Deuteronomy Chapter 10
After the golden calf was discovered by Moses and the tablets of stone were broken that God had written the Ten Commandments on, a great chasm existed between God and Israel. God made the first move to restore a relationship with His people. His first step was to re-write the Ten Commandments. These were written by the hand of God for the people to have a written testament of God’s law. This time the tablets were placed inside a special box that would later be called the Ark of the Covenant.
The phrase “the tablets that you broke” are often thought to be pointed at Moses who threw down the first set of tablets in anger. But the breaking of the tablets was symbolic. It was truly the people who broke the tablets because they broke covenant with God. They created an image to worship rather than God. But God gave them another chance. As we often say, “God is the God of second chances.”
Let's Reflect
1. According to verse 4 how did the writing of the second tablets compare to the writing of the Ten Commandments of the first set of tablets?
2. Who was it that instructed Moses to make a box of acacia wood to put the tablets in?
3. Which tribe of Israel was given the responsibility of carrying the Ark of the Covenant whenever they journeyed?
4. Within the tribe of Levites were the family of Aaron, Moses’ brother. Aaron and his descendants were given the special purpose of serving as priest for the sacrificial system that was needed for the people to have redemption after their rebellion. The role of priest was passed on to Aaron’s sons. Who served as priest after Aaron died?
5. In verses 10 and 11 Moses recounts how he spent 40 days on Mt. Sinai with God. After the rebellion there was a time of repentance and then God said it was time for them to move forward. God showed that He was going to keep His covenant with Israel. What did He tell Moses to do?
6. Israel had learned to fear the Lord God, but they also needed to learn to do what? See verse 12.
7. Despite the sinful people that the Israelites were, according to verse 15 what did God do?
8. The people needed to remember who they belonged to. They belonged to a just and holy God who loved them so much that He made a way for them to be redeemed from Egypt and He made a way for them to be redeemed from their sinful ways by the sacrificial system. This same God made a covenant to bless the nation of Israel in ways they could not even imagine. According to verse 21 what would be the appropriate response of the Israelite people?
