Exodus 34, John 13, Proverbs 10, and Ephesians 3
The Experience:
The Word
Moses is instructed to come up to the mountain with precut tablets to be used for the law to be written on. The first set was broken in frustration when Moses saw the people worshiping the golden calf. Moses here in verse 27 wrote on the tables the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. This is a hinge pin in dispensational theology. God in Exodus 34:27/28 establishes a covenant with Moses and Israel. We know the covenant was based on obedience to the law (Ex 19:3-6). Later revelation in 2 Corinthians 3:6-9 shows a transition from obedience to the law to a ministry of the Spirit. Clearly from Corinthians 3 “the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone” is that which is being discussed in Exodus 34. This said, the ‘New Covenant” is in Jesus and separate from that which was given to Israel in Exodus 34. Hebrews 8:6 says, “but the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises”. Possibly this helps to understand why I talk about transitions in dispensation.
John 13 shows a slight glance, within the first few verses, into the exhaustive foreknowledge of Jesus. However, knowing all things and the suffering and death he was about to endure, he chose to serve those whom he loved. Jesus though he was about to suffer unspeakable pain and was about to redeem those he loved from the sin’s they had and would commit washed the feet of these men. Jesus told them that his service to them was an example for them to live by. I’m reminded how I should live even among unthinkable suffering much less slight trial.
In proverbs 10 a wise person is celebrated and are shown to be cared for by the Lord. Chapter 10:6 shows that the mouth of the wicked conceals violence, that they have ulterior motive in their speech. This is something we can test ourselves against to know if we are in the faith. Are we burring ulterior motive in our speech?
Ephesians 3 Paul talks about the bringing of the Gospel to the Gentiles and shows that this was “not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit (Eph 3:5). Later in the text we read that the manifold wisdom of God would be made clear to all the plan of the mystery. While we can read Ephesians 3 easily now it was and is allot to take in for Old Testament Jews.
