And the LORD said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image.
And the LORD said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves. God's words reveal both His holiness that cannot tolerate sin and His covenantal grace that distinguishes between the faithful mediator and the unfaithful people.
The command arise, get thee down quickly indicates urgent judgment. While Moses communed with God, receiving revelation for Israel's blessing, the people below were breaking the covenant through idolatry. The speed required shows the seriousness of their sin and the immediacy of God's response to covenant violation.
Notably, God says thy people which thou hast brought forth rather than 'My people.' This rhetorical distancing reveals God's righteous anger at Israel's betrayal. They have forfeited their privileged status through rebellion. Yet God's continued conversation with Moses indicates the possibility of restoration through the mediator's intercession.
The word corrupted translates a Hebrew term meaning to ruin, destroy, or act perversely. Israel has not merely made a mistake but has fundamentally perverted their covenant relationship with God through idolatry.
Historical Context
While Moses received the law on Mount Sinai, Aaron supervised construction of a golden calf at the people's demand. This represented not just generic idolatry but likely adoption of Egyptian religious practices or Canaanite Baal worship symbolized by bull imagery.
This incident revealed Israel's spiritual immaturity and the persistent temptation to syncretism - mixing worship of Yahweh with pagan religious forms.
Questions for Reflection
What does God's rhetorical distancing ('thy people') teach us about how sin affects our relationship with Him?
Why did the people turn to idolatry so quickly after experiencing God's deliverance from Egypt?
How does the mediator role of Moses point forward to Christ's better mediation?
What forms of idolatry tempt believers today to corrupt their worship of God?
How should the urgency in God's command shape our view of sin's seriousness?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And the LORD said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves. God's words reveal both His holiness that cannot tolerate sin and His covenantal grace that distinguishes between the faithful mediator and the unfaithful people.
The command arise, get thee down quickly indicates urgent judgment. While Moses communed with God, receiving revelation for Israel's blessing, the people below were breaking the covenant through idolatry. The speed required shows the seriousness of their sin and the immediacy of God's response to covenant violation.
Notably, God says thy people which thou hast brought forth rather than 'My people.' This rhetorical distancing reveals God's righteous anger at Israel's betrayal. They have forfeited their privileged status through rebellion. Yet God's continued conversation with Moses indicates the possibility of restoration through the mediator's intercession.
The word corrupted translates a Hebrew term meaning to ruin, destroy, or act perversely. Israel has not merely made a mistake but has fundamentally perverted their covenant relationship with God through idolatry.