What do you see when you look into a mirror or other reflective surface?
Often, images like the one above of the kitten seeing a reflection of a lion are used to encourage self-esteem or bravado in our own identity.
But what if, instead of looking to boost our self-esteem or bravado, we sought our identity through the reflection of the LORD?
Further, what if we considered finding our identity through the reflection of the LORD’s self-revealed identity as a jealous God?
What does the LORD even mean by describing Himself with the name Jealous?
How would that help us in our daily lives?
Join me in exploring Exodus 33:10-17 and other verses for answers to these questions.
Finding Our Identity through a Jealous God | Exodus 33:10-17 Study Questions
10 And he said, “Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been created in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord, for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you. [1]
Describe what occurred before the Lord made this covenant with Moses and the Israelites. (See Exodus 32:1-35)
What does the LORD promise the Israelites with this new covenant in Exodus 34?
Why is the LORD offering His covenant with Israel?
Having faltered in their side of the previous covenant, Moses interceded between the LORD and the Israelites for the LORD’s forgiveness and the LORD’s continued presence in their midst. (Exodus 34:8)
Graciously, the LORD grants Moses’ request by stating He will do even more miraculous things in the future than with the rescuing of the Israelites from Egypt.
The LORD desires to reveal Himself to all the earth through the work He does with Israel.
11 “Observe what I command you this day. Behold, I will drive out before you the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.[2]
Why is the Lord driving out these people groups for the Israelites? (See Genesis 12:1-3 and 15:12-18)
First, the LORD is fulfilling His promise to Abraham from four generations ago.
Second, the LORD had extended mercy to these people groups until His justice over their sinful ways was due.
12 Take care, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you go, lest it become a snare in your midst.[3]
Based on Genesis 12:1-3 and 15:12-18, why does the Lord offer this warning against making a covenant with the people the Lord wants to drive out?
This seems harsh to our modern sensibilities but remember how long the LORD waited before issuing His judgment on these people groups. Four generations is an amazingly gracious timeframe to wait to enact justice.
13 You shall tear down their altars and break their pillars and cut down their Asherim[4]
Asherim were sacred wooden posts or poles that stood near the altar in various Canaanite high places that symbolized the goddess Asherah.
Given the purpose of altars, pillars, and other objects like Asherim, what immediately comes to mind for this instruction from the LORD?
Requiring the tearing down of these items is part of the LORD’s reminding the Israelites to remain faithful to Him considering their past disobedience.
14 (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God)[5]
Verse fourteen further explains verse thirteen’s instruction to tear down all altars, pillars, or other objects devoted to gods other than the LORD of the universe.
This is not the first time the Lord described Himself as a jealous God to the Israelites. (See Exodus 20:3-5)
Deuteronomy 4:24 also describes the LORD as a consuming fire, a jealous God. [6]
Remember, a synonym for the word jealous is protective.
Why is it good that the LORD of the universe is a jealous God?
15 lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and when they whore after their gods and sacrifice to their gods and you are invited, you eat of his sacrifice,[6]
What is the risk if the Israelites fail to avoid covenants and neglect to tear down the altars, pillars, and other objects of the gods of the inhabitants of Canaan the LORD is punishing?
How does this further illustrate the LORD’s jealousy or protectiveness?
The LORD had waited four generations to punish the people groups He is warning the Israelites to avoid. These warnings reveal the LORD’s protective nature of the Israelites whom He promised to Abraham would be a people that would reveal Him to the world.
16 and you take of their daughters for your sons, and their daughters whore after their gods and make your sons whore after their gods.[7]
Is this a warning just for men or also for women? (Review Genesis 3)
Again, the LORD knows those people groups ignored Him for false deities and enticed others to do the same for the past four generations.
The LORD is reminding both men and women of our abilities to influence each other for better or worse.
17 “You shall not make for yourself any gods of cast metal. [8]
Why is this verse so specific? (See Exodus 32)
This is precisely what the Israelites did when they failed to uphold their part of the first covenant with the LORD.
The LORD is calling the Israelites to worship Him and Him alone.
Finding Our Identity through a Jealous God | Exodus 33:10-17 Application
Consider these two definitions of the word identity from Merriam-Webster.com.
- The distinguishing character or personality of an individual: individuality.
- Sameness in all that constitutes the objective reality of a thing: oneness.
Using these two definitions of the word identity and our study of Exodus 33:10-17, how would you answer the questions from the start of this post?
Instead of looking to boost our self-esteem or bravado, what would happen if we sought our identity through the reflection of the LORD?
My thoughts:
In Exodus 33:10-17, the LORD has the power to do marvelous wonders for all people to see.
Obeying His commands will show both our oneness with Him and our individual character.
How do we benefit from finding our identity through the reflection of the LORD’s self-revealed identity as a jealous God? What does the LORD even mean by describing Himself with the name Jealous?
My thoughts:
The LORD is a God who seeks to protect those who worship Him and Him alone.
How does this help us in our daily lives?
My thoughts:
Understanding that the LORD desires our faithfulness to the point of describing Himself with the name Jealous reveals the depth with which the LORD cares and wants people to know Him.
What else did you discover in these verses about the LORD or yourself?
Blessings,
Barbara Lynn
“Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion.” “Ooh” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion”…”Safe?” said Mr Beaver …”Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ex 34:10.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ex 34:11.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ex 34:12.
[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ex 34:13.
[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ex 34:14.
[6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ex 34:15.
[7] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ex 34:16.
[8] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ex 34:17.