Let me be straight with you. I was excited to share a few reflections about “Men and Women in the Word.” But I wasn’t super stoked when I saw that I’d been assigned to write about Aaron. Aaron. Really? Moses’s right-hand man? The guy who made the golden calf? What more was there to say about a person who nearly caused the destruction of Israel a few days after God parted the Red Sea?
I wrote down a few adjectives—words that described my assumptions about Aaron. To me, he seemed like a charismatic guy. A classic over-achiever. A man who was called by God, but also bent on pleasing people. The more I jotted down the adjectives, the more I realized I was describing myself.
Aaron has a complicated story. Before God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, He’d already called Aaron to start moving toward Moses to help him. In the story of Israel’s redemption, Aaron played a massive role—speaking on behalf of Moses, who spoke on behalf of God. He saw God’s miracles firsthand. He called down plagues to strike Egypt and spare Israel. He walked through the Red Sea on dry land, surrounded by water like walls.
Not long after those miracles, Moses left Aaron in charge while he went to Mount Sinai and received instructions from God on how to build the future tabernacle (Exodus 25–31). Moses had been on the mountain for more than 40 days, longer than he’d planned to be gone. Soon, cajoled by the Israelites, Aaron assumed Moses had died. While Moses was hearing instructions from the Lord, Aaron was busy building a golden calf.
Unable to wait patiently for God’s instructions, he moved on with his own plans. Comfortable in his position of power, he used his gifts to lead people astray. Aaron was of feeble mind and character, and he was quick to turn his back on the one true God.
As Moses came down from the mountain to see this ghastly scene, the truth was revealed. God may have called Aaron into holy service, but Aaron wasn’t holy. He was impatient, charismatic, and reckless. He was a sinner in need of saving. Aaron was just like me.
Though God went on to punish the Israelites for their sin, he spared Aaron. In His mercy and grace, God allowed Aaron to see the tabernacle, fully built. Compared to the golden calf Aaron created with his feeble hands, the tabernacle was a spectacle of beauty, a moveable house constructed with expertise to God’s exact specifications (Exodus 4:30). Aaron was the first high priest to serve there, charged with carrying out sacrifices for the people. In that role, I imagine Aaron came to understand his need for atonement. As he sacrificed real animals, spilling real blood, I wonder if he continued to repent over that first, false image that he’d created.
We are all Aaron. Called by God, and yet capable of turning our back on Him. Gifted, and yet capable of using those gifts for our own glory rather than God’s instruction. We are all sinners, in need of an atoning sacrifice.
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42 thoughts on "Aaron"
Faithfulness and Redemption is what I see in this story. God once again shows love to a sinful people. He is faithful to those who have turned to an idol because they could not wait on His timing. How many times do we go there. God’s mercy meets us in truth and grace even when we once again have put money, or a person, or an addiction above Him. He seeks us out to bring us back into His love. Oh, He is so faithful to us. May we praise the name above every name and drop everything that is not worthy and honor our Lord and King.
❤️
I think the title of Aaron’s story could be the making of a high priest. Aaron was a slave, not even really even in charge of his own life. He accustomed to doing what he was told and pleasing his masters. No wondered he pleased the people with the golden calf. I was struck by God’s redeeming and transforming grace how he took Aaron where he was and transformed him to God’s high priest for the people.
I am challenged to not be stuck where I am today but to confess my sin, surrender my life, and trust God with the Journey. He is transforming me for his glory.
I really appreciate your take on this Laura, I was thinking the same things—Aaron was always expected to do what he was told. I find it fascinating that he goes on to be the first High Priest
Karen, love your comment:
“God will use broken people to accomplish His master plan.”
Such words of hope for me this morning.
I find myself reacting to Aaron like the other commentators this morning — scratching my head at how he led the people into sin so soon after witnessing God’s mighty hand. What character flaws led to that? And yet, God gave him grace — even where Aaron half-truthed and blamed when confronted with his sin. Gives me hope for myself and my kiddos (who have done a lot of half-truthing and blaming so far this summer …). If God can use Aaron and bestow such grace upon him, our stories are not lost either!
Forgive me if I’m gleaning more from the Scripture than is intended. I noticed how Aaron referred to Moses when confronted about the making of the golden calf. As Aaron recounts the story (and obviously not truthfully) he refers to Moses as “my lord” (could this be sarcasm given what he says after?). Aaron then relates what the people said, referring to Moses as “this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt…” Wouldn’t you think that Aaron, having witnessed up close and personal the hand of God on his brother, would have stood tall and defended Moses? Wouldn’t you think Aaron would have reminded them of Moses’ calling by God and their miraculous salvation by God through Moses? Perhaps, Aaron has a little bit of jealousy in him. Moses is the leader and Aaron has been his right hand man, his spokesman. At this great moment, when God calls Moses up the mountain, Aaron is left behind. He is reminded of his position and he views it as ‘less than.’ Moses is meeting with God (!) and Aaron is charged with corralling the Israelites until Moses returns. (Who do you think has the more prestigious job?) Then Moses takes 40 days too long to come down the mountain. Not a word from Moses about how long he was going to be. Perhaps Aaron had just had enough of being second. And so Aaron did a foolish and despicable thing. BUT GOD was not finished with Aaron. Aaron had a role to play LATER as the first high priest.
Sisters, God’s choices are not ours and His timing isn’t ours either. God has a plan and a purpose for each of us. That plan and that purpose is revealed right on time – His time. Our responsibility is to be faithful right where we are, whether it’s on the mountain top or in the valley. We are to accept our current role graciously and wait on God’s leading. It may take 40 days. It may take 40 years. Let Him find us faithful. Let Him find us standing firm, unwavering. Let Him find us grateful for our particular calling. Amen.
Love whether it be in the mountain top or the valley. So quickly we forget we are worshiping God in the valleys of our life as much as in the mountains.
How quickly I too turn back to my own ways! When I am not in God’s word, I forget and make idols of things in my life- shopping, appearance, food. That is why I have to stay in God’s word each day!
Yes! I so agree.
Me too !
I am so quick to shake my head in amazement at how Aaron could build a golden calf and worship it after all that he had seen God do. How could he? Like many other people in the Bible that God used, he had weaknesses and faults. Rather than condemn them, I am realizing that like me, they are human. God used them in spite of their weakness. May I be less quick to judge them and more open to how God can use me in spite of my faults.
Bessie, I really resonate with your response. Well said
I completely agree! I am so quick to judge Aaron as well, but then I remember how quick I can turn my back on God and worship other things like money, possessions and myself.
Thank you for this message Claire. I felt the same thing you described above when I read about Aaron and thought, what is wrong with this guy to be so quick to turn away from God and bring all of those he was helping to lead astray! Then I was struck with the realization that I am just like Aaron! When worldly beliefs or attractions are so easy to lure me away from God and before you know it, I have drug those closest to me down with me. Forgive me Lord Jesus for doing this more times than I want to admit, and praise God for wanting to use me anyway. Once again, God makes it clear through the story of Aaron, that He will use broken people to accomplish His master plan. Knowing this makes me feel very loved by our amazing God!
Karen-I thought the exact same thing! I’m thankful for our savior, Jesus Christ. We have ALL sinned and fall short of the glory of Christ.