“Exodus”FallSeries1Lesson6

“Exodus33”Objective:ToexaminetheaccountoftheexodusfromEgyptandtolearnasmuchaswecanaboutthenatureofGod,HismercyandwhatHedesiresforHiscreation.WewillseektodothisbyexaminingthehistoricalbackgroundoftheExodusaccount,theinterpretivehistoryofExodusamongstbothJewishandChristianscholars,wherehelpful.WewillseektounderstandthemessageofExodusforusasChristianslivinginthe21stcenturyAmericancontext.Materials:TheBible,Ancienttranslations,Commentaries,bothancientandmodern,Books,journalarticles,dictionaries,theinternet,andotherresourcesasmaybeappropriate.Procedures1. ToexplorethemessageGodofhopethattheoriginalaudience

willhaveunderstoodfromthistext.2. Tounderstandhowthistexthasinspired,challenged,and

educatedpeopledownthroughthecenturiesguidingthemnotonlyintheirpersonallives,butthedestiniesofgovernmentsandnations.

3. WewillseektoLindouthowthesebeliefshaveplayedaroleinthehistoryofChristianityandhowtheycontinuetoimpactourexistenceandservicetoJesusChristtoday.

4. Wewillprovideasheettotakehomeasareminderofwhathasbeenexaminedandtoprovideadditionalopportunitiesforconsiderationofthesetruthsandtheirapplicationinourdailylivingoutofoureternaldestinybeginningnow.Thissheetcanbeusedasadiscussionguideforsmallgroupdiscussion.Wehaveseveralgroupsusingthiseffectively.


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FromwhatweLindin32:1-3itisclearthatthesinofthe

goldencalfstandsasthebackgroundforthischapter. Mosesis1

toldthatheandthepeoplearetoleavetheplace(theplacewhere

thesinwascommitted)andtogotothelandwhichGodhad

sworntogivetoAbraham,IssacandJacob.Sarnaindicatesthat

thepunitivedecreeof32:10wascancelledbecauseoftheoaths

giventothepatriarchs(32:13),andnotbecauseofthemeritsof

thepeoplethemselves.InthisverseYHWHrefersto“thepeople”

anddoesnotrefertothemas“yourpeople”asHehadat32:7. In2

thisthoughtheangerofGodseemstohavesubsided,itisclear

thatitisnotbecauseofanymeritseeninthepeople,itisbecause

GodremembersanddwellsonthepromisesHehadmade

previously.Therearehowever,indicationsofchangesinthe

relationshipbetweenYHWHandthepeople.

At32:2,GodindicatesthatHewillsendan“angel”inthe

Hebrewtext(ְ֑מַלְָא-malach-Hebrew-τὸνἄγγελόνμου-Greek-

tonanggelonmou-theangelofme)beforethem.Thepromiseof

23:20-33and32:34isrepeatedhere,withtheominouschangeof

BrevardS.Childs,TheBookofExodus,inTheOldTestamentLibraryseries(PhiladelphiaPA:11976),pp.588-592.

NahumM.Sarna,Exodus,inTheJPSTorahCommentary(PhiladelphiaPA:TheJewishPublication2Society,1991),pp.210-211.

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“myangel”to“theangel.” God’sperceptionsandinteractions3

withthepeopleappeartohavechangedhere.Thepromisegiven

hereindicatesthatGodstillintendstodriveoutthenationsliving

inthelandthatHehadpromisedtoIsrael,butthereappearstobe

asteppingbackinsomewayfrompersonalcontactwiththe

people,thisisperhapsachangethatisindicatedinthemannerof

talkingabouttheangelthatwillgobeforethepeople.Thechange

inresponseindicatesthatthepeoplewerestillnotworthyof

inheritingtheLandontheirownmerits.Despiteallofthepleas

fromMoses,theexecutionsofsinnersbytheLevites,andthe

plague,theresidueofsinhadonlybeendiminished,butwasnot

eliminated. TherelationshipisstillstrainedbetweenGodand4

thepeople.

