Exodus 34:1-35:9
Ex. 34:1-9
I've never understood Moses' anger in breaking the first tablets. Moses' anger gets him in trouble later.
It is really hard to understand what happens here. This isn't just God declaring some information about Himself, it is God revealing Himself. He does it in such a way that Moses is strengthened to his core, and assured of God's nature. God is "feasting" Moses on who He is and why He does what He does. It is like living in a kingdom for years hearing about the king and observing his decrees and laws and works and only knowing him on that basis. Now you are invited to live with him, talk to him at breakfast, informal and fully visible and transparent, like a friend. Your understanding of everything would become exponentially deeper and wiser. Verses 6 & 7 become a refrain mentioned again and again as to the nature of God. Along with the name, "I AM," comes the spiritual insight into His heart.
Notice in the description of God in 6 & 7, how long it takes to get to punishment. The generational aspect is hard for us to swallow until we've read the entire Bible and see what God says to Ezekiel and Jeremiah regarding the sons not being punished for the sins of the fathers. We've already read Abe's talk with the Lord regarding finding a few who were righteous in Sodom. There is a kind of sin that becomes deeply inbred in a culture and within generations. This kind of cultural sin gets remembered and visited after God's deep patience wears out. This is what is going to happen to the land of Canaan in about 38 years.
As Moses experiences this intimacy with God, this understanding of God's heart, he pleads with God to dwell in the middle of His people. In fact, the Tabernacle will become the center of the camp of Israel. As disciples, this presence is ours because of the Holy Spirit. If we don't experience that closeness, it usually means we are keeping other things closer to us than we are keeping Christ and His mission. Jesus said to His disciples, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." As disciples, we need to let Paul's pursuit of knowing Christ be our model. Philippians 3:10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature be thus minded; and if in anything you are otherwise minded, God will reveal that also to you.
Ex. 34:10-28
Much of what is written here intensifies the 10 Commandments and the special position of the people as God's own possession. Some of this seems to be a restatement from the last time Moses was on the mountain. What encourages your heart, as a disciple, from this section?
Ex. 34:29-35
So, what do you get from this? There are a couple good discipleship principles here. None of us "glow" literally, but isn't there something that happens if we live closely in His presence in the harvest?
There's a story about a pastor who visited someone who used to be working hard in the harvest, but became distant and isolated from the church.
After they talked for a while, the conversation died and they both sat silent in front of the fire place.
Finally the pastor got up without saying a word, grabbed the tongs, removed a burning log off the fire and stood it on its side in the fireplace, but away from the other burning logs. He took his seat and neither spoke. As they watched, the log he had removed stopped burning and began smoldering. The log was almost completely out when the pastor rose again and placed the log on top of the other burning logs. After a short time, the log began to burn again.
As the story goes, the pastor rose without saying a word, showed himself to the door and left. The next Sunday the man was in church.
Ex. 35:1-9
At this point, it is time for God to restate the covenant He and the people have entered into. The sign of this covenant is the Sabbath. This restating of the Sabbath might seem hard, but there are two things that stand out to me. First, God has just shown them incredible mercy and grace in light of their falling away and idolatry. Second, the Sabbath was rest, not punishment. It was a time to reflect on their blessings and mission as a nation, resting in the privilege and provision of an awesome God.
Now it's time to begin working on the Tabernacle, the center of their worship of God.
Matthew 27:15-31
Matt. 27:15-25
Pilate was playing a losing game with the Jews, thinking he would win at setting Jesus free. The word he received from his wife only intensified the eerie irrationality the other Gospels say Pilate was experiencing. Pilate was working frantically to let Jesus go, but caved in to the Jews when they pulled their trump card.
The statement in verse 25 is one of the most ironic statements in the Bible. Wayne Watson has a song called, "The Hunger," where this statement is seen first, from the guilt of demanding Jesus' blood, to the cry for salvation that comes from that blood. Interesting song.
Matt. 27:26-31
A disciple is no better than his master. Saved by His blood, are we willing to pay this price to see the lost saved? What's ironic here is that Jesus was selected to die over a murderer. Also, that this is the second time Jesus is mocked and beaten. The first time was Pilate's attempt to get the Jews to pity Jesus and release Him. Now that his attempt to free Jesus has failed, it's time to give Jesus up to the pre-crucifixion beating and ridicule, again.
Psalm 33:12-22
Read verse 12 and then Ex. 34:10. Cool, huh?
Verses 18 & 19 are great. This is what gives you confidence as a disciple to live dangerously in the hands of God. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbmsq1soVio
Vs. 20-22, I can imagine this being Moses' prayer from yesterday, for God's presence and glory and help. Notice again, the waiting on the Lord.
Proverbs 9:1-6
This is interesting, because this appeal of "lady" wisdom, seems similar to the appeal of the wild adulteress to the simple, young fool in Prov. 7:6-27. Apparently there is hope, even for the simple, if he makes the right decision.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those at New Song who are following a One Year Bible and involved in a discipleship cell. We're meeting weekly and discussing the texts, not necessarily my comments. We're growing together, learning to become and make disciples who make disciples. We will all be leading others in this process and training them to do likewise.
The comments I'm writing are in no way exhaustive, but meant to give some leading thoughts on how the text applies to us as disciples and to encourage and stimulate our growth in reading the Bible, with the effect that we will grow as disciples and encourage the growth of others as disciples growing in the word. If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible, in fact, no one in our church reads the version I do, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.
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