Consequences, Intercession, and Intimacy with God
Following the tragic incident of the golden calf, God’s people face the consequences of their sins. In Exodus 33-35, we witness Moses’ intercession on behalf of the people, God’s decision to continue His presence among them, and the renewal of the covenant.
In Exodus 33, after the golden calf incident, God commands Moses to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land, but He warns that He will not go with them. The Israelites have broken the covenant, and their sin has serious consequences. God’s presence, which had previously been a constant in their journey, is now withdrawn. Instead, He promises to send an angel before them. However, He also warns them that their stiff-necked nature might bring about their destruction (v. 1-5). In response, the people mourn and repent. They remove their ornaments as an act of mourning and humility, acknowledging their sin and its consequences (v. 4-6).
God’s holiness cannot tolerate sin. His decision to withdraw His presence highlights the severity of sin and the danger of idolatry. Even though God had shown Israel immense grace, their sin led to a breach in the relationship. The people’s mourning and removal of their ornaments symbolize a humble response to sin, showing that repentance involves both humility and action. We should recognize that sin, especially idolatry, still separates us from God today. We must take sin seriously and seek genuine repentance when we stray from His commands.
Moses pitches the Tent of Meeting outside the camp, some distance away (v. 7). The Tent of Meeting becomes the place where Moses communes with God and seeks His guidance. Whenever Moses enters the tent, the cloud descends, and the Lord speaks to him face to face. While the people of Israel stood and observed, Moses was able to speak with God as one would converse with a close friend (v. 7-11). This marks a privileged relationship that Moses has with God—one of intimacy and direct communication. Moses’ special relationship with God shows the depth of communion that can exist when we are faithful to Him. We are invited to seek closeness with God in our daily lives. Just as Moses had an intimate relationship with God, we can grow in intimacy through prayer and obedience.
Moses, deeply aware of the gravity of the situation, pleads with God for His continued presence with Israel (v. 12-16). He reminds God that it is God’s presence that makes Israel unique among all nations (v. 15). Moses understands that without God’s presence, there is no hope for success in their journey or for their survival. God’s response to Moses’ plea is an affirmation of His grace. God reassures Moses that He will not only go with them but will also give them rest (v. 14), a sign of God’s peace and protection. This promise marks the restoration of the covenant in a sense, as Israel will continue to be God’s people, and He will remain with them. Moses longed for a deeper experience with God and asked to see His glory: “Now show me your glory” (v. 18). God responds, revealing His compassionate and gracious nature but also acknowledging that no one can fully see His face and live (v. 19-20). God instructs Moses to stand in the cleft of a rock while He passes by, allowing Moses to see His back but not His face (v. 21-22).
Without God’s presence, Israel could not survive or fulfill their calling. This is a reminder that spiritual success in our lives is also dependent on God’s guidance and strength. In every area of life, we must seek God’s presence. It is not enough to move forward in our own strength or wisdom, as true success comes only when God is with us. This interaction between God and Moses highlights God’s infinite majesty and holiness. No human can fully grasp the essence of God’s glory, but God, in His mercy, offers Moses a limited yet powerful experience of His presence. Even though God’s glory is beyond human capacity to comprehend, He still reveals aspects of His nature to those who seek Him.
We can never fully understand or grasp all that God is, but we are invited to seek more of His glory in our lives. We should cultivate a humble awe of God and recognize our limitations while embracing the revelation He gives us. Like Moses, we can desire more of God, asking Him to show us more of His glory through His Word, His Spirit, and His presence in our lives.
Exodus 33 emphasizes the necessity of God’s presence in the lives of His people, the importance of intercession for others, and the deep longing to see God’s glory. Through Moses’ intercession and God’s merciful response, we are reminded that even when we fail and face the consequences of our sins, God is willing to restore and continue His work in us if we turn back to Him in repentance. Nothing is more important than being in the presence of the holy, merciful God who desires to walk with us every step of the way.
In Exodus 34, God renews His covenant with Israel following their sin with the golden calf. God instructs Moses to chisel out two new stone tablets to replace the ones he broke (Exodus 32:19-20). These tablets are to contain the same words as the original ones (v. 1). Moses is to come up to the mountain alone. No one is to accompany him, and no one is to approach the mountain or be seen anywhere near it, including grazing animals (v. 2-3). Moses cuts the stone tablets as God commanded (v. 4). God descends in a cloud and proclaims His name: “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” (v. 5-6). God describes Himself as maintaining love to thousands, forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin, but also punishing the children for the sins of the parents to the third and fourth generation. This highlights God’s mercy and justice. Moses bows down to the ground in worship, responding to God’s revelation of His character. Moses intercedes for Israel, asking God to forgive their sin and to continue to go with them (v. 7-9).
