The Golden Calf

Moses was on a mountain receiving the Ten Commandments from God. Down below, the people became anxious that Moses had been gone for so long. They begged Aaron to make a god for them to worship. He collected their gold jewellery and made a golden calf. When Moses came down from the mountain, he found the whole camp partying around the idol. Moses threw down the stone tablets and broke them. Moses ordered a serious punishment for this serious rejection of God. It was only after Moses begged God that God forgave His people.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Exodus 31:18-34:35

Outline:

1. The Israelites have Aaron build a golden calf (Exodus 32:1-6)
2. Moses begs God to have mercy on the people (Exodus 32:7-14)
3. Moses breaks the tablets and punishes the people (Exodus 32:9-35)
4. Moses continues to intercede for the people (Exodus 32:30-34:28)
5. Moses descends from Mount Sinai with new tablets from God (Exodus 34:29-35) 

Tips for teaching children:

• God is more important than anything or anyone. Talk about how treating something as more important than God is like worshipping an idol. For example, if we choose video games over God, then the video game is like an idol that we choose to worship.
• Younger children can make tablets out of Play-Doh and “write” commands on them.
• One craft you should NOT ask the children to make is a golden calf. God told them not to make an idol, so asking the children to do that very thing in class would not be a good idea.

Tips for teaching adults:

• This section is probably too long to read aloud in one class session.  I suggest you assign readers to read sections as follows:
  • Exodus 32:1-35
  • Exodus 33:18-34:7
  • Exodus 34:29-35
• There are several good points of discussion in this story. Choose one or more of the following for your class session:
  • Discuss how our culture shapes our views of God and how we relate to him.  
  • Discuss Moses and God’s relationship, especially Moses’ willingness to intercede on behalf of God’s sinful people.  What does this say about God?  About Moses?  
  • Compare and contrast Moses and Aaron in this story. When are you like Moses?  When are you like Aaron?
• Challenge the students to do acts of loyalty to God this week (putting God and things of God first). They should be prepared to share their experience the next time you gather.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson:  The Golden Calf  

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org