The Golden Calf
(Exodus 32; 34)
June 1, 2025
Sunday Recap
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Sunday Recap •
Hey Fams!
Exodus 32’s account of the golden calf showcases the sinful idolatry of people in contrast with the merciful nature of God. In the 40 days it took Moses to return from Mount Sinai, the people had grown impatient. They urged Aaron to join in their mission to find a new object they deemed worthy of worship and devotion: a golden calf.
What led God’s people to fall prey to this idolatry? How does Moses’ leadership foreshadow Christ’s intercession for God’s people?
An idol is anything we worship in the place of God. Unfortunately, the Israelites wrongly believed they needed a new god to go before them since Moses’ absence left them doubting if he would return and worried about who would lead them. How ironic it was that they sought to dethrone God while claiming to throw a festival in His honor (Exodus 32:5). Their impatient uncertainty led them to replace God’s sovereign plans and rightful worship with this golden god of their own creation.
As God’s anger grew against the Israelites’ sin, Moses reminded the Lord of all He had done for His people since Egypt and urged Him to relent from His planned destruction. In remembering His covenant with Abraham from long ago, and upon Moses’ urging, God did not completely destroy His people. God was faithful to uphold His covenant promises despite the unfaithfulness of His people. He instructed Moses to create two new stone tablets on which God Himself would engrave the Ten Commandments. Moses pleaded for the Lord to journey with His people, forgive them, and set them apart as His own nation and possession.
Moses was a sinful man, so his intercession for God’s people was not enough to bring everlasting forgiveness. A greater Intercessor would be needed to offer a greater sacrifice to atone for sin. We see the mercies of God through the intercession of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection so that all who trust in Him will be saved. Help the kids in your family see the greatness of God’s mercy through the faithful mediation of Moses and ultimately, Jesus.
** Next week: Building the Tabernacle (Exodus 35-40)
This Week's Main Ideas
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This Week's Main Ideas •
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BABIES-TODDLERS
The people chose to sin, and Moses asked God to forgive them. When we choose to sin, we can pray and ask Jesus to forgive us. Jesus came to rescue us from sin.
PRESCHOOL-K
The people chose to sin when they worshiped the golden calf. Moses asked God to forgive their sin. When we choose to sin we can pray and ask Jesus to forgive us. Jesus died on the cross and came back to life to rescue us from sin.
1ST-5TH GRADE
The people chose to worship a golden calf instead of God, and God’s anger burned against them. Moses interceded so that God would forgive them. We are all sinners who deserve the wrath of God, but Jesus interceded for us through His life, death, and resurrection so we can all be saved!
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Q: Why do we need to be saved?
A: We are sinful and cannot save themselves - we need Jesus to rescue us from sin.
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There isn’t anyone holy like the Lord. There isn’t anyone except him. There isn’t any Rock like our God.
1 Samuel 2:2 NIrV
Family Discipleship Activities
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Family Discipleship Activities •
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Read Exodus 32; 34:1-9 from the Bible.
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The average person will spend 52 days of their life waiting in line. That’s a lot of ... waiting! We don’t like waiting in line at the store, waiting for our food to be ready, and waiting on our sister to get out of the bathroom. The worst is waiting on someone to help us do something we really want to do for ourselves. Waiting makes us impatient and frustrated, which leads us to say or do things we wouldn’t normally do.
This was exactly the case for the Israelites. God led His people into the wilderness, but He did not leave them there alone. He was there with them. He provided meat, bread, and water to satisfy them. But when Moses went up on the mountain and did not return for several weeks, the people felt abandoned. Instead of trusting God and being patient, they decided to make something new to worship.
When God saw what they were doing, He wanted to destroy the people. It may sound harsh, but God had every right to do so! They took the worship that belonged to God—the one who saved them from Egypt—and gave it to a metal cow!
The Israelites deserved to be punished for their sin against God, but Moses asked God to forgive the people. In the same way, we deserve to be punished for our sin, but God has made forgiveness available through Jesus.
The people chose to worship a golden calf instead of God, and God’s anger burned against them. Moses interceded so that God would forgive them. We are all sinners who deserve the wrath of God, but Jesus interceded for us through His life, death, and resurrection so we can be saved!
Pray: God, forgive us for making other things more important than You. Help us remember Your faithfulness and help us keep You first in our lives. Thank You for Jesus and for His sacrifice to save us from our sin. Amen.
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There isn’t anyone holy like the Lord. There isn’t anyone except him. There isn’t any Rock like our God.
1 Samuel 2:2 NIrV -
Mornings
Praise God for being a compassionate and merciful God. Thank Him for not immediately giving us the punishment we deserve when we sin, and for giving us the chance to be forgiven through faith in Jesus.
Evenings
Ask God to help you trust Him more than anything else. Have you ever trusted in your own ability, other people, or other things more than God? Why Does God deserve to be first in our lives?
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For Fun
Bake cookies together as a family. Allow each family member to help in the process. While the cookies bake in the oven, talk about how hard it is to wait for something you really want—like cookies! Talk with kids about how our impatience often reveals what we truly desire most. Pray as a family that God would work in your hearts to desire Jesus and His will more than anything.
To Serve
Take time this week to clean out a closet or toy box. As you prepare to donate or get rid of items, talk about how we all desire to have things that make us feel happy or more popular.
Discuss with your kids how our “stuff” can be an idol—something that we love or trust to satisfy us more than God. Ask God to cleanse your heart of any idols and to help you look to Him as your only need.