INTERVARSITY PRESS DAILY BIBLE STUDY—Lesson 21

Exodus 34: Renewing the Covenant

The cynical statement of some historians is that treaties are made to be broken. Sadly, that's often been the case. Humanity's record of keeping treaties is abysmal, but nations keep on making treaties, hoping for a more secure future. Israel fell into idolatry and soon broke faith with God (Ex 19:8; 24:3). Likewise, we can recall solemn vows and promises shattered by expediency, fear and unfaithfulness. But God doesn't quit on us. That's not his nature. In this study, he calls Moses to the mountain a second time and reaffirms principles of holy living.

Warming Up to God

Think of an experience in which you were given a second chance. How did it make you feel? Why?

Discovering the Word

  1. In order to meet God, what was required of Moses (vv. 1-3)?
  2. How would you describe God, based on what he proclaimed to Moses (vv. 6-7)?
  3. What request did Moses make and why (vv. 8-9)?
  4. How would you summarize the covenant God made with Israel?
  5. What effect did this meeting with God have on Moses, the leaders and the people (vv. 29-32)?
  6. What practice was then established and why (vv. 33-35)?

Applying the Word

  1. God calls us to live among those who do not honor his name. In what ways can they be a "snare" for us (v. 12)?
  2. What principles of godly living in the New Testament would correspond to God's concern for Israel here (Gal 5:16-26; Eph 4:20-32)?

Responding in Prayer

Praise God for being a God of second chances.

2016-2017 Tulsa Bible Church Men’s Bible Study – tulsabible.org

For further consideration:

ID: Inductive Questions (Asking the text questions like who, what, where, when, why, & how?”)

CR: Cross References (Comparing Scripture to Scripture, understanding the vague by the clear.)

WS: Word Study (Understanding definition, theological meaning, and usages in other passages.)

2b.WS (34:6-7, 14)) Do a word study on a few of these attributes.

  • Compassionate/Merciful (Nehemiah 9:31; Psalm 78:38; Joel 2:13)
  • Gracious (2 Chronicles 30:9; Psalm 111:4; Jonah 4:2)
  • Slow to Anger (longsuffering) (Numbers 14:18; Proverbs 14:29; Nahum 1:3)
  • Lovingkindness/steadfast love (Genesis 24:27; 39:21; Psalm 51:1; Lamentations 3:32)
  • Truth/Faithfulness (1 Kings 22:16; 2 Kings 20:3; Psalm 31:5; Daniel 10:1; Micah 7:20)
  • Forgives (Numbers 14:19; Joshua 24:19; Psalm 32:1, 5)
  • (Justice) “Not clear (leave unpunished) the guilty” (Numbers 14:18; Nahum 1:3)
  • v. 14 Jealous (Deuteronomy 4:24; 5:9; 6:15)

4b.ID (34:17-26) Make a summary list of the commands given in the section. Do you see any logical progression of the commands or any common similarities between them?

5b.CR (34:33) Why did Moses wear a vale after talking with God? What points does the Apostle Paul use this event to make about his boldness in speech and the hearts of Israel (2 Corinthians 3:7-18)?

EXODUS 34:20—WERE UNCLEAN ANIMALS TO BE REDEEMED WITH MONEY OR KILLED?

PROBLEM:Numbers 18:15–16instructs that unclean beasts should be redeemed with money. But Exodus had commanded that they be killed. How can this discrepancy be reconciled?

SOLUTION:God apparently instructed Moses to modify the earlier law in favor of… ERad the rest at defendinginerrancy.com/bible-solutions/Exodus_34.20.php

Do the sons bear the sins of the fathers or not?

Covenantally, when a father misleads his family, the effects of that misleading are often felt for generations. This is because the father is being covenantally unfaithful, and God has stipulated that there are punishments to breaking the covenant with God. That is the case with these verses that deal with... Read the rest at carm.org/do-sons-bear-the-sins-of-their-fathers-or-not