Year 1, Week 11, Day 5 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 11, Day 5

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Exodus 34-35.

Today’s reading contains a moment between the LORD and Moses that will serve to shape the remainder of the Old Testament. Exodus 34 reports the renewal of the covenant between the LORD and the nation Israel. Israel had broken the covenant by their idolatry, but through the intercessory work of Moses, the LORD would renew the covenant. It is in the context of Moses’ intercessory work on behalf of Israel that the LORD revealed Himself in a clearer and greater way. With the covenant renewed and the terms of the covenant restated in an abridged form (Exodus 34:10-28 summarizes what had been declared in Exodus 20-24), Exodus 35 describes the practice of the sign of the renewed covenant, the Sabbath; the overwhelming response of contributions for the building of the Tabernacle; and the actual start of the construction on the Tabernacle.

What struck me from today’s reading was the LORD’s disclosure of Himself to Moses: “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, 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.” (Exodus 35:6-7). These words—this disclosure—from the LORD of the LORD is a centerpiece of revelation by God. This is the kind of God that the LORD is; this is how He wants to be known. This passage, which provides a description and definition of God’s character, permeates the Old Testament, whether it is in declarations about the LORD, such as: “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:8-10); or in shaping how to approach the LORD in prayer: “Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!” (Psalm 25:6-7).

This revelation from the LORD to Moses was in response to Moses’ request: “please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight” (Exodus 33:13); as well as: “Please show me your glory” (Exodus 33:18). This revelation is the content of what the LORD said He would do for Moses: “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’” (Exodus 33:19). Moses’ request to be shown was answered through the Words that the LORD declared concerning Himself. The LORD revealed the goodness of His glory through Words. The embodiment of these Words concerning the character of God was put on full display in the arrival of Christ: “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.” (John 1:17-18). Moses responded correctly: “And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.” (Exodus 34:8). Such a revelation, not only impacted Moses, but it stirred the Israelites: “All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the LORD had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the LORD.” (Exodus 35:29; see the results in 36:2-7).

What the LORD revealed to Moses explained why the LORD would be inclined to renew His covenant with Israel after they had broken the covenant. While He would apply punishment, for He “will by no means clear the guilty,” He would also pardon “forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” This revelation from the LORD about the LORD highlights the pardon side of the equation. This is not to suggest that the LORD is not holy and just, He is absolutely holy and just; but with the reality of His holiness and justice as the backdrop, it is the LORD’s traits of mercy and grace that His people will experience in abundance. Though the LORD is righteous even in His wrath, His people will constantly and continually encounter the fact that He will be slow to anger. And the basis for the mercy, patience, and even pardon of the LORD toward His people is that He is driven by a loving loyalty for His people, as reflected in the words, “abounding in steadfast love,” as well as His commitment to remain true to His people, as reflected in the words, “abounding in…faithfulness.” The glorious goodness of God is revealed in the LORD’s mercy, grace, patience, forgiveness, loyal love and faithfulness. Further, I would suggest that His commitment of punishment is displayed through Jesus’ work of sacrificial substitution: “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.” (Romans 5:8-9).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe