Do not make idols in any form, nor shall you worship or sever them

Review: The last few weeks we talked about:

1. The greatest commandment. Jesus’ response to the question, “What is the greatest
commandment?” And the second greatest commandment. Jesus tells the story of
the Good Samaritan.
2. Manna provided by God. God expects obedience when he gives instructions.
3. The Ten Commandments. God gave the Ten Commandments.
4. You shall have no other gods before me. Joshua challenges the people to chose,
but for him and his household they would serve God.

Review:
Let’s review the story from last week. The story of Joshua’s call for the Israelites to chose
God. This story illustrates the truth taught in the first of the Ten Commandments. Let’s
review by retelling it as a group. We want to retell it as faithfully as we can to the story
from the Bible. We do not want to add to it or leave out anything important. Who will get us
started?

God spoke the Ten Commandments to Moses:

1. There is only one God; you shall have no other gods.
2. Do not make idols in any form, nor shall you worship or sever them.
3. Do not misuse or dishonor the name of God.
4. Keep one day of the week as a holy day to honor God.
5. Honor your father and mother.
6. Do not murder.
7. Do not commit adultery.
8. Do not steal.
9. Do not lie.
10. Do not covet other people or their things.

Background:

The second of the Tem Commandments is: “Do not make idols in any form, nor shall you
worship or sever them.” The event in today’s story occurs during the time Moses was
leading the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land. Moses was on the mountain with
God for 40 days (Exodus 24:18). When God finished speaking to Moses he gave him two
tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God (Exodus 31:18).

Do not make idols in any form, nor shall you worship or sever them
Exodus 32

The Israelites became impatient waiting so long for Moses to return. They went to Aaron
and complained to him and asked him to make gods for them to follow.

Aaron told them to take off the gold earrings that they were wearing and give them to him.
So the people did and gave their gold earrings to Aaron.

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Aaron took what they gave him and made an idol in the shape of a calf. He built an altar in
front of the calf and told the people to prepare for a festival to God on the next day. So early
the next day the Israelites offered burnt offerings on the altar and presented other offerings
in worship before the golden calf. Afterwards, they celebrated with food and drink.

God saw all that the Israelites did and was angry. He was very disappointed with them
because they could not even wait for Moses to give them his commands and instead they
had chosen to follow their own way instead of God’s way.

God sent Moses back down to the people. He told Moses what the people were doing and
referred to them as Moses’ people. God told Moses he was ready to destroy them.

But Moses pleaded with God on behalf of the Israelites. He asked God about what the
Egyptians would say. He asked God to remember his promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
God relented and did not destroy them as he had threatened.

Moses went down the mountain with the two tablets of stone that God had written on.
When he saw them worshipping the golden calf he became very angry. He threw down the
tablets of stone and they broke into pieces at the foot of the mountain.

Moses took the calf and burned it in the fire. He then ground it into powder, scattered it on
the water and made the people drink it. The people continued to run wild.

Moses called out to the people; “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” The Levites rallied
to Moses. Then he told them to strap on a sword and go throughout the camp and kill those
who are not with us. About 3,000 people died that day.

Moses went back up on the mountain again to intercede for the people before God. He
confessed their sin to God. Moses said, “But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then
blot me out of the book you have written.”

God responded, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. Now go, lead
the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when the time
comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin.” God sent a plague on the people
because they had worshipped the golden calf they had made.

This concludes this story from the Bible.

Other stories:

 Manasseh King of Judah – 2 Kings 21:1-18

 Josiah – 2 Chronicles 34:1-7

Retelling the story

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Let’s review this story by retelling it as a group. We want to retell it as faithfully as we can
to the story from the Bible. We do not want to add to it or leave out anything important.
Who will get us started?

Questions:

The questions and discussion about the Ten Commandments should be focused beyond the
events that tell the story of how God gave them to Moses and address the fact that they
were given by God for his people to follow. A foundation should be laid for obedience to the
commandments.

This story is an event that demonstrates how the Israelites returned to worship an idol, the
story of the golden calf. This is a direct violation of the second commandment, “Do not
make idols in any form, nor shall you worship or sever them.” God’s response to their
making and worshipping of an idol is an important element and the questions should
address our need to respond to God personally and obey him as the one and only God.

What is the second of the Ten Commandments?

Do not make idols in any form, nor shall you worship or sever them.

Why did the people want Aaron to make a golden calf?

Moses was on the mountain a long time, 40 days – more than a month.
They wanted what they had left behind in Egypt.

What did the people do with the golden calf?

They offered sacrifices to it and worshipped it.
They had a wild celebration.

How did God respond to the people when they made the golden calf and worshipped it?
He sent Moses down fro the mountain to confront them.
He punished them for their sin of rebellion by sending a plague.

Do we ever do anything that is similar to making a golden calf? If so, could you give an
example?

Have you disobeyed any of God’s commands?

Memory verses

Let’s review the memory verses, Matthew 22:37-39

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And
the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

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Deuteronomy 6:5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your strength.