Exodus: Political Propaganda Supporting a Dictator?

After some reading of Exodus (it’s a book in the Old Testament of the Bible) it dawned on me that it read like political propaganda in support of Moses, as if Moses was trying to maintain his power as a dictator.

You should know that I am a fan of Jesus and really dislike the O.T. I would apologize to God, but I’m know the problems with the O.T. were not of His design.

So what’s the deal with Exodus? Plenty, but this blog is about the story of the golden calf, Exodus 32.

Moses is up on the mountain talking with God for a really long time. In his abscence, the Isrealites grow restless and they come to Aaron (Moses’ right hand man) and demand that he make for them a god to which they can pray.

Aaron says that if they want a god, they should remove all their gold earrings and from them he will make one. The calf was made. They worship the calf and they have a party.

While on the mountain, God tells Moses what his people have done. God says that Moses should back off because He intended to burn all the people to death.

Moses puts up an argument to God that God promised to deliver the people to their own land. (paraphrase) “Hey, you said you were going to take care of these people… don’t do this.” Moses didn’t even say, “Please.”

God says fine, but punishment is coming eventually.

Moses goes down the mountain and expresses his anger.

Moses burns the calf and crushes it into dust and makes the people drink the dust with some water.

He asked for those who follow the Lord to come to him. Some Levites ran to his side.

He had the men strap on swords and then go through the camp to kill a brother, a friend, and a neighbor. About 3000 people were killed.

Moses said this was the commandment of God.

Later God struck the people with a plague.

Exodus is said to have been written by Moses himself.

Doesn’t this story sound like a warning to do as Moses says (God said) to do? It basically reads, hey, I went to bat for you because I’m your guy, but I’m willing to kill you if you don’t do what I tell you God says to do.

Nice.