Exodus Points

Concerning God's negotiations with Moses from the book of Exodus

Israel is doomed because of their rebelliousness and stiffnecked nature

  • God to destroy Jews and make of Moses a great nation. Exodus 32:10
  • Moses intercedes for God to spare the Jews. Exodus 32:11-13, 30-32
  • God responds to Moses’ intercession modifying His judgment. Exodus 32:33-35


Why God was going to destroy the Jews

  • Stiffnecked. Exodus 32:9; 33:3-5
  • Leaders were compelled to syncretism. Exodus 32:1-6
  • Jews were set on mischief. Exodus 32:22


Jews’ sins compelled God to distance Himself from the congregation

  • God was not going to go with the Jews into the promised land because of their rebelliousness but instead was going to send an angel to lead their way. Exodus 32:31-35; 33:11-15
  • Moses entreats God to change His mind and go with them into the promised land. Exodus 33:12-17
  • Even though God was going to go with the Jews, there was a limit to what He was willing to tolerate and therefore the Tabernacle of Congregation where God would meet with the people was placed outside the camp. Exodus 33:7
  • Moses too would have to go to the Tabernacle outside the camp to converse with God.
  • Once the entire Tabernacle structures were built according to God’s design and the sacrificial system enacted, God, under very strict guidelines, came back into the midst of the congregation. It was at this new tabernacle that God continued speaking with Moses. Exodus 40:17-38; Leviticus 1:1


Sin in regard to the allowances God made because of Moses’ intercession

  • The nature of God is longsuffering, merciful, gracious, and abundant in goodness and truth. Exodus 34:6
  • Nevertheless: the Guilty are never ever cleared by God. Exodus 34:7
  • The sacrificial system pointed to Jesus, who substituted Himself to pay the penalty for sin as a gift to all who will receive Him as Lord and Savior.


Ralph Wendt