Lesson: 217 Lesson Name: The Golden Calf
Theme: The Law's Lack of Power to Control Us

Reading: Exodus 31:18; 32:1-35

Memory Verse: James 2:10
Memory Verse Text: Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Point 1: While still at Mount Sinai just after having promised to keep all that God would say, the Israelites broke the first three commandments of God's Law before they even received it.  This revealed the incurable character and depravity of man's heart; man keeps returning back to idolatry even after they learn this great lesson.
Point 2: Aaron, who was to be a priest to the Lord, led the people to make the calf.  The people further distorted the idea of the calf and became engaged in immorality.  Despite Aaron's failure, the Lord forgave him and still chose to use him later on.
Point 3: The Israelites used a lot of their wages from the Egyptians to make the calf.  Earrings, which were used to make the calf, were/are often connected with idolatry (Ex. 32:2).  The people who used their jewelry to make the golden calf lost the potential/opportunity to use it later for the service of God.
Point 4: Moses broke the tablets of stone when he saw what had happened after coming down from the mount in an attempt to try and prevent the Lord's full judgement from falling upon them.  He later questioned the people, "Who is on the Lord's side?" (Ex. 32:26).  The sons of Levi, who responded and came to Moses, were instructed to go out and kill the others; obediently, they killed 3,000 persons (Ex. 32:28).

Notes: The Israelite's sin had three parts: 1) They worshipped the calf, 2) They made a graven image or idol, and 3) While worshipping the calf, they called it a "feast unto the Lord."

See also: The Way to Canaan.pdf

This Sunday School Curriculum guide is part of a 254 Sunday School Lesson Book available at www.gospelhall.org.  See the Downloads Section of the site for a complete copy.

The Sunday School Teacher's Survival Guide http://gospelhall.org/teaching--preaching/sunday-school-helper.html also provides advice on developing lessons for Bible classes.

Related Items:

• Sunday School Lesson 202 Moses Refused to be called the son of Pharoah's daughter
• Sunday School Lesson 216 God gave the law at Mt. Sinai to Moses
• Sunday School Lesson 229 Moses and Aaron die and are buried by God
• Sunday School Lesson 526 The Parable of the Two Debtors
• Sunday School Lesson 212 Crossing the Red Sea