Aaron complied without resistance and actively made the golden calf, according to Exodus 32 and Les Feldick's teaching.
When the people told Aaron they did not know what had become of Moses, Aaron answered by telling them to break off their gold and bring it to him. He received the gold, fashioned it with a graving tool, made a molten calf, built an altar before it, and proclaimed a feast. Les Feldick says Aaron gave the people no argument, and that Aaron was 'part and parcel' of the idolatry.
Exodus 32:1-5 — Records the people's demand for gods and Aaron's response, from gathering gold to making the calf and calling a feast.
Exodus 32:24 — Contains Aaron's explanation to Moses that he cast gold into the fire and the calf came out, contradicting the earlier account.
According to Exodus 32, the crisis began while Moses was still on Mount Sinai. The people saw that Moses delayed to come down, gathered themselves together under Aaron, and said, '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' (Exodus 32:1). Aaron's response was immediate compliance—he told them to break off the golden earrings and bring them to him (Exodus 32:2). After receiving the gold, 'he 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' (Exodus 32:4). Aaron did not stop with the idol. He built an altar before it and 'made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD' (Exodus 32:5). When Moses later confronted him, Aaron's explanation avoided the fact that he had shaped the calf. He said, 'And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf' (Exodus 32:24). The narrative presents Aaron as a willing participant, not a passive bystander.
Les Feldick opens the subject by noting that Israel became impatient while Moses was on the mountain for forty days and asked for gods. He says they were coming out of Egypt saturated with idolatry and paganism, and that human nature is no different today—people would do the same thing to Christ if He came today. He stresses that these Old Testament stories expose bare human nature. Les is astonished by Aaron. He says he cannot get over the fact that Aaron did not give the people any argument and should have preached a sermon, but instead did whatever they wanted. He emphasizes that Aaron did not simply let the gold go into a fire; he received it, melted it, fashioned it with a graving tool, made the calf, built an altar, and proclaimed a feast—Aaron was 'part and parcel' of the worship. When Moses confronted Aaron, Les says Aaron's claim that he threw gold in the fire and a calf came out was unreal. Aaron had actually crafted the idol, yet he told Moses the gold came out by itself. Les says this dramatic moment is in Scripture to show us 'bare human nature,' the same fallen condition that would reject Christ today.
Exodus 32:1-2 records that the people gathered themselves together under Aaron and said, '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.' Aaron answered, 'Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.' Les Feldick notes that Israel were a people of choice who did not need the calf, but of their own volition they demanded a god to worship while Moses was gone.
Les says he cannot get over Aaron, that he didn't even give the people any argument. He should have preached them a sermon, but he just does whatever they want. Aaron fashions the golden calf, builds an altar around it, and then makes a proclamation: 'Tomorrow is a feast to the LORD.' Les concludes that Aaron went right along with all of it and was 'part and parcel' of the whole thing.
When Moses confronted him, Aaron said, 'Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.' He then claimed that he told the people to bring their gold, and 'I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.' Les points out that this was not how it happened. The gold was melted, crafted with a graving tool, and made into the calf by Aaron. Yet Aaron told Moses the calf simply came out of the fire.
Les asks why God would put something so ridiculous in His Word. He answers that it is to show us bare human nature. He says human nature is no different today than it was then: if Christ were to come on the scene today, the human race would do the same thing—reject Him and not believe Him. The same fallen nature led Aaron and Israel to turn to a pagan calf despite all that God had done for them.
Impatience and Human Nature
Les sets the scene: after Moses was gone 40 days, impatient Israel asked for gods, and Les connects their behavior to the same fallen human nature we still see today.
Aaron Blames the People
Les thinks Moses' words imply the people pressured Aaron, but he admits the book never says they threatened his life; Aaron's answer blames the people's mischief.
Aaron Fashions the Calf
Les emphasizes that Aaron did not just collect gold; he melted it, worked it with a graving tool, and made a calf—then Israel called it their deliverer, which was a lie.
Israel's Voluntary Choice
Les notes Israel were a people of choice who of their own volition demanded a god to worship, and Joshua initially mistook the celebration noise for war.
Aaron's Unresisting Compliance
Les marvels that Aaron gave no argument, should have preached a sermon, went along exactly with the crowd, built an altar, and proclaimed a feast to the LORD.
The Calf Came Out of the Fire
Les highlights Aaron's absurd claim that the calf just came out of the fire, and describes the worship turning into lewd, naked dancing.
Aaron's Fabricated Story
Les drives home the point that Aaron had actually melted and crafted the calf, yet he told Moses it simply emerged from the fire—all to expose bare human nature.
The People Demand a God
Les reads Exodus 32:1-2, where the people tell Aaron that Moses' fate is unknown and demand gods, and Aaron immediately responds by telling them to bring their gold.
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's direct demand that led Aaron to make the golden calf.
Exodus 32:2: And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.
Shows Aaron's immediate willingness to comply rather than resist the people's request.
Exodus 32:4: 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.
States plainly that Aaron shaped the gold into the calf with a graving tool.
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 actively joining the idolatry by building an altar and announcing a feast.
Exodus 32:24: And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.
Records Aaron's explanation to Moses, in which he falsely implied the calf came out of the fire by itself.
Yes. Exodus 32:4 says Aaron received the gold, fashioned it with a graving tool, and made the molten calf. Les Feldick emphasizes that Aaron did not accidentally let the calf come out of the fire; he actively crafted it.
Les Feldick says Aaron didn't give the people any argument. He should have preached them a sermon, but instead he did whatever they wanted, even building an altar and proclaiming a feast to the LORD.
The people said, '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.' They wanted a visible replacement to lead them while Moses was gone.
Watch the Teaching: Why Aaron Failed: Leadership, Idolatry, and the Golden Calf