After Moses spent many days in prayer on the mountain, and after receiving the commandments from God, when he returned, the people had made a golden calf, worshiped it, and was dancing around it. I have often wondered whether it was really the people or Aaron, who had asked for the people's gold and made the calf out of it for them who is more culpable.

Moses saw the burning bush that was not consumed. When he went closer to find out what was going on, God spoke to Moses from within. God gave him the assignment to return to Egypt. When Moses said that he had the speech impediment of stutter and was not confident to speak to Pharaoh, it was God who told him: "Take your brother Aaron with you."

Aaron, Miriam, and Moses were siblings. They were born into the tribe of Levi - the priestly tribe. Although God had entrusted the leadership of the people to Moses, Aaron was the one who was assigned to speak to Pharaoh. Later, Aaron was also the one who was installed the High Priest, who performed the priestly rites.

Moses had a personal relationship with God. Even though Moses had been in the presence of God on the mountain for weeks, when the people told Aaron, ‘Moses is nowhere to be found, we need a God to worship,’ he should have told them about God. At the very least, he should have avoided leading them into idolatry. And yet, that is what he did. Why would he have done such a thing? Was it the practical wisdom of a priest who knows that the people always need some visible signs of God?

Or was it because he lacked a personal conviction about the God of their Fathers; and a personal relationship with that God?

Isn't it a big paradox that Moses' conversations were with God and Aaron's conversations mostly were with Pharaoh! Although he was the High priest, had he become more of a politician?!

When Moses came down from the mountain, his reaction was strong and intense. He toppled the golden calf, crushed it, mixed it in water, and made the people drink it!

Even in our times, perhaps there are similar outcomes because, the priests in us, have more conversations to the Pharaohs than to God!