By biblenstory in Exodus — 2024년 10월 25일

Exodus 32 kills anyone who worships a golden calf. Is that bad enough to be killed?

Question

AI Answer

The incident of the worship of the golden calf has deeper implications than simple idolatry. The Israelites had just entered into a direct covenant with God and had witnessed firsthand the great miracle of God's deliverance from Egypt. In this context, making and worshiping a golden calf was not a simple breach of discipline, but a direct rejection and betrayal of the covenant with God. It was a major covenant breaking, like betraying your spouse right after the wedding. The severity of the punishment reflects the gravity of the event and the inevitability of establishing the religious identity of the nation of Israel going forward.

Question

But if God is a God of love and mercy, couldn't He have educated the Israelites in other ways?

AI Answer

This is a very insightful question. God's punishment must be understood in the context of a greater mercy, not just retribution. This was a critical time for Israel to establish their monotheistic faith in a culture where idolatry was rampant. Without decisive action, Israel could have been assimilated into the idolatrous cultures of the surrounding peoples and lost their unique religious identity. It's similar to how strong quarantine measures are sometimes necessary to prevent the spread of a deadly plague.

Question

So how should we understand and embrace people with different religious beliefs in the modern world?

AI Answer

Understanding religious differences is a very important topic in the modern world. The events of the Exodus took place in a specific historical and religious context, and it is not appropriate to apply them to the modern world. Today, peaceful coexistence through dialogue and mutual understanding is important. We need a balanced attitude that allows us to defend our own beliefs, but also respect the beliefs of others. This can be a way of practicing the essential value of God's love in a modern context. We can learn from historical events, but we must wisely apply them to contemporary situations.