SCRIPTURE: EXODUS 34
BIBLE VERSES:
“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. 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” (Exodus 34:4-7)
“Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you. Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles. Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” (Exodus 34:12-14)
“The first offspring of every womb belongs to me, including all the firstborn males of your livestock, whether from herd or flock. Redeem the firstborn donkey with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem all your firstborn sons. “No one is to appear before me empty-handed.” (Exodus 34:19-20)
“Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.” (Exodus 34:21)
“Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God. “Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.” (Exodus 34:26)
THE NEW STONE TABLETS (vs. 1-28)
Moses chiseled out two stone tablets and went up to Mt. Sinai to meet the Lord carrying with him the two stone tablets in his hands. Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him proclaiming his name the Lord. Moses bowed to the ground and asked His mercy to forgive the stiff-necked people. The Lord assured to drive out their enemies and warned them to never make treaty with those who live in the land. They were commanded to break down their altars, smack their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles. He made these commands for them to follow:
- Do not worship any others gods for the Lord, whose name is Jealous is a jealous God.
- Do not make treaty with the people who live in the land.
- Do not eat anything sacrificed to their gods.
- Do not marry their daughters.
- Do not make cast idols.
- Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
- The first offspring of every womb belongs to me including all the firstborn males of your livestock, whether from herd or flock.
- Six days you shall labor but on the 7th day, you must rest.
- Celebrate the Feast of Weeks with the first fruits of the wheat harvest and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year.
- Do not offer the blood of a sacrifice containing yeast.
- Do not let any of the sacrifice from the Passover Feast remain until morning.
- Bring the best of first fruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God.
- Do not cook a young goat in mother’s milk.
Moses was there with the Lord 40 days and 40 nights without eating bread nor drinking water. The Lord wrote on the tablets the 10 commandments.
THE RADIANT FACE OF MOSES (vs. 29-35)
When Moses came down from Mt. Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony, his face was radiant. Aaron and the Israelites were afraid to come near him. But Moses called them and gave them the 10 commandments of the Lord. Whenever Moses entered the Lord’s present to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out from the Lord’s presence, his face was radiant.
THOUGHTS:
God demands absolute loyalty and exclusive devotion to Him. Pagan worship cannot be mixed with the worship of the Holy God. People of today consider money as the god of this age. Are you trying to serve two masters?
The asherah poles were sacred wooden poles that stood by Baal’s altar. They were used to worship the goddess who was the wife of Baal. She represented fertility and good luck in agriculture. God told Moses to break down their pagan altar, smack the sacred altars and cut down their carved images to avoid worshiping other gods. When Moses spent time with God, his face gloomed. Do you spend time with God in prayer and reading of the Bible? Does God’s presence reflect in your life for people to know that you have been with God?