The Golden Calf - Exodus Series (Toddler/PreK)
Today, in Calvary Kids, we learned that impatience can lead to sin, we should put God first in everything, sin has consequences, and that Moses asked God to forgive the people just like Jesus asks God to forgive us.
Read Exodus 32
Last week we learned about the Ten Commandments! God gave Moses rules to help us know how to live and show us what God is like. The first rule was "You shall have no other gods before Me" and "Don't make any idols." Well, today we're going to see that the people broke that rule very quickly when Moses was gone too long! The Bible tells us Moses was on the mountain for 40 days and nights. The people got tired of waiting and said to Aaron, "Make us gods to follow! We don't know what happened to Moses!" The people were impatient and they didn't want to wait for Moses to come back. They forgot that God brought them out of Egypt, not Moses! When we get impatient, we can make bad choices. They already broke God's rule about not having other gods. When you have to wait for something - like waiting for your turn or waiting for dinner - it's hard! But we need to be patient and trust God's timing.
The Bible tells us Aaron told them to bring all their gold earrings. He melted the gold and made a golden calf statue. Then the people said, "This is your god, O Israel, who brought you out of Egypt!" Aaron should have said "No!" but he gave in to peer pressure They made the calf look like an Egyptian god they saw in Egypt! A statue didn't bring them out - God did! That was silly! They took gifts from God and used them to make a fake god. Sometimes kids your age make 'idols' too - not statues, but other things! If your toys, games, or TV shows become more important to you than God and if you think about them more than Jesus - those can be like your 'golden calf."
The Bible tells us while Moses was still on the mountain, God told him, "Go down! The people have made an idol and are worshiping it! I want to punish them!" But Moses prayed and said, "God, please don't destroy them! Remember Your promise to Abraham! What will the Egyptians think?" And God listened to Moses' prayer and didn't destroy them. God saw their sin - nothing is hidden from Him. God was very angry because they broke His rule. Moses PRAYED for the people - he asked God not to destroy them. This means Moses stood between God and the people. God had listened to Moses' prayer! When people you love do something wrong, you can pray for them! Moses prayed for the people even though they sinned. Jesus prays for us when we sin!
The Bible tells us Moses came down the mountain with the stone tablets. When he saw the golden calf and the people dancing wildly around it, he got very angry! He threw down the tablets and they broke. Then, he burned the golden calf, crushed it into powder, and made the people drink it! Moses was angry at their sin - they broke God's rule right away! Breaking the tablets showed they broke their promise to God. When we put something before God, we need to get rid of it completely. We need to put away anything that's more important to us than God.
The Bible tells us Moses asked, "Who is on God's side?" The Levites then came to Moses. Sadly, about 3,000 people who wouldn't turn from their sin, died that day. After this, God still led them with His angel - showing both punishment and mercy. They had to choose: God or the idol? 3,000 people died because they chose the idol over God. Sin has real, serious consequences, but God also showed mercy - He kept leading them! Sin is serious. It's not just 'oops, I made a mistake.'
But here's the good news: when we say we're sorry and turn away from our sin, God forgives us! Moses prayed for the people, and Jesus prays for us!" The BEST NEWS: Moses tried to save the people by praying. Jesus SAVES us by dying on the cross! Moses asked God to forgive them. Jesus took our punishment so we can be forgiven! We all make "golden calves" - things more important than God. But Jesus died for those sins and rose again! When we trust Jesus, God doesn't see our sin - He sees Jesus' perfect life! What's your golden calf? What do you think about more than Jesus? Tell Jesus you're sorry and ask Him to help you put God first!
Christ Connection:
Key Connection: Moses prayed for the people to be saved, but Jesus died for us to be saved!
1. Moses prayed for the people → Jesus prays for us in heaven (Hebrews 7:25)
2. Moses couldn't really save them from their sin → Jesus DID save us from our sin (Romans 5:8).
3. Moses broke the stone tablets → Jesus' body was broken for us (Luke 22:20).
4. When the Law came, 3,000 died → When the Spirit came, 3,000 were saved (Acts 2:41).
5. Moses destroyed the golden calf Jesus destroys the power of sin in our hearts.
6. God sent an angel to lead them → God sent Jesus to save us!
The Gospel for Kids: We've all put other things before God - like the golden calf! Maybe not a statue, but toys, games, or being popular. That's sin. The Bible says we've all sinned (Romans 3:23). Sin deserves punishment - like those 3,000 people. BUT Jesus is like Moses but way better! Moses prayed "Please forgive them!" Jesus said "I'll DIE for them!" And He did! Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment we deserved. Now when God looks at us (if we trust Jesus), He doesn't see our sin - He sees Jesus' perfect life! We're forgiven because Jesus paid for it!