Godindicatesin33:3thatthereasonHewouldnotgoup

withthepeoplewasbecausethepeopleare“stiff-necked”people.

Thereisalwaysadangerthatthepeoplewillsinagainandincur

thewrathofGodandsoHecannotstayintheirmidst,becauseitis

notsafeforthepeople.Therearetwoaspectsofdivine

NahumM.Sarna,Exodus,p.211.3

RabbiNossonScherman,TheChumash,TheStoneEdition(NewYorkNY:Mesorahpublications4Ltd.,2014),pp.501-502.

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displeasureincludedhere:oneisthatGodwouldnotaccompany

them,andtheotherwasthatthe“angel”wouldonlybewiththem

untiltheyoccupiedtheland(Ramban). Somehaveindicatedthat5

whatisbeingpointedouthererepresentsthefactthatthereare

twodifferentkindsofangels,onlyoneofwhichisaformofthe

divinepresence.Suchspeculationgoesbeyondwhatishereinthe

text. ThereishoweveradistancingofGodinsomewayfromthe6

peoplebeingindicatedhere.

Thereisnotanyindicationthatthischangeinanyway

effectsthecloudandthepillarofLirewhichhadguidedthepeople

earlierthough. God’sabsencefromcloseproximitytothepeople7

wasintendedtobeanactofmercy.Itwasdesignedtobea

preventativemeasurethatwasintendedtoavertwhatwould

inevitablyoccur;anotherepisodelikethegoldencalfwould

almostcertainlymeanthedestructionofIsrael. Being“stiff-8

necked”meansthatthepeoplearepronetoevilasAaronhadsaid

previouslyandthepresenceofGodthereforerepresentsathreat

RabbiNossonScherman,TheChumash,p.502.5

BrevardS.Childs,TheBookofExodus,p.588.6

BrevardS.Childs,TheBookofExodus,p.588.7

NahumM.Sarna,Exodus,p.211.8

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tothecontinuedexistenceofthepeople.Godwould

“consume”(ּכָלָה-calah)them;thisisthesamewordthatwas

usedat32:10ofthethreatthatGodmadeagainstIsraelwhenGod

informedMosesofthemakingandworshipofthegoldencalf.

Thereactionofthepeopleat33:4,afterhearingthe“harsh”

wordsofGodwastomournandfornoonetoputonany

ornaments.ThedecisionofGodnottogoupwiththepeoplehasa

shatteringeffectonthepeopleandsendsthemintomourning.It

wasafterallforwantofthemediatingrepresentationofGod’s

immanencethatthewholeincidentwiththegoldencalfstartedin

theLirstplace.Sarnabelievesthatverses4and5areinvertedand

shouldbereversedsincethecommandtotakeofftheornaments

comesafterthepeoplehavealreadyputthemoff.Scherman

interpretstheseversesinadifferentwayleavingthecurrentorder

andinterpretingtheactionofthepeopleinputtingofftheir

ornamentsasinsufLicientandthenfurtherinstructionscoming

laterfromGod.Thesefurtherinstructionswouldincludeeventhe

garmentsthattheyhadbeenwearingwhenthebloodofthe

covenantsprinkledonthem. Theytooweretoberemoved,9

NahumM.Sarna,Exodus,p.211.9

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becausetheyweresacredduetothebloodandtherefore

representedinsomewayGod’sfavor.

Somehaveconnectedtheremovingoftheornamentswith

thembeingremovedinordertoconstructthearkofthecovenant.

Thisassumptiongoesbeyondanythingtobefoundinthetext

here.Itappearsthattheornamentswereremoved,asthetext

states,asasignofthepeople’smourningforwhattheyhadjust

beentold.ThisisadifLiculttextandtheOldGreekTranslation

(TheSeptuagint)resolvesthesedifLicultiesbyshorteningthetext

hereandexcludinganymentionofremovingornamentsinverse

4.Modernscholarshavereconciledthemattersherebyseeing

twovariantsofthesamestory.WhateverthetechnicaldifLiculties

maybeininterpretingthistext,aswenowhaveit,themeaning

appearstobeclear:thenarrativedemonstratesachangeofheart

onthepartofIsrael.Theyarerepenting,turningaway,fromtheir

previousactionsandbehavior.Thatisthepointofthetexthere

evenifthedetailsmightbealittlefuzzierthanwewouldlike.At

33:6weareinformedthatthestrippingoftheornamentswasnot

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atemporaryphenomenon,butwassomethingthatcontinued

fromMountHorebonwards. 10

Somecommentatorshavefound33:7-11tohavenoobvious

connectionwitheitherwhatprecedesit,orwhatfollowsit.To

themitscontentappearstointerruptthethemeofGod’sdenying

IsraelHisaccompanyingpresenceastheyproceedontheir

journey.Thestyleofthewritinghereismarkedlydifferentfrom

whatisbeforeitandwhatisafterit.Expositorshavefoundit

difLiculttoexplainthetentwhichisdescribedasthemeeting

placeoutsidethecampintheseverses.ThedifLicultyarises

becausethis“tent”isdescribedas“thetent”(הָאֹ֜הֶל-haohel)and

thusisexplicitlyidentiLiedas“thetentofmeeting.”Inthetimeline

ofExodus,thistenthadnotyetbeenerected(40:16ff.).Another

issueisthatthistentdoesnotLitthedescriptionof“thetentof

meeting”thatwehavelater.Thistentalsohasadifferentfunction

andlocation(cf.Numbers3:1ff.). 11

ThenormalwayofdealingwiththisinterpretivedifLiculty

wasbyconstructingatheorythatthistentwasMoses’own

privatetent.ThisisthesolutionfoundintheOldGreek

BrevardS.Childs,TheBookofExodus,p.589.10

BrevardS.Childs,TheBookofExodus,pp.589-590.11

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Translation(TheSeptuagint)andotherJewishcommentators. 12

ThisistheinterpretationadvocatedbyScherman,whoreasons

thatsincethepeoplehadfallenfromtheirloftyspiritualperch

andGodhadannouncedthatHewouldnotresidewiththem

Mosesleftthecampandsetuphistentinisolationfromthe

sinners. ThereisnomentionofthistenthousingTheArkofthe13

Covenant.Modernscholarshavesimplyseenthisaccountasan

insertionofthetextthatismerelythefragmentofanoldtradition.

Thissuggestionbymodernscholarsisnothelpfulindetermining

themeaningofthispassagehere.Thefunctionhereisto

demonstratetheroleofMosesasmediatorforthepeople.In

termsoftopicalsequenceverses7-11serveasaconnection

betweenwhatprecedesandwhatfollowsbycombiningMoses,

God,andthemourningpeoplewithinoneactivity. 14

Inthissection,thepeopledonotsimplymourn(verse4),

theyalsorespondwithreverentbehavior-theyriseandworship

(verse10).Thissectionthenwitnessestotheobedientand

worshipfulbehavioroveranextendedperiodoftimeofthe

BrevardS.Childs,TheBookofExodus,p.590.12

RabbiNossonScherman,TheChumash,p.503.13

BrevardS.Childs,TheBookofExodus,pp.591-592.14

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people.Thisservesasactionsrepresentingachangeofheart,a

repentanceonthepartofthepeople.Thisbehaviorthenstands

asthefoundationalpremisegivingMoseswarranttointercede

onceagainonbehalfofthepeople(verse12).Thereismuch

goingonhere.Lateronputtingsomethingoutsidethecampwill

carryanegativeconnotation,buthereoutsidethecampisseenas

morepurethaninsidethecampbecauseofthesinfulnessofthe

peopleintheiractofidolatry.Mosestookhistentoutsidethe

campbecausethepeoplehadjustproventhemselvesunLitforGod

todwellintheirmidst. ThepresenceofGodwasdangerousto15

thepeople,andHiscontinuedpresenceinthemidstofthepeople

representedaconstantdanger.Moses’actionsrepresent,like

God’sactionsanactofprotectingthepeoplebymovingawayfrom

theirpresenceandthereforeawayfromthechanceofdestroying

them.ThisaccountthenalignsperfectlywithwhatGodhas

decreedpreviouslywillbethenewstandardofcontactwiththe

people.

