Moses immediately bow to YHWH in worship. Moses must have recognized how transcendent God is compared to mankind. He was given a glimpse of the splendor and majesty of YHWH-His "Otherness". How indelibly this encounter must have been engraved on Moses' heart! Though YHWH was definitely displaying his eminence with Moses (presence near and with Moses), YHWH was describing Himself as Totally and Infinitely Perfect in all of His ways.
After Moses' act of worship (bowing) he asks YHWH to go among the Israelites, even though He had said He would not. Moses asks YHWH to pardon the sin of the people. He asks YHWH to take them into the inheritance promised to their forefathers. Moses calls it "Your" inheritance. The fulfillment of this promise belongs to God. YHWH responds by saying He will do marvels like people in all the earth have never seen before, nor has any other nation had a God who can do such wonders. But these people with Moses will see the work of YHWH and it will be an awesome thing.
Then YHWH says: Observe what I command you this day. He promises to drive out the named peoples from the land before the Israelites (this probably means that they will experience this action not in the sense of doing it before they get there).
Then YHWH give strict commands for the people to break down all of the pagan altars, images, and pillars. They are to not intermix with these idolaters by social interaction, marriage, or copying anything about their worship. They are to ONLY worship YHWH-no other false god PERIOD! They are not to make any covenants with these people, no treaties, no entanglements with them, lest they be tempted into idolatry with them. He likens them participating in idolatry as being adulterous, playing the harlot with these false gods.
He emphasizes very strongly-You shall make NO molded gods for yourselves. (Remember the golden calf-don't do it again in any way-no household 'gods'). He makes this command so plain, no exceptions!
Moses immediately bow to YHWH in worship. Moses must have recognized how transcendent God is compared to mankind. He was given a glimpse of the splendor and majesty of YHWH-His "Otherness". How indelibly this encounter must have been engraved on Moses' heart! Though YHWH was definitely displaying his eminence with Moses (presence near and with Moses), YHWH was describing Himself as Totally and Infinitely Perfect in all of His ways.
After Moses' act of worship (bowing) he asks YHWH to go among the Israelites, even though He had said He would not. Moses asks YHWH to pardon the sin of the people. He asks YHWH to take them into the inheritance promised to their forefathers. Moses calls it "Your" inheritance. The fulfillment of this promise belongs to God. YHWH responds by saying He will do marvels like people in all the earth have never seen before, nor has any other nation had a God who can do such wonders. But these people with Moses will see the work of YHWH and it will be an awesome thing.
Then YHWH says: Observe what I command you this day. He promises to drive out the named peoples from the land before the Israelites (this probably means that they will experience this action not in the sense of doing it before they get there).
Then YHWH give strict commands for the people to break down all of the pagan altars, images, and pillars. They are to not intermix with these idolaters by social interaction, marriage, or copying anything about their worship. They are to ONLY worship YHWH-no other false god PERIOD! They are not to make any covenants with these people, no treaties, no entanglements with them, lest they be tempted into idolatry with them. He likens them participating in idolatry as being adulterous, playing the harlot with these false gods.
He emphasizes very strongly-You shall make NO molded gods for yourselves. (Remember the golden calf-don't do it again in any way-no household 'gods'). He makes this command so plain, no exceptions!
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