Wednesday: The Self-Revelation of God
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 17th of September 2025
Read Exodus 34:1-28. How did God reveal His glory to Moses?
Moses had to take with him two stone tablets like the first ones, which he had broken (Exodus 32:19). He was going to meet with the Lord on Mount Sinai for the seventh time. His previous climbs are mentioned in the following texts: (1) Exodus 19:3,7; (2) Exodus 19:8,14; (3) Exodus 19:20,25; (4) Exodus 20:21, Exodus 24:3; (5) Exodus 24:9,12-18; Exodus 32:15; (6) Exodus 32:30-31. Moses started his climb early in the morning.
Image © Jeff Preston at Goodsalt.com
Moses was now prepared for this glorious insight into God’s character. The beauty of God’s character is best explained in this stunning self-revelation of Himself. It is the most important description of who God is; it is the golden thread woven throughout the Bible (Numbers 14:18, Nehemiah 9:17, Psalms 103:8, Joel 2:13, Jonah 4:2). The Lord’s proclamation here is the John 3:16 of the Old Testament. In crucial places, biblical authors apply, repeat, or expand on this self-proclamation of the living God because God’s character must be correctly understood.
When Moses received the exceptional, unprecedented, and unparalleled explanation of God’s name, he bowed down and worshiped the Lord. When we get glimpses of God’s love, grace, mercy, compassion, goodness, faithfulness, forgiveness, holiness, and justice, we also are attracted to Him. It is when we see and admire His exceptional qualities that we start to love Him, a love that leads to the desire to serve and obey Him. Because He loves us, we love Him back (1 John 4:19).
In this self-revelation, God assures Moses that He will perform marvelous deeds for His people and lead them into the Promised Land. He renews the covenant with them, promising that other nations will see His majesty and awesome work. “ ‘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’ ” (Exodus 34:10, NKJV).
However, the Israelites needed to obey God and follow ten clear stipulations in order to secure their prosperity. Then Moses was asked by God to write the content of that covenant, which had already been broken (Exodus 34:27-28).
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Just a little aside: I don't know how many of you have taken the time to look at the Sinai Peninsula on Google Earth. The traditional site of Mount Sinai is in an area that looks a bit like someone had ploughed the area with a huge plough. There are rocky mountains everywhere. My guess is that the camp of Israel was about 20-30km from the foot of Mount Sinai. What I am trying to say is that Moses' walk up the mountain wasn't a stroll in the park. It was rough going.
God's character is portrayed as loving and caring, but also warning of the consequences of continued disobedience. It is a reminder that sometimes the effect of what we do lasts far beyond the current generation.
Secondly God made a covenant:
OK, it's a bit nationalistic towards the end, but we get the message that God will display his power. What power is that?
We have just been reading about God's power, glory, and his love and compassion. Perhaps we should read this passage this way: If you glorify my name by showing true love and compassion to one another and your enemies, I will overcome your enemies for you.
And if we are to apply that lesson today ... I don't need to spell it out, do I?
I looked it up a couple of weeks ago. It's so rocky and barren, not a place I would want to camp for very long. That would be a difficult journey.
One the central theme in the Bible is God revealing Himself to humanity. During the Old Testament times, God revealed Himself partially including the Mount Sinai encounters with Moses. These were glimpses of God’s glory and character often through other forms like fire, thunder, voices and visions. “No one can see Me and live.”( Exodus 33:20). But now in the New Testament dispensation, God’s full person and complete revelation has come through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus came to planet earth not only to redeem mankind but also to reveal God the Father to humanity. He explicitly revealed who God the Father is. Jesus did not just bring information about God but reconciled mankind to His Father.
“No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known”
Jesus made the invisible God visible. “Anyone who has seen me has seen my Father”(John 14:9). Now God is calling all humanity to have a personal and complete relationship with Him without any intermediary between. Jesus has now built a permanent between bridge between God and humanity.
“God… has in these last days spoken to us by His Son… who being the brightness of His glory and the exact representation of His being…”( Hebrews 1:1–3).
God is not simply revealing Himself to show His glory but to save the lost humanity.
“This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3)
This is my first comment, I don’t know if this is relevant but it has just come to my realisation that I have never climbed a mountain before , have climbed a hill and I swore never to climb I almost got muscle pool….But this man Moses climbed a mountain with 2 stone tablets on his hand to go meet God , in fact this was his 7th time …now I get why God called him “His friend”
Very nice!
A. C. Lewis writes and says, "God whispers in our pleasures and shouts in our pain, always seeking to awaken us. He is not silent, for He longs to be known, not as a distant idea but as the living God who communicates and draws near to His people."
Moses disappointed with what the people had done by worshiping a golden calf asks God to reveal himself a reminder that what we need most is not a life without problems or the fulfillment of every dream, but the presence of God Himself. Moses pleads, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here” (Exodus 33:15). It would be better to remain in the wilderness with God than to enjoy abundance without Him. His presence is our true home, our deepest need, and our greatest hope. The Bible itself is God’s way of revealing His heart across centuries, not as a human invention but as divine self-disclosure. “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets… but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:1–2).
