Exodus 34 Devotional
by Pastor Mark Hudson
In his commentary on Exodus Brevard Childs writes, “Chapter 34 is one of the most difficult chapters in Exodus to analyze and opinions diverge widely” p. 604. Chapters 32-34 seem to be one unit. We see a covenant renewal in this chapter after the golden calf incident in chapter 32. In the following sections, we see God intending to withdraw His presence from Israel. Moses is terrified at the notion. Moses pleads with God to show him His glory in chapter 33. The grace of God is on full display as God renews the covenant after the intentional act of treason against God before Moses has returned from Mt. Sinai. Afte this horrible act of debauchery it is a wonder God would renew the covenant.
This chapter should not be ready quickly without thinking carefully about what you are reading. Just after an ugly act of idolatry, God is willing to forgive and enter into covenant. This should shock us. What good reason is there for God to want to have anything to do with Israel (or us)? This is where grace coms in. We, just they, are so undeserving but God, who is rich in mercy (Eph 2:4), condescends to us and offers Himself. This grace should always humble us. This grace is just honestly beyond our understanding. So we must carefully make sure our minds and hearts never get dull to God. Fight against your hard heart so you do not merely yawn at this chapter. This is truly thrilling to consider.
Moses was told to be ready with two tablets as well as preparing to “see” God. God descended in the cloud and is there with Moses (so hard to comprehend, isn’t it?). Then God passes before Moses and proclaims, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 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.”
It is hard to determine but it seems as if God is speaking in v. 6 (some think Moses is speaking) starting with “The Lord, the Lord . . .” Stuart makes an interesting observation that is a bit of conjecture. “The repeating of the name was certainly for the the purpose of emphasis but also could have had some overtones associated with the pattern called repetition of such that Yahweh was in effect saying to Moses, “I am your dear Yahweh” of “to you I am your dearest friend, Yahweh” or something of the sort.”
Let’s look at the five attributes God declares. First is compassion, the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament say, “It incorporates two concepts: first, the strong tie God has with those whom he has called as his children (Psa 103:13). God looks upon his own as a father looks upon his children; he has pity on them (cf. Mic 7:17).”
Next God describes Himself as gracious “meaning that He does things for people they do not deserve and goes beyond what might be expected to grant truly kind favor toward people, favor of which they are not necessarily worthy” Stuart. This is clearly an understatement. How can we ever truly understand the grace of God?
Third, He describes Himself as slow to anger or literally long in the nose. This may refer to large animals who snort when they are angry. God, who has every reason to be angry, is slow to be angry. God takes a long time to be angry.
Fourth, He declares Himself to be abounding in steadfast love. This is the word hesed which is often translated by two English word: steadfast love or covenant loyalty. When God enters into a covenant with His people, there is nothing casual about His commitment to His people. He is loyal to those who keep breaking their promise. God’s covenant loyalty is in contrast to our faulty, unreliable, short-term and inconsistent loyalty.
Finally, God is abounding in faithfulness or truth or reliability or sureness. God is true and faithful. In this world filled with lies, God is a God of truth. He is always telling the truth because He is truth. He is always faithful to the truth and to all who stand with the truth. We can rest in His Word because God is truth itself.
Sometimes I think where I would be without God in my life. God is everything to us. What would I care about? Where would I spend my time? How would I deal intellectually and emotionally with a world without God? I hope you never take for granted His wonderful , awesome, eternal grace. This is why in 34:8, “And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.” What else can we do?