Read Ellen G. White, “Idolatry at Sinai,” pp. 315–327, in Patriarchs and Prophets.
This week’s lesson presents a special focus on God’s work in believers. The Lord can do in us “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Eph. 3:20, NIV). We should not focus on ourselves and gratify our personal desires, because this leads to idolatry. Instead, our attention should be on God and His power. He gives the strength, which leads to a new and victorious life (Phil. 4:13; Jude 1:24, 25).
Read Exodus 32:30–32. How far did Moses go in his intercessory prayer for sinners?
Because of their rebellion, terrible things happened in the Israelite camp, including the deaths of many people (Exod. 32:28). The following day, Moses declared to the people: “ ‘You have committed a great sin. So now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin’ ” (Exod. 32:30, NKJV).
The golden calf resembled the Egyptian bull god, called Apis, or cow god, called Hathor. This was a blatant transgression of the first and second commandments (Exod. 20:3–6). This violation could not go unpunished because it openly broke their relationship with the living Lord. Instead of worshiping their Creator, the Israelites worshiped their own creation, which could not see, hear, smell, speak, care, love, or lead.
God called Moses to spend time with Him. Forty days and forty nights might have been a short period for Moses, but it seemed long, too long, for the Israelites. Their visible leader was absent. They became disoriented, impatient, fearful, and insecure. They wanted to have a visible god who would lead them, the “gods” whom they had seen all their lives in idolatrous Egypt.
Read Exodus 32:1–6. How was it possible for Aaron’s leadership to fail so spectacularly?
