Moses, coming down from the mountain with tablets of stone engraved with the law of God, surveys this wicked scene, and in anger throws down the plates, breaking them. Then he called for those who are on the Lord's side. The Levites leap up and slay three thousand of the worst offenders. Then Moses makes further intercession on behalf of the people (Exodus 32:30-35 ), in which one of the sublimest pictures found in the Bible, is of a man's devotion to the interests of God's people.

Some of the main lessons are:

• Revelation of the moral weakness of the unregenerate heart.
• Insight into the definition and nature of idolatry.
• The power and efficacy of intercessory prayer.
• What the proper reaction of the righteous to idolatry should be.
• The ease with which even a good man can offer very weak excuse for inexcusable sin.
• That true consecration is very costly.
• The example of Moses in his devotion to God's glory and to God's people.
• That there is an intimate connection between sin and judgment.

QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. What five things are said about the two tablets of testimony Moses was carrying (Exodus 32:15- 16 )?
   • Can you explain why, when throughout the chapter the name YAHWEH is used, but in Exodus 32:16 ELOHIM?

2. What was Joshua to Moses (Exodus 24:13 )?
   • Why was it that Joshua did not know what the Lord had said to Moses?
   • What did Joshua hear and how did he interpret the noise (Exodus 32:17 )?
   • Is it possible to interpret in the light of your strongest personal interest, as Joshua did?
   • Do you believe it is risky to rely on your own judgment, instead of relying on the revelation of God, as Moses did (Exodus 32:18 )?

3. What caused Moses anger to become hot (Exodus 32:19 )?
   • Was his righteous anger (Mark 3:5 )?
   • Do you take heed to obey (Ephesians 4:25 )?
   • Was the casting of the tablets deliberate?
   • Was it because Moses saw that the golden calf and the dancing had demonstrated the broken covenant?

4. What did Moses do to the calf which was a symbol of sin, and the symptom of corruption (Exodus 32:20 )?
   • Would you say burning the calf in the fire pictured the consequences of sin (Revelation 19:20; 20:10,14,15 )?
   • Does the grounding of it to powder remind you of Matthew 21:44?
   • Can you see pictured in Moses" action of scattering the powder of the ground up calf in water, how sin corrupts the sinner's every day life?

5. Would you agree that every sinner is responsible for his own sin?
   • Is it possible to bring sin upon others (Exodus 32:21 )?
   • Would being weak, vacillating, yielding, compromising, bring sin on others?

6. What did Aaron say that expressed guilt, and fear for his life (Exodus 32:22 )?
   • Did Aaron mirror humanity by his next reaction of blaming the people (Genesis 3:12 )?
   • Was Aaron trying to make Moses share some of the blame by being away so long (Exodus 32:23 )?
   • Would the remarkable words of Aaron "and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out." be ranked by you as typical of how ridiculous the sinner makes himself (Exodus 32:24 )?
   • What silly excuses have you heard from one caught in a misdemeanour?

7. What is meant by the people being unrestrained (Exodus 32:25; Proverbs 29:18 )?
   • Did their shameful conduct expose them to enemy attack from Amalekites or other desert tribes?
   • Is this a warning for you and Christian churches today?
   • Is sinful departure from the truth largely to blame for the ridicule and contempt of the world?

8. Is there a need for courageous Leaders to stand and challenge the people (Exodus 32:26 )?
   • Is it only Leaders who are on the Lord's side who can say in such situations "Come to me"?
   • Who responded and gathered to Moses (Exodus 32:26 )?
   • Would you expect those in a relationship with the Lord Jesus to rally in defence of the gospel?

9. On whose word and authority did Moses and those with him, act (Exodus 32:27 )?
   • Have you noticed that here is one of the earliest uses of the prophetic formula spoken by a great prophet of the Lord?
   • Are you obedient in arming yourself with the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17 )?
   • Is it obedience that is proof of being on the Lord's side (Exodus 32:28 )?
   • Without obedience and loyalty could there have been any effective justice under the law?
   • What a sad and terrible day - three thousand were killed. In contrast how many were saved when the sword of the Spirit was used on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41 )?
   • Do you know that obedience in consecration is rewarded with promised blessing (Exodus 32:29 )?

10. Would you, like Moses, become outspoken against sin (Exodus 32:30 )? What did Moses mean by "great sin"?
    • Does the Bible teach that all sin is deadly, but sins differ in the degree by which they offend God?
    • Do you believe that great sins may bring greater punishment in the great day of judgment?

11. In the example of Moses dealing with sin without compromise, do you also witness to his compassion for the sinners, in his desire to plead for them, and his willingness to atone for them (Exodus 32:30,32 )?
    • What is your attitude to sin? What is your attitude towards one who has sinned?
    • Is it possible to see sin from the viewpoint of God by the deep work of the Holy Spirit in our heart (Exodus 32:31 )?
    • How far would you be prepared to go to bring a sinner to forgiveness (Exodus 32:32; Romans 9:3 )?
    • Why is it not possible for one sinner to save another (Psalm 49:7-9; Exodus 18:4,20 )?
    • Why is it that Christ Jesus is the only one who can redeem (2 Corinthians 5:21 )?

12. Did the Lord withdraw His presence from going before the people, but consented to send an Angel (Exodus 32:34 )?
    • Is there always consequential punishment that follows sin (Exodus 32:34 )?
    • Did the people have long to wait before punishment came (Exodus 32:35 )?
    • How did God apportion blame?