Introduction: Read Exodus33and34.

So I come to the end of my expositions on Exodus. There is little new material in chapters 35 to 40. They largely reiterate what has already been written about the Tabernacle, its furnishings and the priesthood.

Exodus 33 and 34 easily contain the most heart warming and reassuring passages in the whole of the book. I will use a little alliteration to pick out the main themes.

(A) A dreadful prospect.

God agreed to ensure the Israelites conquered Canaan - that land flowing with milk and honey. However, he will not be with them on their journey. Instead God would appoint an angel to go before them. God considers this is the best arrangement because he fears that should the Israelites have another major lapse he might destroy them.

(1) We might expect the people would be relieved at this decision! They were not! When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments. 33v4. I think even the wayward Israelites realised an angel was no substitute for the LORD. They needed God to be hands on to cope with all the difficulties along the way and then the monumental task of conquering the land.

(2) Moses was appalled at the prospect of continuing on the way without the LORD. He makes four objections:

(a) He doesn't know any angel. Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me." 33v12. Moses is putting it bluntly. The terms under which he undertook the leadership of God's people are being changed. An unknown angel is being foisted on him. Moses knows God. The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. 33v11.

Moses is wise to make this objection. It is far, far better to talk to God directly than through any intermediary whatsoever. Men are fallible and angels not altogether sympathetic to men. We are God's creation not the handiwork of angels. God is committed to us in a way no angel ever can be.

Moses wants his relationship with God to be ongoing and to develop. He said: "If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favour with you. 33v13. I wonder if we are as concerned as Moses for our relationship with God to deepen through the years. The apostle Peter gives this advice to his readers: But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2Pet3v18.

Many Christians suffer from arrested developement.

(b) Moses reminds God that, "This nation is your people." 33v13. The Israelites were children of promise - a promise not made by Moses, or by angels, but by God. The LORD had a huge stake in the future well being of the Israelites. He couldn't afford to offload responsibility for them to an angel.

As Christians we should never forget God's commitment to us. There are few verses more heartening than Jn1v12: Yet to all who received him (Jesus), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

(c) Moses was concerned both for his credibility as leader of the Israelites and the credibility of the Israelites as God's people. See 33v15and16.

I can understand Moses' fear! Whenever long periods pass in the life of a local church without the Spirit moving to convict and convert the lost, one begins to fear the lack of God's favour. It is over 20 years since anyone attending our fellowship was born again, baptised and joined the church. One does feel at times abandoned by God's Spirit.

(d) Moses was aghast at the thought of God disinheriting his people and pleads with God to forgive them. "Oh Lord, if I have found favour in your eyes then let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance." 34v8and9.

Lesson.

It is a terrible thing to be abandoned by God. Even king Saul realised this. He was told to attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belonged to them. But Saul disobeyed God's instruction and kept back the calves and fat lambs. Samuel told Saul: You have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you as king over Israel!"1Sam15v26. From that time onwards Samuel never saw Saul again. Sampson was another who was forsaken by God when he succumbed to the charms of Delilah and told her the secret of his great strength. When his mistress called out, "Sampson the Philistines are upon you," He awoke from his sleep and thought, "I'll go out as before and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had left him." Jd16v20and21.

Jesus, through no fault of his own, also experienced what it was like to be abandoned by God as his cry of desolation on the cross reveals: "My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me."

Moses realised how dreadful it would be for the Israelites to continue their journey to the Promised Land without the LORD. So he pleads with God to resume his relationship with Abraham's descendants - to reinstate them as his people.

During World War Two six Navy pilots left their aircraft carrier on a mission. After searching the seas for enemy submarines, they tried to return to their ship shortly after dark. But the captain had ordered a blackout of all lights on the ship. Over and over the frantic pilots radioed, asking for just one light so they could see to land. But the pilots were told that the blackout could not be lifted. After several appeals and denials of their request, the ship's operator turned the switch to break radio contact--and the pilots were forced to ditch in the ocean. It is truly shocking that these navy pilots were abandoned by their captain. No light shone in the darkness for them!

