Slices
Prepare
How did you feel as a child when you did something wrong? Has that affected how you feel when you think you have done something God might not like? How do you ensure your relationship with God is restored?
Bible passage
The new stone tablets
34 The Lord said to Moses, ‘Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. 2 Be ready in the morning, and then come up on Mount Sinai. Present yourself to me there on top of the mountain. 3 No one is to come with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain; not even the flocks and herds may graze in front of the mountain.’
4 So Moses chiselled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the Lord had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. 5 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. 6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’
8 Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshipped. 9 ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘if I have found favour in your eyes, then let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance.’
10 Then the Lord said: ‘I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the Lord, will do for you. 11 Obey what I command you today. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 12 Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you. 13 Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles. 14 Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
Explore
The shattered tablets of stone are replaced (v 1). This is a holy and private moment between God and Moses. God, though ready to forgive, will not ignore guilt (v 7). Sin spreads its influence across generations, long after the people originally responsible are gone. A bad law or a poor policy decision will echo over decades.
Moses’ prayer (v 9) revisits his fear that God will distance himself from the people. Nothing could be worse than that! ‘Let the Lord go with us,’ he cries.
The renewal of the covenant (v 10) is a high point in Moses’ life and the history of Israel. Complete disaster has been averted. But the story will be difficult as the land of promise is populated by hostile peoples who will not welcome the new arrivals. Firm action will be needed but will only be legitimate if accompanied by the wholehearted worship of the living God (v 14). Such a land would later cradle King Jesus, the saviour of all nations.
Respond
Is anything holding you back in your relationship with God at the moment? Spend time wholeheartedly worshipping God.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Ezekiel 20,21; 1 Peter 2
Pray for Scripture Union
Thank God that nearly 600 Faith Guides are now supported by our staff teams in using the Revealing Jesus mission framework to reach the 95. Pray that more churches will catch the vision and appoint Faith Guides so that many more children and young people can connect with Jesus.
