EXODUS
CHAPTER
34
1. The LORD said to Moses, "Cut two tablets of stone like the former ones, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets, which you broke.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 1)
On reflecting we can observe that during the first encounter on Mount Sinai God gave the tablets of stone to Moses, however after he broke them the, second time Moses met God, He told Moses to make the tablets himself. It seems that God's attitude with Moses was now that of an adult who was nurturing his loving son. The tasks given on sensing that the son had matured as a consequence of the experiences one endures now become more complex. There is no more spoon feeding.
Oh father even though I have physically grown and am forty-three years old, on a spiritual level I am still a toddler who needs much care and support. On me I still have the label saying; 'please handle with care!"
2. Be ready in the morning to Mount Sinai and present yourself there to me on the top of the mountain.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 2)
As in the New Testament God is asking us to be ready because we do not know the day or the hour during which we will appear before Him. Moreover Oh God every day I thirst for Your presence and I am in waiting for it, therefore it is a great need for me to be ready. One way that really helps us be ready for such mountain top experiences with God is frequent confession of our sins, so that the state of our soul will not be endangered. When considering that although we strive to walk in the ways of God our father we are still sinners and prone to sin, therefore a bit of spring cleaning is always necessary in order to help keep our spiritual welfare in a healthy state. The Holy Spirit of God prompts us to help us fulfil this role as long as we are willing to share this noble aim.
3. No one shall come up with you, and do not let anyone be seen throughout all the mountain; and do not let flocks or herds graze in front of that mountain.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 3)
As much as there is the need for us to give praise and worship as a community, there is also the need for us to worship as individuals. Therefore this highlights the need for our having a healthy and constant prayer life. During such sacred moments God speaks to our hearts and even to our minds, by giving us insights, feelings and even ideas in relation to sensitive issues that are of concern both in the present and even in the days to come. While meditating on the Word of God I was inspired to open a new blog on the New Testament. Meanwhile I waited to see if this was God's will and did not take action, however yesterday which was the 6th of December one of the followers of this blog asked me whether I intend to open a blog on the New Testament which according to his opinion would be more relevant for our Spiritual Welfare than the Old Testament. I considered this comment as being God's confirmation during moments of prayer after such a long time of prayer and waiting on God and created a new blog on the New Testament. If it is according to the will of God I will alternate by reflecting on both 'Testaments' simultaneously and when a chapter is ready I will publish it.
4. So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the former ones; and he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tablets of stone.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 4)
Now that Moses had to cut and fashion the new stone tablets he would appreciate more God's work who made and fashioned the original tablets which Moses had destroyed in a fit of anger and passion on seeing the state of disorder in which the people of God had degenerated to. Oh God my father when my daughter was born the fruit of both material and spirit, I was overjoyed. Moreover I became more aware of what joy you experienced on creating the world with all its beauty and wonder. Thank You for giving us this opportunity to create, even though we are creatures ourselves.
5. The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name, "The LORD,"
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 5)
On reflecting a person's name reflects alot in relation to who that person is. In the case of God, the name LORD reflects both majesty, power and authority which merits both love, obedience and respect. There is no other name but the name of Jesus, may You always be praised and worshipped and never have your blessed be named subjected to ridicule and bad words. When considering how much the name of God is spoken of in vain, it is the right time to stop and give worship to God by means of the following song please click on the following link:-
Song No other name but the Name of Jesus
6. The LORD passed before him, and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7. keeping, steadfast love for the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, yet by no means clearing the guilty, but visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children to the third and the fourth generation."
(Exodus chapter 34 verses 6 to 7)
On reflecting verses 6 to 7 reflects the amazing loving and generous character of God. He is merciful abundant in steadfast love and faithfulness, however God is also just and merciful and therefore cannot help but chastise us in a loving and caring way for our injustices. At times oh heavenly father it is necessary for You to say 'No' instead of a 'Yes'. In such situations there is a always a valid reason for our own good. Thank You Oh God for having such beautiful qualities, may we all share in such qualities. You are a reliable model for us to follow. Whenever we may feel or doubt if we are living according to the will of God we can refer to verses 6 to 7 as our checklist.
8. And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped. 9. He said, "If now I have found favour in your sight, O Lord, I pray, let the LORD go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, pardon our iniquities and our sin, and take us for your inheritance."
