Yes, the Israelites asked Aaron to make gods because Moses delayed and they were influenced by Egyptian idolatry.
The people feared Moses was gone forever and wanted visible gods to lead them, as they were accustomed to Egypt's many gods. Les Feldick emphasizes their impatience and the pressure they put on Aaron.
Exodus 32:1 — This verse records the moment the people gathered to Aaron and requested gods because Moses delayed.
In Exodus 32:1, the Bible states that when the people saw Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, they gathered to 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 know not what has become of him." This shows their impatience and lack of faith. Their immediate demand for a visible god reflects their recent Egyptian background, where many gods were worshiped. Aaron responded by collecting gold earrings and fashioning a golden calf (Exodus 32:2-4). The next verses show Aaron's attempt to shift blame to the people, claiming they were "set on mischief" (Exodus 32:22).
Les Feldick explains that the Israelites, fresh from Egypt, were saturated with idolatry; in Egypt "everything was a god" and some of that had "rubbed off" on them. When Moses was absent for about a month, they grew impatient and demanded a tangible god. Les emphasizes that Moses was gone for a total of thirty days (Clip 4). He also notes that the people pressured Aaron, even threatening his life, as Moses implied (Clip 2). Les shows that the golden calf was an Egyptian deity, an ox or calf, and that the people's choice was deliberate; they didn't have to do it, but they chose to of their own volition (Clip 5). He highlights that this event exposes human nature, which remains the same today; people would reject Christ just as they rejected Moses (from summary).
Les Feldick notes that the Israelites had just come out of Egypt, where everything was a god to the Egyptians. He says that 'some of it had rubbed off' on the Israelites, so when they became impatient for Moses, they turned to the kind of worship they knew in Egypt (Clip 1). The golden calf was an Egyptian god as well, an ox or calf (Clip 3).
Les Feldick suggests that Moses implied the people threatened Aaron with their lives, saying 'either you build us a god, or we'll kill you.' Though the book doesn't say it explicitly, Moses' words in Exodus 32 indicate the people put pressure on Aaron to bring it about (Clip 2).
Les Feldick points out that this event is an exposure of human nature. People today, if Christ appeared as He did in that earlier time, would likewise reject Him, refuse to believe Him, and crucify Him. Israel's response shows the same fallen human nature shared by all people.
Why Aaron Failed: Leadership, Idolatry, and the Golden Calf
Hello, and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
Context: Moses Delays and People's Demand
Les explains Exodus 32:1-2, noting that Moses delayed and the people gathered to Aaron, asking for gods because they didn't know what happened to Moses. He highlights Egyptian influence.
Pressure on Aaron
Les discusses Moses' implication that the people threatened Aaron, forcing him to build the calf. He reads Aaron's defense from Exodus 32.
Why the Golden Calf Still Matters — 1 Corinthians 10:5-13 Explained
And so he says, break off those golden earrings, bring them to me. And they did. Verse 3, And so all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. And he received them at their hand, and he fashioned it. He worked that. He must have been a craftsman of some sort. So he took this gold and melted it, and he fashioned it with a graving tool.
Timeline and Impatience
Les notes that Moses was gone about thirty days, and during that time the people asked Aaron for a god, not knowing what had happened to Moses.
Deliberate Choice
Les emphasizes that the Israelites had a choice; they didn't have to make the calf, but they chose to of their own volition. He reads from Exodus 32 about Joshua's reaction.
Why the Golden Calf Still Matters — 1 Corinthians 10:5-13 Explained
And Moses said, No, wait a minute, Joshua, listen. That's not the sound or the voice of them that cry for being overcome, verse 18. But I hear the noise of them that sing, see. And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh to the camp, that he saw the calf set out there in the middle, and the dancing.
What Does It Mean to Be Crucified With Christ?
And to whom swear he that they should not enter into his rest, which Canaan would have been, you know, but to them that committed adultery, but to them who worshiped the golden calf? That's what we would think. Because you want to remember just a few months earlier while Moses was up in the mount getting all of his instructions, the people came to Aaron and said, Well, we don't know what's happene…
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 request for gods because of Moses' delay.
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.
Aaron's response to gather gold to make the calf.
Exodus 32:4: And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, and made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
The creation of the golden calf and the people's declaration.
They had just come from Egypt where many gods were worshiped, and when Moses was gone for about thirty days, they grew impatient and wanted visible gods to lead them, as they didn't know what had happened to him.
Yes, Les Feldick states that Moses was gone for a total of thirty days, which led the people to believe he was not coming back.
Watch the Teaching: Why Aaron Failed: Leadership, Idolatry, and the Golden Calf