God makes a covenant with Israel, promising to perform unprecedented wonders to demonstrate His covenant relationship with His people (v. 10). He instructs Moses to observe and follow His commands, assuring them of His faithfulness as they enter the promised land (v. 11). However, God warns Israel against forming covenants with the inhabitants of the land, as such alliances could lead to spiritual compromise and idolatry (v. 12-14). He also cautions against intermarriage, which could lead their hearts to worship other gods (v. 15-16), and reminds them not to make idols (v. 17). The Israelites are then instructed to observe key feasts—such as the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Weeks—marking significant moments in their relationship with God, like deliverance from Egypt and His provision (v.18-26).
This renewed covenant highlights God’s faithfulness and His demand for exclusive devotion, and His commands emphasize His holiness and a desire for His people to reflect His character in their actions and choices. These observances serve as regular reminders and encourage gratitude and dependence on Him. The Sabbath rest, even during harvest, teaches us to trust God to provide, acknowledging that our work is not what sustains us, but God’s provision.
Moses’ encounter with God transforms him physically, with his face becoming radiant after speaking with the Lord. The Israelites, awed by his radiant face, hesitate to approach him, but Moses calls the leaders to relay God’s commands. He then veils his face, removing it only when he enters God’s presence again (v. 29-35). The encounter between God and Moses reflects the transformative power of God’s presence. When we spend time in God’s presence, His holiness and glory change us. Just as Moses was transformed by God’s presence, we are invited to be continually transformed through our relationship with Him. Let’s seek God’s presence and allow His glory to shine through us.
Exodus 35 begins with Moses gathering the Israelites to remind them of the Sabbath command, emphasizing the importance of rest and obedience to God’s instructions (v. 1-3). Even in the midst of preparing for the construction of the Tabernacle, the people are commanded to set aside their work and honor the Sabbath.
Moses then calls for a freewill offering, inviting those with willing hearts to contribute materials for the construction of the Tabernacle, including gold, silver, bronze, fine linens, wood, oil, spices, and precious stones (v. 4-9). The emphasis on willingness highlights that giving to God should come from a heart of devotion, not obligation. Men and women bring their offerings joyfully, and skilled artisans dedicate their talents to crafting the Tabernacle and its furnishings. The people respond with overwhelming generosity, bringing so much that later, they have to be asked to stop giving (v. 10-29). The Israelites’ willing hearts in giving and serving show that true worship flows from love and gratitude toward God, not mere duty.
Bezalel and Oholiab, filled with the Spirit of God, are designated as the chief craftsmen, leading the work of constructing the Tabernacle (v. 30-35). Their divine gifting reminds us that our talents and abilities are given by God for His glory and service. The Spirit-empowered craftsmanship of Bezalel and Oholiab reveals that all skills, whether artistic, practical, or spiritual, can be used for God’s glory.
Exodus 33-35 contains profound theological truths about God’s presence, covenant faithfulness, and the call to worship through obedience and service. In Exodus 33, Moses pleads for God’s presence to go with them, highlighting the essential truth that God’s presence is what sets His people apart. Without Him, their journey would be meaningless. And, Moses’ desire to see God’s glory reminds us that a true relationship with God leads to a longing for deeper communion with Him.
In Exodus 34, God renews His covenant with Israel, however, He calls them to remain faithful by keeping His commands, and worshiping Him alone. Exodus 35 shifts the focus to worship in action. The command to keep the Sabbath reinforces trust in God’s provision, while the people’s overwhelming generosity in bringing offerings for the Tabernacle demonstrates the proper response to God’s grace—joyful giving and service. Bezalel and Oholiab, filled with the Spirit of God, lead the work, showing that all skills and talents can be used for His glory.
Challenge:
Are you seeking God’s presence above all else, or are you content to move forward without Him? Like Moses, do you desire to know God more deeply, or are you satisfied with surface-level faith? God’s renewal of the covenant reminds us that He is both merciful and just—are you responding to His grace with obedience and wholehearted worship?
The Israelites’ generosity and Spirit-led service challenge us to ask: are we using our gifts, time, and resources for God’s glory? True worship is not just about what we receive from God but how we respond to Him in faith, devotion, and action.
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