Observation

Majority of the candidates did not attempt this question basically because they had problem answering interpreting this question due to insufficient knowledge about the passage. They performed below average in most cases. Expected points from candidates are listed below;
i. Moses was on Mt. Sinai to collect the ten commandments but delayed in coming down
ii. The Israelites became angry and impatient as they thought Moses was dead. iii. And if Moses had died, it meant that God had abandoned them
iv. They asked Aaron therefore to make them gods who could lead them back to Egypt
v. In response, Aaron made a golden calf out of gold rings collected from wives, sons and daughters of the Israelites.
vi. Aaron told them that these are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
vii. He built an altar and declared the next day a feast unto the Lord.
viii. The people rose early the next day to offer burnt and peace offerings.
ix. After that, they settled down to feasting and fun involving sexual misconduct.
x. God became angry with the Israelites whom he described as stiff-necked and planned to destroy them with fire.
xi. This was so because the people had rejected Him by sacrificing to other gods.
xii. As these were going on, God commanded Moses to go down from the mountain to see the foolery of his people.
xiii. Moses pleaded on behalf of the people that God should remember Abraham, Isaac and Israel His servants whom He swore by Himself.
xiv. Moses reminded God to keep His promises to the Patriarchs to multiply their descendants and forgive the people of Israel.
xv. Moses also pleaded that God should not be angry with the people He brought out of Egypt with his great power and mighty hand.
xvi. Otherwise, the Egyptians would say that God brought them out of Egypt with evil intention to kill them.
xvii. The Lord repented – thus God changed His mind from the destruction of Israel.

Challenges Moses encountered as a leader.
i. Dual citizenship: A Hebrew brought up as an Egyptian Allegiance to whom? Saw himself as a Hebrew and killed an Egyptian task master.
ii. Murderer: with problems of justice for killing an Egyptian hence Moses’ flight into Midian.
iii. Temperament: Hot tempered/anger/impatience led to his fighting an Egyptian, the shepherds/breaking of the commandment tablets etc.
iv. L ack of confidence: Found it difficult to accept his calling at Sinai with so many excuses to God.
v. P hysically challenged/Stammerer: Admitted during his call that he was not eloquent and God gave him Aaron to assist him.
vi. IIsraelites rebellion/Lack of faith: Faced with how to contain the rebellious attitude of the Israelites- crossing the Red Sea, Golden Calf etc.