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Series 3:
Lesson 44: |
MOSES
THE GOLDEN CALF |
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Passages to Study: Exodus 1:18; 32:1-35.
To read with the class: Exodus 31:18; 32:1-24.
Memorization Texts: Younger - Rom. 3:12. “They are all gone out of the
way, they are together become unprofitable.”
Older children - James 2:10.
OBJECTIVES:
1. To teach that impatience produces distrust, which can lead to disobedience.
2. To stress that “Evil communications (bad companions) corrupt good manners”.
1Cor. 15:33.
3. To mention that some previous religious practices leave roots that can lead to error.
4. To show that God makes known His disapproval in a visible and audible way.
5. To consider some kinds of idolatry.
SCENE No. 1. VISUAL AIDS: Aaron receives contributions from the people which are then used
to make the image. A sign nearby cites the second commandment, “Thou shalt not make any graven image.” DEVELOPMENT:
- Since being called God to go up the mountain, Moses has been some days absent on Mount
Sinai.
- The people think he is gone for good.
Lsn. It would be well to involve the children here, showing them how dangerous it is to
imagine happenings without having proof that they really did occur. One could be
mistaken and take action contrary to the will of God
- Aaron assumes the position of leader, exercising his own will without God having
directed him.
- Aaron requests the cooperation of the women, asking them to bring their jewels to be
melted down.
- No doubt these were among the things they brought out of Egypt.
- For the wilderness journey God had moved the Egyptians to give of their riches to
the departing children of Israel.
- They should have used these things according to the will of God, rather than in
something contrary to His will.
Cns. Later on, when the opportunity was given to contribute for the construction of the
tabernacle, the people who had given their gold for the image would suffer a double loss.
1. They gave their riches for something without value before God.
2. They were unable to participate in a project of great significance such as the
construction of the tabernacle.
Apl. Ask the children if they use the gifts God has given them, their hands, their
eyes and ears, their time, in ways displeasing to Him.
Cmt. It would be well to mention here that they thought they were making a useful
“sacrifice” of their adornments to make a god, the idol. However,
in the end, it would all be ground to powder and sprinkled upon the water, totally lost
and never to be recovered.
- Aaron had yet to learn what the holiness of God means. He had not been with Moses
at the burning bush when his brother was taught to show reverence in God’s presence.
Apl. This story shows the danger of acting out of fear and not trusting
God. The people, thinking that Moses had disappeared, accepted Aaron’s wrong
idea.
SCENE No. 2. VISUAL AIDS. The Israelites feast and worship the golden
calf while Moses comes down the mountain carrying in his arms the stone tables of the law.
DEVELOPMENT:
Cns. The law they had first heard spoken and now have with them in written form said,
“Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God IN VAIN; for the Lord will not hold
him guiltless that taketh His Name in vain.” Ex 20:7
- Aaron committed this sin when he finished making the idol (Ex 32:5), and announced:
“Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord.”
- Likely it took a week at the most to make the golden calf.
- The Israelites believe that this lifeless animal brought them out of Egypt!
- Moses then appears with the tables of the law, coming down the mountain as if to say
that he whom they had thought to be dead, in reality is alive.
Apl. People today act as if God were dead, but one day in the future, Christ will appear
descending from Heaven to reign on earth, applying His moral law to the world.
SCENE No. 3. VISUAL AIDS: The tables of the law lie broken on the ground while
the Israelites listen to Moses’ strong rebuke.
DEVELOPMENT:
- The tablets lying broken on the ground show that the Israelites have in fact broken God’s
law by making the image and then celebrating an idolatrous feast.
- Moses challenges the people to make plain whether they are for or against the Lord. Ex.
32:26.
Apl: Rom.10:9, 10 requires that those who believe in Christ, declare it with their
lips.
- The image is ground and reduced to powder. The powder is then mixed with water and
the people are made to drink it.
- The people receive within their being the bitter reminder of their sin.
Apl. The bitter regret we feel in our conscience is what God uses today to make us
conscious of sin we commit.
SCENE No. 4.
APPLICATION and suggested VISUAL AIDS:
- Anything that comes between the soul and God is idolatry. (Figure of an idol.)
- People worship different kinds of pleasures or give themselves over to acquiring goods,
allowing these to be substitutes to satisfy spiritual longings that only God can
fill (Illustrate this with pictures of goods being bought or sold on credit, and a picture
of money.)
- Luke 9:25 can be written on a picture of the globe of earth, showing what God expects.
- To persist in sin is idolatry. “Veneration” of the virgin and of “saints”
is also idolatry.
(Figures of some of these statues and holy pictures or icons.)
- Sports capture the attention of many and replace God in their lives.
(Figure of young people participating in some sport.)
- Singing groups and others involved in the performing arts can become “idols”
to the youth of today.
Sug..Speak about vices such as gambling, associated with cards games, VLTs or betting on
the races.
Cns. The fascination that electronic games have over many young people has become an
addiction that takes their minds off spiritual things.
Cmt. Nintendo, computer games, etc. which occupy the time of many rob God of what is His
due. |
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