Apr 27 - May 3
A Stiff-Necked People
๐ Exodus 32-34
A Stiff-Necked People
Moses went up the big mountain to talk with God. He was gone for forty whole days.
The people waited. And waited. And waited some more.
After a while, they got worried. What if Moses didn't come back? So they made a very big mistake. They took their gold jewelry and melted it down and made a statue of a calf โ and then they acted like the calf was a god to worship.
God saw what was happening and was very sad. He told Moses.
Moses hurried back down the mountain carrying two stone tablets โ big flat rocks with God's commandments written on them. But when Moses saw the people dancing around the calf, he was so upset that he dropped the tablets and they broke.
Then something amazing happened. Moses went back up the mountain โ not to get more commandments, but to ask God to please forgive the people. He said, "If you won't forgive them, then blot my name out too." Moses loved the people so much that he asked to share in any punishment.
God was moved by that. He forgave the people. He told Moses to carve two new stone tablets, and God wrote the commandments on them again.
When Moses came back down, something was different. His face was shining โ glowing like a light! The people were so surprised they were almost scared to come near him. Moses had been close to God, and it showed on his face.
Questions
๐ฎ Why did Moses go up the mountain?
๐ฎ What did the people make while Moses was gone?
๐ฎ What happened to the stone tablets when Moses saw the golden calf?
๐ฎ What did Moses ask God when he went back up the mountain?
๐ฎ Who carved the second set of stone tablets?
๐ฎ What was different about Moses's face when he came back down?
Your Mission This Week
Ask for forgiveness โ and give it.
Moses asked God to forgive the people even when they had made a big mistake. This week, if you've done something wrong, go to the person and say you're sorry. And if someone has hurt you, try to forgive them the way God forgave Israel.
Family Activity
The Broken and Mended Bowl
You'll need: an old bowl or plate you don't mind breaking (or cut a large circle from cardboard), tape or glue, and crayons or markers.
- Break (or cut) the bowl/cardboard into several pieces.
- Talk together: "What did Israel do that broke their promise to God?"
- Now tape or glue the pieces back together.
- Write one word on each piece: SORRY, FORGIVE, REPENT, LOVE, MERCY, NEW.
- When it's back together, talk about how God is willing to put things back together when we're sorry โ just like He gave Moses new tablets.
The mended bowl isn't broken anymore. It's a reminder that God doesn't throw us away when we mess up.
OurGospelStudy, Week 18 of 52
Come Follow Me 2026: Old Testament
Exodus 32-34: "A Stiff-Necked People"