Meditation

Last week, we began our study of God's Holiness through Isaiah's dramatic personal vision. Similarly, this week, we are beginning the study of God's Mercy with His momentous restatement of the covenant with Israel.

No sooner had the covenant been made than the Israelites broke it by demanding Aaron provide them a golden calf to worship. Causing Moses to smash the original stones in anger and as a symbol of the broken covenant.

In today's verses, Moses is commanded to chisel out two new stones so God, in His mercy and at his own behest, can restate the covenant with Israel.

God’s mercy is restorative but not indulgent. It calls for repentance and reverence (no one other than Moses, not even animals, is to remain on the mountain), reminding us that failure does not disqualify us from His love.

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Today's text is Exodus 34:1-4

The verses to copy today are in black. Tomorrow's verses are in grey for context and clarity.

The New Stone Tablets

34 The Lord said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.

² Be ready in the morning, and then come up on Mount Sinai. Present yourself to me there on top of the mountain. ³ No one is to come with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain; not even the flocks and herds may graze in front of the mountain.”

⁴ So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the Lord had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands.

⁵ Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. ⁶ 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, ⁷ 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.”

⁸ Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped.

⁹ “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.”

Encouragement

"Mercy is not something God has, but something God is. If mercy was something God had, it would mean it is separate from His being. But His mercy is infinite, eternal, and inexhaustible, flowing from the very nature of who He is."

A.W. Tozer. The Mercy of God

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Andy

God’s Word In Your Hand