There's so much to unpack in this chapter that ties to the events spanning Exodus 19-31. After three months, the people arrived at the base of Mount Sinai, where God prepared Israel for a covenant between Him and Israel. He carved the two tablets of stone and wrote the Ten Commandments, established rules of governance and engagement for Israel, designated the priesthood in the house of Aaron, and designed and built the Tabernacle within the camp. Throughout this process, starting with the people and then their leaders, they acknowledged and confessed, "All that the Lord has spoken we will do" (Exodus 19:8; Exodus 24:3, 7), sealing the covenant.
In 40 days from this (approximately 4 months, 10 days from leaving Egypt), the people break the covenant. In just 100 days from liberation from Egypt and slavery, Israel had broken the covenant. The violent, wrath-laden breaking of the two tablets at the foot of the mountain (Exodus 32:19) symbolized this breach and betrayal by Israel, where the golden calf represented "strange worship" and desecrated the name of God. The ramifications of this act of betrayal were immediate, swift, and intense: death visited Israel (Exodus 32:25-29), God's wrath plagued Israel (Exodus 32:35), God withdrew His presence (Exodus 33:3), and Aaron, though consecrated, saw his priesthood duties compromised as God's grace was set aside. The tabernacle, once at the center of the camp, was now distant, leaving Israel distressed, dejected, alone, and without God's glory. God's pain over the betrayal was palpable (Exodus 32:10-14).
Let's take a pause and ask ourselves How quickly do we disconnected from God' command? Make a deep reflection.
All the while, Moses (who God grants grace in His sight) takes the mantle and priestly duties. He acknowledges the faults of Israel; he intercedes for Israel; he pleads for God's glory, mercy, and goodness to return to Israel; he becomes an appeaser for Israel; he prays and pleads for Israel.
Pause again, and ask ourselves: "Do we know that there is an intercessor and advocate pleading for us in heaven?" That God may grant us grace through Him?
Finally, – and this is the impact and beauty of this portion of study – God's mercy returns to Israel. This time, God involves Moses as an intermediary to renew the covenant. God instructs Moses to carve the two tablets, and God writes down the Law (Exodus 34:1-4). God makes a return to Israel, restoring His grace, showing His goodness and mercy, and revealing His character by offering forgiveness and justice (Exodus 34:6-7). Through these acts, .
Isn't it time we renew our relationship with God? Pray for God's glory and goodness to return to our repentant souls. Christ has been working for a restoration of relationship between us and His father.
God has amazing plans for each of us, but we are the ones who block the blessings. His covenant with us is clear: the 10 Commandments. But we insist on breaking them! God is a God of mercy.
When Israel broke covenant at Sinai, it seemed their relationship with God had reached a breaking point. Yet instead of abandoning them, God revealed Himself to Moses, reaffirmed His covenant, and promised His presence as they journeyed toward the Promised Land (Exodus 33–34).
This is very much like a marriage after a deep fracture. Trust has been broken, pain is real, but recommitment says: “Though hurt has happened, I will not walk away. I will extend grace and continue with you on the journey ahead.”
The parallels are striking:
-Israel betrayed God’s love; in marriage, trust may be betrayed.
-Moses interceded; in marriage, confession and forgiveness are needed.
-God revealed His character of mercy and steadfast love; in marriage, love must be demonstrated anew.
-God chose to continue the journey with His people; a couple recommits to walk forward together.
What’s more, such recommitment often deepens the intimacy of the relationship. Israel came to know God’s character more fully—merciful, gracious, long-suffering, abounding in steadfast love. Likewise, when spouses rebuild trust after failure, they often emerge with a stronger bond, a deeper appreciation of each other’s love, and a renewed closeness achieved through trial.
In this we see God’s covenant faithfulness. He does not give up on His people, and He calls us to mirror that same spirit of grace and steadfast love in our closest relationships.
Amen! What a perfect illustration. You definitely get it Beverley. It's all about relationship. We are the unfaithful ones, yet our heavenly Father, the spurned lover of our souls, opens wide His arms and says, "I'll take you back!" Isn’t that what Calvary was shouting?
Tim, I have read the book of Exodus many times, but as I studied the lesson this week I found myself paying closer attention to the exchanges between God and Moses in chapters 33 and 34. In the past, my focus was mostly on the sins of the people and on how God described Himself—which is indeed profound. But when I looked at that description in isolation, I realized I was missing the beauty and depth of the whole interaction.
These chapters reveal a series of intimate, personal conversations between God and Moses. They are not just about judgment or mercy in the abstract, but about relationship, intercession, and the revelation of God’s heart. What an amazing God we serve—One who stoops down to dialogue with humanity, who allows Himself to be sought after, and who reveals His character in such tenderness and power.
When we take in the fullness of these exchanges, we cannot help but respond as Moses did—with adoration and worship.
Isn't it amazing how we can travel over old familiar ground in the Word, and then all of a sudden, something new jumps out at us. I love it when that happens. That proves to me that this book is Divine.
I love this!
Moses was exhausted and desperate to reveal to his people the true God of Israel. He led them out of Egypt, the land of many gods, but had nothing to show them how to 'see/understand' their new God – Yahweh. God tasked Moses with establishing the Way which, when followed, will reveal God to his people.
Our God cannot be seen or touched, does not have a physical ‘form’ to be manifest by, but He contains the spiritual qualities of all that is Good and Right. Man can only know and worship the living God in Spirit and Truth, seeing and observing Him in humble, caring service toward his fellow man - and so sees and meets God - John 4:23-24