Daily Lesson for Monday 8th of September 2025

The golden calf resembled the Egyptian bull god, called Apis, or cow god, called Hathor. This was a blatant transgression of the first and second commandments (Exodus 20:3-6).

Image © Providence Collection at Goodsalt.com

This violation could not go unpunished because it openly broke their relationship with the living Lord. Instead of worshiping their Creator, the Israelites worshiped their own creation, which could not see, hear, smell, speak, care, love, or lead.

The Creation order was reversed: instead of understanding that they had been created in God’s image, they now made a god, not even in their own image—which would have been bad enough—but in the image of an animal. This was the god whom they wanted to serve? Thus, they had greatly sinned against the Lord (Isaiah 31:7, Isaiah 42:17).

Idolatry denies the theological understanding that God is God and man is man. Idolatry erases the gap between God and man (Ecclesiastes 5:2) and breaks the connection with Him. Whether it is blatant and open or something concealed in the heart, idolatry quickly ruptures our relationship with the Lord and leads in a downward moral spiral. No wonder the text talks about what they did the next day: after offering sacrifices to the idol, they then began to party, in what Ellen G. White depicted as “an imitation of the idolatrous feasts of Egypt.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 320.

Humans are geniuses at fabricating their own idols. They create their own gods, which is bad enough, but then they go and serve those gods. The Creator is replaced with things that, sooner or later, lead to moral degeneration.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25c-11-idolatry-and-evil/

Exodus points us to a wonderful conclusion with the Israelites being bound for the Promised Land, hence our theme hymn for the quarter being 
We Are Bound For The Promised Land – Hymn 620.

 Sabbath afternoon’s introduction encourages us to remember “about God’s gracious love” as do
Hymn 76 – O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go, 
Hymn 79 – O Love Of God, How Strong And True!, and 
Hymn 78 – For God So Loved The World.

 With the Failed Leadership in our Sunday study time, it is so sad to learn of Aaron failing “to seize the moment and do what was right”….. instead of trusting the Lord. May we all learn to 
Trust And Obey – Hymn 590 and not follow the sadness of what Aaron did.

 In looking at Idolatry and Evil on Monday, we see that the people forgot that we should say 
I Sing The Mighty Power Of God – Hymn 88 instead of going off to serve other gods. Once again, with sadness, we see The Creator is replaced. Instead, we can wisely choose the 
Lord of Creation – Hymn 320 and give Him all our praise.

 As we follow the story this week, it is with wonder that Moses was prepared to “be a type of Christ” and make atonement: 
What a Wonderful Saviour – Hymn 335. What a beautiful Saviour we have and “God Himself” does the substituting and the saving, as we learn at the end of Thursday’s study time: 
Hymn 299 – Forgive Our Sins As We Forgive and Hymn 340 – Jesus Saves.

Please continue to search the scriptures this week to be blessed, and to bless others.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

  2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/11-apostacy-and-intercession-singing-with-inspiration/

Key Thought: With Moses on the mount with God, the people threatened Aaron with death. He made a golden calf, which Israel worshipped as their God. Moses interceded for them, and God relented.
September 13, 2025

1. Have a volunteer read Exodus 32:1-6.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. How was it possible for Aaron’s leadership to fail so dramatically?
3. Personal Application: Have you ever shown weakness in the face of an adversary? How have you tried to justify your compromise? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “What was the result of Israel’s idolatry in the desert? Because they rejected the God of Moses as their Saviour, how did it affect their mindset and actions? ” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Exodus 32:7-14.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. Why did God send Moses down from the mountain to the camp of Israel?
3. Personal Application: What idols do we worship or substitute for God today? Share your thoughts.
   (Note: pride, money, power, sex, food, TV, drugs, alcohol, pornography, work, sports, family, shopping, politics, music, etc.)
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Why did Moses respond to God’s threat to destroy Israel in the way he did? If it were me listening to all the complaining and blaming and whining, I would have let God destroy them and start over like He suggested.” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Exodus 32:15-29.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What was Moses’ reaction when he got to the camp of the Israelites?
3. Personal Application: Seeing that Moses’ prayers saved Israel from destruction, how important is it to us to identify those who need prayer and fervently pray for them? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states: Why did Aaron tell Moses it wasn’t his fault, that the people made him, and claim it was magic that when he cast the jewellery into the fire, out came this calf?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Exodus 32:30-32.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How far did Moses go for his intercession for sinners?
3. Personal Application: How can we pray with or for others without being offensive or disrespectful? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Inform the class about your plans for the week and share them with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared. ”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/11-apostasy-and-intercession-teaching-plan/

Daily Lesson for Sunday 7th of September 2025

God called Moses to spend time with Him. Forty days and forty nights might have been a short period for Moses, but it seemed long, too long, for the Israelites. Their visible leader was absent. They became disoriented, impatient, fearful, and insecure. They wanted to have a visible god who would lead them, the “gods” whom they had seen all their lives in idolatrous Egypt.

