Justin Houtz

Exodus 33-34; Psalm 16; Acts 9

DateVersionReading Plan
February 2, 2026ESV (2016)ESV Life Journal Plan – 2026

Exodus 33-34

Observation & Interpretation

Exod. 33:1 – The LORD told Moses to depart and go up from where they were to the land that that He swore to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

  • God is sending the people away from Mount Sinai, out into the wilderness. They will eventually be forced to wander there for forty years (Num 14:26-35). (FSB)

Exod. 33:4 – When the people heard that the LORD would not be with them, no one put on his ornaments.

  • [Ornaments usually] refers to jewelry. Here, the reference is to whatever was taken from the Egyptians (12:35-36), but not contributed to the golden calf (32:2).

Exod. 33:18-23 – Moses requested that he be shown the LORD’s glory, but the LORD told him that he could not see the LORD’s face and live. The LORD arranged a way for Moses to see the LORD’s back, being covered by His hand and then the hand would be taken away to show Moses the LORD’s back. The LORD used His hand to control His presence with Moses.

  • Scripture often speaks of the potential danger of an encounter with God (3:6; 24:9–11; Gn 28:12–17; 32:30; Nm 17:12–13; Jdg 6:22–24; 13:22; 2Sm 6:6–7; 1Kg 19:11–13; Ps 76:7; 103:3; Is 2:10; 6:1–7; cp. Jn 1:18; 14:8–9; 1Tm 6:16). If a person survived the contact it was because of the Lord’s restraint, often in the form of a specific provision. The description of the Lord’s provision for Moses presents Moses as to small and the Lord as so great that protecting Moses would be like the action of a man who would cover a little opening with his hand while walking past it. Of the Hebrew words for hand, the one used here refers to the palm of the hand (Ex 3:20; 5:21). (CSB Notes)

Exod. 34:14 – The LORD is not just righteously jealous, His name is Jealous.

  • The phrase translated the LORD is jealous is (lit) “The LORD jealous his name.” It reflects the close connection between traits of character and the concept of name or reputation. It can also be rendered, “The LORD’s name is Jealous” or “The LORD is jealous for his name.” It is a forceful assertion that the Lord zealously protects the integrity of his relationships (cp. 20:5; Dt 4:24; 5:9; 6:15; Jos 24:19; Nah 1:2). (FSB)

Exod: 34:24 – The LORD told Moses that no one shall covet their land when they went up to appear before the LORD their God three times in the year.

  • The three annual pilgrimages also were also tests of faith. With the men absent from the fields and homes, an enemy might take advantage by stealing crops, land, property, or even a man’s wife and children. God promised that if Israelite men are faithful, He will prevent any such loss. (FSB)

Exod. 34:28 – Moses was with the LORD forty days and forty nights and “he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.” Did Moses write on the second set of tablets or was it the LORD again as with the first set (written with the finger of God – Exod. 31:18)?

  • He wrote probably refers to God (v. 1). (CSB Notes)

Acts 9

Observation & Interpretation

Acts 9:1-2 – Paul went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the way, he could bring them bound to Jerusalem. Saul was ardent in his initiative to persecute believers.

  • As he watched the growth of the Christian faith, known as the Way, he saw in it a threat to his own religion. Therefore, with seemingly unbounded vigor, he set out to destroy this pernicious sect. For instance, he had obtained official authorization from the high priest to search Damascus in Syria for disciples of Jesus to bring them bound to Jerusalem for trial and punishment. (BBC)

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