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Bible story · Exodus 32:15–20; 34:1–10, 27–29
The Second Set of Tablets
Read it yourself in the King James Bible: Exodus 32:15–20; 34:1–10, 27–29 ↗
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest.”
Exodus 34:1 (KJV)The Story
Moses had spent forty days on Mount Sinai with God. He came down carrying two stone tablets with the Ten Commandments, written by God’s own finger.
But while he was gone, the people had made a golden calf and were dancing around it. When Moses saw it, he was so angry that he threw the tablets down, and they shattered at the foot of the mountain.
It seemed like the end. The covenant was broken almost as soon as it was made.
After Moses prayed for the people, God spoke to him. “Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest.”
So Moses cut two new tablets and climbed the mountain again. And the Lord came down in a cloud and passed by him, calling out His own name: “The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.”
God wrote His words again. And when Moses came down this time, his face was shining.
Reflection
Notice the honest little phrase in God’s words: “which thou brakest.” God didn’t pretend nothing had happened. The tablets were broken, and everyone knew why.
More Bible stories from Exodus. More about: Second Chances · Moses
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Day 3 of Book 8
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