Image © Providence Collection at Goodsalt.com

Aaron did not rise to the occasion. He failed to seize the moment and do what was right. Instead of trusting the Lord, he wilted before the majority. The people demanded the unthinkable: “ ‘Come, make us a god who will go before us’ ” (Exodus 32:1, NASB), and he consented.

People willingly gave gold to make the idol, and Aaron not only did not stop them but, in fact, he invited them to donate. He then participated in the molding of this false god. Afterward, the people declared: “This is your god, Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt” (Exodus 32:4, NASB). So sinful, wicked, and shortsighted. They had just fabricated this idol and then stated that it, the idol, had delivered them. Isn’t it amazing how sinful desires can pervert our thinking and actions? People celebrate their own creations, and their humanity and morality become debased in the process.

“Such a crisis demanded a man of firmness, decision, and unflinching courage; one who held the honor of God above popular favor, personal safety, or life itself. But the present leader of Israel was not of this character. Aaron feebly remonstrated with the people, but his wavering and timidity at the critical moment only rendered them the more determined. The tumult increased. A blind, unreasoning frenzy seemed to take possession of the multitude. There were some who remained true to their covenant with God, but the greater part of the people joined in the apostasy. Aaron feared for his own safety; and instead of nobly standing up for the honor of God, he yielded to the demands of the multitude.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, Pages 316, 317.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25c-11-failed-leadership/

The question, “Which came first – the chicken or the egg?”  causes many to scratch their heads, but scientists have the answer: Scientific consensus states that the egg came first. 

But if we believe the Bible to be factual, we know that the “scientists” are wrong, because the Bible tells us that the chicken came first. God created adult creatures, including an adult man and woman. 

Similarly,  secular archeologists and anthropologists propose that the Hebrew sanctuary was patterned after the heathen temples common at the time. 

But if we believe the Bible to be factual, we know that the archeologists and anthropologists are wrong. The Hebrew sanctuary was built on a heavenly pattern. ¹

Worldly “wisdom” points to the similarities between the Hebrew sanctuary and heathen temples as evidence that the Hebrew sanctuary was built after the pattern of heathen temples, directly contrary to the biblical teaching that the earthly sanctuary was built on a heavenly pattern given by God Himself.

According to the biblical record, blood sacrifices were not invented by the heathen. They were prescribed at the gates of Eden as representatives of the atoning death of the “Seed of the woman” – the Savior to come. (Gen. 3:15)

Satan imitates the things of God to deceive. He didn’t invent the sacrificial systems of the heathen religions. Instead, he twisted the lamb sacrifices that were to represent a Savior for people who couldn’t save themselves into sacrifices (most commonly pigs in many parts of the world) by which people could save themselves. ²

The Bible tells us very little about Satan before his fall. But we do know that he served next to the throne of God. ³ Thus, Satan knew a bit about the arrangement of the heavenly sanctuary. When he inspired his followers to build temples to worship him and his demons, [The Bible clearly tells us that the heathens worshiped demons. See Lev. 17:7 NKJV;  Deut. 37:12 NKJV;  1 Cor. 10:20 NKJV] he used the heavenly pattern for his counterfeit temples. And that way, when God elected the Israelite nation to be His representatives on this planet, systems of worship built on the bastardization of the heavenly pattern already existed. However, as Maurice Ashton pointed out in a couple of comments here and here, there were significant differences between the Hebrew sanctuary built according to God’s direct instructions and the heathen temples Satan inspired his followers to build. 

Chief among the visible differences was the absence of a representation of the God of the Hebrews. The Creator of heaven and earth transcends human imagination and representation. 

The services themselves were solemn affairs, intended to remind the people that their sins would cause the death of the Messiah to come. That contrasted sharply with the revelry and loud demonstrations, glossolalia, chanting and dances that accompanied much heathen worship. 

The Bible provides only broad outlines, but we know that the Hebrew priests were expected to instruct the people about God and the plan of salvation. ⁴ That meant that they were supposed to teach them that they could not save themselves but had to cast themselves wholly on the mercies of a loving God. That was in stark contrast to the meaning of heathen sacrifices, which were intended as payments to appease angry gods. 

Next time someone asks, which came first, remember what the Bible teaches. This world has not progressed from a dim knowledge of God to a  brighter knowledge. Adam and Eve talked with God face to face.

We are in the process of recovering the knowledge of God which our first parents possessed. We have the promise that God will reveal Himself to all who will seek Him with the whole heart. (Deut. 4:29; Jere. 29:13)

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/which-came-first/