The Golden Calf

The Ten Commandments Written:   

            After the children of Israel left Egypt, they camped in the wilderness by Mount Sinai. And God said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain, and I will give you tablets of stone, and commandments that I have written, so that you can teach them to your people.”A cloud covered the mountain where God’s glory rested, and Moses went up the mountain, into the middle of the cloud. God spoke to Moses there, and told him what offerings the children of Israel should bring Him, of gold and silver, and fine cloth, and animal skins, and He described the beautiful clothes His priests should wear. And God gave Moses two tablets of stone, written with God’s own finger. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.

  

The Golden Calf:       

When the people saw that Moses was taking a long time to come down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Make us gods to lead us, because we do not know what has happened to Moses.”Aaron told them to take all of their golden earrings and bring them to him. He made a calf of cast metal, and the people said, “These are our gods, that brought us out of the land of Egypt.” Aaron built an altar before the calf, and the people held a feast. They ate and drank, and made burnt offerings. Then God said to Moses, “Your people have turned away from my commandments: they have made a metal calf and worshipped it. My anger burns against these stubborn people: I will destroy them.” But Moses said to him, “Then the Egyptians would ask, ‘did He lead His people out just to kill them in the mountains?’ Remember Your promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” And God became merciful to His people. When Moses came down from the mountain with the tablets God had given him, he saw the calf, and the people dancing and singing, and in his anger he threw down the tablets and broke them. He took the golden calf and burned it; then he ground it to powder, and mixed it in water, and made the people drink it. Then Moses said, “Whoever is on God’s side, come to me.” And to those who gathered around him, he cursed saying, “The Lord God of Israel, says that you must take your swords, and go through the camp, and kill your brothers, your neighbors, and your friends.”They did as Moses said, and three thousand men were killed that day.

Lesson to be Learnt:

God was angry with His people, but when Moses pleaded to Him He became merciful. The same way even when we have committed a grave mistake in our life. When we repent and plead with the Lord, the Lord will forgive us.

Psalm 30:5

(CEV)  Your anger lasts a little while, but your kindness lasts for a lifetime. At night we may cry, but when morning comes we will celebrate.

(Hindi) क्योंकि उसका क्रोध, तो क्षण भर का होता है, परन्तु उसकी प्रसन्नता जीवन भर की होती है। कदाचित् रात को रोना पके, परन्तु सबेरे आनन्द पहुंचेगा।।

(Kan) ಆತನ ಕೋಪವು ಕ್ಷಣಮಾತ್ರ. ಆತನ ಕಟಾಕ್ಷವು ಜೀವವೇ; ರಾತ್ರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ದುಃಖವು ತಂಗಬಹುದಾದರೂ ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ಆನಂದವು ಬರುವದು.

 (Mal) അവന്റെ കോപം ക്ഷണനേരത്തേക്കേയുള്ളു; അവന്റെ പ്രസാദമോ ജീവപര്യന്തമുള്ളതു; സന്ധ്യയിങ്കല്‍ കരച്ചല്‍ വന്നു രാപാര്‍ക്കും; ഉഷസ്സിലോ ആനന്ദഘോഷം വരുന്നു.

(Tamil OV)  அவருடைய கோபம் ஒரு நிமிஷம், அவருடைய தயவோ நீடிய வாழ்வு; சாயங்காலத்தில் அழுகை தங்கும், விடியற்காலத்திலே களிப்புண்டாகும்.

(Telugu)  ఆయన కోపము నిమిషమాత్రముండును ఆయన దయ ఆయుష్కాలమంతయు నిలుచును. సాయంకాలమున ఏడ్పు వచ్చి, రాత్రి యుండినను ఉదయమున సంతోషము కలుగును.