Month: February 2025

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Leviticus 1-4 Obedience to the Lord

The Tabernacle is finished but as it stands it is just a building and buildings are to be used for the glory of the Lord so now we see the purpose and how it is to be used. God speaks to Moses about its purpose and the way it will remind people of their need for holiness. The building as such is a place for the people to come to know God in a personal way and how He wanted the people to understand the cost of their sin so each offering points to the price that must be paid. What is the price we pay for our sin? Beloved, the price has been paid by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but not so for the Israelites long ago. Thus, God outlines the types of offerings and how and the why. All of this points forward to the time when Christ will be the perfect Lamb that was slain for our sin. 

The people were to choose wisely the offering for their sin whether it be a lamb or a grain offering. No matter what, the cost was high and this reminded the people of their sin and what it cost. Today as we offer our gifts to the Lord, we want to remember the price paid for our sin on that cruel cross so long ago.

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Exodus 39 Obedience

Obey God only

This chapter shows the proof that when one obeys they are commended. Moses wrote this so let’s hear his words: the people did “just as the Lord had commanded Moses.” It is repeated so we don’t miss it. God was pleased and He blessed them. Not only were they blessed but Moses recorded this 8 times for our edification. “Moses inspected all the work, and they had done it just as the Lord had commanded—they had done it exactly—and Moses blessed them.”  Did you notice what he wrote? They had done it exactly, no short corners, no shabby work, but done just as the Lord had commanded, so they did.

What has God called you to do and will you go it exactly as He commands? What a great reminder! 

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Exodus 36 Skilled to do God’s Calling

Bless others

It was in Egypt on that fateful night that the Israelites were told to plunder them of all the riches that they could carry. Now, after some time, the plunderers have plenty to share for the building of the Tabernacle. Just imagine a pile of gold and silver to be used. It must have been massive as the building of this worship center would be massive. The hearts of the people were overflowing with gratitude and they came to share out of their abundance. Do we do the same when God calls us to build a worship center? How easily do we release our riches to further the building? 

We can almost hear the hammering and sawing and the hissing of the fires that were used to melt the ornaments of the Egyptians to fashion the many items needed to furnish the Tabernacle. It gave the people purpose and brought praise to God. What are we willing to give for the work of the ministry? 

Remember this: what you sow you will reap…and that is true in all circumstances.

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EXODUS 33 Moses speaks with God

Let God speak

God had chosen Moses to lead His people but they were a stiff necked people. What does that phrase bring to mind but a people who were disobedient and proud and rebellious. The Israelites were familiar with that expression as one speaks of an ox who refuses to obey. Imagine being compared to that? God is saying you are no better than the animal I created. When the people heard that they humbled themselves and removed their ornaments.

A second thing noteworthy was how the people showed their humility after that rebuke from God. When Moses passed by on the way to the Tent of Meeting, as he called it, they rose at the door of their tent and worshiped. We stand in reverence when the scripture is read as a sign of respect and humility. 

A third noteworthy thing to see is that Moses and God spoke face to face while the pillar of the cloud stood over the tent. How bold was Moses to speak what was on his mind to the Lord God Almighty. Am I that bold to speak to God as Moses spoke? 

A fourth thing from this passage is that after leaving God to return to the people, his face shone. Does my face shine after being in His presence? 

Great lessons just from this chapter. 

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Exodus 30-32 Idolatry

what are you trusting

Do you find that your patience grows thin as you wait for the Lord to intervene? Do you place “idols”  of gold and silver before you as the Israelites did?  It is amazing that God did not destroy them immediately…the patience of God is beyond my understanding. As He was patient with the Israelites, so He is patient with me…yet there are consequences. 

Aaron was given the responsibility to take care of the Israelites as Moses went up the mountain and as he waited, he began to waver and then to finally fail by yielding to the voices of the children of Israel. How often are men/women in placed in charge only to be found failing when the pressure is on to perform? We hear, what are you waiting for? The lesson of Aaron is a prime example of those who are in leadership and fail. There is a saying: “When the going gets tough, the tough keep going.” Aaron did not heed this but yielded to the voices of the masses. I wonder how he faced the Israelites after this episode? How quick he was to blame shift and we do as well. 

