11.6.14

Exodus 34 — The New Tablets and Moses’ face

Moses had smashed the original stone tablets, and

“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.” 34:1

And God called Moses up on the mountain again, to meet with him. Moses was again on the mountain 40 days, fasting and meeting with the Lord. The Lord appeared to Moses, and proclaimed his name:

“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 fathers to the third and fourth generation.” 34:6–7

God then outlined again his plan and commandments to his people. What will come, and the requirements for approaching God – righteousness. The law is a perfect standard, and as such, is out of reach in totality for fallen sinful man. The Law’s purpose was to expose sin, and with Christ as its fulfillment, teach us how to approach God through sacrifice – not our own. Essentially it exposed our inability to approach God of our own, with the intention being dependence on Him who makes the way.

“When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.” 34:29

Moses reflected God’s glory after being in his presence. This miracle occurred physically for Moses, because he was in the physical presence of the Lord. But I believe this miracle is available to me spiritually if I am in God’s presence. We reflect his glory if we are in his presence. Perhaps a litmus test to determine whether we have been in his presence. I believe its not possible to encounter God without a change occurring in us.