Smiting the Dancing Israelites (Exodus 32:19-28) (3/10)

a petty and disproportionately violent reaction from an egotistical deity. The Israelites, having just escaped slavery in Egypt, were understandably confused and scared when Moses disappeared for 40 days on Mount Sinai. In their desperation, they crafted the golden calf—not as a direct rejection of God but as a misguided attempt to feel connected to the divine. Instead of showing patience or understanding, God immediately flew into a murderous rage, ordering the slaughter of 3,000 people.

What’s particularly egregious is how God’s reaction ignored the underlying context. This was a traumatized group of former slaves trying to cope with fear and uncertainty in the wilderness. What kind of deity expects blind, unwavering loyalty without offering reassurance during such a crisis? Moreover, if God is omniscient, he surely knew they would falter, which makes his outrage seem performative—a way to assert dominance rather than address their needs.