These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
Review…
- Exodus 20-24 – the LAW of God for INDIVIDUALS / SOCIETY / JUDGES…
- Exodus 25-27 – The Tabernacle – where God would dwell with His people making them HOLY…
- Exodus 28-29 – The clothing of the Priests of God…
- Exodus 30-31 – God gifted Bezalel – filled him with His Spirit – to make the Tabernacle!
- Exodus 32-33 – The Golden Calf
- Moses was DELAYED coming down from the mountain…
- Israel demanded Aaron make them a god they could SEE…
- He made them a Golden Calf and told Israel this is the god who brought you out of Egypt!
- The Lord told Moses – go down – YOUR people have sinned.
- Moses shattered the tablets of stone – and all who would not repent were executed…
- The day the Law was given to Israel – 3000 people died!
- The day of PENTECOST – 3000 people were given new life – II Corinthians 3:6
- Reconfirming the covenant… (5 points)
- Moses was DELAYED coming down from the mountain…
- 1st – A second chance… vs. 1
- God commanded Moses to cut two stone tablets…
- Moses had broken the FIRST tablets – when Israel rebelled with the Golden calf…
- God would write His Laws AGAIN on the tablets – reconfirming His covenant with Israel…
- The Law represented the contract between God and Israel – a binding agreement…
- If Israel kept the Law of God – then they would be the people of God…
- Since they broke the contact the FIRST time around – God was giving them a SECOND chance…
- God is never surprised by our mistakes – when we choose to disobey Him…
- He knows we are sinners – remembers we are just dust – Psalms 103:14
- The really good news is – when we mess up – God is the God of SECOND chances…
- There is always GRACE – there is always HOPE – if only we are willing to turn back to God!
- 2nd – Name of the Lord… vs. 2-9
- 1st – Early in the morning… vs. 2-4
- Moses was commanded to come up the mountain again and meet with God – ALONE…
- Moses cut the TWO stone tablets – got up EARLY – and went to meet the Lord!
- Psalm 63:1 – “O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You…”
- There is wisdom in seeking the Lord early in the morning – Psalm 63:1
- It is a good way to START our day – before we get BUSY and find we have NO more time…
- But it is not about WHEN we seek– the key is THAT we consistently seek the Lord!
- 2nd – Three times… vs. 5-6
- When Moses arrived – the Lord descended in a cloud – and stood there with him…
- God then PROCLAIMED the NAME of the Lord…
- The Lord appears THREE times in VERSE 4 – the three-fold nature of God!
- We can agree to disagree about a great many things…
- There is great diversity within the Body of Christ – I Corinthians 12:27
- And we can agree to disagree and a VAST collection of non-essentials…
- But the doctrine of the TRINITY – is the RED line that cannot be crossed…
- Cults will say they believe in Jesus – but it is NOT the Jesus of the Bible!
- They deny Jesus is God – deny the triune nature of God the Father / Son / Spirit!
- 3rd – Character of God… vs. 6-7
- The Lord passed before Moses…
- Lord [יְהוָה] – used over 5300x in OT – refers to His CHARACTER…
- The word YHVH comes from the Hebrews word TO BE [verb] …
- Meaning the name of God is a VERB – He is the becoming one…
- God is whatever we need Him to be in the moment we need it!
- God give Moses SEVEN aspects of His CHARACTER!
- 1 – MERCIFUL – [רַחוּם] – a deep LOVE that causes one to have COMPASSION…
- Often people make the mistaken assumption – the God of the OT is all wrath…
- At the same token they assume Jesus and the NT are all Love…
- But there is no difference – there is only one God of both the OT and the NT…
- Jesus in the NT tells us He did not come to bring peace – but the sword – Matthew 10:34
- God in the OT wanted was MERCIFUL – He had a deep love for Israel!
- 2 – GRACIOUS – [חַנּוּן] – to have FAVOR towards someone…
- The idea being you give someone a GIFT – NOT because they deserve it…
- It is someone that is given in SPITE of what they have done – Ephesians 2:8-9
- 3 – LONGSUFFERING – [אָרֵךְ] – to be SLOW to anger…
- One of the hardest things about being a dad – is having to punish our kids…
- Seeing their downcast faces – their doubt and fear – but when they ask for forgiveness…
- One of my favorite things to do as a Dad – is hold my baby and sing to her / reassure her…
- Hold her in my arms – broad smile on my face – so she knows everything will be ok!
- God is not a ANGRY father who thrives on the punishing His children…
- It breaks the heart of our Heavily Father when He has to punish His kids…
- And He is quick to forgive – scoop us up in His loving arms and comfort!
- Psalm 103:8 – “The LORD… is slow to get angry and full of unfailing love.”
- 4 – Abounding in GOODNESS [חֶסֶד] – the act of LOVING others…
- How do we know God abounds in GOODNESS – He proved it through His LOVE…
- I John 4:8 – “…for God is Love!”
- I John 4:10 – “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” [NLT]
- It was the GOODNESS of God that drove the Father to sacrifice His Son on the cross…
- The perfect picture of LOVE – the Cross of Jesus Christ…
- It is Love that held Jesus to the cross – so that we could have eternal life!
