When the cult doesn't have a leader

 Welcome to the Daily Bible Chapter. My name is James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as we discover new insights and new perspectives from a very old book.

I'm reading Young's Literal Translation (YLT) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Exodus 32

Moses, like Abraham, is like a cult leader. Abraham was able to get all his hired male servants and slaves circumcised. Moses was able to lead an entire nation out of their homes to another land. In other words, each was able to get others to make extraordinary sacrifices. And that seems to be a quality of a cult leader.

On the other hand, both Abraham and Moses are also able to talk sense to the LORD: Abraham about saving a city if even just a few righteous people live there; Moses about sparing the Israelites from God's wrath. 

It's yet another time when this LORD character seems nuts. Here's what I think is really happening.

As noted before, the Israelites are descendants of Shem, representing the higher or spiritual self, and are out to conquer and enslave the descendants of Ham, representing the base or materialistic self. In this story, Moses is God's representative, so when Moses disappears, it's as if God disappears. When God disappears, the people of Shem become just like the people of Ham. The LORD sees this, and thinks "why did I even bother with them?"

The "revelry" of the Israelites wasn't wrong in itself, or at least I see nothing wrong with it. The problem was the false faith on which it was based, a faith in an idol.  

Such faith in external objects, instead of the spirit within, will sooner lead to ruin. That's why it can't be tolerated.

The punishments the LORD inflicted on the Israelites is akin to your higher self killing off thoughts and ideas that the material world can make you happy. 

James Leroy Wilson writes Daily Miracles, The Daily Bible Chapter, JL Cells, and The MVP Chase. Thanks for your subscriptions and support!

(Photo credit: TyshkunVictor)