Aaron
Open Your Bible
Exodus 4:27-31, Exodus 7:8-13, Exodus 32:1-6, Exodus 32:21-24, Leviticus 8:1-5, Leviticus 9:1-7, 1 Corinthians 10:7
BY Claire Gibson
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.
42 thoughts on "Aaron"
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I have always told myself and others when it’s needed. I am a sinner saved by grace. I don’t ever want to forget. I am so grateful for my salvation that Jesus paid for with HIS own blood. For me. For you.
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Audrey, Praising God for your listening and following his voice. Often times when the right thing is the hard thing we don’t do it and it brings more hardship than we know and it dishonor Him. Praying for you to be strong in the Lord and the power of his might as you grieve the loss and move with the Lord.
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Reading Aaron’s story, I couldn’t help but think:
How many times have we broken God’s heart, yet he chooses to love us anyway?
God chose Aaron to work alongside Moses, and because of this he got to see so many miraculous things. Yet right after their deliverance, Aaron did something awful and sinful against God. If this was another human we were talking about, I imagine they would’ve just cut ties with Aaron and been done with him. But not our God. He loves us so much, even though we fail Him again and again. The golden calf could’ve been the end of Aaron’s story, but God have even more in store for him.
That gives me so much hope, sisters! That even though I am imperfect and have oh so many faults, God loves me enough to use me anyway. Aaron’s past mistakes did not dictate his usefulness to God, and neither do ours. So much praise to our Father in Heaven!!
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The Israelite people had lived through generations of brutal misery and slavery. It was all they knew. Hopelessness was the norm for them.
Then in Exodus 4:31 we read that they heard the the LORD had heard their misery, they believed in His power, and worshiped. Hopelessness turned to hope.
The LORD promised His people freedom in a land of milk and honey, the Promised land.
But, it wasn’t a quick fix.
In God’s great mercy he knew they were not ready yet.
They were not ready to live free. (Aaron faced not only living free but co-leading the newly freed people, of which he himself was one. Moses had the benefit of growing up during his formative years in a place of affluence and power, Aaron, did not. Think of what a change that must have been.)
So the people believed, worshiped, and grasp hope for their future. But, when they thought everything was going to get better, they faced additional suffering, mixed with signs and wonders.
Then travel…and more travel. Growth experience after growth experience. (Denial and subsequent plagues, release showered in riches and gifts, Pharaoh’s army’s pursuit, Red Sea crossover, lack of water, lack of food, manna, Cloud of God by day, Fire of God by night, delays, waiting,…) Travel…and more travel.
Please forgive me, for I know this will sound harsh but, God was taking generations of broken-beaten down slave-trash, and turning them into strong, conquering minded, sons and daughters of the King. God was turning trash into treasure.I guess I see it that way because I am that same trash being turned into treasure.
I have no great value.
Nothing good do I accomplish on my own.
Absolutely everything good comes to me through the hand of God, through His love, His mercy, and His grace.
I was born into generations of slavery to sin.
My norm was bondage, I did not know how to be free.
And yet, He chose me. He loves me. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, I have the hope of the Promised Land for eternity.
The journey may be long.
It will include suffering and delays. It will definitely include glorious signs and wonders. It will also require God’s great mercy and grace as I am learning to go from trash to treasure, as I learn to embrace hope, as I travel and travel some more…both physically and spiritually. For, like the children of Israel, like Aaron, like every human being created by our holy God, we will fall short.
But, the Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord sacrificed himself. He made the pathway for us to the Promised Land.
The Holy Spirit, our guiding Cloud by day and Fire by night will lead us.
I am not where I need to be yet but, God continues to guide me through this wilderness of life.
And one day, I will be home. -
I think this calls us to really think less about making idols out of things but rather how we try to make God fit our human minds/approach. Aaron was trying to make a physical representation of God because they saw what God did and wanted to celebrate/be lead by that God but Moses wasn’t there to share more about Him. So Aaron was trying to fit God into an easy approachable thing to worship and celebrate what He did for them. That is why he says they will have a celebration for Jehova, as they view this golden calf as a representation of God. They were ready to hear more from God and understand Him but when God (through Moses) was taking too long and possibly dead, the people thought that Aaron could explain God and provide the approach to worship.
Ultimately this is a challenge not to approach and define God in our terms (as that is idolatry) but only define and approach God based on who He says He is.
And how often do we/I do this – try to make God fit my little mind of what I need Him to be in a moment or season and not remember His full characteristics and glory. -
I so needed this today. I am Aaron as well. I had breathed a prayer as I sat down to read today’s scripture “God, please take away some of this burden my family is under.” Churchmouse said it so well, “ our responsibility is to be faithful right where we are…whether its on the mountaintop or in the valley. We are to accept our current role graciously and wait on God’s leading.” So my prayer, as I wait here in the valley, Lord strengthen these feeble hands and feet and help me to serve in a way that displays the love of Christ and ultimately brings honor and glory to You.
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Amen!
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Today I am hurting. A few months ago I called off a wedding because I wasn’t feeling peace about certain differences my fiancé and I had. I didn’t want to end the relationship because I was hopeful that maybe time would help us align and I could find peace. It’s been almost 3 months since I made that decision and not much has changed. Last night I ended the relationship. I don’t know what happens from here. He was my best friend and the main person Ive spent time with the past 2 years. What it came down to was I didn’t feel the freedom to be my authentic self and express my faith openly in the relationship. It is still hard and I can’t help but doubt my decision and fear loneliness.
I trust God will work things for my good even if the consequences hurt for a while.
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Wow. Thank you for sharing Audrye! It sounds like you made the brave, right decision!
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Praying for you, Audrye L. Lord please bless her with Your peace as she walks in Your will.
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So sorry , I pray He will change so you two will be equally yoked or God has plans for you that you will know whatever He brings into your life, you will know – He will give you peace and excitement to love your best friend who will be a blessing from God.
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Thank you all. It’s so painful but your words bring me comfort.
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I’ve ended a similar relationship- it takes a while, but healing will come. God has it all in hand. It is much better to be in a relationship where you can freely express and share your faith than to feel like you have to hide it and your true self. It’s a painful, but important lesson to learn that I unfortunately had to learn a few times before I really got it.
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Aaron says in Exodus 32:5 “There will be a festival to the Lord tomorrow.” The word for Lord in this verse is Jehovah. It’s the same word for Lord that is used in verse 7 for to whom Moses is speaking on the mountain. Aaron had declared a festival to Jehovah.
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