Story of Golden Calf - Bible Stories for Kids

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Story of Golden Calf

Exodus 32:1-35

When Moses turned to leave, Godspoke suddenly, "A terrible thing hashappened! The people have forgotten their promises already. They areworshiping a golden calf."

The people had waited and waitedfor Moses to come down from themountain. When Moses still did notshow up, they decided he must bedead. Once again, they chose not totrust in God. They asked Moses'brother Aaron to make them another god. Aaron had taken their goldbracelets and rings. Using the meltedgold he made them a golden calf.

God became very angry. He toldMoses, "I will kill them all. I will startover in making a special people."

Moses begged God not to kill them.Then he started down the mountain.He carried the stone tablets God hadgiven him. The closer Moses came tothe camp, the more noise he heard.

Then he saw the golden calf,gleaming in the sunshine. "You are aterrible people!" he screamed at them.

The music stopped and the peoplestood still.

"How could you do this after all theLord has done for you!" Moses yelled.In his rage, he flung down the stoneswith God's handwriting on them. Hedashed them onto the ground with amighty crash. They broke into athousand tiny pieces.

Moses punished the people. Thenhe went back up the mountain. Godtold Moses that the people of Israeldid not make Him smile like they usedto. God was very, very disappointed.

Moses pleaded with God to forgive thepeople of Israel. God said becauseMoses was the one asking, He wouldlisten. Because God and Moses werefriends, He would remember Hispromises to the people.

Moses was best friends with God.He asked God, "Show me Yourways." God told him that he woulddie if God let him see and learneverything there is to know aboutGod. It would be too much.

God did say, however, that Mosescould return to the top of MountSinai. There God would pass by soMoses could see more of God. Thiswould be the closest anyone had evercome to God!

Moses climbed back up themountain. The Lord came down fromthe cloud to be with Moses. Moses fellonto the ground. God's glory was too great. Moses kept his eyes shut tightand said over and over again howgreat God was. Again he begged Godto forgive the people and still makethem His chosen children.

God said He would. And then Hemade a great promise. For the secondtime, God told Moses all the laws forthe people. He promised to bring thepeople of Israel to the land He hadtold Abraham would belong to hischildren.

God gave His rules and laws for thesecond time. Moses chiseled out thestone and God wrote down the Lawagain. Moses stayed up on themountain forty days, just as He hadthe first time God gave him the TenCommandments.

After the forty days were over,Moses climbed down the cliffs. Hecame back to the camp. This time thepeople had kept their promise. Theyhad waited for him to return. Theyhad been good.

Moses was over a hundred years old.He called all the people together onelast time. He knew he would soon die.He called out in a mighty voice, "Youhave a choice! All of you who want tolive, raise your hands!"

The crowd mumbled, "What doeshe mean?"

"Of course, we want to live!"

"Yes, yes!" they called. They allraised their hands.

"All those who want to die, raiseyour hands!" Moses called.

The crowd quickly lowered theirhands. A silence fell over them. Theywaited. Somewhere in the crowd ababy cried.

"Today," Moses shouted, "you havesaid you choose life, not death. Godwants to make a promise to you. Hewants to give you food and water,

good land and large flocks. This is life.He wants to give you peace. He willgive you all these things if you obeyHis laws.

"But if you do things on your own,if you grow proud, if you forget howGod brought you out of Egypt, thenyou will be ruined! Do you believeme?" Moses paused.

"Yes, Moses, we will obey!" thepeople shouted back. Moses bowed hishead and prayed it would be so. Heloved the people very much, even ifthey had caused him so much trouble.

Before Moses died, he wrote a beautiful song for his people. He knewhe was going to a different sort ofpromised land than Canaan. He wasgoing to be with his best Friend, God.Moses' song was all about the loveof God. It told how faithful God hadbeen through the years, of His powerand might.

When Moses had finished singing,he felt very tired. Moses wanted sobadly to see the promised land. Heasked God if his time had come."Yes," the Lord said, "you can seethe land now, but you will not crossinto it. Go up Mount Nebo. Fromthere you will see the land of Canaan.When Moses reached the top, he

looked across the Jordan River. Therewas the promised land.

Moses stood on that hill for manyhours. He stood and stared. His eyesdrank in the sight of God's land. Wildflowers covered the hills. Tall treesswayed in the breeze.

Moses said, "Thank You, Lord." Itwas enough just to see the land.

While Moses gazed at the land which would soon belong to his people, he died. He died a strong man,still able to see and think clearly. Godburied Moses in a valley near themountain. Moses was the friend ofGod.

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