the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 1 of 5
Exodus 34:12-26
For the second time Moses is with the LORD on the mountain for forty days. In consequence of what had happened God made Himself known as "a jealous God" (v. 14) who desires to be the sole object of the worship of His people. Not that idols could do the slightest harm to Him. What rivalry could there exist between the Creator of the worlds and the gods of gold, of stone, or of wood, the works of men’s hands? But He is "jealous" because He knows that the happiness of His own consists in loving none but Himself, and that idols will always result in disappointment. It is also because their feeble love has a great place in His heart. The first epistle of John, which speaks most of divine love, concludes with the exhortation "Little children, keep yourselves from idols".
"The inhabitants of the land will be a snare for you," warns the LORD, who knows the existence of this snare, and our liability to fall into it (v. 12). He adds: "Lest . . . one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice" (v. 15). Let us have the courage to refuse the invitations of friends and colleagues of the world. Better still, let us show such behaviour that none want or even think of inviting us to share in their ungodly behaviour (1 Kings 1:9-10).
With regard to what is due to Him, the LORD here repeats some of the instructions given in Exodus 21-23.
