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Exodus 38:2-3 They made a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar were of one piece, and they overlaid the altar with bronze. 3 They made all its utensils of bronze — its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans.
MANY words are used to describe Jesus’ church. Scripture declares it as “God’s people” and “body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12) and “the saints” (Romans 1:7). Another is, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:7) Exodus 38 is certainly about a group of God’s people working together for the common good. The phrase “they made” threads its way through this scripture to form a tapestry of gifted craftsmen working in unison. They obeyed God’s precise instructions to form the utensils and furniture of God’s tabernacle. “They made” also indicates the workers’ spirit of worship as they obediently worked in God’s will. There is no indication of arguing over control, what to use for the building or who had a particular responsibility. This is working as one body to the glory of God. Yes, God’s glory is in this tabernacle. He has designed it to point to himself and to the future salvation through Jesus Christ. His people didn’t understand that, but they did understand, “God said make it.” So they made it. God has called the church to keep “making” his kingdom on earth. He has designed a plan of salvation through the blood of his Savior. In Jesus’ blood, he calls us to be the body of Christ. Together the saints must work for the common good to proclaim the Gospel of salvation to the world. Put aside any desires for self. Work where you are able. Listen to God. Be a kingdom builder because Jesus said, “Make disciples.” Wouldn’t it be good one day if someone writes the story of Jesus’ church by saying, “The saints were the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” LIFE Link: God’s plan requires his church to make disciples of all nations. Exodus 37:11 Then they overlaid it with pure gold and made a gold molding around it.
IN a conversation with a chemist, he mentioned how his work helped him to know the wonder of Psalm 119:64 The earth is filled with your love, O Lord; teach me your decrees. How do chemistry reveal God’s earth-filling love? My friend talked of the seemingly endless chemical combinations that create all of life and vast variety of minerals and soils worldwide. Through this “chemistry lens”, the chemist sees and praises the wonder of God’s love filling the earth with his creative genius. The Bible’s Spirit-inspired words display God’s Vast creativity. Consider how God used wood and metal structures to glorify his name. His instructions guided Noah to build with primitive tools an extraordinary ark. God’s design was a strong sanctuary to protect Noah, his family and the animals from judgment. This was true of the tabernacle, as well. This wood, cloth and metal construction would endure for many years. Following God’s instructions, Israel’s craftsmen such as Bezalel created a beautiful, durable sanctuary. The furniture, the Ark of the Covenant, the poles, the altar, the curtains, the Basin and all items were formed from beautiful acacia wood, bronze and gold. God essentially declared his fatherly love for his people as he filled the tabernacle with his presence. Yes, the earth is filled with God’s love. From minerals, to the sea, to the plants, to the animals, to mankind’s magnificent mind and to the earth’s extraordinary beauty, God lovingly offers this extraordinary home to you. Thank him for your home and the land around you. All that you have comes from an earth filled with God’s glory. LIFE Link: Behold God’s loving design. Exodus 36:2-5 Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. 3 They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. 4 So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work 5 and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.”
WHAT a wonderful testimony this is to God’s presence among his people. What prompted this generous, overflowing giving to build God’s sanctuary in the desert? Israel was now united under God’s grace and rule. At this point in their journey with God, the Nation was beginning to change from an attitude of “Why, God, did you make us leave our lives in Egypt?” to “Thank you, Lord, for freeing us from bondage.” They were beginning to realize and believe in their heart the Lord God had come to transform their lives. God’s chosen people saw his miracles and heard his just law. Israel learned God’s words of penalty and promise. They have witnessed his justice. They have seen his tender care. Now they begin to worship him as one people under God. This unity under God was also vital, of course, in the first-century church. The Holy Spirit unified people of all nations, customs and belief systems. That’s why the communion of the saints – the togetherness of the church – is one consistent teaching point in New Testament epistles. The apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 2:21-22: In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. The building is the church – not a physical church - but the people God has chosen. He forms this New Testament Nation to be a holy place of worship as the Holy Spirit dwells within each believer. When God’s people today truly begin to understand his unprecedented resurrection power, we will rejoice in our freedom from sin’s slavery. Joyfully, the church will gladly offer abundant gifts, even our money. The Jews were grateful for their physical redemption. They built God’s physical home. Are you in awe of your spiritual redemption? In what generous way will you help build God’s spiritual kingdom? LIFE Link: Give abundantly to the One who gives Abundant Life. Exodus 35:2-3 “You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the Lord. Anyone who works on that day must be put to death. 3 You must not even light a fire in any of your homes on the Sabbath.”
WHY is God’s Sabbath command here so extremely restrictive: Rest on the Sabbath or die! But that doesn’t happen. After all, millions of people work on the Sabbath. But God doesn’t kill them. Cam we really trust God’s Word through Moses, “Anyone who works on that day must be put to death”? When we study Scripture, it is essential to look at the context of the text. In other words, we must understand the circumstances and purpose for God’s instructions at particular points in God’s story. This is a perfect example. The context of this capital punishment for Sabbath violation is the construction of the Tabernacle, the place where God would meet with Israel. The LORD had given very specific instructions to build the Tabernacle. This Sabbath penalty would be on any who worked on the Tabernacle on the Sabbath. The Holy God commanded perfect obedience to build his dwelling on earth. In his perfection, he commanded rest. God is not a slave master. How do we respond today to the Sabbath command of Exodus 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” We are to see this as a great blessing. The Sabbath law is from the framework of God’s rest from his creation (Genesis 2:2). That first Sabbath marked time with both the completion of creation and the continuation of God’s rule over the earth. The Sabbath also affirmed rest after labor is good and right to do. Thus, the Sabbath command was to help mankind mark each week, to give a rhythm and order for our lives as we rest. In our rest we are to refresh physically and spiritually. Ignoring physical rest, we will be too filled with labor to be filled with the Gospel. Without proper rest, we will neglect the hearing and reading of God’s Word. Constant labor will restrict our meeting with God in worship and in private times. In this sense, ignoring the Sabbath does lead to death. History shows the cultures neglecting God die and disappear. The evidence is all around. Our churches and communities are spiritually dying because we miss meeting with God. Our empty souls hunger for truth. We thirst for peace. Our focus is to keep busy, regardless of the cost – even our relationship with God and one another. Let’s remember again. God’s commands come from his love. His loving way is for you to live with a balance of work and rest. Too much of one or the other, and you will surely die in your soul. LIFE Link: Good work, proper rest leads to a godly life. Exodus 34:33-35 When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. 34 But whenever he entered the LORD’S presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD.
