Thank you for the interpretative question on Moses breaking the Ten Commandments, “Was it divine will, so that what God actually wrote will not be preserved, that made Moses smash the tablets of 10 Commandments at the base of Mount Sinai in Exodus 32:19?”
As one reads Exodus 19–20, God offered to the Israelites to become his treasure possession and priest if they would obey his commands. The text says this, “Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you[a] will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the LORD had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the LORD has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD” ( A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages). Bible citations are from the New International Version.
As one reads Exodus 32 on the Golden Calf, the response of Moses was correct and reflects God’s disgust of the Israelites rebellion. Exodus 32 records God’s response to the Israelites idolatry and immorality, “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. 8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’ 9 “I have seen these people,” the LORD said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation” (NIV).
Was it God’s will for Moses to break the covenant? I believe so to illustrate to the Israelites that they broken the covenant that they declared their obedience to it. When a contract is broken, it is nulled and voided. It is torn up and shredded. It is no longer operative unless the covenant is re-established. Moses does that in pleading with God not to destroy the Israelites and to keep his covenant with them.
Can I be wrong that it was not God’s will for Moses to smash the covenant? Absolutely. God doesn’t declare to Moses not to break it. God doesn’t judge him for breaking it as he did when he disobeyed God by hitting the rock instead of speaking to it.
SUMMARY: The Covenant is broken with God by the Israelites and the broken Tablets represented the termination of the Covenant. If it wasn’t for Moses pleading for the Israelites, there would be no covenant at all.
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