Introduction
When Moses comes back to the camp after being up the mountain, he has problems.
Questions
1. How did Aaron make the moulded calf and what did he tell Moses about making it?
v 4 He received what they handed him, fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it a moulded calf. ...
v 24 ... I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf."
2. What did the children of Israel say about the moulded calf?
v 4 ... Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”
3. What did Moses say to the LORD about the people making the moulded calf?
v31 and 32 Moses returned to the LORD, and said, “Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made themselves gods of gold. Yet now, if you will, forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out of your book which you have written.”
Summary Points
- v 1 to 6 In Moses' absence, Aaron makes a moulded calf when he is asked by the people to make gods. Aaron builds an altar before the calf and proclaims a feast to the LORD
- v 7 to 10 Because of this sin, God threatens to destroy the people and make a nation of Moses' descendants
- v 11 to 14 God removes the threat when Moses reminds him that he must keep his promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
- v 15 to 20 Moses comes down the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant. When he sees the calf and the dancing he throws the tablets away breaking them. He then destroys the calf and makes the children of Israel drink the powdered remains
- v 21 to 29 Aaron gives Moses his view of what has just happened. The sons of Levi come to Moses when he asks who is on the LORD's side. At Moses' command the sons of Levi kill about 3,000 men. Moses tells the sons of Levi to consecrate themselves so they will be blessed by the LORD
v 30 to 35 Moses pleads with God for the people. He asks the LORD to remove him from his book if the people can't be forgiven. God replies that it is those who sin against him who will be removed from his book. Moses is told to carry on leading the people and the Lord strikes the people because of the calf