Below are some preliminary questions to assist in the study of this passage. For a comprehensive study of the passage, download the Study Guide (PDF download).
1. In what ways does the Lord distance Himself from the Israelites because of their sin in making the golden calf? See Exodus 33:1-3 (printed below)
Then Jehovah said to Moses, Leave this place, you and the people you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, and go to the land I pledged to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, promising them, I will give it to your descendants. (2) I will send an angel ahead of you and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. (3) Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up in your midst, or else I might consume you along the way, for you are an obstinate people. (Exodus 33:1-3)
The Lord does not identify them as His people, but rather as “the people whom (Moses) has brought up out of the land of Egypt” (verse 1a). Canaan is identified as the land the Lord promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, not the land the Lord promised to the people of Israel (verse 1b). It is as though the Lord wants nothing to do with these people; He is merely tolerating them in order to fulfill His promise to their faithful forefathers. The Lord declares, “I will not go up in your midst, or else I might consume you along the way, for you are an obstinate people.” (verse 3) The Lord is maintaining His distance from them so that their stubborn and rebellious conduct will not incite His holy anger against them.
2. When the people learn that the Lord has distanced Himself from them, what do they do (see Exodus 33:4 printed below?) How does the Lord respond to this (see Exodus 33:5 printed below?)
When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornamental jewelry. (Exodus 33:4)
Jehovah had said to Moses, Tell the children of Israel, You are an obstinate people; if I were to go up in your midst for just one moment, I would consume you. Now then, discard your ornamental jewelry, so that I may know what to do with you. (Exodus 33:5)
When the people heard the distressing report that the Lord had distanced Himself from them they mourned, and no one put on his ornamental jewelry (verse 4). This was an indication of their sorrow and remorse over the fact that their relationship with their God had been broken and they were estranged from Him. In response to the people’s action, the Lord issues the command, Now then, discard your ornamental jewelry, so that I may know what to do with you. (verse 5) In other words, the people are not to just take off their ornamental jewelry for a little while, they are to discard it. Why? They are to do so as a way of indicating that their present action is not just a passing expression of sorrow, but a genuine change of heart. Just as the contribution of their ornaments made the golden calf, so now the discarding of those ornaments was tantamount to an act of repentance. In response to the Lord’s command, the people of Israel discard their ornamental jewelry from this point on (verse 6).
3. How is the peoples’ estrangement from the Lord as well as their remorse expressed by the location of the provisional tabernacle Moses erected and their action whenever Moses visited that tabernacle? See Exodus 33:7-8 (printed below)
Now Moses used to take the tent and set it up outside the camp, at a distance from the camp. He called it “The Tent of Meeting.” Anyone who sought Jehovah’s counsel would go out to the Tent of Meeting located outside the camp. (9) Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrance of their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. (Exodus 33:7-8)
Moses pitched this provisional tabernacle “outside the camp, at a distance from the camp” (verse 7), whereas the Lord’s tabernacle was supposed to be erected in the very midst of the people (note Exodus 25:8). Whenever Moses would go out to the tent, all the people would arise, stand at the doorway of their tents, and longingly watch Moses as he entered the tent (verse 8). Their action was an indication of their remorse and their desire for a restored relationship with their God.
4. What divine attributes does the Lord (Jehovah) reveal to Moses atop Mt. Sinai? See Exodus 34:6-7 (printed below)
Jehovah passed before him and proclaimed, Jehovah, Jehovah, a God who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and truth, (7) maintaining his covenant relationship for thousands of generations forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. But by no means will he leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sins of the fathers to the third and fourth generation. (Exodus 34:6-7)
Jehovah reveals Himself to Moses as “a God who is merciful and gracious;” a God who is compassionate and who takes pity upon us when we cry out to Him for forgiveness. He reveals Himself to be a God who is “slow to anger;” a God of great patience and long-suffering and restraint. He is a God who is “abounding in lovingkindness and truth;” a God who is full to overflowing with goodness, kindness and love and at the same time is whole-heartedly committed to truth (note Romans 3:25-26). He is a God who maintains “his covenant relationship for thousands of generations;” in His mercy and covenant faithfulness the Lord stands ready to forgive repentant sinners and receive them back into His fellowship. Finally, He reveals Himself to be a God who “by no means will … leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sins of the fathers to the third and fourth generations”—as Exodus 20:5 indicates, this is referring to “the third and fourth generation of those who hate me;” i.e., here is a generational hatred against the Lord, one that is passed on from father to son. If you reject or abuse the divine mercy of God and the atoning work of Christ you will be confronted with the justice of God and His holy wrath in full measure.
5. Contrast what the Lord Himself has said (see Exodus 33:3b printed below) with the request Moses makes in Exodus 34:8-9 (printed below). Why do you suppose Moses makes this request?
I will not go up in your midst, or else I might consume you along the way, for you are an obstinate people. (Exodus 33:3b)
Moses quickly bowed his head to the ground and worshiped. (9) He said, If I have now found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord travel with us in our midst, for they are an obstinate people. Pardon our iniquity and our sin, and receive us as your inheritance. (Exodus 34:8-9)
In Exodus 33:3 the Lord declared, “I will not go up in your midst, or else I might consume you along the way.” But now in Exodus 34:2 there is recorded Moses’ prayer, “If I have now found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord travel with us in our midst, for they are an obstinate people.” The Lord’s argument presented in Exodus 33:3 is as follows: I cannot tolerate your stiff-necked nature; it will aggravate My righteous indignation and incite My anger against you (note Zechariah 7:12). Moses’ counter argument in Exodus 34:9 is this: Only You, O Lord, can change our stiff-necked nature. If You do not come among us and apply Your transforming grace to our hearts, we will be doomed to live and die with our stiff-necked nature.
