For 40 Days – Day 9: Covenant Renewed: Conclusions

Key Episode Scripture: Exodus chapters 32-34

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. (Exodus 34:29 ESVUK)

Why did Moses spend a second set of 40 days in God’s presence? We explored the context of that episode and then considered the content. In the last entry, we picked up on some of the concepts to be explored. I have three points to share among the many things that can be concluded from this.

God will not let sin go unpunished. The exodus journey is something referenced by the writers of Hebrews to warn followers of Jesus to keep on going faithfully in the way established. The warning given is based on seeing how God responds to those who behaved faithlessly in episodes like the ones that led to Moses’ second 40-day experience. God takes sin very seriously, especially from those who should know better in the light of knowing all He has done for them so they can be in the right relationship with Him.

God is open to reasoning on His terms and conditions. God could have wiped out the entire congregation at that point in time. The reason he doesn’t is because an intercessor appeals to him on His character, His reputation and His covenant. God could have left the people to get to the Promised Land with just an angelic bodyguard. He doesn’t because an intercessor appeals to Him, knowing full well that the land without God is useless. Not even angelic protection is the same as the presence of the one who took them out. 40 days in the company of the great I Am is company spent hearing how the relationship works – what a covenant means, what it means to be a people made distinct and unique among all peoples of the earth. That distinction is based on adherence to God’s way and points to the majesty of God, who mercifully engages with people prone to wander away from Him. As He declares Himself to Moses, it’s just as much about His mercy as it is about the punishment He will outline in punishment to those who refuse Him. That gives us a fair understanding of Him. It’s another expression of grace – a theme that runs throughout scripture and is the basis of our relationship with God. It’s not based on what we do or who we think we are – it’s all based on what God has done and is doing for us.

We can be eager to learn the ways of God in the light of time with God. The difference between the people of Israel and Moses was what happened to Moses after time spent with God. The people couldn’t approach him because of his visage after time spent with God, as people hadn’t spent that much time there. Though they could hear God’s instructions second-hand, only Joshua was intrigued by following things up. Joshua saw value in spending time in the tent of meeting when Moses wasn’t there. The people stuck to getting messages through the intercessor. As Paul would inform the saints in Corinth, the access we have through Christ means we don’t have to be satisfied with living on second-hand reports from the radiant enlightened. We can approach and be delighted in the light of the one who makes the way clear for us to follow.

We must appreciate restoration to God’s ways. As we will discover in exploring the consequences of this episode, God expects those under His rule to live by His rule. We are still prone to wander away from the path, but we have these insights to help us be restored to that way. The people of Israel had the audacity to think that what they constructed could be used in place of the real God. That’s apparent in a lot of ways we see religion and faith being on display today. People make constructs and concepts and pass them off as though they resemble the real God who has demonstrated who He is on countless occasions. We cannot afford to be so impatient and presumptuous, and we must be grateful for the opportunities God gives to restore us to the right path – through His Word, through His people, through challenging circumstances, through the Spirit’s work in our minds on reflection. However He does it, we must be grateful that He still gives us the chance to return to Him and be restored.

Next, we will consider the consequences of this episode, acknowledging that the significance of this 40-day episode has repercussions for followers of Jesus today.

For His Name’s Sake

C. L. J. Dryden

Shalom