WearetoldthatMoseswouldreturntothecampafter

spendingtimeconsultingwithYHWHinthetent.Wearetoldthat

BrevardS.Childs,TheBookofExodus,p.592.15

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hewoulddothisafterspeakinginaveryintimatewaywithGodas

a“friend.”TheassistantofMoses,Joshua,isdescribedinverse11

asa“young”(νέος-neos)manintheOldGreektranslation.Inthe

Hebrewtextheismerelyreferredtoasthe“chiefassistant”(ׁשַָרת-

sharath)ofMoses.Thereissomedisputeregardingwhattheage

ofJoshuawouldhavebeenintheJewishtraditions,butthe

optionsarethathewaseither56,or42yearsold.Whatmightbe

happeninghereissomethingthatiscommoninHebrew,whichis

forthemastertobereferredtoasamanandhissubordinatetobe

seenasayoungman,oraboy. Thatwouldmeanthatweare16

beinginformedofthesubordinateroleofJoshuatoMoses.Moses

haddutiesthatmeantthathecouldnotstayinthetentconstantly,

butthetentwasneverleftunattended,Joshuadidnotdepartfrom

thetent.Thetentwasneverleftwithoutanhonorguard.YHWH

watchesoverHispeople,andjustso,Hispeoplewatchoverthe

shrinededicatedtoHim. 17

At32:12,wehavetheaccountofMosesbeginningto

intercedeforthepeopleonceagain.Childssays,“Thebroadlines

RabbiNossonScherman,TheChumash,p.504.16

U.Cassuto,trans.byIsraelAbrahams,ACommentaryontheBookofExodus(Jerusalem:The17MagnesPress,TheHebrewUniversity,1987),p.432.

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ofthedialoguewhichfollowsbetweenGodandMosesare

basicallyclear,butmanydetailsofthepassageremaindifLicult

andperplexing.” TheconversationbeginsbyMosesreminding18

YHWHofwhatHehadpreviouslytoldhim.ItappearsthatMoses

isperplexedbyhiscircumstances,henceperhapsthisexplainsin

somesensethedifLicultandperplexingaspectsofthisaccount.

TheaudiencestandsinthesamepositionasMoses,perplexed.

Mosesisconfusedbecausehedoesnotknowthe“ways”ofGod.

Inverse13,MosespleadswithGodforHimtorevealHiswaysto

him.Mosessaysthatthiswilldemonstratetohimthathehas

trulyfoundfavorinHissight.Mosesalsotakestheopportunityto

remindGodthatIsraelisHispeople.

At32:14wehavethebeginningoftheresponseofGodto

Moses.HeindicatesthatHis“face,”or“presence”(ּפָנַ֥י-panay)

wouldgowith“you,”withMosessingular.Godispromisingtogo

withMosesinaverycloseandrelationalway.Godalsopromises

MosesthatHewillgivehim“rest”(הֲנִחֹ֥תִי-hanichothy).This

verseliterallysaidthatGodwould“causeMosestorest.”“Togive

rest”intheHebrewScripturesisoftenusedinconnectionto

BrevardS.Childs,TheBookofExodus,p.593.18

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possessionofthepromisedland(Deuteronomy3:20;12:10,etc.).

Theusageofthesingularpronounheremaypointinanother

directionforthemeaninginthistext.ThepromiseofGodhere

remainsfocusedonMosespersonally.“Heisofferedthecomfort

ofGod.” ThisissomethinguniquelyofferedtoMosesas.the19

closefriendofGod.

