INTRODUCTION: Moses had been in the mount for nearly forty days and nights, and the people began to get anxious. They had refused a one-on-one fellowship with the Lord, but are now longing for a god to worship. Aaron, Moses’ brother and right hand man, is recruited to aid in the construction and worship of a golden calf. The end result significantly matches the worship of modern churches, and attention should be given to the righteous Moses, the man of God, and the Lord Himself.

1. ISRAEL RETURNS TO IDOLATRY (Exodus 32:1-6 [1] And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. [2] And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. [3] And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. [4] And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. [5] And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD. [6] And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
   See All...)
1. The Impatience of the People (Exodus 32:1And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
   See All...)
1. Moses is gone.
2. The people gathered together (see Genesis 11).
3. The people gathered together unto Aaron.
1. This is a common practice among cults.
2. This is a common practice among carnal churches and believers (1 Corinthians 1:10-13 [10] Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. [11] For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. [12] Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. [13] Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
   See All...; 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 [1] And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. [2] I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. [3] For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? [4] For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
   See All...).
4. Make us gods.
1. They had previously served false gods (Joshua 24:14Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
   See All...; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 [9] For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; [10] And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
   See All...).
2. They exalted the human instrument above the God who used the instrument (Exodus 32:1And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
   See All...; Judges 8:22Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.
   See All...).
3. They sought a god they could see (Acts 19:23-27 [23] And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. [24] For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; [25] Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. [26] Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: [27] So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
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4. Notice how the people desired a god with whom they were comfortable, rather than the God who caused them to fear. This is common in our day when people want a god who does not cause them to fear, but rather gives them prosperity, health, good social standing and so on. Some things never change!
2. The Making of the Calf (Exodus 32:2-4 [2] And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. [3] And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. [4] And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
   See All...a)
1. Aaron collects the golden earrings (Exodus 32:2-3 [2] And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. [3] And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.
   See All...); this act symbolized their refusal to be the servants of the Lord (Exodus 21:5-6 [5] And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: [6] Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.
   See All...).
2. Aaron engraves the golden calf (Exodus 32:4And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
   See All...a; Psalm 106:19-21 [19] They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image. [20] Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass. [21] They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;
   See All...); thus breaking the first two commandments (Exodus 20:3-4 [3] Thou shalt have no other gods before me. [4] Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
   See All...).
3. The Making of a New Religion (Exodus 32:4And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
   See All...b-6)
1. Its gods (Exodus 32:4And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
   See All...b)
1. These gods were simply the old gods of Egypt revived (Exodus 12:12For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
   See All...).
2. Apis was the sacred bull of the Egyptians who was a symbol of Osiris, the god of the Nile and husband of Isis.
2. Its altar (Exodus 32:5And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.
   See All...a)
3. Its feast (Exodus 32:5And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.
   See All...b)
1. Aaron tries to mix true worship with the false.
2. This has often been the practice of Israel (Zephaniah 1:5And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;
   See All...; Hosea 3:4For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:
   See All...), but it does not satisfy the demands of God.
4. Its sacrifices (Exodus 32:6And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
   See All...a); the most needed offering for this time, the sin offering, is lacking.
5. Its “worship” (Exodus 32:6And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
   See All...b; 1 Corinthians 10:7Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
   See All..., 19-21)
1. They indulge their senses – eating and drinking.
2. They practice licentiousness – rose up to play (see Romans 13:13Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
   See All...; 1 Peter 4:3-4 [3] For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: [4] Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
   See All...).
2. MOSES INTERCEDES FOR ISRAEL (Exodus 32:7-14 [7] And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: [8] They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. [9] And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: [10] Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. [11] And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? [12] Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. [13] Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever. [14] And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
   See All...)
1. The Lord’s Anger with Israel (Exodus 32:7-10 [7] And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: [8] They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. [9] And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: [10] Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.
   See All...)
1. His charges against Israel (Exodus 32:7-9 [7] And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: [8] They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. [9] And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:
   See All...)
1. They have corrupted themselves (Exodus 32:7And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:
   See All...).
2. They have turned aside out of the way (Exodus 32:8They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
   See All...).
3. They are a stiffnecked people (Exodus 32:9And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:
   See All...).
1. This is the first occurrence of the word stiffnecked.
2. It is found 9 times in scripture, and always refers to the people of Israel.
3. It is defined in 2 Chronicles 30:8Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.
   See All... where they are told to not be stiffnecked but to “yield yourselves unto the LORD.”  To be stiffnecked is to refuse to yield to God.
2. His desire to consume Israel (Exodus 32:10Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.
   See All...)
2. Moses’ Intercession for Israel (Exodus 32:11-14 [11] And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? [12] Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. [13] Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever. [14] And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
   See All...)
1. His defense of Israel (Exodus 32:11-13 [11] And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? [12] Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. [13] Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.
   See All...); notice how Moses answers the three charges of God against Israel (Exodus 32:7-9 [7] And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: [8] They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. [9] And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:
   See All...) with three matching defenses (Exodus 32:11-13 [11] And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? [12] Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. [13] Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.
   See All...).
1. The Israelites corrupted themselves (Exodus 32:7And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:
   See All...), but it is God that delivered them (Exodus 32:11And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?
   See All...).
2. They have ruined their testimony by turning aside (Exodus 32:8They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
   See All...), but God’s testimony must be maintained (Exodus 32:12Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.
   See All...).
3. They are indeed a stubborn, stiffnecked people (Exodus 32:9And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:
   See All...), but God must remain steadfast in His promises (Exodus 32:13Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.
   See All...).
2. God repents of His evil plans against Israel (Exodus 32:14And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
   See All...).
