delaying tactics

Parshat Ki Tisa

Moshe was late coming down from Mt. Sinai. The people were under the impression that he had died. They wanted a new leader and wanted to make what ended up being the golden calf. They approach Aharon and insist on his assistance.

In 32:2 we see Aharon instructing the people to get their wives jewelery and bring it to him.

Rashi says tha Aharon made this request as a delaying tactic. By them having to go to the wives and request jewelery, it would slow them down and give Moshe more time to return. He figured the wives would not give up the jewelery so quickly.

Sometimes it is not worth getting into a head on confrontation. A bit of subversion is useful.

But it did not help. They were more ambitious than what Aharon predicted. They went and took the jewelery without asking.

Sometimes, delaying tactics are not the way to go. Sometimes you have to take a stand.