Exodus 34:10

Exodus 34:10 KJV is a powerful declaration from God to Moses, signifying a renewal of the covenant after the devastating golden calf incident. It highlights God's unwavering commitment to His people and His intention to perform extraordinary acts that will be undeniable to all nations, establishing His unique power and sovereignty.

Context

This verse occurs immediately after Moses has interceded for Israel following their egregious sin of worshipping the golden calf. The initial tablets of the law were broken, and God’s wrath was kindled. However, through Moses’ fervent prayer and mediation, God relented and called Moses back to Mount Sinai to hew new tablets and renew the covenant. Exodus 34:6-7, preceding this verse, reveals God’s character as merciful, gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, yet also just. Verse 10 is God's direct response to Moses' plea, outlining the terms and promises of this renewed relationship, emphasizing divine action and a visible display of power before the world.

Key Themes

• Covenant Renewal and God's Faithfulness: Despite Israel's profound failure, God, in His steadfast love, chooses to re-establish His covenant. This speaks volumes about His enduring faithfulness and grace, offering a fresh start rather than total abandonment.
• Divine Power and Unprecedented Works: God explicitly promises to do "marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation." This underscores His unique omnipotence and His ability to intervene in human history in ways that transcend natural explanation and human capability. These marvels would serve as undeniable proof of His presence and power among Israel.
• Visibility of God's Work: "All the people among which thou art shall see the work of the LORD." God's actions would not be hidden but openly displayed, serving as a testimony to both Israel and surrounding nations of His identity and authority.
• The Awe-Inspiring Nature of God: The phrase "for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee" conveys the overwhelming and awesome nature of God's power. It evokes a sense of holy fear and reverence, recognizing His majesty and might.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "a terrible thing" might sound negative to modern ears, but the original Hebrew word is nora (נורא), which more accurately translates to "awesome," "awe-inspiring," "dreadful," or "fear-inspiring." It's a term used to describe something that evokes profound reverence, wonder, and holy fear due to its immense power, majesty, or holiness. It's not about causing dread in a harmful way, but inspiring overwhelming respect and astonishment at God's greatness.

Similarly, "marvels" comes from the Hebrew niphlaot (נפלאות), signifying extraordinary, wondrous, or miraculous acts that are beyond human comprehension or ability, clearly demonstrating divine intervention.

Practical Application

Exodus 34:10 reminds us of God's incredible grace and His willingness to restore even after failure. It teaches us:

1. God's Enduring Faithfulness: Even when we falter, God remains true to His promises and character. His covenant love (hesed) is steadfast.
2. Reverence for God's Power: We are called to stand in awe of God's might. The "terrible" (awesome) works He performs should inspire deep reverence and trust, knowing that He is capable of doing things beyond our imagination.
3. Expectation of God's Work: Just as God promised to do marvels for ancient Israel, He continues to work in powerful and visible ways in the world and in our lives today. We should look for and acknowledge His hand in extraordinary circumstances.
4. God's Desire to Be Known: God's intention was for "all the people" to see His work. This highlights His desire for His glory and power to be known and recognized by all humanity.