Skip to main content

The story in exodus 32





 Exodus 32 is a dramatic turning point in the book, chronicling the sin of the golden calf and the aftermath of the Israelites' disobedience. This chapter interrupts the detailed instructions for the Tabernacle with a story of rebellion and God's righteous anger.

The Golden Calf

While Moses is on Mount Sinai for forty days and forty nights, the people of Israel become impatient.

 1.The People's Demand: They gather around Aaron and demand that he "make us gods who shall go before us." They assume that Moses, the man who led them out of Egypt, has perished.

 2. Aaron's Action: Aaron tells them to bring their gold earrings, and he takes them and molds them into the shape of a calf. He builds an altar before it and declares, "This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!" The people then hold a feast to the LORD, with burnt offerings, peace offerings, and celebratory dancing. 

God's Anger and Moses's Intercession

God sees what the people are doing and tells Moses.

 -God's Fury: The LORD tells Moses, "Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves." He states that they have quickly turned aside from the way He commanded them. God’s anger burns hot, and He threatens to destroy the Israelites and make a great nation from Moses instead.

- Moses's Plea: Moses immediately begins to intercede for the people. He reminds God of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and asks Him to turn from His fierce anger. He also argues that if God destroys His people, the Egyptians will say that God brought them out to kill them in the mountains. The Bible says that the LORD relented from the disaster He had planned.

Moses's Return and Justice

Moses descends the mountain, carrying the two tablets of the covenant.

 - Moses's Anger: As he gets closer to the camp, Moses hears the sounds of revelry and sees the golden calf and the dancing. His anger burns, and he throws the stone tablets to the ground, shattering them at the foot of the mountain. He then takes the golden calf, grinds it to powder, mixes it with water, and makes the people drink it.

 -Confrontation with Aaron: Moses confronts Aaron, asking him why he let the people fall into such a great sin. Aaron attempts to justify his actions, saying the people were "bent on evil" and that the calf "came out" of the fire on its own, a weak and deceptive explanation.

 -The Levites' Loyalty: Moses stands at the entrance of the camp and calls out, "Who is on the LORD's side? Come to me!" The Levites gather around him, and he commands them to go through the camp, and each of them kill his brother, his friend, and his neighbor. About 3,000 men are killed that day, which serves as a brutal but necessary act of judgment. The Levites are then consecrated to the LORD for their obedience.

Moses's Final Plea

The chapter concludes with Moses's final intercession for the people.

 -Atonement: The next day, Moses tells the people that they have committed a great sin, and he will go back up the mountain to intercede for them, hoping to make atonement for their sin. He then tells God, "Please forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written." This shows Moses's incredible love for his people. God does not accept the full atonement, but says He will punish those who sinned, and that a plague will come upon them. This chapter is a sobering reminder of the consequences of idolatry and the faithfulness of a righteous intercessor.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Story of Genesis 37: Joseph’s Dreams and Betrayal

  Genesis 37 marks the beginning of one of the most compelling and dramatic narratives in the Bible—the story of Joseph.  This chapter introduces Joseph as the favored son of Jacob and sets the stage for a series of events that highlight themes of jealousy, betrayal, divine providence, and resilience.Joseph’s Favoritism and DreamsThe chapter opens by noting that Joseph was seventeen years old and that he was favored by his father Jacob above all his other sons because he was born to Jacob in his old age (Genesis 37:2-3). Jacob’s favoritism was symbolized by a richly ornamented robe, often referred to as the "coat of many colors" (Genesis 37:3).  This special treatment caused resentment among Joseph’s brothers, sowing seeds of jealousy and discord.Joseph further exacerbated tensions by sharing his dreams with his family. In his first dream, he described sheaves of grain in the field, where his brothers’ sheaves bowed down to his (Genesis 37:5-7). In the second dream, the s...
Post a Comment
Read more

The story in exodus 18

  The journey through the wilderness was a test of faith, a series of miraculous provisions and challenging trials. Yet, even as the nation of Israel solidified its identity under God's direct guidance, the practicalities of governance for such a vast multitude became increasingly apparent. Exodus 18 introduces a crucial figure from Moses' personal life and highlights the vital lesson of delegated authority and wise counsel. News of God's mighty acts in Egypt and at the Red Sea had spread far and wide. Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, had heard of everything the Lord had done for Moses and for Israel His people, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. He took Zipporah, Moses' wife, whom Moses had sent back to him, and her two sons, Gershom ("a sojourner there") and Eliezer ("My God is my help"), and came to Moses in the wilderness, at the mountain of God (Mount Sinai) (Exodus 18:1-5). This reunion was a poignant momen...
Post a Comment
Read more

The story in exodus 13

  The air still thrummed with the echoes of weeping from Egyptian homes, a stark contrast to the triumphant, albeit weary, footsteps of hundreds of thousands of Israelites marching out of bondage. The blood-marked doorposts of their homes had served as a shield, and the death of the firstborn had finally broken Pharaoh's will. Now, under the vast expanse of the desert sky, the truly monumental journey of a liberated people began. Exodus 13 chronicles the immediate aftermath of the exodus, focusing on God's commands for remembrance and His constant, visible guidance of His people. As the Israelites embarked on their freedom, the Lord spoke to Moses, establishing a perpetual reminder of their deliverance: "Sanctify to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine" (Exodus 13:2). This was a direct consequence of the tenth plague. God had claimed the firstborn of Egypt, and now, He claimed the firstborn of Is...
Post a Comment
Read more