Day 54

Moses Smashes the Golden Calf

Exodus 32:7–34:4

Hurry down the mountain,” the Lord told Moses. “Your people have made an idol and are worshiping it. I’m about to destroy them all.”

“O Lord, please change your mind,” Moses prayed. “Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? You promised that their families would be like the stars in heaven. What about the land of Canaan that you promised to give them?” So the Lord changed his mind.

On the way down, Moses could hear the wild party below. He came near the camp. Then he could see the golden calf and the dancers. He became hot with anger. He threw the two stone tablets to the ground and they shattered.

Pushing through the crowd, Moses snatched the gold calf off the altar. He smashed it, burned it, and ground it to dust. “Who is on the Lord’s side?” he demanded. The tribe of Levi stepped up. “Go through the camp. Kill the idol worshipers.”

The men of Levi killed 3,000 people that day. Moses prayed for God to forgive Israel. Then Moses went up the mountain with two new stone tablets.

Questions: Why did God decide not to destroy Israel? What did Moses do with the golden calf?