Exodus 32:15 Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back.
Moses talked God out of destroying the Israelites in His anger over the golden calf incident. Yet when he, Moses, saw the Israelites dancing around the golden calf, he was so incensed that he smashed the Ten Commandments tablet. More interesting to me is the fact that the pieces of the broken tablet and the whole, rewritten tablet of the Ten Commandments both were placed in the Ark of the Covenant.
Exodus 32:16 The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.
One article I found said, “Putting the broken tablets in the Ark of the Covenant is to put our failure at the heart of our relationship with God.” That is a powerful thought. I want to hide my failures, to keep them from God, but they are a crucial part of our relationship. It is because of my failures that I need Him so much. It is in spite of my failures that He loves me so much.
Exodus 32:19 When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain.
Lord, Thank You for the powerful truth that I am broken yet deeply, fiercely loved by You. Thank You that even in my failure, You cover me with Your grace. Help me to love as You love–compassionately, gracefully, abundantly. Amen.
Exodus 32:20 And he took the calf the people had made and burned it in the fire; then he ground it to powder, scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it.
Have a blessed day.