The Golden Calf, Covenant Breaking, Intercession, Judgment, and Restored Relationship
The Golden Calf, Covenant Breaking, Intercession, Judgment, and Restored Relationship Exodus 32 is an important and tragic chapters in the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers). W hile Moses is on Mount Sinai receiving God's covenant law, Israel is at the foot of the mountain breaking the very covenant. Exodus 31 ended with God giving Moses the tablets “ written with the finger of God .” Exodus 32 immediately presents Israel violating the first and second commandments. The chapter forms a contrast between God's revelation and human rebellion, true worship and idolatry, faithful leadership and weak leadership, intercession and judgment, grace and consequences . The Golden Calf: When Waiting Produces Idolatry The chapter opens with a highlight of impatience, when the Israelites saw that Moses had delayed to come down from the mountain, they went ahead to actualize what they had conceived in their hearts. Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming...