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.”
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 You shall take their daughters for your sons, and their daughters who prostitute themselves to their gods will make your sons also prostitute themselves to 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.
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.
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.
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 And 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 True Meaning of Exodus 34
The Book of Exodus, the second book of the Bible, is believed to have been written by Moses, the great prophet and leader of the Israelites. We witness the renewal of the covenant between God and His chosen people in this chapter, following the incident of the golden calf.
After the Israelites’ betrayal and the subsequent breaking of the original tablets, Moses intercedes on their behalf, and God graciously offers a second chance. This chapter highlights the compassionate nature of the Almighty, who is willing to forgive and restore His relationship with the Israelites, as long as they remain faithful and obedient to His commandments.
The events in this chapter echo the themes of repentance, forgiveness, and the importance of maintaining a right relationship with God, as seen in other biblical passages such as Psalm 51 and 1 John 1:9. As we delve into this chapter, we will witness the profound impact of God’s mercy and the transformative power of true repentance.
Exodus 34:1-4
The Lord commands Moses to carve two new tablets of stone similar to the ones that were previously broken as a result of Moses’ anger at the sight of the Israelites worshiping the golden calf in Exodus 34:1-4. This event is pivotal in the Israelites’ journey as it symbolizes a second chance, a new beginning after their grave mistake in turning away from God. The act of God providing another set of tablets signifies His mercy and willingness to forgive His people despite their transgressions. It shows that God is a God of second chances and is faithful to His promises, even when His people falter.
Moses is instructed to come back up Mount Sinai to meet with God and receive the commandments once again. This highlights the importance of obedience and consistent communication with God. Despite the Israelites’ failings, God never gave up on them, emphasizing the importance of repentance and reconciliation. This notion is echoed in other parts of the Bible, such as in 2 Chronicles 7:14, where God promises to forgive His people if they humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways.
It is also notable that God tells Moses to be the one carving the tablets this time, implying a sense of responsibility and ownership of the covenant that was being renewed between God and His people. This act signifies the leadership role that Moses held among the Israelites and how he served as a mediator between the people and God. Throughout the Bible, Moses is depicted as a faithful servant of God, leading the Israelites out of Egypt and constantly interceding on their behalf.
The reissuing of the Ten Commandments on the new tablets reinforces the importance of God’s laws in the lives of His people. The commandments serve as a guide for ethical living and are essential in shaping the Israelites’ relationship with God and with one another. The repetition of the commandments emphasizes their significance and the need for God’s people to live according to His standards. This event also serves as a reminder that God’s laws are timeless and unchanging, emphasizing the need for obedience and adherence to His word. Exodus 34:1-4 carries a message of restoration, forgiveness, obedience, and the enduring faithfulness of God. It showcases God’s willingness to give His people another chance, the importance of following His commandments, and the role of faithful leadership in guiding God’s people. This passage serves as a powerful reminder of God’s grace and mercy, offering hope and redemption to all who seek Him.
Exodus 34:5-9
Exodus 34:5-9 reads, “Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. “Lord,” he said, “if I have found favor in your eyes, then let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance.” Then the Lord said: “I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the Lord, will do for you.”
The first section of this passage highlights God’s self-revelation to Moses. The Lord proclaims His name, emphasizing His divine attributes of compassion, grace, patience, love, faithfulness, and justice. This revelation of God’s character is significant in understanding the nature of the relationship between God and His people. It shows that God is merciful and forgiving, yet He also upholds justice and holds the guilty accountable for their actions. This sets the foundation for the covenant relationship between God and the Israelites.
The mention of God punishing sin to the third and fourth generation may seem harsh, but it reflects the consequences of sin impacting future generations. This idea of generational consequences is also found in other parts of the Bible, such as in Exodus 20:5 and Deuteronomy 5:9, where it is mentioned in the context of idolatry. It reinforces the importance of personal responsibility and the effects of sin not only on individuals but also on their descendants.
Moses’s response to this revelation is one of humility and worship. Despite the stiff-necked nature of the Israelites, he pleads for God’s forgiveness and favor upon them. His intercession on behalf of the people demonstrates his role as a mediator between God and the Israelites, showcasing his deep care and concern for their spiritual well-being.
God’s promise to do wonders never before seen for the Israelites underscores His faithfulness to fulfill His covenant promises. This assurance of divine intervention and miraculous acts serves to strengthen the Israelites’ faith and trust in God as they journey through the wilderness towards the Promised Land. It also foreshadows the miraculous events that will unfold in the subsequent chapters of Exodus and throughout the history of Israel. This passage encapsulates the core themes of the Bible – God’s nature of love, mercy, justice, and faithfulness, the consequences of sin, the need for intercession and forgiveness, and the promises of God to His people. It showcases the relational aspect of God’s interactions with humanity and emphasizes the importance of faith, repentance, and obedience in maintaining a covenant relationship with Him.
Exodus 34:10-17
The verse in Exodus 34:10-17 can be broken down into several important sections.
