Reading: Exodus 34:8-11
Israel repents from the sin of the golden calf and Moses mediates for the people, confessing their sins and seeking God’s help. See now God’s compassion and grace: first God promises to go with Israel again. To strengthen Israel’s faith, God also reveals His great name and attributes. Finally God renews the covenant, that is, He promises again to care for them. Part of this renewal is to give Israel another copy of the law which Moses had earlier destroyed.
In Exodus 34:10 God makes it very clear why He makes His covenant with Israel: “I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the LORD. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.” The purpose of God’s covenant is, in the first place, to show His great power (for example, by driving out the Canaanite nations) and receive all the glory and praise. We must remember this important point: our faith must not be self-centred, but God centred. This is expressed in the Psalms, for example in Psalm 96:3-4a “Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised”.
Through the work of Jesus Christ God makes this even clearer. He sent His Son to save sinners from all nations and who embrace and trust Him in faith. The purpose of trust in Jesus Christ is in the first place the glory of God as expressed in Ephesians 1:12 “we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.” Jesus Christ Himself also says in John 7:18 “He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true”.
Key text: Ex 34:10 And He said: “Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the LORD. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.”
Question: What strategy do you have to ensure your first priority is always to glorify God in your life?