Exodus 34:1-10 & Philippians 2:5-11

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Last week, we considered how God appeared to Moses at the burning bush with a veiled power and enticing grace. Tonight, we are going to consider a little more on who Yahweh is based on His name. Yahweh means “I Am who I Am” or “I Will Be who I Will Be.” The Hebrew language makes it difficult to know if we should translate this as a present or future tense in English. Either way is legitimate.

Now, way back at the end of Genesis 4, after Seth becomes a father, we are told, “At that time, people began to call on the name of Yahweh” (Gen. 4:26). And throughout the rest of Genesis, people will use ‘Yahweh’ as God’s name. Last week, we heard from Ex. 3:13-15 that Yahweh is the name God gives to Moses so he can verify that is the ‘real deal’ and has come to lead God’s people out of slavery in Egypt. God’s people know Him by that name, but throughout the book of Exodus, Yahweh reveals what kind of God He is in several instances where He talks about His name. Tonight’s reading from Ex. 34:1-10 is the climax. But it is good to also consider those earlier passages so we can see who Yahweh is. And that’s what we’ll do tonight.

Back in Ex. 3:13-15 when God gives that name to Moses, you could almost see it as a slap in the face, as though God is saying, “Listen, Moses, you can’t pin Me down. I’ll be whatever I want to be.” And there is a sense of that. God is free and has the prerogative to be whatever He wants to be. But there is also a sense there that God is about to make Himself known as Yahweh. It’s almost like God is saying, “Moses, I’m about to show you what Yahweh means. I’ll make clear to you, to My people, and to the world who I am.” To Moses in Ex. 3, Yahweh shows that He is the God who remembers His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and He is coming to rescue His people from Egypt.

The next time God speaks His name in this prominent way is in Ex. 6:2-8 which is after Moses has arrived in Egypt and everything has ‘gone south.’ Moses gets to Egypt and tells the elders of Israel that Yahweh is going to lead them out of Egypt (Ex. 4:29-31), and the people believed and worshipped. So far, so good. But then, Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh and tell him, “Yahweh says, ‘Let My people go,’” but Pharaoh responds, “Who is Yahweh that I should obey His voice? I don’t know Yahweh, and I will not let the people go” (Ex. 5:2). Those were dangerous words for Pharaoh to speak. Instead of letting the people go, Pharaoh makes the Israelites’ slavery more burdensome (Ex. 5:6-19). Now, they have to gather their own straw to make bricks and keep producing the same number of bricks each day. After hearing this, the Israelite leaders leave Pharaoh’s chambers and turn to Moses saying, “Yahweh is going to judge you because you have made us a stench in Pharaoh’s nostrils” (Ex. 5:21).

But God reassures Moses (to paraphrase Ex. 6:2-8), “I am Yahweh who appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but I didn’t show them what Yahweh means. But now, I’m going to enter history and show My people what Yahweh means. I’m going to bring them out of their slavery with a mighty hand and outstretched arm. I’m going to bring them into the land of Canaan. I’m Yahweh.” Notice, though, God isn’t really saying anything new – not yet. Yahweh just keeps repeating His promises, “I am coming to deliver all of My promises to you.”

The next statement that reveals Yahweh’s identity comes after God delivers His people out of Egypt in Ex. 20:2-6 where Yahweh gives the Ten Commandments. Yahweh tells His people at Sinai, “I am Yahweh, your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. Have no other gods before Me.” In other words, God says, “Trust Me to be your God, and see how it goes for you.” He goes on to say, “I, Yahweh, your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

Now, up to this point in Exodus, who have been the enemies of Yahweh? Pharaoh and his taskmasters. They have had their iniquities visited upon them. And Yahweh has shown His steadfast love to His people. But the people’s grumbling has been growing along the journey, and their wickedness is about to be on full display.

But before we get to the epitome of that wickedness, Yahweh further defines who He is. Yahweh gives His people instructions to build the Tabernacle. He tells them all the things that they have to do to make this tent. Then, In Ex. 29:45-46, Yahweh says about the Tabernacle, “I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am Yahweh their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am Yahweh their God.” Here, Yahweh says that He is a God who wants to dwell among His people.

So, to quickly recap who Yahweh has shown Himself to be through Exodus: Yahweh is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He has been faithful to His people and delivered them from slavery. Yahweh is the God who fought for His people with a mighty hand and outstretched arm. Yahweh is their God who visits the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation, but He shows steadfast love and mercy to thousands of those who love Him and keep His commandments. And Yahweh is the God who desires to dwell among His people.

But then, we get to the episode of the golden calf (Ex. 32) where God’s own people show themselves to be His enemies who don’t love Him and keep His commandments. They reject Him and His kingship and replace Him with a god their own hands have made. They ascribe to this golden calf the very things Yahweh has done for them. Now, the enemy of God’s people isn’t external. It isn’t Pharaoh or taskmasters. It isn’t hunger, thirst, or other nations. Yahweh has already shown Himself to be powerful enough to overcome those external threats. What will this mighty, powerful Yahweh do now that the enemy of His people is His people? 

First, Yahweh tells Moses, “Get away from this people so I can destroy them.” But Moses prays to Yahweh to have mercy on the people (Ex. 32:11-14), and God does. And that brings us to our text (Ex. 34:1-10). God passes before Moses and defines Yahweh, “Yahweh a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Yahweh is the God of power and forgiveness, mercy, grace, and faithfulness.

Throughout the Genesis, there are plenty of places where Yahweh is patient with His people and clearly forgives them. But this is the first time in Scripture where God is said to forgive sin. And notice who it is that declares that Yahweh forgives sin – it’s Yahweh Himself. Forgiveness defines Yahweh. He says so in the face of the sin of His very Own people.

And, yes, Yahweh is also the God who, “will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” Yahweh is just. He will not tolerate those who repeatedly and continually rebel against Him. But even before that, Yahweh declares what defines Him – mercy, grace, love, faithfulness, and forgiveness.

And notice how Moses responds. He bows his head, worships, and prays, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Your inheritance” (Ex. 34:9).

Dear saints, Yahweh has answered that prayer. He has come to pardon your iniquity and sin. Jesus, Yahweh in the flesh, has come to claim you as His inheritance. John 1:16-18 says that from Christ’s fullness you receive grace on top of grace. Jesus – the Savior of the world who has come, died, and risen again for you – He has made God known. At His name every knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Yahweh (Php. 2:10-11)

‘Jesus’ means ‘Yahweh saves.’ He is a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving your iniquity and transgression and sin. This is who your God is. Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.