Aaron

My ecumenical bible study is on Exodus 33: 12-33.  The verses are interesting, but it's the person of Aaron whom I find interesting.  These verses cover the interaction between God and Moses.  No one else.  Why?  More pointedly, why Moses?  

Moses is a strong person and has seem chosen from his birth.  He was saved by Pharoah's daughter, and educated as a member of Pharoah's family.  So combined with the training and temperament needed to be a leader, God chose Moses.

I know Moses was a murderer, but remember the victim was abusing God's chosen people.  That's not an excuse for the murderer but rather an excuse for Moses's indignation.  Moses was guilty of murder.  That does not exclude Moses from being a leader.  Remember, God does not choose the qualified.

Aaron did not kill anyone.  He was a nice guy, everyone thought so.  He got along with everybody.  He was also blessed with communication skills.  Whereas Moses stuttered, Aaron expressed what Moses wanted to say.  They were a good team.  Moses was the leader and Aaron was the communicator.

If there were an election to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, who would you vote for?

Moses --  brought up by the Hebrew's oppressors -- Egyptians

                a murderer

                doesn't speak well

Aaron --  true Israelite, born and brought up

                law-abiding

                popular

                very articulate

Aaron would win the election.  Yet, God chose Moses to be the leader.

God's ways are not our ways.

Aaron was a people pleaser.  He wanted to keep the people happy that's why he made a golden statue of Ba'al to represent a god.  Would Moses have done that?

Everyone has different gifts.  People pleasers make good politicians, not necessarily good leaders.