We shall continue the study of Exodus, the second book of
the Old Testament.
(1) When Moses called for a decision in v. 26, it was a call for repentance and recommitment to the Lord. Who were the ones that responded to the call and, in your opinion, how did they demonstrate their decision “for the Lord”?
(2) As it happened “all the Levites rallied to Moses”, implying the decision among other tribes was split. What did Moses do to the (still) defiant? Was it too harsh?
(3) In what way were the Levites "set apart for the Lord”? And how did they demonstrate that they were worthy of their calling (to serve the Lord)?
(4) What is the spiritual lesson we are to learn from the Levites?
(5) Although the Lord had held off any immediate punishment, Moses was not sure if he could “make atonement” for their sin (v. 30). By the use of the term “atonement”, what did Moses understand as to what it might take to “atone” for the sin of the people? (See Lev. 17:11)
(6) Perhaps, sensing the gravity of the sin of the people which might be beyond redemption by the blood of an animal, what did Moses offer God instead?
(7) Did Moses know the consequence of his plea? Why then would he still plead with his own eternal destiny?
(8) What parallel can you find in Romans 9:3? How similar was Paul’s situation as a leader to that of Moses?
(9) Judging from God’s reply, had God forgiven His people? Why or why not?
(10) How can you define forgiveness from God’s action?
(11) What was the verdict on Aaron by the Bible?
(12) What have you learned today and how may you apply it in your life?
(1) The Lord appeared to have reneged on His promise to Abraham in 32:10. Here He re-affirmed that promise, except with one exception. What was it?
(2) How important was this exception, especially in terms of how the worship of Yahweh should be different from pagan worship?
(3) How did the people respond to the reply from the Lord?
(4) Why did they take His reply as “distressing words”? How did this show the maturity of the people in their relationship with the Lord?
(5) We learn from this passage that even before the instructions to build a tabernacle, Moses erected a “tent of the meeting”.
a. What were its purposes?
b. How did God choose to reveal His presence?
c. Why did God choose to reveal His presence in this way? What messages did He wish to send to the people?
(6) As awesome as God and His appearance had to be, how did the Bible describe Moses’ meeting with the Lord?
(7) What is meant by “face to face”?
(8) What is meant by “as a man speaks with his friend”?
(9) What kind of a God is being portrayed by this description?
(10) Does it speak to your meeting with the Lord daily? Why or why not?
(11) A final note on such meetings has to do with Joshua. Why is Joshua being mentioned here?
(12) What have you learned today and how may you apply it in your life?
[The preciousness of
this dialogue between Moses and the Lord deserves our special attention.
As a result, I suggest that we pause and carefully mull over these
three verses today.]
(1) Before we reflect on this marvelous dialogue between Moses and the Lord, can you reflect on your daily meeting with the Lord: Are you satisfied with your daily communion with the Lord? On a scale of 10, how would you rank your daily meeting with the Lord?
(2) Explain the reason(s) behind your ranking above.
(3) As you read this passage, consider these questions:
a. How would you rank Moses’ communion with the Lord?
b. Do you think Moses was satisfied with his meeting with the Lord? Why or why not?
(4) Read carefully vv.
12-13 and analyze the details (point by point) and see (a) what was
being asked by Moses, and (b) what basis did Moses use in each of his
requests:
a. The request was to know whom He would send: What was the basis of this request and why?
b. The request was to “teach him His ways”: What were the bases of this request and why?
- In particular, what is meant by “know you by name”?
- What has the request to do with finding favor and being pleased with Moses?
- What does it mean by “that I may know you”? What has it to do with the request?
c. What has the reminder that “this nation is your people” have to do with the above requests?
(5) What
can we learn from Moses with respect to the following?
a. He based his requests on what the Lord had said.
b. Why he asked what he asked.
(6) What was God’s reply in v. 14?
(7) About the rest that God promised to give to Moses:
a. What did God see as the ultimate request of Moses?
b. What is meant by “rest”?
c. How is Moses’ rest related to God’s “Presence” going with him?
(8) Can you say that you have the “rest” that the Lord promised to Moses? Why or why not?
(9) Having read this dialogue between Moses and the Lord, what do you want to ask of the Lord today?
(10) What have you learned today and how may you apply it in your life?
(1) According to Moses, why did God’s presence distinguish him and God’s people from all the other people on the face of the earth? Why would the sending of an angel before them not suffice?
(2) What was God’s unequivocal answer to Moses? Mull over this reply and see how precious it must have been to Moses.
(3) Do you think God is telling you the same today? Why or why not?
(4) Now Moses presented a very bold request to God in v. 18. Do you think that it was a spur-of-the-moment request or something that he had thought of all along, even in the beginning of this dialogue?
