied with any worship, even “play” (vs. 6, cf. vs. 19). Worshipping Jehovah would require the people to follow His will and to be patient wait for Him. The people didn’t want that, so they made a god that would allow them to do what they wanted.

Have you considered that our complaints reveal what we are really worshipping? Consider some of our frequent complaints:

• We complain about our boss or coworkers because they don’t value us or make our jobs more difficult.
• We complain about our spouses because they don’t treat us how we should be treated.
• We complain abut the government because they’re making things worse for us and/or our children.
• We complain about the church because it isn’t doing what we feel is best.

All of these complaints reveal what is most important to us: ourselves. We are the god we choose. If the Lord is our true God we will deny ourselves (Matthew 16.24). We will deny ourselves by doing our jobs to the best of our ability (Colossians 3.23), serving our spouses (Ephesians 5.22ff), submitting to the government (Romans 13.1-7) and to the leaders of the church (Hebrews 13.17). But it’s much easier to complain about others than to deny ourselves; by our complaints we show the god we choose to serve. Self has always been the Lord’s chief rival.

Idolatry threatens God’s wondrous plan for us.

Exodus 32 begins with the people complaining because “Moses delayed to come down from the mountain” (vs. 1). Let’s consider what God was doing while Moses was “delayed” on the mountain. The Lord was showing Moses the pattern for “a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst” (Exodus 25.8-9). These plans included instructions for both the construction of the tabernacle (Exodus 25.10-27.21) and for the ordination of priests (Exodus 29). And these plans would require a contribution of gold from the people (Exodus 25.3).

Now consider what Israel tried to do. First, rather than wait for God to dwell in their midst, they tried to bring God down to their level in gods of their own making (Exodus 32.1). Furthermore, they demanded that Aaron, the man Jehovah was choosing as His high priest, fashion the idol for them (Exodus 32.1). Finally, they took the gold that should have been given to the construction of the tabernacle, and gave it to Aaron to fashion the calf (Exodus 32.2-3). The result was that God no longer desired to dwell with Israel! He was ready to destroy the people (Exodus 32.9-10) and unwilling to go before them into the promised land (Exodus 33.1-3). Only after the intercession of Moses would the Lord relent. Israel’s idolatry had threatened to derail God’s wondrous plan for them.

The apostle John had a curious final exhortation for his brethren. Even though he had not spoken of idolatry in his first letter, he concluded it with the plea, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1John 5.21). The apostle knew that idolatry would threaten the wondrous plans the Lord has for His people; that we could be like Him and be with Him.

Our idols will be undone because the Lord is a jealous God.

Note the sequence of events for how the golden calf was made:

1. People asked Aaron to make a god for them (Exodus 32.1)
2. Aaron gathered gold from the people (Exodus 32.3)
3. Aaron fashioned the calf with a graving tool (Exodus 32.4)
4. Aaron finished the calf in fire (Exodus 32.24)

Now consider how the Lord undid these actions one-by-one:

1. Moses burned the calf (Exodus 32.20)
2. Moses ground the calf (Exodus 32.20)
3. Moses made the people drink it (Exodus 32.20)
4. Moses asked Aaron why he did this (Exodus 32.21)

The Lord did this because He is a jealous God who will suffer no rivals! “you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (Exodus 34.14; cf. 20.5-6). Likewise, we should not be surprised when our idols are undone. The things we put our trust in (governments, leaders, the economy) tend to fail. The things we delight in (homes, cars, our bodies) all decay. Idolatry will always be undone, because the Lord is a jealous God.

But the Lord’s jealousy is a good thing for His people. By the time we arrive at Exodus 34.14 Israel had been punished (32.25-35), Moses had interceded for Israel (33.12-17), the tablets had been replaced (34.1-4), Moses was granted a glimpse of Jehovah (34.6-9). Then the Lord declared He would make a covenant with the people (Exodus 34.10). Part of that covenant was that God was going to “perform miracles which have not been produced in all the earth” and would drive the people out of Canaan (Exodus 34.10-11). God then issued a warning against forming treaties with the people and worshipping their idols (Exodus 34.12-13). Because He is a jealous God (Exodus 34.14)! But that jealousy is a good thing! It’s because He is jealous for His own name and His people that He performs great deeds, delivering them from their oppressors and giving them the promised land. His jealousy meant He didn’t want them following other things and depriving themselves of what only God can offer!

Our God is jealous for us because He has plans for us. His jealousy is a good thing, let’s not provoke Him through idolatry.