Probably one of the most well-known idols is the golden calf that was fashioned by Aaron, Moses’ brother. And what was Moses doing during this time that the calf was being fashioned by his brother? Moses was up on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments and many other detailed laws from God for His people. A couple of times during this encounter, the Lord commanded specifically that His people never fashion gold or silver into idols and that they never worship idols; neither man-made or created.
Back to the golden calf. Aaron was left in charge of the children of Israel while Moses was up on the mountain receiving two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God. But, the people came to Aaron complaining because Moses was taking so long; they weren’t getting the results they wanted when they wanted, so they demanded that Aaron make them false gods to replace the one true God. You would think that Aaron would rebuke them and wait patiently but instead he gives them instructions on idol making (bring me some gold) and then fashions the gold they brought to him into the shape of a calf. He even built an alter in front of it for them to corrupt themselves with their idol.
There is an important lesson to be learned from Moses and Aaron and from the Apostle John. We must keep ourselves from idols — no one is going to do it for us. When you can’t see what God is doing on your behalf (Even though the Lord always has a plan and is working that plan up on the mountain, it may not be obvious down below where you are!) still, and maybe even more so, it is imperative that you not lose hope and faith in God. Keep your focus on Him and do not look for an alternate “Savior”.
By the way, an idol does not have to be made of gold, although many times it does involve gold or that which represents gold in our day: money or wealth or other things of worldly value. Any person or thing that gets put ahead of the Lord in our life becomes an idol. It can happen before you even realize it. You feel as if the Lord has forsaken you or is not coming through as you would like so you look elsewhere. Don’t fall for it. Keep yourself from idols!