Today is a tough lesson for kids and adults alike. What are we putting more importance on than God? When we want or feel something, does that take priority over everything or do we believe that God is still in control? And-Maybe the hardest for me- are we patiently waiting on the Lord to reveal His plan or do we act quickly with OUR interests in mind?
It's hard because we've all sinned in this area at one time or another. Here's this week's Gospel Project devo:
The Israelites didn’t always agree with Moses, but he was their leader. And he had been gone far too long—at least for their liking—up on some mountain top with God. So because he was “delayed” in coming down (Ex. 32:1), the people got up and got to work on their own. They asked (pressured?) the next in command, Aaron, to make an idol—a false god—to go before them. Big mistake. Aaron complied and made a golden calf. Bigger mistake. The people then held a festival including sacrifices and partying. Biggest mistake of all.
Idols show our hard hearts- We don’t fashion golden calves most likely, but our idolatry is just as real. We too worship a litany of other things besides the one true God. Money. Popularity. Comfort. Ourselves. Sports. The list goes on and on. Yes, our idolatry is just as real and I would argue it is much more heinous. Why? Because we have the fuller gospel story that the Israelites lacked. Our vision is better, clearer, and yet we are blinded by our sin just as easily. Because of the hardness of our hearts. We are tempted to echo God’s burning anger against this people. It is safe to do that. It makes us feel better about ourselves. But when we read this account, our hearts should not cry for fire on the Israelites, but rather mercy for ourselves.
We all have idols we need to repent of, but it's not beyond God's forgiveness- It was the time with God—what the Israelites considered a delay—that surely positioned Moses to be in the correct heart posture to intercede for the Israelites. They had been a thorn in his flesh, but now he speaks up for them and appeals for God’s mercy and grace. Notice that God told Moses to go down at once, but what could be considered a delay—time Moses took to plead with God first—was what saved the Israelites. Don’t you just love the rich levels of God’s Word?
There was Moses, the intercessor, standing between holy God and sinful man. Sound like anyone else we know? That’s right, in this moment Moses provides us with a picture of a better mediator who would come, Jesus. We need to take idolatry seriously because God does. Idolatry is a crystal clear window into our broken and warped hearts. But thanks be to God for His matchless mercy and grace. Our sin is great, but His mercy is greater. God has given us an answer to the golden calves we build up for ourselves, a Lamb who laid down his life for us only to rise again and stand before God as our perpetual Mediator.
A song to start us off AND an introduction to our Vacation Bible School! (Register here)
CLICK HERE for this weeks story summary and read about the golden calf.
Connection to the promise: God's people sinned against God. So, Moses asked God to forgive them. Moses acted as their mediator, standing for them before God. Moses could not do anything to make up for their sin, but we have a better Mediator-- Jesus. Jesus paid for our sin on the cross and stands for us before God. When we trust in Jesus, our sins are forgiven.
If you have a bible at your house, open to Exodus 32-34 and have a parent read it out loud to you! If you don't have one, that's okay! CLICK HERE.
Questions from Kids:
Activity: Sculpture Time
Provide the kids with play dough or clay. Invite them to make sculptures of their favorite things, like toys, animals, or characters from TV or movies. If the kids are younger, try showing pictures of things they love and have them try to create it. Allow each kid a chance to share their work with everyone and say why they sculpted what they did.
Remind Kids that God gave created all of these wonderful things for our enjoyment. However, it's important to remember that nothing God created and nothing people make is worthy of worship. Only God deserves worship and glory. Instead of worshiping a sculpture they made of an animal God made, the Israelites should have been worshiping God!
Craft Time (#craftivity):
As I was looking for this week's craft, I kept asking myself, "Why are we making a golden calf when we are teaching a lesson on NOT creating a golden calf?!!" I bought gold glitter because I didn't have any other ideas when it hit me- We're going to make "foam" fingers instead!! Let wave our foam fingers and shout for the Lord like we route for our favorite team, because God is #1!
With THIS ONE PRINTABLE you have a few different options:
1. Print off BOTH pages of fingers
2. Color both pages
OPTION 1: Tape or staple along the edges to create a sports-style "foam" finger.
OPTION 2: glue both together with a popsicle stick in the middle
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