November 3, 2020
The book of Exodus tells the story of the birth of the nation of Israel fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham. From the seventy descendants of Jacob, Israel was fruitful and multiplied greatly until they filled the whole land of Egypt. After four centuries of slavery, God answers the cries of His people for deliverance. God raises up Moses for this calling, to lead his people out of bondage to a land of promise and deliverance.
Some of the greatest stories of the Bible are featured in Exodus—from the Ten Plagues, and the Passover, to the crossing of the Red Sea, and the establishment of the covenant at Mount Sinai. The Passover lamb, the exodus from the land of Egypt, the seven feasts, the tabernacle, and even the high priest, are all foreshadows of the ministry of Christ.
Chapters 1-18 contains the events leading up to God’s delivering the Hebrews from their captivity in Egypt, and chapters 19-40 shares the events in the wilderness and the account of God’s instructions to Moses on Mount Sinai to direct the life and worship of the nation.
Exodus 34
Moses Makes New Tablets
1 The Lord said to Moses, “Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. 2 Be ready by the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to me on the top of the mountain. 3 No one shall come up with you, and let no one be seen throughout all the mountain. Let no flocks or herds graze opposite that mountain.” 4 So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the first. And he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand two tablets of stone. 5 The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. 6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” 8 And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. 9 And he said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”
The Covenant Renewed
10 And he said, “Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been created in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord, for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.
11 “Observe what I command you this day. Behold, I will drive out before you the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 12 Take care, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you go, lest it become a snare in your midst. 13 You shall tear down their altars and break their pillars and cut down their Asherim 14 (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), 15 lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and when they whore after their gods and sacrifice to their gods and you are invited, you eat of his sacrifice, 16 and you take of their daughters for your sons, and their daughters whore after their gods and make your sons whore after their gods.
17 “You shall not make for yourself any gods of cast metal.
18 “You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month Abib, for in the month Abib you came out from Egypt. 19 All that open the womb are mine, all your male livestock, the firstborn of cow and sheep. 20 The firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. And none shall appear before me empty-handed.
21 “Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest. 22 You shall observe the Feast of Weeks, the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the year’s end. 23 Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel. 24 For I will cast out nations before you and enlarge your borders; no one shall covet your land, when you go up to appear before the Lord your God three times in the year.
25 “You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with anything leavened, or let the sacrifice of the Feast of the Passover remain until the morning. 26 The best of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring to the house of the Lord your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.”
27 And the Lord said to Moses, “Write these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” 28 So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.
The Shining Face of Moses
29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. 30 Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. 32 Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that the Lord had spoken with him in Mount Sinai. 33 And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.
34 Whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, 35 the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Reflection:
- Like the first tablets, from where do the words on the tablets originate (v.1)? This makes it clear that the covenant between God and the people of Israel did not originate from a man.
- Reflect on the words that God would speak through the prophet Jeremiah many years later as recorded in Jeremiah 31:33, “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” God pursues his people and does not merely give laws for us to memorize, but he writes them on our hearts. This conveys intimacy and a God who wants to be known.
- The Lord shows steadfast love for thousands. However, when he says he visits the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and children’s children, to the third and fourth generation, he is not saying that he will make the children and grandchildren pay for the sins of the fathers. What he is conveying is that rebellion has dire, and far-reaching consequences for generations. Parents have a sacred responsibility to model a sincere life of obedience and worship of the Lord, but they must also teach their children about God. Otherwise, sin and iniquity will prevail, and generations will experience the pain and misery of godlessness.
- As we consider these words from God to his people Israel, can we see any kind of generational drift from God in our own land? What is God’s solution?
- Have you ever thought of “Jealous” as being one of God’s names (v. 14)? Isn’t it natural to not want to share the affection and intimacy you have with someone you love with another?
Prayer: Oh Lord, you are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin (v. 6-7). But you are also a holy and just God who punishes sin. Forgive me for my sin and transgressions against you. Create in me a clean heart my Lord and my Redeemer! I bless your holy name. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Lord Jesus forgive me of my sins and cleanse me of all unrighteousness. For You are my Savior. My redeemer. My deliverer. My all in all. Bring back our country to Your embrace. In Your Holy Name Jesus Amen.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Please forgive all of our transgressions . We as a people have sinned and broken so many of your commandments. Help us to see the error of our ways and return to You . There is no hope or a future without You in it. I am praying for our world amid this pandemic and our country that has become so divided. Please incline our ears, hearts and minds to Your voice, LORD and heal our broken land. I pray all these things in the sweet and precious name of Jesus. Amen.
Deliver us oh Lord from the evil around us and protect all your people from harm. Lord forgive me for not being able to keep up with this daily devotional as I should. Please help me find a way to keep up. Protect me Lord from all the ways our common enemy throws darts to foil my every effort to follow you more closely. Thank you God for the Tablet of stone and your commandments that guide and keep us safe. Oh Lord my God Thank you for victory is all ours in Jesus Christ name we pray Amen.
Father,
Thank you for another day. We are given the same amount of time; may I not waste a moment.
The trumpet has not sounded. Jesus has not returned. The lost are till hurling towards an eternity separated from you. And I have breath in my lungs and my heart is beating.
I lift up the wanders in my life. Father, save their souls. How can I be used by you this day? Speak through me this day, help me to teach, encourage and to motivate others to serve you in righteous and holy living.
Touch my family and friends with a calming spirit. Heal those who are in pain and who are ill. Carry each in the palm of your hand. Place a hedge of protection around each.
LORD, I lift up your church. Fill your pulpits with Holy Ghost inspired preachers. May your pulpits be a blaze. Open the hearts of the congregation to receive your Word. Lost souls are depending on each of us doing our part.
In all we do this day, may we give you the glory and honor, for it is in the name of Jesus we pray,
Amen
Amen! Amen! Amen! ? ? ?
I will be obedient to the Lord’s Commandments.
Making this Exodus journey with others makes it special. I want to make my own exodus from sin to righteous. One day, I will make my exodus from this sin cursed world to my mansion in glory with Jesus.
Heavenly Father, empower us to bring Your Covenant Love to our Nation today on this vital Election Tuesday. Lord, bring forth a spiritual awakening in America! In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Even so Come Lord Jesus!
Time spent with God produces changes (Moses’s face shone) that are evident to others! When we are spiritual we may not know the effect we are having on others, but they know.
Thank you for loving us and protecting us with your law Lord, that can protect us in the present, and future generations. Help me lead my daughters so that they obey you, and worship you above all else.