So many lessons here! 

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Exodus 29 Offerings

God gifts men/women to do the work of the ministry

As believing Christians we take it as a rule to offer our tithes to the Lord to honor Him. We have set apart the first day of the week to do this in our worship time. God established this so that the people would always remember that all they have been given was from God. In the time we are reading in the book of Exodus God gave instructions to the Israelites to do this not just one day a week but as Dr.Durham noted: “thus the day was opened and closed with gifts to Yahweh, from whom all gifts were believed to come.”

This is an interesting viewpoint and rules given for the same reason as the Israelites. Offerings are given and as such are part and parcel of our belief system so that we always have before us a reminder of God’s graciousness to us. 

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Waiting

how are your waiting skills

Exodus 24 Loyalty Tested 

As Abraham told his servants when he and Isaac went ahead,so Moses told the leaders: “Wait for us in this place until we return to you.”  This then was a test to see if Aaron and Hur would obey and be true leaders. Abraham tested his servants with those words and they passed the test. Not so with Aaron and Hur.

How often does God tell us to wait but we become impatient and step in to do what we think we need to do .  Waiting is hard but it is a test to see if we will be loyal to our Master Jesus. We wait now for His return and it has been centuries. Will we wait obediently or will we take matters into our own hands? 

The psalmist wrote: “Psa 106:13 They quickly forgot what he had done; they did not wait for his instructions.” How about us? 

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Exodus 16-18 Murmurings & Wise Counsel

What is our response when we face suffering?  Have you forgotten the work of God in the midst of a trial? Do you look back at what God did in the past for you? We are a part of the evil generation that forgets the blessings and only focuses on the present time. God has provided all that the Israelites have needed and yet their memories are short, so like us. They have witnessed the power of God to protect them from the hand of Pharaoh even in the time of suffering and yet they are focused on what will feed the body rather than what will feed the soul. 

One behavior we have honed is murmuring. We murmur when life has thrown us a challenge, a test if you may want to call it that, and it isn’t just us that murmur but our murmuring is caught and transferred to others. It is sort of like that yeast in the rising dough. It grows and fills the entire lump. 

Into this a visitor arrives; a man who has been seeking God and he finds it from the testimony of one. Now that he has seen the working of God, he believes. Where has your testimony of God spoken to the heart of another and you and he are blessed together? Moses’ father in law Jethro is wise for when he sees the predicament that is before Moses, he offers wisdom which is accepted. Learn from the aged! 

So many lessons here! Today rejoice and be glad for God has and is working. 

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Exodus 13-15 Where are you looking? 

Open the eyes of my heart Lord

What does it take for us to give praise to the Lord God Almighty? Does it take a miracle or more? The Israelites have seen the power of the Lord over 10 plagues, the last being more deadly than the firs, but when they come to the Red Sea they looked back. Looking back they saw the fearsome Egyptian army closing in on them and they began to murmur again. Looking back is a sin if you look and see the power of Satan instead of looking forward to what God has planned. Looking back means your focus is on what was instead of what will be. 

This will be one of many murmurings for the Israelites and as we study this scenario we learn much of what God wants us to see. God is our protector and provider, but just like the Israelites we lose our focus and begin to murmur because we fail to remember His goodness and provision. 

Today look forward to what God has planned for you. Keep your eyes on He who is your provider and protector. 

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Exodus 7-9 The Plagues of Egypt

When one does not desire Yahweh, then He will bring repercussions upon them to open their eyes to who He is, the God of all creation. God sent Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh over and over to tell him to release the Israelites so they may go and worship. However Pharaoh continued to harden his heart and refused to let them go. Each plague increased in time and event. and even when the Israelites were spared and Pharaoh saw that, he continued to harden his heart. How like today, when men harden their hearts against God, He brings evidence before them to reveal their ultimate destiny and His power if they will open their eyes to Him.  Romans 1 explains much of the reasons behind this. Rom 1:19 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against allungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppressthe truth by their unrighteousness.” 

How grateful we are when we yield to God and allow Him to prove Himself before ourselves and others . Have you relinquished yourself to God so He can work in your life? 

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