- 5 – Abounding in TRUTH [אֱמֶת] – to be firm / faithful / the TRUTH…
- The TRUTH is not an idea – it is a PERSON – Jesus is THE TRUTH – John 14:6
- We live in a world that would love to question TRUTH – there are no absolutes…
- What is right for you / may not be what is right for me – everything is RELATIVE…
- Event Pontius Pilate famously said to Jesus – What is Truth – John 18:38
- It does not matter what MEN say – the only place where we can find TRUTH is in the WORD!
- Romans 3:4 – “Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar.”
- John 17:17 – “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”
- 6 – FORGIVING [נָשָׂא] – to lift up or carry – in context to carry away our SINS – TWO kinds…
- Iniquity – REBELLION – to willfully disobey the commands and will of God…
- Sin – to miss (though not for lack of effort) / or go the wrong by (presumably by accident) …
- God will forgive ANY sin – rebellion of mistake – if we simply come to Him and ask!
- I John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
- 7 – JUST – by no means clearing the guilty – God does NOT let sin go unpunished…
- People tend to not understand God – they only see the God of Love…
- They think God will let them into heaven – because they try and live a good life…
- God is Love / but God is also justice – and there has to be a price paid for sin…
- Either we pay the DEBT – or someone has to pay for us…
- If we do not accept the free gift of His grace – salvation – where He paid our price…
- Then we are left holding the bill – we choose to pay our debt with our own lives!
- Generational sin…
- God brought the sin of the parents – to the children to the THIRD and FOURTH generation…
- Does that mean that that God punishes children for the sins of their fathers – NO!
- Ezekiel 18:20 – “The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.”
- The best interpretation of this would seem to point towards example…
- If a father gives an example of a sinful life to his kids – they tend to follow…
- If we have bad parents – we are NOT bound to repeat their mistakes…
- In Jesus we become new creations – no longer bound to the definition of our past…
- We now have the example of our Heavenly Father – Jesus defines us – I Corinthians 5:17
- 4th – Prayer of Moses… vs. 8-9
- At the REVELATION of the NAME of God – Moses fell down and worshiped [hithpael] …
- Lord [אֲדֹנָי] PLEASE go among us [jussive] – the plea was for the MASTER to be with them…
- Moses admitted WE – he includes himself with the children of Israel are STIFF-NECKED…
- STIFF-NECKED – if you have a STIFF NECK – you CANNOT turn around (repent)!
- FORGIVE [perfect] OUR iniquity and sins…
- Moses had no part in the CALF rebellion – yet he includes himself in the SINS of the people…
- And make us [perfect] YOUR inheritance – to be a SPECIAL possession!
- When we pray for others – it is easy to get a feeling of superiority…
- We who are holy – need to lift up those who are obviously so much worse than us…
- Yet people can tell when we look down on them – and that tends to separate us…
- Jesus was holier than anyone – yet He sat down and ate with sinners – Mark 2:16
- In order be effective in praying for others – we need to relate to them / not judge them!
- 1st – Early in the morning… vs. 2-4
- 3rd – The contract… vs. 10-17
- 1st – The commitment of God… vs. 10
- BEHOLD – I will make [cut] a COVENANT (contract) …
- God would do WONDERS [נִפְלָאֹת] – things never been seen before anywhere on earth!
- All the people around would see the AWESOME [fearful] power of God – through Israel!
- When God is doing the work in our lives – there is no limit to what He can accomplish!
- But He do WONDERS with us – so that people around us can see HIM in our lives!
- Ephesians 3:20 – “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…”
- 2nd – The responsibility of Israel… vs. 11-17
- OBSERVE [imperative] – to keep / heed – what I command you this day…
- The problem was they have ALREADY promised to do this – Exodus 24:3
- And then in less than FORTY days – they failed miserably – Golden calf!
- The Law came up short because it could NOT change their HEART!
- Like the mirror that reflects who we are – or measuring tape that shows how tall…
- The Law can show us we are unrighteous – but CANNOT make us do what is right!
- Do NOT to make a COVENANT…
- God was driving out the nations living in the Promised Land…
- Israel was to DESTROY their altars – lest they become a SNARE / TRAP…
- Then Israel would make a COVENANT with the people – sacrifice [harlot] to their gods…
- Marry THEIR daughters – who will teach your SONS to play the HARLOT with THEIR gods!
- For the Lord – whose name is JEALOUS – is a JEALOUS God!
- Therefore – do NOT make molten gods – reference back to the CALF – Exodus 32:4
- God desires for us to grow and mature in our faith – get to know Him personally…
- But we also have a part to play – we need to be wise with who we spend time with…
- If we are hanging out with the world – before long – we will also act like them!
- I Corinthians 15:33 – “Bad company corrupts good character.” [NLT]
- 1st – The commitment of God… vs. 10
- 4th – The tools… vs. 18-26
- God gave Israel FOUR tools from the Law to help them OBSERVE!
