Exodus 33:1-11

Read Exodus 33:1-11

Helpful Background Information: 

• The Book of Exodus recounts God’s miraculous redemption of his covenant people, Israel, out of bondage in Egypt. In the wilderness of Sinai, God reveals the Ten Commandments directly to Moses, establishes laws for the nation of Israel, and instructs the construction of the Tabernacle as a portable sanctuary. Despite God’s wonderful grace, the Israelites grumbled over food, water, and leadership. In Exodus 32, we read of the catastrophic sin of the golden calf, which was nothing more than blatant idolatry and was a direct affront to God’s faithfulness. 

• In our passage this morning, we see God respond to the Israelites’ unfaithfulness. Entry into the Promised Land was not forfeited, but God’s presence on the way was withdrawn. God’s sworn covenant promise to the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) could not be broken. However, God’s divine presence could be set aside because of sin (see Exodus 23:20-23). The removal of jewelry was a sign of outward repentance, similar to people wearing sackcloth and ashes.  In the latter half of the chapter, verses 12-19, we see Moses intercede for the nation, and God responds graciously by affirming his presence would remain with the Israelites. 

• For our purposes this morning, we must focus on verse 5 where the Lord tells Moses to call the Israelites a “stiff-necked” people. Looking back at our sermon passage in Mark 8, we see in Mark 8:11 that Jesus “sighed deeply in his spirit” and specifically called out the Pharisees with the term “This generation.” This phrase is often used in the Old Testament to refer to the unfaithful Israelites in the wilderness - as seen in Deuteronomy 32:20 and Psalm 95:10-11. 

Reflection Questions: 

• What similarities do you see between the unfaithfulness of the Pharisees and that of the Israelites in the wilderness? Likewise, what similarities do you see between Jesus’s sighing over the Pharisees and God’s condemnation of the Israelites? What does this tell us about our Triune God and what a proper response to his saving work looks like? 

• In verse 5, God calls the Israelites a “stiff-necked people,” showing their stubbornness and resistance to His will. Where in your life are you tempted to resist God's leading? In what ways might you be spiritually “stiff-necked”?

• We see in Exodus 33:12-19 that God responds to intercession and pleas for forgiveness. What are the sins that you need to confess right now? What does a humble repentance look like in your situation? Remember, we have a greater high priest than Moses - Jesus Christ - who makes us fit to come before the Father’s throne of grace!