Second Chances
Read This Week: Exodus 34
Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. – Exodus 34:5-7 NIV
Exodus 34 is a pivotal chapter in the biblical narrative, marking the renewal of God’s covenant with Israel after their failure with the golden calf. This passage has a lot of theological significance, practical wisdom about second chances, and a strong demonstration of God’s mercy and justice.
One of the most powerful moments in the chapter occurs in verses 6-7, where God proclaims His name and character to the people of Israel: The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished. This self-revelation provides a balanced picture of the Lord’s nature – His immense mercy and unwavering justice. Moses knows this about the person of God, but given all that has taken place on the journey to freedom, he needs to hear that Yahweh is both forgiving and just, compassionate yet righteous. We need to be reminded of this regularly. Understanding this truth helps us appreciate the grace we receive while also acknowledging the need for personal accountability.
After Israel’s grievous sin of idolatry in Exodus 32, one might think that God would be well within his right to abandon them. Instead, He renews His covenant, demonstrating His willingness to restore and redeem. This act of unmerited mercy is a strong reminder that failure is not final with Father God. The Bible is explicit in multiple places that when we repent, He is faithful to forgive and renew His relationship with us. Just as He gave Israel a second chance, He extends His grace to us every day.
But His holiness still demands faithfulness to His word. Because of this, God instructs Israel to uphold His commandments and remain distinct from surrounding nations. He warns them against making treaties with idolaters and commands them to tear down pagan altars (v. 12-16). This underscores the importance of faithfulness and avoiding compromise. In our modern lives, we are similarly called to be set apart, maintaining our commitment to God even while constantly facing cultural pressures.
At the end of the chapter, we see a fascinating transformation. Moses’ face shines after being in God’s presence (v. 29-35). This physical change illustrates a spiritual truth: true encounters with God leave us changed. The more we seek Him, the more His presence reshapes our character and witness to the world. That’s why this section offers us hope and renewal. It shows us again that God is merciful and just, offers second chances, calls us to obedience, and transforms those who seek Him. As we reflect on this passage, let us embrace His covenant wholeheartedly, strive for faithfulness, and pursue His presence so that our lives may radiate His glory.
Exodus Chapter 34 Verse 6
And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, the Lord! the Lord! A God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving-kindness and truth.
Exodus Chapter 34 Verse 7
Keeping mercy and loving-kindness 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 fourth generation.
~Sin Verses Forgiveness~
God Is Saying To Me:
Did you know that I am a just and forgiving God? My desire is that you follow where I lead and worship Me and only Me! I give you opportunities to repent and receive forgiveness because I love you. I’m very patient, forgiving and offer you second chances but eventually your sin will be judged. Do not use my name or misuse my mercy and grace as an opportunity to sin. I am faithful to you even when you are not faithful to me!
God Is Saying To Me:
1. God is always faithful to us. Are we always faithful to Him?
2. Father God is slow to anger and forgives us because He doesn’t want us to perish. This is why He sent Jesus, that we can be saved from the law but not from the commands of the law.
3. Prayer is important! We should always be busy praying for others to turn and seek God’s face with humility so that generational curses and habits are broken. He wants us to know and understand that we do not die from other sins but are accountable for our own. It’s up to us to break family demons and find a forgiven path forward.
4. Be a living sacrifice and keep yourself out of bondage. If you are adamant in serving something, by all means, be a slave to righteousness and be a glowing light to others by steadfast commitment to God and his word. ❤️
God also gave me this insight:
Exodus Chapter 34 Verse 12
Take heed to yourself, lest you make a covenant or mutual agreement with the inhabitants of the land to which you go, lest it become a snare in the midst of you.
Exodus Chapter 34 Verse 27
And the Lord said to Moses, Write these words, for after the purpose and character of these words. I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.
Exodus Chapter 34 Verse 35
The Israelites saw the face of Moses, how the skin of it shown and Moses put the veil on his face again until he went in to speak with God.
~God’s Promises and God’s Glory~
God Is Saying To Me:
When I make myself known to you, does that excite you, fuel your spirit and give you encouragement to get to know me better? Are you growing in the area of worship? Do you really understand who I am? Do you appreciate me?
I love you, my child and all I desire is to love you and marvel at your desire to love me back. I will drive out all the iniquities and sin so that’s you can love me freely and grow fruitfully in my plans for you.
What This Means To Me:
1. Just as God did for the Jews, He will also do for us because we need His help fulfilling the Covenant blessing.
2. In order to serve God and benefit from all that He has to offer us, we must honor and humbly submit ourselves with gratitude and joy in our heart because the redeemed should honor and serve the Redeemer.
3. Serving Father God by giving Him the best of ourselves, abstaining from sin, worshiping the one and only true God and following His commands and directions is imperative to maintaining a joyous, righteous and pure, holy walk with Him.
4. May our walk with Christ shine brightly like the noonday sun and may me never have to wear a veil over our face because we are saved by the blood of Christ. The Old Covenant is gone and fades away with the sunset so that we can radiate God’s glory on our faces, day by day! I love you Father God! ❤️