Firstly, in verse 10, it begins with the Lord making a covenant with Moses and the Israelites, proclaiming that He will perform wonders never before seen in all the earth. This covenant signifies a renewal of the relationship between God and His people after the incident with the golden calf. It is a demonstration of God’s mercy and faithfulness towards His people, despite their shortcomings. This moment is significant as it shows that God is willing to forgive and restore His relationship with those who repent and seek His forgiveness. It also displays God’s power and sovereignty over all things, as He promises to do unprecedented miracles on behalf of His people.
Moving on, verses 11-14 highlight the instructions God gives the Israelites regarding their behavior as they enter the promised land. The Lord warns them against making covenants with the inhabitants of the land and participating in their idolatry. This serves as a reminder for the Israelites to remain faithful to God and not be swayed by the practices of the surrounding nations. It emphasizes the importance of exclusive devotion to God and serves as a moral lesson for believers to guard their hearts and not be enticed by the ways of the world. This section also speaks to the theme of loyalty and obedience to God alone, as seen throughout the Bible in various instances where God’s people are called to remain steadfast in their faith despite external influences.
Additionally, in verses 15-16, God explicitly commands the Israelites to destroy the altars, sacred stones, and Asherah poles of the pagan peoples in the land they are entering. The presence of these religious symbols was a temptation for the Israelites to stray from their devotion to the one true God. God is emphasizing the need for complete separation from idolatry and the importance of purity in worship by commanding their destruction. This directive serves as a warning against syncretism and compromise in matters of faith. It underscores the idea that God demands our full allegiance and does not tolerate the worship of false gods, a principle reiterated throughout the Bible in various accounts of idolatry and its consequences.
Lastly, in verse 17, God warns the Israelites against making any cast idols, emphasizing the importance of pure worship and reverence for Him alone. This command is a continuation of the prohibition against idolatry and serves as a reminder for the Israelites to keep their hearts focused on God and not to be distracted by man-made idols. It reinforces the foundational principle of monotheism in the Bible, highlighting that there is only one true God worthy of worship. This verse challenges believers to examine their own lives and ensure that nothing takes the place of God in their hearts, echoing the New Testament teaching to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Exodus 34:10-17 emphasizes the themes of covenant, loyalty, obedience, and worship. It serves as a pivotal moment in the relationship between God and the Israelites, showcasing God’s mercy, power, and desire for His people to remain faithful to Him alone. The passage provides timeless lessons for believers today, reminding them of the importance of maintaining a pure and devoted relationship with God, free from idolatry and compromise. We are encouraged to examine our own hearts and ensure that we are wholeheartedly devoted to the one true God, just as He desires as we reflect on these verses.
Exodus 34:18-26
God gives a series of commandments and instructions to the Israelites through Moses in Exodus 34:18-26 as they prepare to enter the promised land. Let’s break down the important sections of this passage and explore their significance.
Starting with verse 18, it mentions the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which was a significant feast in the Jewish calendar. This feast symbolized the Israelites’ hasty departure from Egypt, as they did not have time to let their bread rise before fleeing. The Israelites, by observing this feast, were not only commemorating their deliverance from slavery but also reaffirming their identity as God’s chosen people. The Feast of Unleavened Bread teaches us the importance of remembering God’s faithfulness in our past deliverances and remaining separate from sin, represented by the leaven.
Moving on to verses 19 and 20, we encounter the commandment to redeem every firstborn among the Israelites. This commandment originated from the Passover event when the firstborn of the Israelites were spared from the final plague in Egypt. It reminds the Israelites of God’s saving power and the need to consecrate everything that belongs to Him. This practice later evolved into the redemption of the firstborn through a sacrifice or offering, pointing towards the ultimate redemption through Christ as the firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1:15). God instructs the Israelites to observe the Sabbath in verses 21 to 24, marking the importance of rest and worship in their lives. The Sabbath was not only a time of physical rest but also a spiritual reminder of God’s rest after creation (Genesis 2:2-3) and a sign of the covenant between God and His people (Exodus 31:16-17). The Israelites acknowledged God as the ultimate provider and sustainer of their lives by setting aside one day a week for rest and worship, a principle that still holds relevance for believers today in honoring God and maintaining balance in their lives. God instructs the Israelites to bring their firstfruits to Him as a sign of gratitude and obedience as we reach verses 25 and 26. The offering of firstfruits was a way for the Israelites to recognize God as the source of all blessings and to demonstrate their trust in His provision for the future harvests. This act of giving back to God what He has given them teaches us the importance of stewardship and gratitude in our relationship with God, acknowledging Him as the ultimate provider and sustainer of our lives. God’s desire for His people to remember His faithfulness, consecrate themselves to Him, observe rest and worship, and give back to Him in gratitude is revealed in Exodus 34:18-26. These timeless principles not only shaped the identity and practices of the Israelites but also serve as valuable lessons for believers today in honoring God, trusting in His provision, and living in obedience to His commands.
Exodus 34:27-28
Moses, write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.’ So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.”