(Exodus chapter 34 verses 8 to 9)
Oh loving father, my prayer is also that of Moses, and maybe the same as that of who is reading and praying over this chapter as I am doing. Please accept me as I am that is a sinner. Please be with me, even though my carnal self gets the better of me and I end up sinning again and again. Even though I do my best to overcome my sinful self it often gets the better of me. Please accept me as Your own even though I am but sin and flesh, please have mercy on me and my sinful nature.
10. He said: I hereby make a covenant. Before all your people I will perform marvels, such as have not been performed in all the earth or in any nation; and all the people among whom you live shall see the work of the LORD; for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 10)
Indeed it was truly awesome oh God my father, how you helped your people to enter the land that You Yourself promised them. This meant wiping out four nations. Even today we are still witnessing how awesome You are. After all these years since the day of its very conception Your Church has faced many tribulations, both within and beyond. You protected it from the mighty force of Nazism who at all costs attempted to exterminate You chosen people. You are protecting Your Church from the onslaught of fundamentalists who are beheading people just because they are Roman Catholics and you are also protecting Your Church from the internal scourge of homosexuality that is like the Ebola virus that leaves death and a wave of negativity that is having negative consequences even among those who have had considered themselves up to no as being believers. Please protect Your Church oh father from this cursed malady.
11. Observe what I command you today. See, I will drive out before you the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites,
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 11)
Oh father You are always willing and able to help us in our problems, You have done great things during the course of our lives and You never stop working in the history of time. You are always active on our behalf. However all You ask of us is to listen to what You are telling us, by the events, trends, ideas, findings of science, teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and even other churches but most of all by referring to the Word of God as our major source of reference in a spirit of prayer and worship. We are not only to listen bu to obey and act according to Your Holy will.
12. Take care not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you are going, or it will become a snare among you.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 12)
Although the people of God would inhabit the lands of their enemies, they were not to adopt their ways and beliefs. The world is becoming a global village, the Internet is gradually eliminating the distance between places on the globe and values and beliefs that are alien to the Christian Catholic beliefs are being transmitted so much that they are being incorporated into constitutions and even legal system. Marriage between people of the same gender has been made legal, and so has divorce, in future only God knows what will become legalised.
13. You shall tear down their altars, break their pillars, and cut down their sacred poles.
(Exodus chapter 34)
There is absolutely nothing wrong in our being aware of people of other creeds slants and beliefs, however if we become acquainted with such people we may easily be tempted to adopt foreign and maybe even sinful ways which may have negative repercussions on both our spiritual, social and or psychological self. Therefore it is best not to become acquainted with sin but do our best to be estranged from it.
14. (for you shall worship no other god, because the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God).
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 14)
God is jealous for our love and worship. The ways of the world have a special way of attracting our attention and luring us away from Him, therefore as a loving father it is understood that He cares for the well being of His children.
15. You shall not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to their gods, someone among them will invite you and you will eat of the sacrifice. 16. And you will take wives from among their daughters for your sons, and their daughters who prostitute themselves to their gods will make your sons also prostitute themselves to their gods.
(Exodus chapter 34 verses 15 to 16)
God does not want us to associate with evil and negative ways. God is warning us even though He is aware that even if we promise not to do such a thing there is always the possibility that as humans we will put our foot in it and go against His will at some time or another. Thanks for loving us oh father even though we have a strong inclination to sinful and negative ways.
17. You shall not make cast idols. 18. You shall keep the festival of unleavened bread. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib; for in the month of Abib you came out from Egypt.
(Exodus chapter 17 to 18)
Before permitting His people to proceed to the land that He had long since promised them, God revised the commandments that He had initially given to Moses starting with the feast that would remind them of one of the most important event in their lives, meaning that of their liberation from the bondage of Egypt. It is nice to remember those intimate moments when we felt God intervening in full force, precious moments that made a whole lot of difference in our lives and maybe even having led to our conversion from a life without God to one that initiated our relationship with Him that has been lasting up to this very day.
19. All that first opens the womb is mine, all your male livestock, the firstborn of cow and sheep. 20. The firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. No one shall appear before me empty handed.
(Exodus chapter 34 verses 19 to 20)
Even though God's people would be living in a foreign land they were still to offer their first born to God, who would still be the main priority and value in their life. Oh Lord God and father I pray that in all my decisions and priorities You will always be the primary point of reference. Any thing or decision that does not correspond with You and Your teachings is not acceptable to me. Moreover I would like to take this opportunity to dedicate both myself and my family to You. Please wash us and consecrate us with Your Holy blood forever.
21. Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even in plowing time and in harvest time you shall rest.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 21)
God knows what is good both for our bodies and for our souls, among His commandments He gave us rules that concern both the well being of the soul and the body.
22. You shall observe the festival of weeks, the first fruits of wheat harvest, and the festival of ingathering at the turn of the year.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 22)
The festival of weeks had the intention of reminding the people of God of the covenant that took place at Mount Sinai, where God gave His commandments to His people. In the Christian world the festival of weeks is that of the celebration of Pentecost. In order to go deeper into the significance of the festival of weeks please click on the following link:-
The festival of weeks
23. Three times in the year all of your males shall appear before the LORD God, the God of Israel.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 23)
For three times the males of the people of God were to appear before Him. For one important time we are also going to appear before Him I pray that we be ready when our time comes.
24. For I will cast out nations before you, and enlarge your borders; no one shall covet your land when you go up to appear before the LORD your God three times in the year.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 24)
Go promises to share of his providence He will bless all that He provides for us and we shall always share of this blessing as long as we stay in His ways.
25. You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven, and the sacrifice of the festival of the passover shall not be left until the morning.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 25)
God also made a special emphasis in relation to the procedures of the sacrificial offerings as they were very important and significant.
26. The best of the first fruits of your ground you shall bring to the house of the LORD your God. You shall not boil a kid in it's mother's milk.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 26)
As in the case of Abel and Cain God wants us to offer Him the best of our produce, our abilities, our prayer time and not the bare remnants of our day. If we happen to be very very busy we can at least thank God for even the smallest and maybe insignificant thing that happens in our life even if it does not make sense, because if God permitted it to happen He has a reason to have done so.
27. The LORD said to Moses: Write these words; in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 27)
Although it is not practical for us to write God's covenants on stone tablets, the Church has taught us these same commandments ever since we were of an age to attend catechism or other religious instruction, therefore by now they are engraved in our minds and hearts. They are an active part of our hearts. In order to make it easier legal systems have incorporated directly or indirectly the principles out lined in the commandments that God gave to Israel and to humanity at large. Thank You God for giving us such wise commandments that were updated in the New Testament by Your Son Jesus.
28. He was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 28)
One might wonder how ever could Moses cope on the mountain for fourty days without eating or drinking. However although Moses was technically famished, in reality he was more than fulfilled for his soul was replenished by Your Word Oh God. You preserved his body and his soul for fourty days so that he could continue to be an instrument in Your hands. In relation to these fourty days and their significance please click on the following link:-
Significance of fourty days on Mount Sinai
29. Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 29)
When Moses came down from the mountain the people realised that he had been in your presence, because his face reflected the fact that he had been exposed to Your presence. May we all be witnesses of You divine presence in our lives. May everyone realise by our deeds and words that we are people who have had a personal experience with You oh God. May this experience be like a positive label that all can see, may we be like signposts for all to be guided by, so that people who have lost their way on the pilgrimage of life may get back on track to their heavenly homes. Moreover may, we all be signposts for each other, for we are all travelling on a twisty and slippery road and without warning we can all at some point or other swerve of the road and need to towed back to a garage for repairs before being able to continue our race.
30. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 30)
The people saws a changed man or even thought that they were seeing a ghost. Something had changed in Moses. He was radiating the presence of God. On making an experiencing of You oh God, we are sure to experience radical or gradual changes in our behaviour or life style. We will begin to think, act and behave like You, so much that people will witness the difference from the person whom we were to the person whom we have become.
31. But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 31)
One of the main features of people who have made an experience of God is that they are strongly motivated to share with others what God has shared with them. Moses wished to be a signpost for the people that would ultimately lead them to worship God in spirit and in truth. Therefore Moses did not want the people to be afraid of him.
32. Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him on Mount Sinai.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 32)
When we experience growth in our spiritual life we start feeling a greater need to be with You oh father. In Your infinite wisdom You start sharing with us, knowledge and insights about our selves, our sins, the world and even knowledge of the future, particular knowledge and insights that are given to society in general.
33. When Moses had finished speaking with them he put a veil on his face; 34. but whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35. the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again until he went in to speak with him.
(Exodus chapter 34 verses 33 to 35)
For some reason Moses attempted to hide the reflection of God from his being by wearing a veil to cover his face. On the contrary in the New Testament Jesus wants us to be a shining light in this World of darkness in order to be a living testimony of Him and His word. May we all be a light that is strong enough to penetrate the darkness of evil both in ourselves and in those making part of our inner and outer circles.
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:-
Oh God thanks for loving us as You do! As sinners we do not deserve to be loved by You with such immense and caring love. Grant oh Father that we open ourselves to You so that you can always write Your will on the tablets of our hearts, so that we will always walk in Your ways. May Your light always shine in us. May our lives become a living testimony of Your presence in us, so much that more and more souls are drawn to You and saved from the damnation of hell.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 2)
As in the New Testament God is asking us to be ready because we do not know the day or the hour during which we will appear before Him. Moreover Oh God every day I thirst for Your presence and I am in waiting for it, therefore it is a great need for me to be ready. One way that really helps us be ready for such mountain top experiences with God is frequent confession of our sins, so that the state of our soul will not be endangered. When considering that although we strive to walk in the ways of God our father we are still sinners and prone to sin, therefore a bit of spring cleaning is always necessary in order to help keep our spiritual welfare in a healthy state. The Holy Spirit of God prompts us to help us fulfil this role as long as we are willing to share this noble aim.
3. No one shall come up with you, and do not let anyone be seen throughout all the mountain; and do not let flocks or herds graze in front of that mountain.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 3)
As much as there is the need for us to give praise and worship as a community, there is also the need for us to worship as individuals. Therefore this highlights the need for our having a healthy and constant prayer life. During such sacred moments God speaks to our hearts and even to our minds, by giving us insights, feelings and even ideas in relation to sensitive issues that are of concern both in the present and even in the days to come. While meditating on the Word of God I was inspired to open a new blog on the New Testament. Meanwhile I waited to see if this was God's will and did not take action, however yesterday which was the 6th of December one of the followers of this blog asked me whether I intend to open a blog on the New Testament which according to his opinion would be more relevant for our Spiritual Welfare than the Old Testament. I considered this comment as being God's confirmation during moments of prayer after such a long time of prayer and waiting on God and created a new blog on the New Testament. If it is according to the will of God I will alternate by reflecting on both 'Testaments' simultaneously and when a chapter is ready I will publish it.
4. So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the former ones; and he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tablets of stone.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 4)
Now that Moses had to cut and fashion the new stone tablets he would appreciate more God's work who made and fashioned the original tablets which Moses had destroyed in a fit of anger and passion on seeing the state of disorder in which the people of God had degenerated to. Oh God my father when my daughter was born the fruit of both material and spirit, I was overjoyed. Moreover I became more aware of what joy you experienced on creating the world with all its beauty and wonder. Thank You for giving us this opportunity to create, even though we are creatures ourselves.
5. The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name, "The LORD,"
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 5)
On reflecting a person's name reflects alot in relation to who that person is. In the case of God, the name LORD reflects both majesty, power and authority which merits both love, obedience and respect. There is no other name but the name of Jesus, may You always be praised and worshipped and never have your blessed be named subjected to ridicule and bad words. When considering how much the name of God is spoken of in vain, it is the right time to stop and give worship to God by means of the following song please click on the following link:-
Song No other name but the Name of Jesus
6. The LORD passed before him, and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7. keeping, steadfast love for the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, yet by no means clearing the guilty, but visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children to the third and the fourth generation."
(Exodus chapter 34 verses 6 to 7)
On reflecting verses 6 to 7 reflects the amazing loving and generous character of God. He is merciful abundant in steadfast love and faithfulness, however God is also just and merciful and therefore cannot help but chastise us in a loving and caring way for our injustices. At times oh heavenly father it is necessary for You to say 'No' instead of a 'Yes'. In such situations there is a always a valid reason for our own good. Thank You Oh God for having such beautiful qualities, may we all share in such qualities. You are a reliable model for us to follow. Whenever we may feel or doubt if we are living according to the will of God we can refer to verses 6 to 7 as our checklist.
8. And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped. 9. He said, "If now I have found favour in your sight, O Lord, I pray, let the LORD go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, pardon our iniquities and our sin, and take us for your inheritance."
(Exodus chapter 34 verses 8 to 9)
Oh loving father, my prayer is also that of Moses, and maybe the same as that of who is reading and praying over this chapter as I am doing. Please accept me as I am that is a sinner. Please be with me, even though my carnal self gets the better of me and I end up sinning again and again. Even though I do my best to overcome my sinful self it often gets the better of me. Please accept me as Your own even though I am but sin and flesh, please have mercy on me and my sinful nature.
