September 26, 2014
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Keep Taking the Tablets!

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Opening Prayer

Gracious Lord, it is to You I look as my creator, helper and guide. Reveal more of Yourself to me today.

Read Exodus 34:1-14

[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 parents to the third and fourth generation.” [8] Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. [9] “Lord,” he said, “if I have found favor in your eyes, 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.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

The Israelites had to learn lessons through trial and failure. How has God spoken to you through trials and failure and what new truths did you learn?

Despite Israel’s disobedience, God renews the broken covenant, rewriting the words of faith on the tablets of stone and the hearts of the people. Israel’s failure leads to greater understanding of God’s love, faithfulness and justice. Even when Israel sinned, God used those failures to teach them and us new truths. Not just by miracles and commandments, but by discipline and restoration the character of the people of God is formed, as we learn the lessons of discipline and discipleship.

But who is this God who will give his people a second chance, but will also punish them with loving rebuke? Jewish people recite and meditate on these “thirteen attributes of God” regularly throughout the year (6,7). When people say, as did Marcion, a second-century heretic, that the God of the Old Testament is a god of wrath but the New Testament God is a god of love, they need to reflect on this passage. Here God’s characteristics of love and mercy are held in perfect tension with his judgment of sin.

Knowledge of God begins with knowing his name, the inscrutable, unpronounceable, sacred name–YHWH. The four Hebrew letters were probably vocalized as “Yahweh” (not “Jehovah,” a combination of the vowels and consonants of two different words). I was brought up never to pronounce this name, and I am still uncomfortable at the way God’s name is spoken so casually and unthinkingly. In Hebrew thought, to know someone’s name is to have a personal relationship that is deep and intimate with another, just as I call my wife “sweetheart” in a way that expresses our relationship of love. To know the name YHWH and its meaning (“I am” or “God–it is he”), is to know intimately and personally the power, authority and saving power of the Almighty.

Apply

How do you understand the meaning of God’s name? List out God’s attributes from this passage and pray for them to be a reality in your life and ministry today.

Closing prayer

Mighty God, Your name is above every name. There is power, victory and strength in Your name. I lift high Your name today, and go forward in confidence, knowing You are with me.

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