Exodus 32:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

They had no need for a treadle, nor did they sharpen sickles or practice any skilled trade such as weaving, building, or shoemaking, for God’s word provided all that they needed. Their meals came effortlessly, without toil—this was the essence of the manna; it was perennially fresh and did not burden them with labor. Their garments and footwear, along with their bodies, were not susceptible to the usual decay; their clothing lasted extensively, and their feet did not grow calloused, despite their extensive walking. They had no need for physicians or medicine, for they were far removed from any illness. Scripture affirms, "And he brought out the Israelites with silver and gold, and there was not in their tribes one that was sick." They dined and drank as though they had transitioned from this world to a vastly superior one; and the intense rays of the sun were shielded from them by a cloud, which continuously hovered above, providing cover for all. Throughout the night, they required no lamp to chase away the darkness; the pillar of fire served as an unparalleled source of light, guiding them with clarity through the wilderness. They traversed not only dry ground, but also the sea, overcoming natural limits as they walked upon the tumultuous waters as if they were solid land. While the sea supported them as dry terrain, their enemies faced its wrath; for them, it was a pathway, while for their foes, it became a grave. The chaotic waters demonstrated a wise order, fulfilling the roles of guardian and executioner, revealing contradictory actions on the same day. And what of the stones that emerged from the waters? What of the multitude of birds that darkened the sky? What of the wonders manifest in Egypt and in the desert? What of the triumphs and spoils acquired without bloodshed? It was as though they engaged in play, not combat, in vanquishing their adversaries. They overcame their Egyptian rulers without weapons, emerging from Egypt accompanied by the joyous sounds of trumpets and songs, making these acts more celebratory than martial. Indeed, all these miracles were ordained not merely for their immediate needs, but to reinforce the teachings of divine knowledge imparted by Moses. Voices echoed everywhere, declaring the Lord. The sea bore witness by parting for them, or reverting to its depths, while the waters of the Nile prophesied by transforming to blood. Frogs, locusts, and plagues reiterated this message, along with the remarkable events in the wilderness, the manna, the pillar, the cloud, and the quails. All served as indelible reminders, echoing in their hearts as if they were scriptures. Yet, in spite of such divine care, unfathomable blessings, extraordinary miracles, continuous guidance, inspirational words, convincing deeds, celebrated victories, glorious achievements, abundant sustenance, and unparalleled glory that distinguished them, they turned ungrateful and heartless, worshipping the golden calf and seeking foreign gods despite the vivid recollection of God’s favor in Egypt and the many blessings they had received from Him.

But could not Aaron fulfill the promise made to Abraham? He was a revered priest and the bedrock of the legitimate priesthood, yet his stability faltered before the evil of the people, as evidenced by their creation of the calf.

Why, one might ask, did the Jews not believe in Christ? It was due to their hardened hearts. Likewise, in the time of Moses, there were numerous miracles, though not of the same magnitude; yet even after witnessing such wonders—including voices, trumpets, and flashes of lightning—the people molded a calf for themselves and adhered to Baal-Peor.

The discussion thus far encapsulates the essence of the narrative we find here. To enhance our understanding, let us examine its components individually. The crafted bull represents the chaotic mingling of the soul's natural energies, characterized by a passionate and irrational amalgamation that begets unnatural desires. This bull is referred to as ‘one’ because it embodies a unified state of evil, which, however, splinters into various forms of wrongdoing. The term ‘bull’ connotes endurance, diligence, and an inclination towards the cultivation of the earth, particularly reflecting the tendency for easy assimilation of harmful passions, much like a ruminant animal processing its food.

Additionally, the term ‘cast’ signifies the transformation of the previously abstract state of harmful thoughts into concrete actions. The phrase ‘These are thy gods, O Israel’ utilizes the plural form to indicate that evil, by its very nature, is capable of division and instability, leading to a multitude of distractions. In contrast, goodness inherently seeks to unify and encompass what has been scattered. Thus, it follows that evil aims to fracture unity and bring about destruction.

The mind, when it immerses itself in the fire of passions, as illuminated in the interpretation of Exodus 32:2, concocts an irrational and ignorant state, which is the root of all vices. Each passion, therefore, arises from the interplay of sensory stimuli, emotional responses, and a natural capability, which together embody the unruly and yearning impulses of the soul. The mind, having strayed from its inherent essence, contributes to this tumultuous cycle.

In His effort to guide His people away from such pagan practices, He insisted that only the one true God, the Creator of everything, should receive the reverence due to Him, so that divine worship might be directed to Him alone, everywhere and at all times. Due to His abhorrence of this sinful behavior, God inspired Moses to affirm the command: "Thou shalt not make unto thee an idol, neither shalt thou make unto thee any likeness. Thou shalt destroy their shrines, and their idols shall be broken, and the statues of their gods shall be burned with fire." (Exodus 20:4, Exodus 34:13-14). Thus, it becomes apparent to all that God explicitly prohibited Moses from creating any images or likenesses due to the susceptibility of the Hebrew people to idolatry.

As previously mentioned in our introduction to this chapter, the Israelites did not perceive the symbolism of Egypt as sinful, since many understood the philosophical and religious explanations offered by Egyptian priests, who described Apis as a representation of the invisible creative force that humanity cannot fully depict. However, therein lay a peril for the people; by creating a visible image of power rooted in nature rather than recognizing the true Deity, they were indulging in a naturalistic form of worship that prioritized forces and phenomena, obscuring the Creator and the guiding eternal Thought.

After crafting the calf, they proclaimed, “Behold thy god, O Israel, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt.” The identity of the speaker remains ambiguous; it may have been the people, voicing their leaders’ thoughts. This could indicate that the populace naively viewed the calf as a representation of the God from whom they had witnessed miraculous acts. Yet, we are inclined to a different perspective. It appears that Aaron, Hur, and the elders present on the mountain, who likely did not succumb to this folly along with the masses, mockingly expressed their disdain, saying, “Behold Israel, that God who brought you out of the land of Egypt.”