1. Repentance is a change of mind.
2. Evil can refer to generally bad things and not necessarily to morally wicked things (see Isaiah 45:7I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
   See All...).
3. MOSES BREAKS THE TABLES OF STONE (Exodus 32:15-19 [15] And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. [16] And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables. [17] And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. [18] And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear. [19] And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.
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1. The Tables of Stone (Exodus 32:15-16 [15] And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. [16] And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.
   See All...)
1. The two tables of testimony (Exodus 32:15And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.
   See All...a)
2. Written on both their sides (Exodus 32:15And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.
   See All...b)
3. The writing was the writing of God (Exodus 32:16And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.
   See All...; Exodus 31:18And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
   See All...).
2. The Noise in the Camp (Exodus 32:17-18 [17] And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. [18] And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear.
   See All...)
1. The noise of war (Exodus 32:17And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp.
   See All...)
2. The noise of singing (Exodus 32:18And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear.
   See All...)
3. Moses Enters the Camp (Exodus 32:19And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.
   See All...).
1. He sees the calf and the dancing.
1. Note: There are two different kinds of dancing mentioned in the Bible.
1. Godly dancing
1. It is done unto the Lord (Exodus 15:20-21 [20] And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. [21] And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
   See All...; 2 Samuel 6:14And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
   See All...); it is not done so that others may see.
2. Men never dance with women (Exodus 15:20And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
   See All...; 1 Samuel 18:6And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.
   See All...).
3. It is done as an act of rejoicing and thanksgiving to God (Psalm 149:3Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
   See All...; Ecclesiastes 3:4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
   See All...).
2. Wicked dancing
1. It is accompanied with the loosening of moral restraints (Exodus 32:6And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
   See All..., 19; 1 Samuel 30:16And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.
   See All...).
2. It is connected with immorality and nakedness (Exodus 32:19And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.
   See All..., 25; Matthew 14:6But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
   See All...).
3. It is done before others to cause them to look and to make offers of love (Matthew 14:6But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
   See All...; Mark 6:22And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.
   See All...).
2. The first kind of dancing was an Old Testament practice and was never incorporated into New Testament worship. It is not a part of our worship to God for today. The second kind of dancing is the only kind that is popular today and it is always condemned in scripture.
2. In his anger, he breaks the tables of stone.
1. Note: This is a good place to show the corruptions within the Koran.
2. Compare the biblical record of Exodus, chapter 32, with this translation of the Koran by Ahmed Ali (7:148): “In the absence of Moses his people prepared the image of a calf from their ornaments, which gave out the mooing of a cow.” Later, when Moses descended from Mount Sinai, “he cast aside the tablets” (7:150) and then, when “his anger subsided Moses picked up the tablets. Inscribed on them was guidance and grace for those who fear their Lord” (7:154). [bold emphasis added]
4. MOSES PUNISHES THE PEOPLE (Exodus 32:20-29 [20] And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it. [21] And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them? [22] And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief. [23] For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. [24] And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf. [25] And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) [26] Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. [27] And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. [28] And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. [29] For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves today to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.
   See All...)
1. He Destroys the Calf (Exodus 32:20And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.
   See All...).
1. Grinds it into powder
2. Makes the Israelites drink it
2. He Questions Aaron (Exodus 32:21-24 [21] And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them? [22] And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief. [23] For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. [24] And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.
   See All...).
1. Moses expresses his amazement (Exodus 32:21And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?
   See All...).
2. Aaron tells his version (Exodus 32:22-24 [22] And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief. [23] For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. [24] And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.
   See All...).
1. He blames the people (Exodus 32:22And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.
   See All...).
2. He blames Moses (Exodus 32:23For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
   See All...).
3. He blames chance; i.e., the Lord (Exodus 32:24And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.
   See All...).
3. He Deals with the People (Exodus 32:25-29 [25] And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) [26] Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. [27] And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. [28] And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. [29] For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves today to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.
   See All...).
1. He sees their sinful condition (Exodus 32:25And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)
   See All...).
2. He calls for faithful men (Exodus 32:26Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.
   See All...).
3. He sends them to slay the wicked (Exodus 32:27-29 [27] And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. [28] And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. [29] For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves today to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.
   See All...); this is not the age of grace. The law begins with 3,000 being killed; grace begins with 3,000 receiving eternal life (Acts 2:41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
   See All...).
5. MOSES INTERCEDES A SECOND TIME (Exodus 32:30-35 [30] And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin. [31] And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. [32] Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. [33] And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. [34] Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them. [35] And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.
   See All...)
1. He Goes to Make an Atonement (Exodus 32:30And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.
   See All...).
2. He Intercedes with God (Exodus 32:31-32 [31] And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. [32] Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
   See All...).
1. He confesses their sin (Exodus 32:31And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.
   See All...).
2. He offers himself in their place (Exodus 32:32Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
   See All...).
3. God Responds to Moses’ Prayer (Exodus 32:33-35 [33] And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. [34] Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them. [35] And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.
   See All...).
1. The sinner pays for his own sin (Exodus 32:33And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
   See All...; Ezekiel 18:4Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
   See All...).
2. Moses must return to lead the people (Exodus 32:34Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.
   See All...a).
3. God’s Angel will go before him (Exodus 32:34Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.
   See All...b; Exodus 23:20Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
   See All...).
4. God will still deal with His people (Exodus 32:34Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.
   See All...c-35).

CONCLUSION: The people grew weary of waiting upon Moses and heaped to themselves a false god. Many today have grown weary of waiting for the return of Christ. Perhaps God’s people ought to examine their methods of worship today to see if they line up with Exodus 32. If so, it is time to go back to God’s ways.