How glad Christians should be for the indwelling Spirit, the intercession of Jesus and the Father heart of love. What a comfort to be able to sing with conviction:

Abide with me, fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens, Lord with me abide
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour:
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me!

(B) A divine promise.

Eventually, to Moses' immense relief, God promised to go with his people to the Promised Land. The LORD replied, "My presence will go with you and I will give you rest." 33v14. God confirmed this promise by telling Moses: "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name." v33v17.

Why did God decide to continue with his wayward people? There are three reasons:

(1) The Israelites repented. When Moses told them that God would appoint as angel to lead them to the land of Canaan the people mourned and left off their jewellery. Later they relinquished their jewellery to God as evidence of their sorrow for sin.

(2) The intercession of Moses. Moses interceded boldly, passionately and persistently for God's people. He pleads with God, "Remember this nation is your people." Verse 16 in chapter 33 conveys Moses' ardent desire for God's presence with them. This, and only this, will identify the Israelites as God's people and confirm God's good pleasure with Moses.

(3) The nature of God. See 34v6and7. It is a pity the latter part of verse 7 is misinterpreted. It is true that serious sins have repercussions for subsequent generations but this does not necessarily mean that God punishes people for the misdemeanours of their fathers.

God revealed to Moses that he was prepared to continue with his people and forgive their sins because of the way he was. The words God spoke to his servant out of the cloud on Mt Sinai are some of the most precious in the Old Testament: "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintain love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin." 34v6and7.

The Israelites could rely on God's character - his compassion and grace, his abounding love and faithfulness, to bring them to the Promised Land.

LESSONS. Our salvation is dependent upon:

(1) Repentance. No one can be saved until they are genuinely sorry for their broken relationship with God and the consequences this has for their lives. People's lives end up a mess because of their distance from God and disobedience to him.

The Prodigal Son in Jesus' famous parable had to repent before returning home. He came to his senses and realised two things: how much better off he would be with his father and, secondly, how badly he had wronged his father.

(2) Intercession. Jesus is our intermediary. He intercedes for us. We have a good example of this in Jesus' high priestly prayer for all believers in John17v20to26: "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I mayself may be in them."

God listened to Moses because he was his friend - but Jesus is the one and only Son of God - the Son in whom he is well pleased. God will forgive and save every sinner who believes in Jesus for his Son's sake.

(3) God's grace. Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice for mankind's sin. There is no way God's justice could be satisfied by one sacrifice for the sins of the world. Christ's sacrifice, like every other, was a token payment for sins committed. It is only efficacious because God in grace accepted it. He accepted the price Jesus paid because of his abounding love for his son and his gracious, faithful compassion for us.

Great God of wonders! all Thy ways
Are worthy of Thyself divine;
And the bright glories of Thy grace
Among Thine other wonders shine.

Who is a pardoning God like Thee?
Or who has grace so rich ad free.

God reaffirms his covenant with the Israelites. It is summarised by the words: Obey what I command you today. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizittes, Hivites and Jebusites. 34v11.

Moses returns to Mt Sinai for 40 days and God repeats the commandments previously given. I will not deal with them all again but it is worth repeating the warning the Israelites failed to heed when they reached the Promised Land: "Be careful not to make a treaty with those that live in the land; for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you and you will eat their sacrifices. And when you choose some of their daughters as wives for your sons and those daughters prostitute themselves to their gods, they will lead your sons to do the same." 34v15and16.

Century after century until the exile in Babylon the Jews disobeyed God and prostituted themselves to their neighbour's gods. It resulted in the loss of ten tribes of Israel, the tribes of the Northern Kingdom, and the Babylonian conquest of Judah.

LESSON.

Christians are saved by grace. The alternative is the sort of legalism that Jesus faced throughout his earthly ministry. The Pharisees believed eternal life was earned by keeping the Law.

