Aaron and Moses: Two Kinds of Leaders.

When the Israelites complained, Aaron made an idol and they partied like drunken frat boys. God told Moses:

“Go down at once! For your people you brought up from the land of Egypt have acted wickedly. They have made for themselves an image of a calf. They have bowed down to it, sacrificed to it, and said, ‘Israel, this is your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt…’ Now leave me, so that my anger can burn against them and I can destroy them. Then I will make you a great nation” Exodus 32:7-10.

God says He will destroy them and start over with Moses. But Moses intercedes for the people.

“Then Moses asked Aaron, ‘What did these people do to you that YOU HAVE LED THEM into such grave sin?’  Aaron answered, ‘They said, ‘Make us a god because this Moses, we don’t know what has happened to him!’ so I said, ‘Whoever has gold, take it off,’ and they did. WHEN I THREW IT INTO THE FIRE, OUT CAME THIS CALF!’ Moses saw that AARON HAD LET THEM GET OUT OF CONTROL, resulting in WEAKNESS before their enemies.” Exodus 32:21-25.

Aaron did not stand for what was right, but let the people push him into sin. He lacked the courage integrity creates in a leader. He actively assisted in their sin—by making the idol.  Aaron was a politician—pleasing the crowd was more important to him than pleasing God.

And what is wrong with this: ‘When I threw it into the fire, out came this calf’?  PASSIVE VOICE. Aaron is not facing his guilt. He lacks EXTREME OWNERSHIP. When a true leader fails, he faces it honestly.

Aaron:

LACKS INTEGRITY—

+ does not stand for truth

+ values pleasing people more than pleasing God

+ lets people get out of control

+ lets them be weak before enemies

+ cannot own his own guilt

= COWARDICE.

Moses

HAS INTEGRITY—

+ stands for truth

+ puts God first

+ intercedes for his people

+ not interested in his own glory/being father of a great nation

+ punishes wrongdoing

= COURAGE.

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