YOU’VE just come home from spending time with your best friends. Your family greets you with, “You look like you had fun!” Or you may have just received some difficult news, and someone asks, “What’s wrong?” Yes, it’s impossible to suppress our emotions, isn’t it? others can tell when your sad and when your glad. Your face, your posture, your attitude and your tone of voice quickly convey your emotions. Israel, then, certainly knew when Moses had been with God. The prophet not only conveyed a sense of awe on his face, he literally glowed. Holy radiance shined from his face as he reflected the LORD’s glory. Truly God’s holy light transferred to his chosen shepherd. What might we learn here? Perhaps we can consider the wonder of being in Christ. What would happen if you leave church and stop at a store. A clerk sees you and says, “You’ve been to church!” You play golf with friends Monday evening, and your partner says, “You’ve been with Jesus!” You meet for a business appointment on Wednesday afternoon, and the person you meet says, “You’ve heard from God!” Yes, just as Moses’ glowing face pointed to the Holy God, we can point the world to Jesus alight with the glow of His love. As Moses did, your purpose each day is to meet with God face-to-face. Uncover the veil of guilt and pride. Be willing to learn from God to live into his commands. Listen to his love and mercy. Knowing God, you begin to be the “light of the world”, expressing God’s holiness into the darkened world. Let the glow can shine in your face: smile more. Shine the glow from your eyes: receive people with joy. Let your words express the glow: “Bless you.” Your heart, too, can glow: “How can I love you today?” LIFE Link: Go and glow. Let the world know you’ve been with God. Exodus 33:12-14 Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” 14 The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
MOSES had an extraordinary intimacy with God. Their relationship was such that Moses often bared his soul to God. As he often praised God, Israel’s leader also reminded God of his promises to lead and protect Israel. One way he did this was with “If-Then” statements. An example in verse 13 is, “If you are pleased with me, (then) teach me your ways…” Perhaps in our experience and learning, we might consider such language a sin. Many who reject God will say such things as, “If God exists, then he would not let me be sick.” The soldiers crucifying Jesus mocked him, “If you are the king of the Jews, (then) save yourself.” (Luke 23:37) But we must know Moses’ conversation – prayer often is a conversation – with God was much different. Moses did not speak with challenging, faithless, mocking words. Instead, he spoke with expectation and a deep trust in God. He had witnessed God’s most remarkable miracles through Moses’ staff and words. Israel’s chosen leader faithfully knew God would affirm his promises to Moses and his people. He prayed for God to meet his needs. He knew the holy, sovereign God would respond to lead him forward because that was what God had said he would do. Declaring, “My Presence will go with you.” God once again affirmed Moses’ faith. Yahweh – the Almighty God – offered all of himself completely to Moses. Commentator Adam Clarke defines this as God saying, “I shall give you manifestations of My grace and goodness through the whole of your journey. I shall vary My appearances for you, as your needs require.” In other words, Moses, I will be with you wherever you go. Trust me to help you through each circumstance. I am all you need. Centuries later, the Holy Spirit would give the apostle Paul this faithful confession: 2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. Trust God is still the same faithful Power and Provider for your life. Whatever your needs, seek his Word, even unto eternal life. LIFE Link: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Jesus said that. Matthew 28:20) Exodus 32:2-4 Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”
PARENTS, you have a very good son. He has special gifts of leadership and speech, and you designate him to teach your younger children about God. You also assign him to lead the family to worship God. You even honor him with a special suit of clothes to enhance his dignity as he leads his family to be the guardian of God’s word and law. Confident in this, parents, you go for several days’ journey and leave this special son to discharge his duties to God and to your children. But sadly, when you return home, you find the house filled with all forms of immorality that dishonors everything you have taught your family. The worst of this is that your specially gifted son is the leader of the immoral activity. Aaron became that bad son in God’s sight. How can a man God has chosen to be his High Priest, his holy representative to Israel, approve of idol worship to the point he crafts the golden calf? How could Aaron allow his people to say the most horrid of words to the metal image, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” Aaron was influenced by Israel’s sinful heart. They had been accustomed to worshiping such idols in Egypt. This is one reason God, their heavenly Father, freed his people from Egypt. The idolatrous country had put idol worship into Israel’s hearts and minds. When the strength of Moses’ leadership left the camp, the Word of God went with him. Aaron failed in his commission. He pleased the world. He insulted God. Be alert. This is easy to do if we take our eyes from God’s Word. Our nature is to sin, to replace God with the things of this earth. Check what you worship and be sure that you worship God alone. LIFE Link: “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3) |
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November 2024
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