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Exodus 34

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Easy Bible・Exodus 34

God renews the covenant

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Passages

Key Passages

Exodus 34:1
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.

About this Chapter

After Moses broke the first set of stone tablets with the Ten Commandments, God instructed him to chisel out two new stone tablets. Early in the morning, Moses went up Mount Sinai to meet with God, and God descended in a cloud and stood with Moses there. The Lord proclaimed His name, declaring His character of compassion, grace, patience, and forgiveness. God made a covenant with Moses, promising to perform miracles and wonders among the Israelites that had never been seen before in any nation. He also commanded Moses to destroy the altars, idols, and Asherah poles of the pagan nations they would encounter in the Promised Land. Moses then spent forty days and forty nights on the mountain with God, without eating or drinking. During this time, God wrote on the new stone tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. When Moses came down from the mountain, his face was radiant because he had been in the presence of God. The Israelites were afraid to come near him, so Moses covered his face with a veil. Whenever Moses went into the Lord's presence to speak with Him, he would remove the veil. The renewal of the covenant and the giving of the Ten Commandments on the new stone tablets emphasized God's faithfulness and the importance of obedience. It also highlighted the need for the Israelites to separate themselves from the idolatrous practices of the pagan nations around them. This chapter reminds us of God's grace, forgiveness, and desire for His people to live in obedience to His commandments.

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