May 7th, 2012
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

A Fresh Start

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Father God, You are both the joy of heaven and hope of earth. Your goodness never fails and I magnify Your name.

Read Exodus 34:1-17

[1] 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 fathers to the third and fourth generation.” [8] Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. [9] “O Lord, if I have found favor in your eyes,” he said, “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.” [10] Then the LORD said: “I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the LORD, will do for you. [11] Obey what I command you today. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. [12] 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. [13] Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles. [14] Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. [15] “Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land; for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you and you will eat their sacrifices. [16] And when you choose some of their daughters as wives for your sons and those daughters prostitute themselves to their gods, they will lead your sons to do the same. [17] “Do not make cast idols.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“Oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him&#8212endless energy, boundless strength! All this energy issues from Christ (Eph. 1:19, 20a, The Message).

Think Further

This time Moses did the engraving, a reminder perhaps that this was the second time around. With the replacement law tablets he experiences again the character of this covenant God who is endlessly patient—so much love, so deeply true—loyal in love for a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. Is there any clearer statement in Scripture of how God balances condemnation of sin with mercy; punishment with forgiveness? In fact, the words in v. 7 mean “bearing crookedness and rebellion and failure” and say much more than simply “forgiving,” because they point to the cost of that forgiveness—which, we now know, involved the cross.

As parents we struggle to get that balance: requiring obedience from our children as we train them in godly living, yet wanting to reassure them that whatever their failings we still love them. We call it “tough love” and it applies in employee relations, for example, and between friends when we crave honest feedback on our own behavior and habits. We have a great model in Jesus who, for example, forgave the woman caught in adultery when others didn’t, but also said to her, “Go now and leave your life of sin” (John 8:11).

My husband and I have learned that the hardest experiences make the best stories. In our spiritual lives, we often learn most about ourselves, but especially about God, through failure and despair. Peter by the sea after the resurrection, receiving Jesus’ forgiveness and re-commissioning, would attest to this (John 21:15-19). Not that we continue sinning to increase grace (Rom. 6:1,2), but reflecting on God’s loving dealings with us is fertile ground for spiritual and emotional growth.

Apply

As you thank God for his generous love and forgiveness, record what you have learned about him and yourself from these experiences as fuel for future meditation.

Closing prayer

Forgive me, Lord, for worshiping the work of my own hands. You alone are God and You alone deserve my worship and devotion.

Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.

© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.

Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.

View all readings

Get ENCOUNTER:

in your email:

in Print:

Become a Member | Visit our store