Application:
1. Put God First: Every day, think about Jesus BEFORE you think about games, toys, or TV. Pray when you wake up!
2. Be Patient: When you have to wait for something, don't get grumpy and make bad choices. Wait patiently and trust God!
3. Choose God, Not Friends: When friends want you to do something wrong, say "No! I choose God!" even if they get mad.
4. Say Sorry Quickly: When you sin, tell Jesus right away! Don't hide it. He always forgives us!
5. Thank Jesus: Thank Jesus every day that He stands up for you and died for your sins!
Discussion Questions:
1. Why did the people make the golden calf?
2. Was it okay to worship the golden calf? Why not?
3. What did Moses do when he found out?
4. What things can become "golden calves" for kids?
5. How is Jesus like Moses but better?
Read Exodus 32
Last week we learned about the Ten Commandments! God gave Moses rules to help us know how to live and show us what God is like. The first rule was "You shall have no other gods before Me" and "Don't make any idols." Well, today we're going to see that the people broke that rule very quickly when Moses was gone too long! The Bible tells us Moses was on the mountain for 40 days and nights. The people got tired of waiting and said to Aaron, "Make us gods to follow! We don't know what happened to Moses!" The people were impatient and they didn't want to wait for Moses to come back. They forgot that God brought them out of Egypt, not Moses! When we get impatient, we can make bad choices. They already broke God's rule about not having other gods. When you have to wait for something - like waiting for your turn or waiting for dinner - it's hard! But we need to be patient and trust God's timing.
The Bible tells us Aaron told them to bring all their gold earrings. He melted the gold and made a golden calf statue. Then the people said, "This is your god, O Israel, who brought you out of Egypt!" Aaron should have said "No!" but he gave in to peer pressure They made the calf look like an Egyptian god they saw in Egypt! A statue didn't bring them out - God did! That was silly! They took gifts from God and used them to make a fake god. Sometimes kids your age make 'idols' too - not statues, but other things! If your toys, games, or TV shows become more important to you than God and if you think about them more than Jesus - those can be like your 'golden calf."
The Bible tells us while Moses was still on the mountain, God told him, "Go down! The people have made an idol and are worshiping it! I want to punish them!" But Moses prayed and said, "God, please don't destroy them! Remember Your promise to Abraham! What will the Egyptians think?" And God listened to Moses' prayer and didn't destroy them. God saw their sin - nothing is hidden from Him. God was very angry because they broke His rule. Moses PRAYED for the people - he asked God not to destroy them. This means Moses stood between God and the people. God had listened to Moses' prayer! When people you love do something wrong, you can pray for them! Moses prayed for the people even though they sinned. Jesus prays for us when we sin!
The Bible tells us Moses came down the mountain with the stone tablets. When he saw the golden calf and the people dancing wildly around it, he got very angry! He threw down the tablets and they broke. Then, he burned the golden calf, crushed it into powder, and made the people drink it! Moses was angry at their sin - they broke God's rule right away! Breaking the tablets showed they broke their promise to God. When we put something before God, we need to get rid of it completely. We need to put away anything that's more important to us than God.
The Bible tells us Moses asked, "Who is on God's side?" The Levites then came to Moses. Sadly, about 3,000 people who wouldn't turn from their sin, died that day. After this, God still led them with His angel - showing both punishment and mercy. They had to choose: God or the idol? 3,000 people died because they chose the idol over God. Sin has real, serious consequences, but God also showed mercy - He kept leading them! Sin is serious. It's not just 'oops, I made a mistake.'
But here's the good news: when we say we're sorry and turn away from our sin, God forgives us! Moses prayed for the people, and Jesus prays for us!" The BEST NEWS: Moses tried to save the people by praying. Jesus SAVES us by dying on the cross! Moses asked God to forgive them. Jesus took our punishment so we can be forgiven! We all make "golden calves" - things more important than God. But Jesus died for those sins and rose again! When we trust Jesus, God doesn't see our sin - He sees Jesus' perfect life! What's your golden calf? What do you think about more than Jesus? Tell Jesus you're sorry and ask Him to help you put God first!
Christ Connection:
Key Connection: Moses prayed for the people to be saved, but Jesus died for us to be saved!
1. Moses prayed for the people → Jesus prays for us in heaven (Hebrews 7:25)
2. Moses couldn't really save them from their sin → Jesus DID save us from our sin (Romans 5:8).
3. Moses broke the stone tablets → Jesus' body was broken for us (Luke 22:20).
4. When the Law came, 3,000 died → When the Spirit came, 3,000 were saved (Acts 2:41).
5. Moses destroyed the golden calf Jesus destroys the power of sin in our hearts.
6. God sent an angel to lead them → God sent Jesus to save us!
The Gospel for Kids: We've all put other things before God - like the golden calf! Maybe not a statue, but toys, games, or being popular. That's sin. The Bible says we've all sinned (Romans 3:23). Sin deserves punishment - like those 3,000 people. BUT Jesus is like Moses but way better! Moses prayed "Please forgive them!" Jesus said "I'll DIE for them!" And He did! Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment we deserved. Now when God looks at us (if we trust Jesus), He doesn't see our sin - He sees Jesus' perfect life! We're forgiven because Jesus paid for it!
Application:
1. Put God First: Every day, think about Jesus BEFORE you think about games, toys, or TV. Pray when you wake up!
2. Be Patient: When you have to wait for something, don't get grumpy and make bad choices. Wait patiently and trust God!
3. Choose God, Not Friends: When friends want you to do something wrong, say "No! I choose God!" even if they get mad.
4. Say Sorry Quickly: When you sin, tell Jesus right away! Don't hide it. He always forgives us!
5. Thank Jesus: Thank Jesus every day that He stands up for you and died for your sins!
Discussion Questions:
1. Why did the people make the golden calf?
2. Was it okay to worship the golden calf? Why not?
3. What did Moses do when he found out?
4. What things can become "golden calves" for kids?
5. How is Jesus like Moses but better?
Posted in Calvary Kids