In33:15-16MosescontinuestochallengeGodfora

responseasapartofthebargainingprocess.Inthechallenges

Mosesexpresseshisunderstandingthathebelievesthatthe

survivalofthepeople,thehopeofthepeoplerestsinYHWH’s

presencebeingwiththem.TheclosepresenceofYHWHiscritical

forthesurvivalofthepeople.Itwouldbebetterforthepeople

nottogoupfromthereifYHWH,ifHispresencedidnotgowith

them. AnotherpartoftheconcernthatMoseshas,isthathe20

recognizesthatitiscriticalthatthepeoplerecognizethathe

(Moses)hasfoundfavorintheeyesofYHWHandonceagainwe

haveconcernexpressedwithregardtowhatpeopleoutsideof

Israelthink.Heexpressesthatinthequestionof“howshallitbe

known”notonlythatMoses,butalsothat“yourpeople”have

BrevardS.Childs,TheBookofExodus,p.594.19

U.Cassuto,trans.byIsraelAbrahams,ACommentaryontheBookofExodus,p.434.20

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foundfavorinyoursight.Israelistobe“distinct”fromevery

peopleonthefaceoftheearth.Theyaretobepeoplededicatedto

Godasisdemonstratedbythe“presence”ofYHWH.

At33:17wehavethebeginningofYHWH’sresponseto

Moses.HebeginsbytellinghimthatHewilldotheverythingthat

hehasasked,becausehehasfoundfavorinHissightandYHWH

knowshimbyname:Whatapowerfulandrelationalresponse

fromGod.Thecreatoroftheuniverse,thesovereignGodoverall

things,knowshimbyhisname.Cassuto,says,“HereScripture

seekstoteachushowmeritoriousistheonewhopleadsforthe

goodofothers.” MoseshasfoundfavorinthesightofGod21

becauseofhisselLlessconcernforother.InthisMosesemulates

thenatureofGod.ThisnatureisseenmostfullyinJesusChrist,

butevenhereweseethroughthecommendationofMosesthat

thisissomethingthatGodvaluesandencourages.Moses

continuestograpplewithGodseekingthefullrestorationofthe

originalcovenantbetweenGodandthepeople.Thewayisnow

openedupforaformalrestorationoftherenewalofthe

covenant. 22

U.Cassuto,trans.byIsraelAbrahams,ACommentaryontheBookofExodus,p.435.21

BrevardS.Childs,TheBookofExodus,p.595.22

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At33:18MosesthenmakesanotherrequestofYHWH,he

askstoseethe“glory”(ּכָבֹוד-cavod)ofGod.Thiswordisoneof

theseminaltermsofbiblicaltheology.Thisisatermthatoften

signiLiesGod’sself-manifestation,someoutward,visiblesignof

Hisessentialpresence.AtMountSinai,the“presence”theּכָבֹוד-

cavodofYHWHappearedasaconsumingLireonthetopofthe

mountain(24:17).MosesisrequestingaglimpseoftheDivine

Presence.Itmaybepointedoutthatineveryotherinstanceofa

visibleּכָבֹוד-cavodintheTorahtherearethreecharacteristic

features:1.Itisamassexperience;2.theּכָבֹוד-cavodisdistant

fromtheobservers;3.Godinitiatesthemanifestationandfreely

choosesthetimeandtheplaceofthemanifestation.WhatMoses

ispleadingforhereisanindividualexperience,onethatisofhim

choosingthetimeandtheplace. Thisisanunprecedented23

request.

YHWHanswersbysayingthatHewillmakehis

“goodness”(טּוב-tov)passbeforeMoses.InancientNearEastern

treatiesandinseveralbiblicaltextstheterm(טּוב-tov)isusedas

atechnicallegaltermofcovenantalfriendship;thatisfriendship

NahumM.Sarna,Exodus,pp.213-214.23

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thatisestablishedbytheconclusionofapact.Inlightofthis

