Exodus 34:1

Hew thee two tables. Literally, “Hew for thyself.” Because Moses broke the former tables (Ex. 32:19), which “were the work of God” (Ex. 32:16), he is now appropriately charged to hew a second set himself. The writing, of course, was that of the Ten Commandments (Ex. 34:28; Deut. 4:13; 10:4). Moses had not asked for a new set of tables, but simply for the return of God’s favor and the renewal of the covenant. But God could not grant His favor without requiring obedience to His law. The two are inseparable. Men are more willing to enjoy the rewards of right living than they are to live right. But God insists that the rewards can be bestowed only upon the obedient. He can enter into covenant relation only with those who are willing to accept His law as their rule of life. This He does for their sake rather than for His own.

The repeated writing of the law upon tables of stone proves it to be eternal and unalterable (Matt. 5:17-19; Rom. 13:8-10; Eph. 6:2; James 2:8-12; 1 John 2:3, 4; 5:2, 3). Moses was called upon to repair the loss of the two tables of the law caused by his own action. So it is with us if we break God’s law; we cannot hope for a return to divine favor unless we again place ourselves in the way of full obedience. Theft brings the duty of restitution; insult, that of apology; slander, that of retraction.