Created God.....

CREATED GOD

Reflection on Exodus 32

This happens during their journey towards Canaan, the promised land. Israelites liberated from the bondage of slavery and exploitation.

1. God is Misunderstood

a. They were trying to create a God
b. They were looking for a ‘simple’ God.One who act or walk with them - God of convenience
c. They have a parochial understanding of God
d. They were not ready to wait for God’s intervention through Moses.

2. Aaron and His Theology and Actions(v.2-6)

a. He acts according to the demands of the people. He was a person one who appointed by God to act according to the will of God. A spoke person of God. Aaron was called by God to guide the people of God according to God’s will.But here he guides the people according to their demand....

b.Aaron - A compromising leader. Uncompromising stand for God’s will - how do we respond? A compromising Church

c.Aaron - Theologically weak person. When I say Theologically weak person, he was suppose to teach the people in a matured understanding. A Theologically weak person or community cannot counter the issues faced by the society and would not be able give proper theological guidence.Only a matured faith person/ community can guide the community.

3. Majority may not be right - Majority say ‘make God for us. Voice of majority is under question - Majority may be wrong. True doctrines, spirituality, decisions ..etc have to be assessed not by majority but by God’s will and justice

4. False worship is exposed (v.4-6) What is true worship? Almighty God is sidelined and the golden calf is worshipped. Worship has to be seen according its nature, emphasis, space for God’s justice and righteousness. A God for namesake. Just for namesake.......

5. Failure of the people(v.17-18). People may think that our voice is is the voice of the victory...but it is not...

6. Moses
a. A true mediator - Pleading for the people (v.29,30, 11-13)
b. Uncompromising Leader. Seems to be rude (v.19, 21). Uncompromising stand against the falsehood and sin.
c. A leader one who demands for the blessing of the nation. Angry God changed God’s mind and decided to exclude the Israelites from blessing and decided to make Moses as a great nation. But Moses politely pleading to God to change God’s mind. Moses had a vision of a blessed community instead of becoming a blessed individual. He realised that blessing to the nation brings blessing to him too.

7. God and God’s nature
a. Repenting God (v.14)
b. A God one who intervenes in the midst of falsehood and sin(v.7)
c. God of Judgement(v.35)

Do we still create new Gods....?
Are we move according the demands of the majority...?
Our voices seems to be the voice of the victory...But....?
Courage enough to oppose sin and falsehood..?