After the incident with the golden calf, God called Moses back up the mountain again, with two new stone tablets to replace the two that had been broken (Exodus 34:1-5). There God appeared before him with these words: “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (34:6).

Yet God’s abundant mercy does not mean that anyone can get away with anything; indeed, it will often be the case that our sins will have consequences for many generations to come (34:7). Still, the primary thing is this rich mercy on the part of the Lord, “forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (34:7).

Moses responded to this declaration with prayer and intercession for the people of Israel: “please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance” (34:9). And God responded with this affirmation: “Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels … it is an awesome thing that I will do with you” (34:10). Indeed, “Write these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel” (34:27).

Once again, though we often call them “the Ten Commandments,” we can see that they are referred to simply as “the words of the Covenant” (34:28). The ESV translates the next phrase as “the Ten Commandments,” but the footnote tells you that the Hebrew text simply calls them “the ten words” (34:28). It is a key point, that we so desperately need to get. It is not about a list of rules to follow. Instead, God invites us into this personal and covenantal relationship: a communion with the Lord, the God of mercy and graciousness, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

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The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all (II Corinthians 13:14).

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We need your mercy so much, Lord! Like ancient Israel we make other gods for ourselves; we visit the consequences of our own appetites on our children and grandchildren; we pay so little attention to the covenant you give us. Forgive us our sins, we pray, and even now restore us to be your heritage once again.

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