It doesn't have to be big

Moses went up the mountain and he wasn't gone that long before the people started complaining.  Aaron being a bit on the weak side gave into them and said bring all your gold.  So they did and he made them a golden calf, an idol to worship as their god.

That's how the story goes, doesn't it?  I've read the book, seen the film.  Well this story was the reading in church the other Sunday and as I listened something stood out for me.  'Take off your gold ear-rings that your wives, your sons and daughters are wearing and bring them to me'.  Just ear-rings, surely not.  Wasn't it all your gold?  After all you wouldn't make much of a golden calf with just ear-rings, that amount of gold even with thousands of you wouldn't go far.

So I picked up another bible translation and checked it in there.  And there it was again, ear-rings.  It has always been the impression that the golden calf was quite large, but this must have been a rather puny thing.  How we get ideas in our minds no matter how much we read.  I would have put money on them being asked to bring all their gold.

I jotted it down in my sermon notes booklet, 'how big was the golden calf if only made from ear-rings.

Wednesday found me down the church, as I had opened it for any one to come in for prayer.  I opened my note-book and read my note from the other Sunday. 

'Why only ear-rings Lord', I asked, 'the calf must have been very small'. the answer came, 'Size isn't important, your idol need only be very small to take you away from me'.

So the Israelites gave up Almighty God for an iddy biddy tiny golden calf and gave their worship and put their faith in that. 

Makes me wonder why he pointed this out to me.  I will have to start looking to see if I have any golden calf's.

Jenny <><