meaning,itishighlypossiblethatthatthepresentversecontains

anintimationoftherenewalofthecovenantbetweenGodand

Israel. YHWHalsoindicatesthatHewillproclaimbeforehimthe24

“TheName.”Thismeansmorethanmerelyapronouncingofthe

sounds,italsomeansarevelationoftheattributestowhichit

eludes. Ofcourse,theusagethatweLindhereinverse19is25

uniqueinScriptureandwithoutanexactparallelelsewhere,but

theconcernisclearlymeanttodeLineGod’srevelationintermsof

activitytowardIsrael;andthroughtheinterventionofMoses. 26

YHWHmakesatremendousstatementofHissovereigntyin

sayingthatHewillbegracious,andwillshow“mercy”(ָרחַם-

raham)towhomHewillshow“mercy”(ָרחַם-raham).Hewill

showHismercyatHisdiscretionanditisimpossibleforanyoneto

knowwhen,orif,YHWHwillactinmercy.IfGodwereto

constantlyallowmercytoprevail,ineveryinstance,overjustice

thenGodcouldnotbearighteousjudgeandwickednesswould

NahumM.Sarna,Exodus,p.214.24

U.Cassuto,trans.byIsraelAbrahams,ACommentaryontheBookofExodus,p.436.25

BrevardS.Childs,TheBookofExodus,p.596.26

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certainlyprevailbecauseoftheguaranteedassuranceof

forgiveness. 27

YHWHtoldMosesthathecouldnotseeHisfaceandlivein

verse20.Thisismorethanjustaboutseeingwiththeeyes,itis

aboutknowingthewaysofGod.Godisnotpredictabletousinthe

sensethatweashumanbeingscancomprehendHisways.Tosee

theface,tounderstandthewaysofGod,isbeyondthepowerof

man’scomprehensionthroughoutthedaysofhislifeuponthe

earth.Thecommentatorswhoposittheviewthatthesewordsare

areferencetothebeliefthatwhoeverseesGoddies,ortothe

doctrinethatafterdeathapersonmayseeGod,arereadinginto

thetexthere,accordingtoCassuto. InthesamewaythatIsrael28

hadexperiencedthethunderandlighteningonthemountain

beforethegivingofthetencommandments.NowMoses,asthe

mediatoroftherestoredcovenant,onceagainhasanencounter

withthemajestyofGodbeforehearinghiswillandreceivingiton

thetabletsofthelaw.Insummation,thisLinalsectionofchapter

33servesastheclimaxfortheintercessionofMosesforthe

U.Cassuto,trans.byIsraelAbrahams,ACommentaryontheBookofExodus,p.436.27

U.Cassuto,trans.byIsraelAbrahams,ACommentaryontheBookofExodus,p.436.28

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restorationofthecovenantthatwillcomeinthechapterthat

follows. 29

Cassutosaysthatthecommoninterpretiveproblem

encounteredbycommentators,ofthispassage,isthattheyfailto

recognizetheLigurativenatureoftheexpressionsthatarebeing

usedhere.Hisinterpretationisthattodescribethefactthatno

humanbeingwillbeabletodiscernYHWH’sessentialnature,but

onlysomeofHisattributes. SchermandisagreeswithCassuto30

andinsteadtakesthetextatitsplainsense:hesaysthatahuman

beingcannomoresurviveadirectconfrontationwiththe“glory”

ofGodthancanaperson’seyesightremainintactifaperson

staresatthesun.Whatevertheexactmeaninghere,inorderto

saveMosesfromharmYHWHplaceshiminacave,acleftinthe

rockandcovershimtherewithHishand.Hedidthattoshield

himfromthebrilliancethatwouldhavebeenmorethanhecould

bear. Sarnainterpretsthispassageasrelatedtothefactthat:31

BrevardS.Childs,TheBookofExodus,p.597.29

U.Cassuto,trans.byIsraelAbrahams,ACommentaryontheBookofExodus,p.437.30

RabbiNossonScherman,TheChumash,p.507.31

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“NohumanbeingcaneverpenetratetheultimatemysteryofGod’s

