The God of Second Chances and Fresh Starts

The God Second Chances and Fresh Starts
Words of Faith 3-17-2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2023
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Exodus 34
The Lord said to Moses, "Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. [2] Be ready in the morning, and then come up on Mount Sinai. Present yourself to me there on top of the mountain. [3] No one is to come with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain; not even the flocks and herds may graze in front of the mountain."
[4] So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the Lord had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands.

Moses had requested to see the glory of God-- the deeper nature of who God is. In response, God directed Moses to prepare for a second giving of the tablets of the Law. It would be easy to rush past this simple detail and miss the power of something very important. God gives second chances. It's just that simple. A fresh start is at the heart of who God is.
The first tablets of the Ten Commandments had been created entirely by God and delivered to Moses inscribed by the finger of God (31:18). The Law had been confirmed as covenant by the people who said, "Everything the Lord has said we will do" (24:3). But the people had rebelled and fashioned a golden calf to worship as they degraded themselves in immorality. In anger, Moses had thrown down the tablets shattering them at the foot of the mountain (33:19). It was truly not Moses who had shattered the Law; it was the sin of the people that shattered those tablets.
But now, there was another chance. This time, Moses was directed to chisel out tablets like the first. He was to arise early in the morning and present himself to the Lord on the mountain. There God would write once again upon the fresh slate.
What an image. At the very core of God's nature is His merciful willingness to give man another chance! If it were not so, then surely humanity would have been wiped out long ago once and for all. But God has continually sought after the humans He loves.
Think about it... God came looking for Adam and Eve in the Garden and gave them a covering for their journey in the wilderness. He came looking for Cain after the murder of Abel and put a mark of protection on him. He came to Noah with a plan to save humanity and the animals through his family. He came to Abraham with a plan to create a new nation that would know the blessing of God. He came to Moses and called him to lead the people out of bondage.
Of course, the story does not stop there! Scripture declares that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone and the new has come (2 Cor. 5:17). Thank God for second chances! Thank God for the new creation.
Have you ever found yourself at a place where you were certain that there was no more mercy left in God for you? The history of God's people attests to the extreme unlikelihood of that! We will learn in the next few verses about the depth of His mercy! And if you are still concerned about knowing God, you are certainly not at that place! It is the nature and heart of God to give another chance. We should never take this lightly or for granted, but we must not forget that He is the God of second chances and fresh starts.
God invites us to come, once again to the mountain with a clean slate. Scripture declares that if we claim to be without sin that is a big error! We deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8-9). Thank God for second chances.

Father God, thank you for new beginnings. I rejoice in the knowledge that, in Christ, I am a new creation. The old is gone and the new had come. I rejoice in the truth that You are making all things new. I give thanks for the assurance that as I confess my sin, You are faithful and just to forgive my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. In Jesus' name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2023 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.