June 15, 2025
Exodus 34
“Written in Stone, Revealed in Mercy”
Service Overview: After Israel’s rebellion, God meets Moses again—not with wrath, but with mercy. In Exodus 34, the Lord reveals His name, renews His covenant, and displays a glory that transforms. This chapter reveals a God who is both just and compassionate, abounding in love and faithfulness across generations.
Memory Verse for the Week:
Micah 7:18 – Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
Background & Technical Insights:
- Moses had won God’s promise to accompany the people in their journey, but would He forgive the people for their sins? Would He accompany them like a policeman watching a criminal, or like a Father caring for His beloved children? The answer came when the Lord ordered Moses to prepare two new stone tablets, for this meant He was going to replace the tablets that Moses had broken! God would renew the covenant! Early the next morning, Moses kept the appointment, the tablets in his hands. (Warren Wiersbe, Exodus, 199)
- Moses returned for a copy of the law. This shows us another picture of God’s grace. It is a bit different from the first, not in what it says, but in that this time Moses brings the stones, rather than God providing them (24:12). Perhaps the man-made tablets were to remind Israel of their previous breaking of the covenant. Nevertheless, it was a picture of grace: God giving them the law again, which He Himself wrote again. (Tony Merida, Exodus, 211)
- Exodus 34:6–7, is God’s definitive response to Moses’s third request, that God should show him his glory. Here is the glory of God, revealed as the goodness of God, revealed in his name, his character and his actions. Here, too, is the astonishing climax of the whole story that began with the shocking actions of the people in 32:1–6. The story of God will continue because God will continue to be the God he is, always was, and always will be. (Christopher J.H. Wright, The Story of God Bible Commentary: Exodus, 582)
- The compassionate, gracious, and long-suffering God abounds in “love and faithfulness.” The Hebrew word for love (chesed) is sometimes translated “loving-kindness.” It refers specifically to the commitment God has made to his people in the covenant. Here God’s covenant love is connected with the Hebrew word for faithfulness (emet), which also means “truth” or “truthfulness.” The point is that God always follows through on his love. His love is loyal and steadfast. Since he never goes back on a promise, once God promises to love, he keeps on loving. And his love is boundless. It is love without measure and love beyond degree. (Phillip Graham Ryken, Exodus, 1042)
What truths about God stand at the center of this covenant moment on Mount Sinai?
God’s mercy flows from who God is — not from what one deserves.
(vv. 1–9 | Ps. 103:8-12; Is. 30:18; Neh. 9:17; Lam. 3:22–23; Mic. 7:18-19; Rom. 5:8)
Mercy explains how a holy and loving God can relate to sinners without compromising who He is. (Dave Harvey, When Sinners say, “I Do,” 80)
God does not always act with justice. Sometimes He acts with mercy. Mercy is not justice, but it also is not injustice. Injustice violates righteousness. Mercy manifests kindness and grace and does no violence to righteousness. We may see nonjustice in God, which is mercy, but we never see injustice in God. (R.C. Sproul, The Holiness of God, 186)
- Covenant relationship requires exclusive devotion.
(vv. 10–28 | Josh. 24:14-15; 1 Kings 18:21; Mat. 22:37; Ja. 4:4-5; 1 John 5:21; Rev. 2:4-5)
A covenant in Scripture is a solemn arrangement involving a ruler and a subject. A covenant is imposed on the latter by the former, and entails blessings when kept and a curse when broken. When one enters into a covenant, he enters into the most solemn and binding arrangement of all. (Jay Adams, Christian Living in the Home, 45)
In Exodus 34 the Lord’s pronouncement that he is a God of compassion and mercy is given in the context of the covenant obligations being reinstated. God announces his forgiving nature just prior to giving Moses a new set of stone tablets. The grace of God does not do away with the need for obedience. Rather, God expects those who have experienced his forgiveness to be all the more committed to obeying him. (T. Desmond Alexander, Exodus, 292)
Just as worshipping the Lord and obeying his word lead to wholesome purity of life and of society, so turning to alternative ways and objects of worship corrupts life and society. The holy Lord is the fount of holiness. Every other fount is corrupt and brings corruption. (J. Alec Motyer, The Message of Exodus, 301)
- God’s glory transforms those who dwell in His presence.
(vv. 29–35 | Ps. 27:4; John 1:14; John 17:22; Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 3:18; Col. 3:10; 1 John 3:2)
What you look at determines who you are (Matthew 6:22-23). The focus of your attention will shape your attitudes and priorities. (Tim Chester, Exodus, 246)
God is infinitely holy, righteous, and just. He is the all-knowing, all-seeing, and all-powerful God. Therefore, even the reflection of his glory strikes fear into the hearts of sinners. What the people saw in the face of Moses was not even the millionth part of God’s true glory. But when they saw it, they had to turn away in terror. (Phillip Graham Ryken, Exodus, 1071)
Conclusion… What does such mercy, devotion, and glory require of God’s people today?
That we receive His mercy with reverent humility and grateful worship.
(Ps. 51:1–2; 95:6–7; Is. 57:15; Mic. 6:6-8; Luke 18:13–14; Ja. 4:6; 1 Peter 5:6-7)
Mercy can never be earned. Its very necessity is evoked by unworthiness, else there would be no need for it. Because we have sinned, we need mercy, not because we have obeyed. The only qualification for mercy is affliction. (Bob LaForge, Contemplating the Almighty, 137)
People often say they want God to give them what they deserve. If he were to do that, we would all perish in our sins. But God does something better. Rather than giving us what we deserve, he gives us something that we don’t deserve: the free gift of his grace. Salvation is not based on any merit of our own but only on God’s desire to show mercy. (Phillip Graham Ryken, Exodus, 1041)
- That we give Him our undivided loyalty and turn from all rival loves.
