Bible Discussion Thread

Exodus Chapter 34.

In this chapter, YHWH once again gives Moses the 10 commandments for the Israelites. He writes these down Himself, again.

So, as I recall, these commandments have been given to Moses three times: Exodus 20 (Moses told these to the people); Between Exodus 20 and 31; Moses went back up the Mount for 40 days. God wrote the ten Commandments on the stone tablets (which Moses broke apart when he saw the golden calf); and in Exodus 34, God writes them down again on the new stone tablets.

As the chapter begins, YHWH tells Moses to cut two new stone tablets and bring them with him up to the Mount early the next morning. These tablets were chiseled out of stone, but nothing was written upon them yet.

It says that YHWH descended in the cloud (as He had done before). He stands with Moses and proclaims His own name. Then He goes n to describe Himself to Moses. He calls Himself The LORD (YHWH) and The LORD God (YHWH Elohim?). He starts off by claiming that He is merciful and gracious. How wonderful that God, who was angry at the Israelites for their idolatry, tells Moses that He is merciful and gracious. What a comfort that must have been to Moses to hear YHWH say this about Himself first. It is only by His mercy and grace that mankind did not end in the Garden of Eden with the first sin. But He has shown mercy and grace since that first sin upon humanity. Thus humanity continues to this day.

Next, He says he is longsuffering. This means that God is not hasty in His righteous anger to punish sin and sinners. He shows extensive restraint in delaying His judgment. He shows patient forbearance. Next God says He is abounding in goodness. He is the only Being Who is infinitely and ever good. His goodness is absolute, without any imperfection. His goodness is constant and continuous. He never loses any of His goodness, ever. His goodness is always morally righteous. His goodness is active-He chooses to be good to His created beings.