The terrible problem with this approach is deciding how good we have to be, to be good enough for eternal life. Where is the line drawn between those who succeed and those who fail. This was the rich young ruler's problem who came to Jesus and asked, "What must I do for eternal life."

However, although we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus we are expected to obey his commandments. We demonstrate our love for, and commitment to, Jesus by implementing his teaching. John15v9to14.

My mother would often quote the salutary words of Isaac Watt's hymn:

Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb,
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His Name?

Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize
And sailed through bloody seas?

A distinguished prophet.

Moses was a GREAT man. This is what is recorded of him in Dt34 vs5,10and12: And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said ....... . Since then, no prophet has arisen in Israel like Moses whom the LORD knew face to face .... . For no one has ever shown powers or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

Moses greatness is revealed in the two chapters we are studying in the following ways:

(1) By his fearless intercession for his people. Moses always spoke very boldly to God. There is a huge difference between, for example, Job and Moses. Job spoke very boldly and, indeed, critically in God's absence but was overwhelmed by God's presence.

(2) By his faithfulness as God's servant. Moses did everything that God wanted him to do. He fulfilled God's expectations - to intercede for his people.

(3) By the relationship he had with God. He was God's friend. The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. 33v11. He was God's friend and God was pleased with Moses. See33v17.

(4) By the access he had to God. Moses met with God on Mt Sinai and also in the Tent of Meeting set up before the Tabernacle outside the camp.

When Moses came down from speaking with God on Mt Sinai the second time his face was radiant. Subsequently it was always radiant for a time after he had consulted God in the Tent of Meeting.

Jeff Strite points out in a sermon on this passage that Moses' face was not radiant the first time he descended Mt Sinai with the commandments written on tablets of stone.

Moses was spending more and more time with God. He was getting to know God better and better. Genuine intimacy with God is sure to leave its mark. In Moses case his intimate fellowship with God was seen in the radiance of his face. He was endowed with some of God's glory.

I believe that Christians who spend much time in God's presence - the great prayer warriors - develop an aura - a reverence for God, a delight in him, a distaste for evil and a gracious concern for others. My grandfather, George Reed, a market gardener, was a man of this ilk - a Christian gentleman.

We don’t want to be like the pompous church member who visited a young Sunday School Class and at one point asked: "Why do you think people call me a Christian?" After a pause, one little boy raised his hand timidly and answered, "Because they don’t know you?"

(E) Conclusion.

Moses was great, humble but great, a servant but great - great because he was the servant of the living God. Moses did all God expected of him - he led God's people to the Promised Land. But however great Moses was, Jesus was greater still. See Heb3v5 and my exposition on Heb 3.

Jesus was greater than Moses in many ways. Moses was God's friend but Jesus was God's Son. Moses saw something of God's glory and his face shone but Jesus' whole life shone - full of grace and truth. Moses dedicated the last years of his life to his people but Jesus, the Lamb of God, died to take away the sin of the world.

The incomparable greatness of Jesus is shown in his achievement. Moses was the friend of God but he could not make other Israelites God's friends as he was God's friend. Jesus is God's Son but he CAN make wretched sinners son's of God and joint heirs with him. Paul wrote to the Romans: The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Rom8v16and17. These are incredible words and highlight Christ's staggering achievement on behalf of fallen humanity.

Researchers for the World Almanac and Book of Facts asked 2000 American eighth-grade students to name prominent people they admired and wanted to be like. Those most frequently mentioned by the teens as their heroes were celebrities such as Burt Reynolds, Richard Pryor, Steve Martin, and the late John Belushi.

Commenting on this, columnist Sidney J. Harris lamented the fact that every one of the 30 prominent personalities who were named was either an entertainer or an athlete. He noted that statesmen, authors, painters, musicians, architects, doctors, and astronauts failed to capture the imagination of those students. He further suggested that the heroes and heroines created by our society are people who have made it big, but not necessarily people who have done big things. (Illustration from Sermonillustrations.com)

Jesus did and does BIG, BIG, BIG THINGS.