- 1st – Required FEASTS… vs. 18/22-25
- Unleavened Bread – remembering the Exodus…
- God had Israel hold the feast the commemorated the taking away of sin…
- FIRST day they would sacrifice the PASSOVER lamb…
- The blood NOT mixed with leaven – none of it could remain until morning…
- Then for SEVEN days they could eat no leaven (a picture of sin) – Galatians 5:9
- The FEAST was to be a practical way to REMIND the people…
- By the BLOOD of the lamb – God had taken away their sin (leaven)!
- All men had to attend THREE feasts EVERY year…
- FEAST of Weeks – what we know as PENTECOST…
- FEAST of INGATHERING – also known as the FEAST of Tabernacles…
- FEAST of FIRST FRUITS – on the last day of FEAST of Unleavened Bread!
- An occasion reminder was NOT enough – they were consistent…
- Hearing about Jesus once in a while is NOT enough – we need constant reminding!
- No one will COVET your land…
- When the Jews went to celebrate the Feasts – they were safe from DEFEAT…
- No nation that attacked them would be able to conquer them…
- Just the opposite – their borders would be enlarged – God would drive out the nations!
- October 6 – 1973 – Israel was surprise attacked on the Holy Feast of Yom Kippur…
- A coalition of Arab nations led by Egypt and Syria – tried to wipe Israel out…
- But in an amazing turn of events – not only did Israel regroup and win the war…
- They gained land – the borders of Israel grew because of the attack!
- We never LOOSE when we put the Lord first – it ALWAYS brings blessings…
- Gods Word is absolute – if God says it – you can count on it!
- 2nd – The FIRST BORN… vs. 19-20
- Every male ANIMAL had to be sacrificed to the Lord – every SON redeemed…
- Because when God brought the TENTH and final plague on Egypt – the Death Angel…
- God spared all the FIRSTBORN sons of Israel through the blood of the lamb…
- In effect He PURCHASED those sons (both man and animal) by saving them…
- Every FIRSTBORN son had to be redeemed – a sacrifice offered in his place – Luke 2:21
- A picture of Jesus Christ…
- It seems an odd REMINDER – always having to sacrifice or redeem the FIRSTBORN sons…
- But it was meant to be a picture that pointed us to Jesus…
- That only through the sacrifice of the FIRSTBORN Son of God – could we be redeemed!
- We no longer sacrifice animals – but we can still be reminded not to compromise…
- We REMEMBER what salvation cost – the FIRSTBORN – Jesus had to die to save us…
- It was not nails that held Him on the cross – but our sins…
- When we think of what Jesus gave up for us – it helps us live for Him!
- 3rd – The SABBATH… vs. 21
- The purpose of the Sabbath was to give a day for Israel to REST…
- But it was a rest that never lasted – the next day you had to go back to work!
- Jesus fulfilled the Sabbath – He is our REST – Colossians 2:16-17
- We do NOT have to strive to be good – we have VICTORY over sin…
- We have true REST – that can only be found in the forgiveness of Jesus Christ!
- Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’”
- 4th – FIRST FRUITS… vs. 26
- The FIRST FRUITS of the land were to be brought to the Lord…
- God wanted Israel to give their BEST – so they would have a HEART for Him – Luke 12:34
- We do not choose where are heart is – we do choose where we put our treasures…
- Wherever we put our money / time / talents – is where our heart will also be!
- Our heart follows our investments – our choices dictate what our heart wants!
- Note – do not BOIL a kid in the milk of its mother…
- This is the SECOND of THREE times we find this command in the Law…
- Also – Exodus 23:19 and Deuteronomy 14:21
- 4th – The veil… vs. 27-35
- 1st – 40 days… vs. 27-28
- Moses was another FORTY days and FORTY nights on the mountain – with NO food or water…
- God wrote on the TWO stone tablets – the terms of the covenant – the TEN commandments…
- A written binding contract between God and the Children of Israel!
- 2nd – Fading GLORY… vs. 29-35
- When Moses came down – his face SHONE – from the presence of the Lord…
- SHONE [קָרַן] – 4x in OT (3 in this passage) – to send out rays of light…
- When the people of Israel saw it – they were AFRAID to come near him…
- Moses put a VEIL over his face – until he went back into the tent to speak with God!
- The reason for the VEIL…
- II Corinthians 3:13– “Moses… put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory… was destined to fade away.” [NLT]
- The law can only change us for a SHORT time – it can only change the OUTSIDE…
- It can make us LOOK good (glow) for a time – in the end it does not CHANGE who we are!
- The power of the SPIRIT…
- A flashlight might look bright – till you bring it out into the light of the Sun…
- In the same way the Law might seem good – until it comes into the light of Christ!
- II Corinthians 3:18 – “All of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed [metamorphoō] into his glorious image.”
- Only Jesus can bring lasting CHANGE – a transformed heart and new life…
- As we look to Jesus – we are changed [metamorphoō] from the inside out!
- Then we have the GLOW of the joy of the Lord radiating out from us!
- 1st – 40 days… vs. 27-28