It was pagan Egyptian-style idolatry, not worship of Jehovah, characterized by burnt and peace offerings, feasting, and naked, lascivious dancing.
Although Aaron announced a feast to the Lord, the golden calf itself was an Egyptian god, and the worship descended into gross immorality. The people offered burnt and peace offerings, sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play—behavior Les Feldick describes as lewd, lascivious, and naked. This was not true worship of the God who had brought Israel out of Egypt.
Exodus 32:6 — This verse records the actual worship activity around the calf: burnt offerings, peace offerings, eating, drinking, and rising up to play.
The biblical account in Exodus 32 records that the people gathered to Aaron and said, "Up, make us gods, which shall go before us," because Moses had delayed coming down from the mount (Exodus 32:1). Aaron received their gold, fashioned it with a graving tool, made a molten calf, and declared, "These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt" (Exodus 32:3-4). He then built an altar before the calf and proclaimed, "To morrow is a feast to the LORD" (Exodus 32:5). Exodus 32:6 then describes the worship itself: "And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play." The biblical text shows a feast directed at an object that Aaron himself called the gods that brought Israel out of Egypt—while also linking it to the name of the LORD.
Les Feldick teaches that the golden calf worship was not worship of Jehovah, even though Aaron called it a feast to the Lord. He marvels that Aaron did not argue with the people's demand for gods but immediately told them to bring their gold and made them a god (Clip 0). Les points out that the calf represented an Egyptian god—the calf or ox, out of one of many (Clip 6). Les stresses that what Moses and Joshua heard was not ordinary celebration. The people were "in lewd, lascivious dancing," naked, and engaged in gross immorality (Clips 1 and 3). He says "abject immorality was always part and parcel of idolatry" (Clip 4), and that "whenever you go into idolatry, you go into abject immorality as well" (Clip 7). Les also notes that Paul quotes this incident to warn believers (Clip 2).
Although Aaron proclaimed, "To morrow is a feast to the LORD" (Exodus 32:5), Les Feldick teaches that the worship was not worship of Jehovah. In Clip 6, he says the calf was an Egyptian god, the calf or ox, "out of one of many." The people had asked Aaron to "make us gods" like the Egyptians had, and Aaron complied without arguing (Clips 0 and 5). In Clip 2, Les says they "went right down into the depths of idolatry and worship a stupid golden calf."
Scripture records they rose up early on the morrow, offered burnt offerings, brought peace offerings, sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play (Exodus 32:6). Les Feldick explains that this was no ordinary folk dancing. In Clip 1 he says, "They weren't just dancing... They were in lewd, lascivious dancing. They were naked." He repeats in Clip 3 that they were naked and immoral, having "taken that golden calf worship... down to the same level of all other idolatry."
Les Feldick teaches that idolatry and immorality are inseparable. In Clip 4 he says "abject immorality, as was always part and parcel of idolatry." In Clip 7 he repeats, "Whenever you go into idolatry, you go into abject immorality as well. In the name of religion." He also notes that the people asked Aaron for gods "like the Egyptians had," showing that Israel's pattern of worship was rooted in what they knew from Egypt (Clip 5).
Aaron's Immediate Compliance
Les stresses that Aaron did not argue when Israel asked for gods; he immediately told them to bring their gold and he would make a god.
Lewd Dancing and Nakedness
Les explains that the dancing Moses heard around the calf was lewd and lascivious; the people were naked.
Feast Offerings and Play
Les points to the burnt offerings, peace offerings, eating, drinking, and 'play' as evidence of the worship's pagan, emotional nature.
Pagan Worship Reduced to Immorality
Les emphasizes that the worship included nakedness and immorality, placing it on the same level as all other idolatry.
Idolatry and Abject Immorality
Les says abject immorality was always part and parcel of idolatry and notes God judged the people for it.
Israel's Egyptian-Style Request
Les recounts that the people asked Aaron for gods 'like the Egyptians had,' showing the worship was patterned after Egypt.
The Egyptian Nature of the Calf
Les identifies the golden calf as an Egyptian god and notes Aaron fashioned it with a graving tool before presenting it as Israel's gods.
Idolatry Always Brings Immorality
Les teaches that idolatry always leads to abject immorality in the name of religion, using Israel's history as proof.
Exodus 32:1: And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
Shows the people rejecting Moses and demanding gods to lead them.
Exodus 32:3-4: And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Shows Aaron fashioning the calf and identifying it with the gods who brought Israel out of Egypt.
Exodus 32:5: And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.
Shows Aaron proclaiming a feast to the LORD in connection with the idol.
Exodus 32:6: And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
Describes the specific worship actions—offerings, eating, drinking, and playing.
No. Although Aaron announced a feast to the LORD, Les Feldick teaches the calf was an Egyptian god and the people's behavior descended into pagan immorality. He says they 'went right down into the depths of idolatry' and worshiped 'a stupid golden calf.'
They rose up early and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, then sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play (Exodus 32:6). Les Feldick explains that this 'play' involved lewd, lascivious dancing in nakedness, not ordinary celebration.
Watch the Teaching: Why Aaron Failed: Leadership, Idolatry, and the Golden Calf