This passage is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it highlights the importance of written documentation in sealing a covenant between God and His people. The act of writing down the words signifies the permanence and seriousness of the covenant being established. God is setting a standard for future generations to uphold by instructing Moses to write the words.
The duration of forty days and nights that Moses spent with the Lord is also notable. This timeframe is significant in the Bible, often symbolizing a period of testing, preparation, or transition. The number forty appears in other key events such as the forty days and nights of rain during the time of Noah’s Ark, and Jesus’ forty days of fasting and temptation in the wilderness. The period of forty days serves as a time of spiritual growth and revelation in each of these instances.
The covenant being referenced here is the renewal of the covenant between God and the Israelites after the incident with the golden calf (Exodus 32). This reaffirmation of the covenant reinforces God’s mercy and faithfulness towards His people despite their shortcomings. Moses is reminded of the moral laws that the Israelites are to abide by by rewriting the Ten Commandments on the tablets. The commandments serve as a guide for righteous living and a standard of conduct for the people of God.
The Ten Commandments are foundational to the laws given to the Israelites and serve as a moral compass for believers. They cover various aspects of human relationships with God and with one another. The Commandments are crucial in shaping ethical behavior, promoting reverence for God, and emphasizing the importance of love, justice, and respect for others. Throughout the Bible, the Commandments are referenced as a standard that reflects God’s holiness and the principles of righteousness that believers are called to live by. Exodus 34:27-28 underscores the significance of written agreements, the period of forty days as a time of significance, the renewal of the covenant between God and His people, the importance of the Ten Commandments, and the timeless relevance of these commandments in guiding believers towards a life of obedience and godliness.
Exodus 34:29-35
Moses comes down from Mount Sinai in Exodus 34:29-35 after being in the presence of God to receive the tablets of the Ten Commandments for the second time. This passage begins by describing how Moses’ face was radiant because he had been talking with God. The radiance was a physical manifestation of the spiritual transformation that had taken place within Moses during his encounter with the divine presence. This shining of his face was a sign of God’s glory reflecting through him, symbolizing the closeness of his relationship with God.
This radiance that Moses experienced has a deeper meaning in the context of the Bible. 2 Corinthians 3:18 in the New Testament draws a parallel between the glowing face of Moses and the transformation of believers in Christ. It says, “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” This signifies that just as Moses’ face shone from being in God’s presence, Christians should reflect the glory of God in their lives as they grow in their faith and walk with Him. Moses covered his face with a veil to shield the Israelites from the intense radiance as he shared the commandments with them. This act was not to hide the fading of the glow but to prevent the people from being overwhelmed by the glorious reflection of the divine presence. The veil served as a barrier between the holiness of God and the people’s inability to fully comprehend or bear such divine radiance. It also symbolizes the temporary nature of the Old Covenant that Moses represented, as the veil was later removed in Christ to reveal direct access to God for all believers.
The transformation of Moses’ face and the use of the veil echo themes of spiritual revelation, the glory of God, and the limitations of human understanding throughout the Bible. The radiance of Moses offers a tangible representation of the powerful encounter between humanity and the divine. It illustrates the Biblical idea that encountering God’s presence can have a profound impact on individuals, transforming them in ways that are not only internal but also visible outwardly.
Furthermore, the narrative of Moses and the tablets of the law underscores the importance of God’s commandments and the covenant relationship between God and His people. The Ten Commandments inscribed on the tablets were central to the moral and ethical foundation of the Israelites’ faith and served as a guide for living in accordance with God’s will. The episode of Moses descending from the mountain with the tablets highlights the significance of obedience to God’s laws and the responsibilities that come with being chosen as God’s people. Exodus 34:29-35 captures a pivotal moment in the spiritual journey of Moses and the Israelites, emphasizing the transformative power of encountering God’s presence, the radiance of His glory, the importance of His commandments, and the nature of the covenant relationship between God and His people. It illustrates timeless truths about the need for spiritual introspection, obedience to God’s word, and the profound impact of divine encounters on individuals and communities.
After Exodus 34
The people had witnessed the glory of the Lord, and their hearts were filled with awe and reverence. Moses descended from the mountain, and his face shone with the radiance of the divine encounter. The Israelites were humbled, realizing the weight of their covenant with the Almighty.
Yet, the journey was far from over. The Lord had more to reveal, more to instruct, more to demand of His chosen people. For as they stood before the holy mountain, the Lord’s voice echoed, calling them to a deeper obedience, a more profound commitment. The next chapter would unveil the Lord’s further commands, testing the mettle of this nation He had redeemed. Would they heed His words and walk in His ways, or would they once again fall short of His righteous standard?
Reverend Ogunlade is a seasoned Church Minister with over three decades of experience in guiding and nurturing congregations. With profound wisdom and a serene approach, Reverend Ogunlade has carried out various pastoral duties, including delivering uplifting sermons, conducting religious ceremonies, and offering sage counsel to individuals seeking spiritual guidance. Their commitment to fostering harmony and righteousness within their community is exemplified through their compassionate nature, making them a beloved and trusted figure among the congregation.