10. He said: I hereby make a covenant. Before all your people I will perform marvels, such as have not been performed in all the earth or in any nation; and all the people among whom you live shall see the work of the LORD; for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 10)
Indeed it was truly awesome oh God my father, how you helped your people to enter the land that You Yourself promised them. This meant wiping out four nations. Even today we are still witnessing how awesome You are. After all these years since the day of its very conception Your Church has faced many tribulations, both within and beyond. You protected it from the mighty force of Nazism who at all costs attempted to exterminate You chosen people. You are protecting Your Church from the onslaught of fundamentalists who are beheading people just because they are Roman Catholics and you are also protecting Your Church from the internal scourge of homosexuality that is like the Ebola virus that leaves death and a wave of negativity that is having negative consequences even among those who have had considered themselves up to no as being believers. Please protect Your Church oh father from this cursed malady.
11. Observe what I command you today. See, I will drive out before you the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites,
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 11)
Oh father You are always willing and able to help us in our problems, You have done great things during the course of our lives and You never stop working in the history of time. You are always active on our behalf. However all You ask of us is to listen to what You are telling us, by the events, trends, ideas, findings of science, teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and even other churches but most of all by referring to the Word of God as our major source of reference in a spirit of prayer and worship. We are not only to listen bu to obey and act according to Your Holy will.
12. Take care not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you are going, or it will become a snare among you.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 12)
Although the people of God would inhabit the lands of their enemies, they were not to adopt their ways and beliefs. The world is becoming a global village, the Internet is gradually eliminating the distance between places on the globe and values and beliefs that are alien to the Christian Catholic beliefs are being transmitted so much that they are being incorporated into constitutions and even legal system. Marriage between people of the same gender has been made legal, and so has divorce, in future only God knows what will become legalised.
13. You shall tear down their altars, break their pillars, and cut down their sacred poles.
(Exodus chapter 34)
There is absolutely nothing wrong in our being aware of people of other creeds slants and beliefs, however if we become acquainted with such people we may easily be tempted to adopt foreign and maybe even sinful ways which may have negative repercussions on both our spiritual, social and or psychological self. Therefore it is best not to become acquainted with sin but do our best to be estranged from it.
14. (for you shall worship no other god, because the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God).
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 14)
God is jealous for our love and worship. The ways of the world have a special way of attracting our attention and luring us away from Him, therefore as a loving father it is understood that He cares for the well being of His children.
15. You shall not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to their gods, someone among them will invite you and you will eat of the sacrifice. 16. And you will take wives from among their daughters for your sons, and their daughters who prostitute themselves to their gods will make your sons also prostitute themselves to their gods.
(Exodus chapter 34 verses 15 to 16)
God does not want us to associate with evil and negative ways. God is warning us even though He is aware that even if we promise not to do such a thing there is always the possibility that as humans we will put our foot in it and go against His will at some time or another. Thanks for loving us oh father even though we have a strong inclination to sinful and negative ways.
17. You shall not make cast idols. 18. You shall keep the festival of unleavened bread. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib; for in the month of Abib you came out from Egypt.
(Exodus chapter 17 to 18)
Before permitting His people to proceed to the land that He had long since promised them, God revised the commandments that He had initially given to Moses starting with the feast that would remind them of one of the most important event in their lives, meaning that of their liberation from the bondage of Egypt. It is nice to remember those intimate moments when we felt God intervening in full force, precious moments that made a whole lot of difference in our lives and maybe even having led to our conversion from a life without God to one that initiated our relationship with Him that has been lasting up to this very day.
19. All that first opens the womb is mine, all your male livestock, the firstborn of cow and sheep. 20. The firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. No one shall appear before me empty handed.
(Exodus chapter 34 verses 19 to 20)
Even though God's people would be living in a foreign land they were still to offer their first born to God, who would still be the main priority and value in their life. Oh Lord God and father I pray that in all my decisions and priorities You will always be the primary point of reference. Any thing or decision that does not correspond with You and Your teachings is not acceptable to me. Moreover I would like to take this opportunity to dedicate both myself and my family to You. Please wash us and consecrate us with Your Holy blood forever.
21. Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even in plowing time and in harvest time you shall rest.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 21)
God knows what is good both for our bodies and for our souls, among His commandments He gave us rules that concern both the well being of the soul and the body.
