Week 7 - Exodus 22-38

As I read chapter 22, I am struck by how clear God's laws are, very black and white, certainly something we do not today in the world and sometimes even in the church.

Verse 28 really convicted me: 28 "You must not blaspheme God [k] or curse a leader among your people.

I know between 1992 and 2000 I rarely prayed for the president, but I sure complained about him. Whether my candidate is elected to the office of president or not, as a Christian I am called to pray mightily for the president. I prayed mightily for President Bush, who knows how President Clinton's years in office would have been if I had earnestly prayed for him. I have numerous friends who say the same thing...

Verse 29 really touched me as well:

"You must not hold back [offerings from] your harvest or your vats. Give Me the firstborn of your sons.

Chapter 23: 19 "Bring the best of the firstfruits of your land to the house of the LORD your God.

Do I bring Him the best of the firstfruits of everything He has given me?

Verse 24:You must not bow down to their gods or worship them. Do not imitate their practices. Instead, demolish them and smash their sacred pillars to pieces.

Have I let any ungodly practice creep into my life because of cultural influences?

Chapter 24: The Lord is so precise in the details He gave to the Israelites, He continues to be percise as He discloes the Covenant Ceremony to them.

Verse 8: Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you concerning all these words."

Those words are so dear to me, as I think of the Blood of Jesus being shed for me.

Verse 12: The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to Me on the mountain and stay there so that I may give you the stone tablets with the law and commands I have written for their instruction."

Can you imagine hearing the audible voice of Yaweh saying Come up to Me on the mountain...it doesn't matter what words finish the sentence...Come up to Me...thankfully we can come up to Him in worship and prayer.

Chpater 25: 1 The LORD spoke to Moses: 2 "Tell the Israelites to take an offering for Me. You are to take My offering from everyone whose heart stirs him [to give]. (A) 3 This is the offering you are to receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze; 4 blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair; 5 ram skins dyed red (B) and manatee skins; [a] acacia wood; 6 oil (C) for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; 7 and onyx [b] along with [other] gemstones for mounting on the ephod and breastpiece.

I am astounded at the variety of items the Israelites were asked to put in the offering. As we give our tithes, we must remember the Lord may have a variety of things for us to offer on top of our tithe and the items may change with seasons if life.

Chapter 26: I am also amazed by the instructions pertaining to the curtains. It is hard for me to envision the magnitude of the project, so different than my great-grandmother's quilting circle.

Chapter 27: We learn about the Altar of Burnt Offering, the Courtyard, the Lampstand and Oil.

Chapter 28: We read about the priestly garments, verse 4: These are the garments that they must make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a specially woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make holy garments for your brother Aaron and his sons so that they may serve Me as priests.

I realize I am not a Levite, but I am called to ministry as a Christian. Am I wearing holy spiritual garments? Do I put on love as instructed in the New Testament? Am I wearing robes of righteousness...what about my armor?

The ephod and breastpiece: the work the Lord asked them to do is amazing...the gems and percision required.

verse 29: "Whenever he enters the sanctuary, Aaron is to carry the names of Israel's sons over his heart on the breastpiece for decisions, as a continual reminder before the LORD.

Aaron was to carry the Names of Israel's sons over his heart just as I am to carry the Name of God' Son on and in my heart as I make decisions and petition our Father with prayer.

Verse 36: You are to make a plate of pure gold and engrave it, like the engraving of a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD

A great reminder for me to live a life consecrated to Him.

Chapter 29: I must repeat myself...after reading the detailed instructions about Aaron and his sons being consecrated - I am so glad to be a New Covenant girl!

Chapter 30: In today's world many people do not think about things which are sacred, but as Christians we should. The chapter is full of things which were sacred to God.

Chapter 31: 1 The LORD also spoke to Moses: 2 "Look, I have appointed by name Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3 I have filled him with God's Spirit, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in every craft 4 to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, 5 to cut gemstones for mounting, and to carve wood for work in every craft. 6 I have also selected Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to be with him. I have placed wisdom within every skilled craftsman in order to make all that I have commanded you: 7 the tent of meeting, the ark of the testimony, the mercy seat that is on top of it, and all the [other] furnishings of the tent

When the Lord calls us to do something, He will give us the wisdom we need just as He did with the craftsmen He called.

Verse 13: "Tell the Israelites: You must observe My Sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, so that you will know that I am the LORD who sets you apart.

In what way do I observe the Sabbath? Do I attend church and then fill the day with activity or give it to Him? (Honestly - I would have to say a combination of both many Sundays.)

Chapter 32: This falls back into the What is wrong with these people category:

1 When the people saw that Moses delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, "Come, make us a god [a] who will go before us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we don't know what has happened to him!" 2 Then Aaron replied to them, "Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters and bring [them] to me."

The scene chills me, shows me how easy it is to fall into idolatry.

Verse 8:They have quickly turned from the way I commanded them; they have made for themselves an image of a calf. They have bowed down to it, sacrificed to it, and said, 'Israel, this is your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.

Chapter 33: But I will not go with you because you are a stiff-necked people; otherwise, I might destroy you on the way." 4 When the people heard this bad news, they mourned and didn't put on their jewelry.

How many times has the Lord not been able to go with me because of sin I have let into my life?

Verse 19-23:He said, "I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name Yahweh before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." 20 But He answered, "You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live." 21 The LORD said, "Here is a place near Me. You are to stand on the rock, 22 and when My glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back, but My face will not be seen."

Can you imagine the awe of this conversation with Yaweh?

Chapter 34: such beautiful words found in verse 6: Then the LORD passed in front of him and proclaimed: Yahweh—Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth,

Verse 8: Moses worships Yaweh and intercedes for the Israelites...oh how I need to intercede for people, my prayer life has been all about family and self since my father died. My mother and I still need prayer, but I need to be in prayer for other people as well.

Verse 12: Be careful not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land that you are going to enter; otherwise, they will become a snare among you.

Through business or social connections, have I made a "treaty" with anyone that is displeasing to the Lord?

Verse 35: and the Israelites would see that Moses' face [i] was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil over his face again until he went to speak with the LORD.

Oh that Jesus would radiate from my face and speak to non believers and people who need to rededicate themselves to the Lord.

Chapter 35: Moses tells the people what the Lord commanded.

Chapter 36:5 and said to Moses, "The people are bringing more than is needed for the construction of the work the LORD commanded to be done."

Can you imagine if the entire Body of Christ gave in this manner?

Chapter 37 & 38 - believe it or not, I have nothing to add...