(5) What prompted Moses to make such a bold request?
(6) How does this speak to Moses and his relationship with the Lord?
(7) God gave Moses a four-fold reply:
a. What is meant by causing all His goodness to pass in front of Moses?
b. What does the proclamation of God’s name (i.e. Yahweh) in Moses’ presence mean?
c. Why did God emphasize His sovereignty concerning His mercy and compassion here?
d. What is the one thing that God cannot do? Why?
(8) What then was the next “best” thing that the Lord could do in answer to Moses’ request? What was its purpose?
(9) Compare
Moses’ encounter with the Lord here with ours today.
a. Is there any difference in terms of our relationship with God?
b. Is there any difference in terms of His presence with us?
c. Is there any difference in terms of His leading us?
d. Is there any difference in terms of seeing His face?
(10) Who is more blessed: Moses or you? Why?
(11) What have you learned today and how may you apply it in your life?
(1) What did the re-writing of the Ten Commandments on stone tablets by God signify, especially in light of the golden calf incident?
(2) The two pieces of stone tablets which Moses had to carry all the way up to the mountain had to be quite heavy, given his age. Metaphorically, or spiritually, what might this also signify as far as the Law is concerned?
(3) Compare what happened in vv.5-7 to what God had promised Moses in 33:19.
a. What does this special revelation by God mean to Moses, especially in the light of the promise?
b. Reflect again on the significant meaning of proclaiming of His own name, Yahweh, as He passed in front of Moses. (In fact, He proclaimed His name twice!)
c. What is the significance of the other proclamations being made at this point? Consider these descriptions:
- Compassionate, gracious and slow to anger
- Abounding in love and faithful
- Maintaining love and forgiveness to thousands, and yet
- Punishing the guilty and their children (and children’s children) to the 3rd and 4th generations! (Why was it put at the end of the proclamation?)
(4) How special was Moses’ response in vv. 8-9, especially in light of the fact that he could talk to God “as His friend”? (33:11)
(5) At this moment of God fulfilling His own promise to Moses of 33:19, what did Moses seize or make use of in this opportunity to plead with God about? What emphasis did the use of the word, “inheritance” (34:9) signify?
(6) What have you learned today and how may you apply it in your life?
(1) In spite of the horrible sin committed by the people which essentially had broken God’s covenant with them, yet with Moses’ intercession, God was prepared to make anew (or renew His) covenant with them. How special was this covenant according to vv. 10-11?
(2) What does this reveal about God’s character?
(3) In this new, or rather, renewed covenant, God reiterated, among other obligations of the people, the following:
a. They are not to make a treaty with the locals. How might the making of a treaty be a snare to them down the road? (See God’s reasons in vv. 15-16.)
b. They are to break down altars, stones and poles. What if they do not (and they did not!) do so?
(4) Why, of all commands, did God feel the need to emphasize these two commands?
(5) What contemporary message does it have for us today?
(6) These first obligations ended with v. 17 which was unmistakably linked to the golden calf. With such a serious failure at the foot of Mount Sinai and the clear reiteration of the Lord, do you think that the Israelites would dare repeat such an offence? (See what happened in 1 Ki. 12-13, and God’s reaction.)
(7) What have you learned today and how may you apply it in your life?
(1) After the reiteration against idol worship, the second part of this renewed covenant deals with things associated with Yahweh’s worship. Try to analyze each of these reminders and see what the emphasis of each is as it pertains to the worship of Yahweh.
(2) Now compare your insights with the suggestions below:
a. The celebration of unleavened bread (v. 18): absolutely no sin allowed!
b. The first-born rule (vv. 19-20): all the people belong to the Lord!
c. No-empty-handed rule (v. 20): sign of reverence and gratitude!
d. The Sabbath rule (v. 21): Rest—out of obedience, setting apart and desiring to rest in God!
e. Three Festivals and blessings (vv. 22-24): the importance of assembly before God as a people, carrying special blessings!
f. Rules of sacrifices (v. 25): No contamination!
g. The best is demanded! (v. 26)
h. No cooking of baby goat in mother’s milk (v. 26b): even in sacrificing to the Lord, have compassion on the sacrificed animals!
Reflect on these rules of sacrifice and the suggested emphasis of each (together with your own insights), and apply them to your worship of the Lord today. How might these reminders or emphases revolutionize your own worship today?
(3) How long did Moses spend with the Lord this time?
(4) How did the people handle his absence this time?
(5) Why was Moses’ face radiant and even he himself was not aware of it?
(6) From what was being described here, it did not happen only at this particular 40-day-and-night encounter, but at each of Moses’ meetings with the Lord. Do you think this was something only unique to Moses (and for a purpose), or something that could happen even to us today?
(7) What is the main message for you today and how may you apply it in your life?