Grace, and More Grace (Exodus 34-35)

Grace, and More Grace (Exodus 34-35)

Scripture reading – Exodus 34-35





The Command for Moses to Return with Two Tablets of Stone (Exodus 34:1-5)

The LORD then commanded Moses, “Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest” (Exodus 34:1). Moses obeyed the LORD and ascended Mount Sinai, “as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone” (Exodus 34:4). As Moses ascended the mount, “the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there” (Exodus 34:5).



Keeping His promise to give Moses a glimpse of His glory (Exodus 33:21-23), “the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD [YAHWEH; Jehovah], The LORD [YAHWEH] God [El],” meaning the Eternal, Self-existent God (Exodus 34:6). God revealed His divine nature to Moses and declared, “The LORD God [is] merciful [compassionate], and gracious [kind, good, showing favor without merit], longsuffering [patient; slow to anger], and abundant in goodness and truth [He is faithful and true]” (Exodus 34:6). The LORD keeps “mercy for thousands [His mercy is sufficient for all], forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (Exodus 34:7a). God is just and “by no means [clearing] the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation” (Exodus 34:7b).



Unlike the first tablets of stone, which the LORD engraved and were broken by Moses, he was commanded to “Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel” (Exodus 34:27). Moses did as he was commanded, and continued in the presence of the LORD for “forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments” (Exodus 34:28).



The Glory of the LORD Shone on the Face of Moses (Exodus 34:29-34)

Then, taking up the stone tables of the Law, Moses descended Mount Sinai, and “when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw [him], behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him” (Exodus 34:30). The reflection of God’s glory was shown so brightly upon his face that Moses wore a vail among the people (Exodus 34:31-35); however, when he entered into God’s presence, he removed the vail (reminding us no thought of the heart is hidden from the LORD, Exodus 34:34).





Giving for God’s Work (Exodus 35:1-29)







I close today’s devotional by reflecting on God’s forgiving grace. Though the LORD judged Israel guilty of their sins and wickedness for crafting and worshipping the golden calf, He nevertheless heard Moses’ intercessory prayer and showed mercy. It is the same mercy and grace by which all sinners might be saved. Writing to the church in Ephesus, Paul declared, “(8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8–10).





Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

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