They read like a jarring interruption – chapters 32, 33 and 34 of Exodus. Since chapter 25 we have been reading about the Tabernacle – its materials, furnishings and priests. We will resume that story in chapter 35 and it will continue to the end of the book. Why, then, do we find this awful tale about a wild orgy sandwiched in between? Idolatry, gluttony, drunkenness, nudity – a bunch of frat boys couldn’t have thrown a bigger or “badder” bash. Remembering the Tabernacle pictures Christ we ask, “Why sully our Savior with this trash?”
The story hardly sullies our Savior. It appears here not just to keep the chronology straight but to convince every generation that reads it that despite our noblest intentions (24: 7) we break rather than keep God’s commands. That’s why Israel needed the Tabernacle with its sacrifices and Mercy Seat and it is why we need the final sacrifice and eternal Mercy Seat – the Lord Jesus Christ.
Perhaps you have never indulged in anything like Aaron’s “Super-Bull” Party or maybe you could have planned the whole thing! Regardless of what you have done or not done, where you have done or not done it, how many times you have done it or not done it, or who you have done it with or not done it with the truth is you and I both need the longing, loving God of the Tabernacle Who knowing before He sent His Son we would sin, still sent Him. The Tabernacle still went up and for forty years a generation passed through its gate remembering that while God gave the instructions for it they were rebelling and God still welcomed them into His presence. Anyone want to nominate a more gracious God today?