Being.” 32

Thischaptershowsusthisveryrelationalencounterwith

YHWH.Moseshasthisveryclose,andwhatwemighttermas

personal,encounterwithGod.TheconcernofMosesforthe

peopleisremarkableandGodseekstorewardthisselLlessnesson

thepartofMosesbythegrantingofmercyforthepeoplebecause

Hechoosestoexercisemercy.GodlivesuptoHisunpredictable

natureanddespitetheGreatSinofIsraelchoosestoblessthem

becauseofHislisteningtoonemanwhowaswillingtosacriLice

hislifeforasinfulandundeservingpeople.Thisisoneofthe

reasonsthatwecontinuallypray,becauseGodmightchooseto

help.InthisaccountMosespreLigureswhatJesuswoulddoin

conveyingthesacriLicialnatureofGodinordertobringmercyto

thosewhowereguiltyandhadnohope.Godisthebringerof

hopeinthemidstofdespair.

Thispassagechallengesuswiththewildandunpredictable

natureofYHWH;atleastfromourperspective,butitencourages

usingivingushopeasweseeGodtimeandtimeagaingiving

NahumM.Sarna,Exodus,p.215.32

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undeservedmercytosinfulandrebelliouspeople.Thisisa

passageofScripturethatshouldcallallofustobeingintercessors

forothersandtobepenitentandworshipfulinourattitudesand

actionstowardGod.Wemustalwaysrecognizethatthewaysof

Godaremysterioustous,beyondourcomprehension,andthat

Godbalances,insomeway,justiceandmercytobringaboutthe

greatestgoodforthosethatloveHim. 33

Romans8:28WeknowthatGodworksallthingstogetherforgoodfortheoneswholove33God,forthosewhoarecalledaccordingtohispurpose.CEB.

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Synopsis IntheBookofExodusthesinofthegoldencalfloomslarge

onthehorizonandinthischapterweencountertheongoing

repercussionsofthat“greatsin.”Oneofthoserepercussionsis

thatdespitegreatmercyfromGod,intercessionfromMoses,the

promisestothepatriarchs,andthekillingofthree-thousandof

thosewhosinnedbytheLevites,therearestillconsequencesfor

thesinofthepeople.YHWHhaswithdrawnHisclosepresence

fromthepeopleandwillnolongertravelincloseproximityto

themastheycontinueontothepromisedland.Godseparates

Himselffromthepeoplebecauseoftheirpropensitytosin(they

arestiff-necked).ThereisdangerthatHewillconsumethepeople

ifHeremainsclosetothem.

ThepeoplerespondtothesewordsfromGodbymourning,

anactofcontrition,ofrepentance,byremovingtheirornaments

andthenbyrisingandbowingdowntoworshipwhenYHWH

meetswithMosesatthetentoutsidethecamp.Mosescontinues

tointercedeforthepeoplewithGodandseektherestorationof

theoriginalcovenantwiththepeopleandthereturnofthe

promiseofthepresenceofYHWHintothemidstofthepeople.It

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isperhapsinthecontritionofthepeoplethatMosesLindsthe

groundsforcontinuingtointercedewithGodonbehalfofthe

people.Hedoesnotgiveup,andheseekstounderstandGod

morefullyandcompletelyinthemidstofallhisnegotiations.

Mosesseekstoseethe“glory”ofYHWHandtounderstand

themysteryofHiswaysmorefully.GodpromisestoshowMoses

His“goodness”andeveninthisdemonstrationoftheclose

relationshipbetweenMosesandYHWHthereisstillanelementof

protectionprovidedforMoses(GodcovershimwithHishand).

GoddoesrevealtoMoseselementsofHismercybyindicatingthat

HewillshowmercytowhomeverHechoosestoshowmercy.God

ismysterioustohumanbeingsandthoughHerevealssomeof

Himselfitonlyheightensthemysteryinasense,butalso

challengesustotrustHimandtotrustinHisgoodness. 


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Questions1. Howdoyoudecideifapersonistrustworthyornottrustworthy?

