Exodus 32: Text Worksheet

Structure

Israel’s Lawless Rebellion (1-6)

Israel asks for illegal gods (1)

Aaron makes an illegal idol (2-4)

Aaron proclaims an illegal feast (5-6)

Moses’ Limited Intercession (7-35)

YHWH “burns hot” to punish Israel (7-10)

Moses intercede and YHWH relents based on YHWH’s covenant (11-14)

Moses “burns hot” to punish Israel (15-29)

Moses intercede and YHWH does not relent based on Moses’ “atonement” (30-35)

Consequence (35)

Context

4. Consequence (30-35)

Immediate

Instructions for the tabernacle (25:1-31:17)

Instructions for the tabernacle (25:1-31:17)

Covenant rebellion (32:1-35) <<<

Covenant renewal (33:1-34:35)

Instructions for the tabernacle (35:1-40:38)

Redemptive-Historical

God promised to give the land to Abraham’s offspring forever ().

God promised that Abraham’s offspring would be as numerous as the stars ().

Main Idea for Them/Then

Israel’s rebellious hearts will not be fixed by God’s holy law and Moses cannot atone for it. Israel’s only hope is that God keeps his promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Anticipation of the Gospel

We have a better covenant—the law is written on our hearts ().

We have a better atonement (; ; ; ).

Hebrews 8:8–13 ESV

For he finds fault with them when he says: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Argument and Implications for Us/Now

Heb 8:8-13

Our sin is so great that no man, nor even God’s law, can stop it—only God’s promise can save us!

Homiletical Outline

Prop: Our sin is so great that no man, nor even God’s law, can stop it—only God’s promise can save!

The law can’t stop a rebellious people (32:1-6).

NT: The law reveals sin, but it can’t stop sin ().

A man can’t atone for it—only God’s promises can save (32:7-35)

NT: Only by God’s promise for the law written on our hearts (

NT: Only by Jesus’ blood are sins atoned (; ; ; ).

NT: Only by Jesus’ intercession does the law move the heart ().

Hebrews 6:13 ESV

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,

English Standard Version Chapter 9

15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.