Exodus 32:19

Arabic SAB (الكتاب الشريف)

فَلَمَّا اقْتَرَبَ مُوسَى مِنَ الْمُخَيَّمِ، وَرَأَى الْعِجْلَ وَالرَّقْصَ، غَضِبَ جِدًّا، وَرَمَى اللَّوْحَيْنِ مِنْ يَدَيْهِ وَكَسَّرَهُمَا عِنْدَ سَفْحِ الْجَبَلِ.

What Does This Mean?

When Moses returned to the camp, he saw the Israelites worshipping a golden calf and dancing. He was so angry that he broke the stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments. This shows Moses' deep disappointment and anger at the Israelites' disobedience.

Explained for Children

Imagine you're playing with your friends and you bring them a special gift, but when you come back, you see them playing with something else and ignoring your gift. You'd feel really sad and angry, right? That's how Moses felt when he saw the Israelites worshipping the golden calf instead of following God's rules.

Historical Background

This verse is from the book of Exodus, traditionally attributed to Moses himself, written around 1440-1400 BCE. The audience was the Israelites, who had recently been freed from slavery in Egypt and were learning about God's laws and expectations. The cultural setting was that of a nomadic people, recently freed from Egyptian bondage, struggling to maintain their faith and obedience to God.

Living It Out Today

Consider a scenario where a teacher has worked hard to prepare a lesson for her students, only to find out they ignored the lesson to play video games instead. The teacher might feel disappointed and angry, much like Moses. This verse reminds us of the importance of respect and obedience, especially when someone has gone to great lengths for our benefit.

Topics

• disobedience
• anger
• brokenness
• worship
• obedience
• disappointment

Related Verses

• Exodus 20:1-17
• Deuteronomy 9:20
• 1 Kings 12:28
• Psalms 78:58
• Hebrews 12:18-21

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Moses break the tablets?

Moses broke the tablets because he was extremely upset and disappointed by the Israelites' disobedience and idolatry, which showed a lack of faith and respect for God's commandments.

What does this teach about leadership?

This teaches that leaders must be firm in their convictions and willing to take decisive actions when faced with disobedience or betrayal of trust, even if it means destroying what they hold dear.

How can this verse help us understand anger?

This verse shows that anger can be a response to serious breaches of trust or moral values, and that it's important to deal with anger constructively and not let it lead to destructive actions.

What does this say about God's relationship with the Israelites?

This event highlights the challenges in maintaining faith and obedience, showing that God's relationship with the Israelites, while loving, required them to adhere to His laws and avoid idolatry.