When the LORD had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God. When the LORD had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai,Moses had remained on the mountain forty days and nights, receiving God’s instructions for Israel’s worship, priesthood, and covenant life. Sinai became the setting where the redeemed nation was formed into God’s covenant people. Moses stood before God as Israel’s appointed mediator, anticipating Christ, the greater Mediator and faithful Son over God’s house. Exo 24:18 Moses entered the cloud as he went up on the mountain… He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, The tablets contained the Ten Commandments, the covenant’s foundational witness to God’s holy character and Israel’s obligations before Him. Kept within the ark of the covenant, they testified that the LORD Himself had established the terms of His relationship with His people. The covenant law exposed sin and directed Israel toward the need for forgiveness and redemption. Exo 34:29 And when Moses came down from Mount Sinai… tablets of stone God’s commands were given in a durable form, displaying their enduring authority. Yet the stone tablets also revealed the inability of sinful hearts to keep God’s law perfectly. The promised new covenant would bring inward renewal, as God writes His law on the hearts of His people through the work of Christ. Deu 4:13 He declared to you His covenant, which He commanded… inscribed by the finger of God. The commandments came directly from God, not from Moses or any human ruler. Their divine authorship established their supreme authority over Israel. God’s hand that wrote His holy law would ultimately provide the Savior who fulfilled that law completely and bore its judgment for those who believe. Deu 9:10 Then the LORD gave me the two stone tablets,… Persons / Places / Events 1. GodThe divine author of the Law, who inscribed the tablets with His own finger, signifying divine authority and the sacredness of the Law. 2. Moses The chosen leader of the Israelites, who received the tablets on Mount Sinai, acting as a mediator between God and His people. 3. Mount Sinai The holy mountain where God communicated with Moses, a place of divine revelation and covenant establishment. 4. Two Tablets of the Testimony Stone tablets inscribed by God, representing the covenant and the moral law given to the Israelites. 5. The Finger of God A metaphorical expression indicating the direct action and authority of God in inscribing the tablets. Teaching Points Divine Authority of ScriptureThe fact that the tablets were inscribed by the finger of God underscores the divine authority and inerrancy of Scripture. Believers are called to respect and adhere to God's Word as the ultimate guide for life. The Role of Mediators Moses acted as a mediator between God and the Israelites. In the New Testament, Jesus is our ultimate mediator, bridging the gap between humanity and God. The Permanence of God's Law The use of stone tablets signifies the enduring nature of God's commandments. Believers are encouraged to view God's moral law as timeless and applicable to all generations. The Heart of the Law While the Law was given on stone tablets, the New Covenant emphasizes the importance of having God's law written on our hearts, leading to genuine transformation and obedience. Reverence for Sacred Spaces Mount Sinai was a place of divine encounter. Believers are reminded to approach sacred spaces and moments with reverence and openness to God's voice. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the fact that the tablets were inscribed by the "finger of God" influence your view of the authority of Scripture?2. In what ways can we see Jesus as a mediator similar to Moses, and how does this impact our relationship with God? 3. How can we ensure that God's law is written on our hearts, as described in 2 Corinthians 3:3 and Hebrews 8:10? 4. What are some practical ways to demonstrate reverence for God's Word and sacred spaces in our daily lives? 5. How do the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament fulfill and expand upon the laws given on Mount Sinai? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 9:10This verse reiterates that the tablets were inscribed by the finger of God, emphasizing the divine origin of the Law. Matthew 5:17-18 Jesus speaks about the fulfillment of the Law, connecting the Old Testament Law to His teachings and mission. 2 Corinthians 3:3 Paul contrasts the tablets of stone with the new covenant written on human hearts, highlighting the transformative work of the Spirit. Hebrews 8:10 This verse speaks of God's law being written on the hearts of believers, echoing the internalization of God's commandments.
People Aaron, Ahisamach, Aholiab, Bezaleel, Dan, Hur, Israelites, Moses, UriPlaces Mount SinaiTopics Communing, Ended, Finger, Finished, Finisheth, Giveth, God's, Inscribed, Law, Mount, Sinai, Speaking, Stone, Stones, Tables, Tablets, Talk, Testimony, Writing, WrittenDictionary of Bible Themes Exodus 31:18 1260 finger of God Library The Flood-Tide of Power. God's Highest Ideal. A flood-tide is a rising tide. It flows in and fills up and spreads out. Wherever it goes it cleanses and fertilizes and beautifies. For untold centuries Egypt has depended for its very life upon the yearly flood-tide of the Nile. The rich bottom lands of the Connecticut Valley are refertilized every spring by that river's flood-tide. The green beauty and rich fruitage of some parts of the Sacramento Valley, whose soil is flooded by the artificial irrigation-rivers, are in sharp … S.D. Gordon—Quiet Talks on Power The True Manner of Keeping Holy the Lord's Day. Appendix viii. Rabbinic Traditions About Elijah, the Forerunner of the Messiah Gifts and Talents. Thy Name: My Name The Work of the Holy Spirit in Prophets and Apostles. Hiram, the Inspired Artificer That Whereas the City of Jerusalem had Been Five Times Taken Formerly, this was the Second Time of Its Desolation. A Brief Account of Its History. Questions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-Day Sabbath. The Development of the Earlier Old Testament Laws The Preface to the Commandments Exposition of the Moral Law. Jesus Heals on the Sabbath Day and Defends his Act. Blasphemous Accusations of the Jews. Of the Trinity and a Christian, and of the Law and a Christian. Exodus Links Exodus 31:18 NIVExodus 31:18 NLT Exodus 31:18 ESV Exodus 31:18 NASB Exodus 31:18 KJV Exodus 31:18 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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