22. You shall observe the festival of weeks, the first fruits of wheat harvest, and the festival of ingathering at the turn of the year.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 22)
The festival of weeks had the intention of reminding the people of God of the covenant that took place at Mount Sinai, where God gave His commandments to His people. In the Christian world the festival of weeks is that of the celebration of Pentecost. In order to go deeper into the significance of the festival of weeks please click on the following link:-
The festival of weeks
23. Three times in the year all of your males shall appear before the LORD God, the God of Israel.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 23)
For three times the males of the people of God were to appear before Him. For one important time we are also going to appear before Him I pray that we be ready when our time comes.
24. For I will cast out nations before you, and enlarge your borders; no one shall covet your land when you go up to appear before the LORD your God three times in the year.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 24)
Go promises to share of his providence He will bless all that He provides for us and we shall always share of this blessing as long as we stay in His ways.
25. You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven, and the sacrifice of the festival of the passover shall not be left until the morning.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 25)
God also made a special emphasis in relation to the procedures of the sacrificial offerings as they were very important and significant.
26. The best of the first fruits of your ground you shall bring to the house of the LORD your God. You shall not boil a kid in it's mother's milk.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 26)
As in the case of Abel and Cain God wants us to offer Him the best of our produce, our abilities, our prayer time and not the bare remnants of our day. If we happen to be very very busy we can at least thank God for even the smallest and maybe insignificant thing that happens in our life even if it does not make sense, because if God permitted it to happen He has a reason to have done so.
27. The LORD said to Moses: Write these words; in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 27)
Although it is not practical for us to write God's covenants on stone tablets, the Church has taught us these same commandments ever since we were of an age to attend catechism or other religious instruction, therefore by now they are engraved in our minds and hearts. They are an active part of our hearts. In order to make it easier legal systems have incorporated directly or indirectly the principles out lined in the commandments that God gave to Israel and to humanity at large. Thank You God for giving us such wise commandments that were updated in the New Testament by Your Son Jesus.
28. He was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 28)
One might wonder how ever could Moses cope on the mountain for fourty days without eating or drinking. However although Moses was technically famished, in reality he was more than fulfilled for his soul was replenished by Your Word Oh God. You preserved his body and his soul for fourty days so that he could continue to be an instrument in Your hands. In relation to these fourty days and their significance please click on the following link:-
Significance of fourty days on Mount Sinai
29. Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 29)
When Moses came down from the mountain the people realised that he had been in your presence, because his face reflected the fact that he had been exposed to Your presence. May we all be witnesses of You divine presence in our lives. May everyone realise by our deeds and words that we are people who have had a personal experience with You oh God. May this experience be like a positive label that all can see, may we be like signposts for all to be guided by, so that people who have lost their way on the pilgrimage of life may get back on track to their heavenly homes. Moreover may, we all be signposts for each other, for we are all travelling on a twisty and slippery road and without warning we can all at some point or other swerve of the road and need to towed back to a garage for repairs before being able to continue our race.
30. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 30)
The people saws a changed man or even thought that they were seeing a ghost. Something had changed in Moses. He was radiating the presence of God. On making an experiencing of You oh God, we are sure to experience radical or gradual changes in our behaviour or life style. We will begin to think, act and behave like You, so much that people will witness the difference from the person whom we were to the person whom we have become.
31. But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 31)
One of the main features of people who have made an experience of God is that they are strongly motivated to share with others what God has shared with them. Moses wished to be a signpost for the people that would ultimately lead them to worship God in spirit and in truth. Therefore Moses did not want the people to be afraid of him.
32. Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him on Mount Sinai.
(Exodus chapter 34 verse 32)
When we experience growth in our spiritual life we start feeling a greater need to be with You oh father. In Your infinite wisdom You start sharing with us, knowledge and insights about our selves, our sins, the world and even knowledge of the future, particular knowledge and insights that are given to society in general.
33. When Moses had finished speaking with them he put a veil on his face; 34. but whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35. the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again until he went in to speak with him.
(Exodus chapter 34 verses 33 to 35)
For some reason Moses attempted to hide the reflection of God from his being by wearing a veil to cover his face. On the contrary in the New Testament Jesus wants us to be a shining light in this World of darkness in order to be a living testimony of Him and His word. May we all be a light that is strong enough to penetrate the darkness of evil both in ourselves and in those making part of our inner and outer circles.
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:-
Oh God thanks for loving us as You do! As sinners we do not deserve to be loved by You with such immense and caring love. Grant oh Father that we open ourselves to You so that you can always write Your will on the tablets of our hearts, so that we will always walk in Your ways. May Your light always shine in us. May our lives become a living testimony of Your presence in us, so much that more and more souls are drawn to You and saved from the damnation of hell.
Thank you Jesus my one and only father!
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