This morning we talked about some unusual livestock. Last week, we learned about God revealing the Ten Commandments with Moses, and this week we see again just how impatient and forgetful the Israelites were. Between Exodus Chapter 20 and Exodus Chapter 32, Moses is receiving a whole lot of instructions about all kinds of laws, ceremonies, and building instructions. While Moses is downloading all of the instructions from God, the Israelites, wondering where he went, go to Aaron and say that they are sick of waiting on Moses and want him to make another god to worship. They simply abandon everything they have seen God do and seek another source. Aaron comes up with a terrible plan to melt all of their gold into the shape of a calf, and they worship it. Appalled, Moses goes back up the mountain to ask God to forgive them. As you continue the conversation this week, try to focus not on the poor decisions the Israelites made, but on how even though we mess up, Jesus has taken our sins upon himself and forgiven us.
Some starter questions for you:
Elementary
- Have you ever made a bad decision just because you were unwilling to be patient and wait?
- The Israelites continue to mess up over and over again? Why do you think that is? How are we all like the Israelites?
- Moses had to beg the God to forgive the Israelites. How does it make you feel that all you have to do is ask the Lord to forgive you when you sin?
Preschool
- How hard is it to wait for something that you want?
- One of the Ten Commandments is to worship only God. What do you think about the fact that the Israelites made a calf to worship?