(Deut. 10:20-21; Ps. 86:11; Mat. 6:24; Luke 14:26-27; Gal. 5:24; Col. 3:5; Rev. 3:15-16)
God’s grace is free but costs everything. Human obedience to God does not merit salvation, but it is an appropriate response to salvation already given. Divine forgiveness does not remove the obligation that people have to obey God fully. (T. Desmond Alexander, Exodus, 292)
We’re not simply in a dating relationship with God in which our commitment correlates to our feelings. No, we are in a covenantal relationship. Just as in a marriage, we’re bound to one another through covenant promises. And, as in a marriage, these promises keep the relationship strong when times are hard. The covenant is God’s gift to us. It reassures us of his commitment and it ties down our commitment. (Tim Chester, Exodus for You, 243)
- That we seek His transforming presence and allow His glory to reshape us.
(Psalm 16:11; 34:5; 63:1–2; John 15:4–5; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Hebrews 10:22; James 4:8)
Through Christ and in Christ we gaze on the glory of God. As we behold Jesus, we are transformed. This is the privilege we share. We are not transformed by talking about transformation. We are transformed as we behold Jesus. We become like that which we worship. (Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Exodus, 215)
We do not glorify God by looking at ourselves but by looking to him. It is so easy to get lured into a performance-based approach to the Christian life, in which we are always looking at ourselves to see how we are doing spiritually. It is also easy to waste time worrying what we look like to others. Instead, we should be looking to Jesus. Only then can we reflect his glory to others. (Phillip Graham Ryken, Exodus, 1074)
Gospel Connection…
In Jesus, the mercy, covenant, and glory of God is revealed, fulfilled, and forever ours.
(Mat. 26:28; John 1:14; Rom. 5:8–11; 2 Cor. 5:21; Col. 1:19–22; Heb. 1:3; 9:15; 10:19–22)
The wonderful truth of the gospel is that the God of the exodus has given himself to us in Jesus Christ. (Phillip Graham Ryken, Exodus, 1044)
God’s love is an exercise of His goodness toward individual sinners, whereby, having identified Himself with their welfare, He has given His son to be their Savior, and now brings them to know and enjoy Him in a covenant relation. (J.I. Packer, Knowing God, 123)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- Why is it significant that God reveals His character immediately after Israel’s sin with the golden calf? How does that encourage or challenge your view of how God responds to failure?
- Verse 14 says God is a “jealous God.” How do we rightly understand God’s jealousy? What does this reveal about His covenant love?
- In what ways do we struggle to give God our “exclusive devotion” in our cultural context?
- Moses’ face shone after being with the Lord. What does this say about the power of God’s presence? What would it look like for your life to reflect time spent with God?
- How would you summarize the gospel message using the themes of mercy, covenant, and glory? How do you see these fulfilled in Jesus?
- How can we grow as a community in being a people who reflect God’s mercy, loyalty, and transforming glory?
Quotes to note…
Yahweh is the God who punishes and the God who forgives. Yahweh is the God of wrath and the God of grace and compassion. We cannot allow the second part of each sentence to eliminate the first. But our text will also not allow us to set these things in a simple equation, as if love and wrath are equivalent and opposite motions or emotions within God. (Christopher J.H. Wright, Exodus, 584)
(Exod. 34:6). This is one of the most important verses in the entire Bible. We know it’s important because it is quoted or referred to dozens of times, especially in the Old Testament… The words that God first spoke to Moses became Israel’s confession of faith, the people’s working definition of God. Whenever anyone wanted to know who God was, they went back to Moses and said, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” (Phillip Graham Ryken, Exodus, 1041)
Whatever else may be said about God’s nature, his willingness to show mercy must always feature prominently. (T. Desmond Alexander, Exodus, 292)
He that demands mercy, and shows none, ruins the bridge over which he himself is to pass. (Thomas Adams, A Puritan Golden Treasury, 112)
Christian maturity requires that we ask whether we are more motivated by gratitude for God’s mercy or by a futile attempt to earn it. (Bryan Chapell, Holiness by Grace, 193)
God’s name testifies to his eternal self-existence and self-sufficiency. Who is God? He is who he is — the covenant Lord. He always has been, and he always will be… God’s name stands for his entire being. It is his nature. It is who he is. So when God passed by Moses and said, “the LORD, the LORD,” he was revealing himself as the God of creation and redemption — the God who made and saves his people. (Phillip Graham Ryken, Exodus, 1040)
It is no exaggeration to say that Exodus 34:6 is one of the most important verses in the Bible. It is repeated numerous times in Scripture ( Pss 86:15; 103:8; 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2). When someone wanted to know what God was like, they could quote this verse. After saying His sacred name “Yahweh,” which God revealed to Moses at the burning bush—denoting His self-sufficiency and self-existence—He explained the meaning of that name more fully by highlighting several attributes of Himself. (Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Exodus, 212)
How do you reconcile His justice and His love? It is reconciled at the cross. There, God poured out justice and at the same time displayed love. He was the just One and the justifier (Rom 3:26). God will judge and punish sin. Either Jesus received your judgment at the cross, or you will face God’s just judgment on your own. (Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Exodus, 214)
If God forgives, why does he still inflict punishment? Or if God inflicts punishment, can it be that he truly forgives? Our difficulty lies in holding both to be true as the text affirms (in God’s own speech) rather than opting for some kind of harmonization or the elimination of one or the other. (Christopher J.H. Wright, Exodus, 584)