Exodus 32:1-33:6; Lesson 11

John's study this week:

Scripture Memory Verse “When Moses went and told the people all the Lord’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, ‘Everything the Lord has said we will do.’ ” — Exodus 24:3 (NIV)

Content Sentences (10 – 15 summary sentences)

Exodus 32:1-33:6

1. Exodus 32:1 - 4 While Moses was on the mountain, the people grew impatient and asked Aaron to make them idols of gods so Aaron told them to take the gold earrings from wives, sons

2. Exodus 32:5 - 10 The Aaron built an alter before the calf and announced a festival, and they bowed before the idol then partied and God saw this and told Moses to get back to the people telling him how mad he was at the Israelites who should be destroyed for so quickly turning away from the one true God.

3. Exodus 32:11 – 14 Moses appeals to God to not destroy His people to which God relents.

4. Exodus 32:15 – 20 Moses leaves the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant law inscribed on both sides and when he approached the camp and saw the calf and the revelry Moses broke the tablets the burned the calf, ground it to powder, mixed it with water and made the Israelites drink it.

5. Exodus 32:21 – 24 Moses speaks to Aaron and Aaron making excuses and blaming others that it was the people’s fault in making a golden calf pop out of the fire.

6. Exodus 32:25 – 29 Moses saw that Aaron had let the people run wild so he called for any who were for the Lord, come, and when they did Moses commanded them to slay “brother, friend and neighbor” to about the number of three thousand telling the Levites that they have been set aside for the Lord’s work.

7. Exodus 32:30 – 35 The day following the killings Moses declares that the people have sinned against God, and that he will make atonement for their sin and ask God to forgive to which God says that sin will be punished and the Lord struck the people with a plague.

Exodus 33

8. Exodus 33:1 – 3 The Lord said “Go” to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but God will not go with them as He might destroy them on the way.

9. Exodus 33:4 – 6 Hearing this, the Israelites mourned and removed their ornaments as the Lord told Moses while God decided what to do with them.

Divisions (major divisions of the passage: 2 – 4)

1. Exodus 32:1 - 14 The Israelites step into idolatry yet Moses confronts sin intervening with God.

Application: Does idolatry play a part of your daily life?

2. Exodus 32:1 - 24 Moses calls Aaron to task for his lack of spiritual leadership, and Aaron responds with excuses.

Application: How do you justify your actions when you sin?

3. Exodus 32:25 – 33:6: Moses calls to the people to make a decision for God, and those that do not heed the call see God’s wrath.

Application: Are you repentant before God?


Subject Sentence (ten words or less)

God calls us to repent, act and follow him.


AIM (One principle teaching point from the passage)

To cause the audience to see (TCTATS) that God's desire, through His grace, is for us to repent, turn from sin and follow Him.