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Aaron: Wavering Compliance

 

Have you ever met someone without backbone? They seem to be firm in their position, but when the pressure is applied, they crumble or change. Everyone can stand for something when there is no opposition, but when challenged the difference between the strong and the weak becomes apparent. The Bible has a story about someone who was weak and wavering in a time of pressure; his name was Aaron. Let’s see what we can learn from his story.
First, we must understand more about who Aaron was. Aaron was related to Moses, and called specifically by God to be his mouthpiece when Moses excused himself due to his speech. Aaron was with Moses when they spoke to Pharaoh and demanded that he let the Israelites go. Aaron was with Moses through all of the plagues against Egypt. Aaron was with Moses when they crossed the red sea, when the manna fell from heaven, when the water came forth from the rock. To put it shortly, Aaron was in a very special position and saw many mighty wonders and works of God in the deliverance of the people of Israel. Not only was he in a high position, but he had a lot of wisdom and insight from God: Aaron saw God’s hatred of idolatry as He destroyed the idols of Egypt; Aaron saw God’s power and holiness as Mount Sinai trembled and smoked at the presence of the Lord; Aaron saw God’s protection and provision through His dealings with the people. He knew something of the majesty and glory of God. Yet it was in the light of all these blessings and honors that Aaron sinned.
When the children of Israel had come out of Egypt, God directed them to go to Mount Sinai to receive the law. God revealed Himself in great power and splendor as He thundered the ten precepts of righteousness. The people trembled and feared greatly, and promised to do what the Lord had commanded. Then Moses went up into the mountain for forty days with God. It was during this time that the people should have been searching their hearts, seeking to understand God’s proclamation and come into harmony with it; but instead, they grew restless and murmured against Moses. They forgot all the wonders they had seen, and, since they didn’t see Moses around anymore, they decided to erect an idol that would represent God for them and lead them to their next destination. They were riotous and aggressive at this point, and those who did not agree were persecuted and some even killed in the tumult. It was in this state that the people came to Aaron, as is written in Exodus 32:1, “When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” Instead of attributing their deliverance to God, they credited Moses. Instead of submitting, they rebelled. 
The rebellious people came to Aaron and demanded that he make them gods. Aaron was the second in command, and he had much authority and influence over the people. If Aaron would have stood firm for God; If Aaron would have been steadfast and unwavering in his purpose; If Aaron would have put the honor of God and the welfare of the people above his own personal protection, things would have gone much differently. If he had rebuked the people for their uprising and counseled them to repent and seek God, to remember all that they had seen, and to heed the commandments that God had spoken, then the rebellion would have been quenched. But Aaron did not do this. He weakly reasoned with the people, and as they saw his compliance and pliability, they pushed him more, until he gave. Even a small amount of compromise and compliance shows one weak and changeable, and opens the door for more. He, the one who was a leader of the people, entrusted with their care; the one who saw the holiness of God and His hatred of idolatry, made the people an idol. Not only did he make the idol, but then after they proclaimed this pile of metal to be their god, “When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.” He encouraged them in their sin and rebellion. 
What was the result? God was going to destroy them for this blatant dishonor and rebellion, and Moses had to intercede for them. Thousands died for their sin, and the people had forfeited the favor of God. Aaron himself was going to be destroyed by God if Moses had not pleaded for his forgiveness. Such are the wages of sin; such is the result of turning away from God and letting Satan influence us into error. Moses showed the right response when he rebuked the people, destroyed the idol, made them drink the dust, and then called for all who were still on the Lord’s side to come to him. Then all those who still persisted in rebellion were killed, cut off like a cancer is cut off from the body. Moses did not seek to gain the people’s favor; he was more interested in their souls, their welfare, their holiness. He was willing to call sin by its name and put himself in danger to warn the people. But Aaron did not show this response; Aaron’s sin was so much greater because he was a leader; It was his responsibility to stand firm and guide the people in the right direction, but he was weak and wavering. His lack of firmness was devastating to the people; His wavering compliance left evil unchecked.
What does this teach us today? We must not allow the pressures of life or the expectations of others to influence us negatively; we must not yield to any demand that is contrary to what we know to be right, regardless of the consequences. Whether its your friends, your family, your boss, or whoever, the best thing you can do for them and for yourself is to stand firm for God and for the right; the best thing you can do is call out sin in its true ugliness; the best thing you can do is lay down your own interests and truly seek out the glory of God and the eternal benefit of others. Will you, like Aaron, manifest wavering compliance? Or will you be firm and steadfast today? I pray that you may stand firm for Jesus, so that you may receive a “well done, good and faithful servant…” and that others may be in heaven by your influence.

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