Exodus 32

Today’s reading in our daily plan is Exodus 32. Take a moment to pray, asking God to speak to you from this passage. Then read, using the following notes and questions to help you get everything out of the passage.

SAY WHAT? (What is the passage saying?)

  • The previous chapters have consisted of a conversation God was having with Moses while Moses was near the top of a mountain. In this chapter we see the conclusion of that conversation, as well as what Moses’ people did in his absence.
  • Moses’ people had grown restless because he was on the mountain for so long. Assuming God had nothing for them, they decided to worship fake gods, or idols, that they constructed out of different materials. They followed this up with revelry.
  • Aware of what was going on, God became upset and told Moses that he was going to punish the rebellious Israelites by “destroying” them. However, Moses was able to persuade God to show grace to his people despite their foolish behavior.
  • While Moses was conversing with God on the mountain, he left Joshua and Aaron to watch over the Israelites. When he finds out that the Israelites had constructed and started to worship idols while he was away, Moses becomes extremely angry.
  • As we saw in last weekend’s reading, Aaron played a big part in setting up the idol worship. However, when confronted about the idolatry that developed under his watch, he lies and tells Moses that he only agreed to take part in it because of immense pressure from the Israelites, and that the golden calf magically appeared in the fire.
  • As the Israelites are partying and running wild, Moses asks everyone who is still committed to God to come to him. The Levites, which are Israelites who share certain ancestors, are the main followers who indicate their commitment to Moses’ mission.
  • Moses then instructs these loyal followers to murder thousands of other Israelites who are partaking in revelry and idol worship.
  • Once the dust and emotion settles, Moses goes back up to the mountain to ask God if he can make a sacrifice, or “atonement,” for the sins his people committed. God responds by telling Moses that he cannot, because each person is responsible for — and must suffer the consequence of — his own sin.

SO WHAT? (What are the underlying principles?)

      • When it feels like it has been a long time since we felt God in our lives, it can become easy to think he has given up on us. This feeling can lead us to do things that are destructive to ourselves and to our relationship with God. But just because we haven’t heard from God doesn’t mean he hasn’t been working. As we see with the Israelites in today’s reading, the times we think God is absent are often the times when God is working behind the scenes.
      • When we talk to God, he listens. God could have chosen to ignore Moses’ pleas to spare his people who had turned to idols, but he instead opted to hear — and ultimately agree with — Moses.
      • Aaron’s dishonesty about his involvement in idol worship only made the situation worse. When we are confronted about wrongdoing that we have committed, we need to be honest.
      • Two parts of this story seem particularly harsh:
        1. Moses instructing “loyal” Israelites to murder their not-so-loyal counterparts. By today’s standards this seems unreasonable, but back then each individual was held responsible for their own sin. Because they had revolted against God by worshipping an idol, and were unrepentant, the consequences of their sin was death. In fact, we still deserve death for our sins, but God sent Jesus to serve as the ultimate sacrifice for our sin so that we do not have to suffer the ultimate consequence of our sins (see Romans 6:23).
        2. Similarly, it doesn’t seem very loving of God to reject Moses’ offer of a single sacrifice to cover the sins of many people. But, again, death is what we all deserve, and God was setting the stage for what Jesus did to have that much more significance: if God had allowed Moses to make a sacrifice to cover the sins of many, there would be no need for Jesus, as Jesus’ primary purpose was to serve as the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of everyone who follows him.

NOW WHAT? (How will you personally apply this passage?)

    • Does it seem like a long time since God has done something in your life? If so, stay focused on growing closer to him and don’t become distracted by things that will bring you short-term relief or pleasure. God may be working in a way you don’t expect to produce something in your life that is bigger and better than anything you could dream up. Ask God to keep you focused and to guide your steps as you wait for him to fully reveal what he is doing.
    • Do you believe God listens to you when you talk to him? Take time today to tell God how you’re feeling about him, what you’re going through, and how you want others to grow closer to him. God doesn’t always respond to our prayers in the way we expect. But when we talk, he listens.
    • Is there a situation in which you’re currently being dishonest? Decide today to do the right thing and tell the truth about what has happened. Ask God to guide you as you figure out the next steps to take.
    • Without Jesus serving as the ultimate sacrifice, there would be no way to escape death, as we have all sinned and deserve death as our ultimate punishment. Because of Jesus, however, we can choose to accept God’s offer of abundant life now and eternal life later. Take time today to thank God for making this possible.