Here we see the weakness of Aaron. Had he stood with true moral courage and in boldness rebuked the leaders in this shameful request, his timely words would have saved that terrible apostasy. But his desire to be popular with the congregation, and his fear of incurring their displeasure, led him to cowardly sacrifice the allegiance of the Hebrews in that decisive moment. He raised an altar, made a graven image, and proclaimed a day in which to consecrate that image as an object of worship and to proclaim before all Israel: These be the gods which led you out of Egypt. While the top of the mount is still illuminated with the glory of God, he calmly witnesses the merriment and dancing to this senseless image; and Moses is sent down from the mount by the Lord to rebuke the people. But Moses would not consent to leave the mount until his pleadings in behalf of Israel were heard and his request that God would pardon them was granted. {3T 340.2}

Her ser vi Arons svaghed. Havde han stået med sand moralsk frimodighed og irettesat anførerne for denne skændige anmodning, ville hans belejlige ord have reddet det frygtelige frafald. Men hans ønske for at være populær for menigheden og hans frygt for at pådrage sig deres mishag, fik ham som kujon til at ofre hebræernes troskab på dette afgørende øjeblik. Han rejste et alter, gjorde et udskåret billede og bekendtgjorde en dag hvor dette billede skulle helliges som en genstand for gudsdyrkelse og hele Israel skulle kundgøres: Disse skal være guderne som ledte jer ud af Ægypten. Imedens bjergtoppen stadig var oplyst af Guds herlighed, var han i ro vidne til munterheden og dansen til dette sanseløse afbillede; og Moses sendes ned fra bjerget af Herren for at irettesætte folket. Men Moses ville ikke indvilge i (341) at forlade bjerget for hans bønner for Israels bedste blev hørt og hans bøn at Gud ville tilgive dem blev tilstået.