2. WhydoyouthinkGodchoosestoblessIsraelbecauseofHispromisestothepatriarchs?

3. WhydoyouthinkMosesseeksthepresenceofGodtotravelwiththepeopleratherthanHisrepresentative,theangel?

4.HowdoyouseeGodtryingtoprotectthepeopleby maintainingadistancefromthem?

5. Whatdoyouthinkitmeansforapeopletobedescribedas“stiff-necked?”

6. Whataresomewaysthatpeoplecanexpressmourningorrepentance?

7. Doyouthinkitisagoodthingtomournandrepent?Why,orwhynot?

8. Whensomeonemourns,orrepentswhatmessagedoyouthinktheyaresendingtoothers?

9. WhydoyouthinkMoseswouldwanttomeetwithGodoutsidethecamp?

10.Asyoureadverses10-11andseetheirreverencewhatthoughtscometoyourmindinregardingtothenatureofthepeopleofIsrael?

11.WhatisstrikingtoyouaboutthenegotiationsofMoseswithGod,forthepeople?

12.WhydoyouthinkMosesexpressesthedesiretoknowthewaysofGod?

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13.WhydoyouthinkMosesvaluesthepresenceofGodsomuch?

14.WhatdoyouthinkitmeansforMosestoseektoseethe“glory”ofGod?

15.HowdoyouseeGodbalancingjusticeandmercy?

16.WhatdoyouthinkwecanlearnaboutthenatureofGodfromthischapter?

17.Whataresomewaysthatyourunderstandingofthischaptermightchangethewayyouliveyourlife?

18.Asyouhaveunderstoodthemessageofthischapter,howmightthischallengeyouinthewayyouprayprayersofintercessionforothers?

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ToTakeHomeWhatisImportanttoknow? ItisimportanttoknowthatGodseeksthegoodofpeopleevenwhenHeseparatesHimselffrompeople.Hisseparationisnotlikeitnormallyiswithpeopleseparatingthemselvesfromother.InGod’sseparationistheexpressionofcareandconcernforothers.HeisnotdoingitbecauseHecannotstandthesightofthepeople,butoutofdeepconcernandcareforthem.Intruth,weareallstiff-neckedpeopleandindangerofincitingthewrathofGod.HowdoesunderstandingthisaboutGodchallengeyourviewsofGod?WhereisGodinthesewords? GodisinthesewordstryingtoexplainthatwhichisbeyondourabilitytocomprehendenoughaboutHismotivessothatwecantrustHim.Wetrustallsortsofthingsthatwedonotunderstandeveryday.Werideinairplanesthatmostofusdonotfullyunderstand,wetakemedicationstheactionsofwedonotfullyunderstand.GodchallengesustotrustHimdespitethefactthatwearenotcapableoffullyunderstandingHim,orHisways.WhatisthemostchallengingthingthatyoudonotunderstandaboutGod?WhatdoesanyofthismeanforhowIlivemylife? IfwecancometotrustinGoddespitenothavingfullunderstandingthenlifecanchangeforusdramatically.WecanleavetoGodthingsthatareinHishandsalone.OuranxietyaboutthingsthatareinHishandscanfallawayandwecanconcentrateinsteadonpursuingwhatwedoknowandunderstandaboutHim.LifecanhavepurposeanddirectionasweparticipatewithGodinHisplanofredemption,healing,andloveofHiscreation.WhataresomewaysthatyouseektoparticipateeachdayinGod’sredemption,healingandloveofthisworld?WhatisthewordofGodcallingustodo? WearecalledupontotrustGodandnotsuspectthatHeisholdingoutonus,manipulatingus,orhassomehiddenagenda.GodhastolduswhatHisagendais,andHehasmadethismostplaininJesus.WhatdoesitlooklikeforyoutofollowJesustoday?

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“Exodus”Fall Series 1Lesson 6“Exodus 33”Materials: The Bible, Ancient translations, Commentaries, both ancient and modern, Books, journal articles, dictionaries, the internet, and other resources as may be appropriate.Procedures