God goes on a tirade

For more commentary on this week's readings, see the Reflections on the Lectionary page, which includes Hannan's current Living by the Word column as well as past magazine and blog content. For full-text access to all articles, subscribe to the Century.

Exodus 32 is too monumental not to mention. And while the lectionary assigns 32:7–14, it’s important to include verses 1–6 as well.

I suggest we stop calling this text the “golden calf” incident and begin calling it the “God changes God’s mind at the request of Moses” incident. Incident? Yes. Incidental? No. By this point it is not shocking that the Israelites’ impatience while waiting for Moses leads to idolatry. What is shocking is God’s anger and, even more, Moses’ ability to quell God’s anger.