November 17– Exodus 34:1-9

 November 17– Exodus 34:1-9

The Lord said to Moses, “Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. ² Be ready by the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to me on the top of the mountain. ³ No one shall come up with you, and let no one be seen throughout all the mountain. Let no flocks or herds graze opposite that mountain.” ⁴ So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the first. And he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand two tablets of stone. ⁵ The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. ⁶ The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, ⁷ keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.” ⁸ And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. ⁹ And he said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”

Again, Moses intercedes for his nation. He does as God instructs and again, he is met by God. Moses agrees that the Israelites are indeed a stiff-necked people. Moses begs that God does not forget these Israelites are His people and asks for continued forgiveness of their sin.

How many times do we cry out for forgiveness of our sins? I think of the Israelites and ponder how they can be so challenging but then I think back over my days and how I, too, struggle with my sin and must ask for forgiveness routinely. Do you find yourself struggling as well? Praise God He loves us and was willing to sacrifice His son Jesus so that we may be without sin.

Heavenly Father, as I read these verses I can’t help but wonder why You, a righteous God, who demands obedience, would tolerate such continual disobedience.  But as I think about my own sin and continual disobedience in my own life, I am so grateful You are not only a gracious God, giving us what we don’t deserve, but a merciful God in that You don’t give us what we truly deserve.  How many times a day do I do things that cause You to grieve?  How many times a day do You have to look at me through the blood of Jesus because You can’t stand to look at me without the forgiveness that is only available because of Jesus sacrifice?  How many times a day do I act out and not ask for Your forgiveness because I don’t even realize what I have done?  Please forgive me Father, not only for my disobedience, but my lack of repentance over things that hurt You.  Thank You for loving me when I am so unlovable.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen!