I love to have fun!  When I am visiting someone in the hospital and find a room full of people, I sometimes say, ” When I see this many people, the first thing I think of is taking an offering!”  I’m sure this helps clear out the room–I’m usually left alone before long!  In our reading in Exodus today, Moses was responding to the Lord’s earlier instructions (Exodus 25:1-2).  The Lord told Moses to have the Israelites bring Him an offering.

Jesus taught that our giving was a prerequisite for determining God’s measure back to us.  “Give and it shall be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38)  When we are stingy with our giving, we set limits on how much God can give back to us.  We open God’s hand when we open our hand and pocketbook.  These people in Exodus willingly gave a huge amount of gold, silver, bronze, oil and cloth.  They also freely gave of their time and talents to make what was needed for God’s house!  They gave so willingly and freely that Moses had to tell them to stop! (Exodus 36:6-7)

I would love to stand up on Sunday morning and beg the people to put away their offerings and not give that day!  However, when we understand that God our Father is a great giver and that He is blessed when we give Him an offering, why would I as your pastor want to hinder God’s blessing and measure back to you by telling you to hold back?  Giving is the one place in Scripture that God says you can test Him!  Malachi 3:8-12 instructs us to bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, and God will open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing you cannot contain.  May the Lord open the windows of heaven on you as you “bring him an offering”!

“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound to every good work.” 2nd Corinthians 9:7-8

The nation of Israel quickly turned away from their commitment to obey God.  Moses was on the mountain in the cloud and fire for 40 days.  He was receiving the tablets with the 10 Words from the Lord.  The people came to Aaron and asked for gods who would lead them.  Aaron gave in and asked for gold earrings and ornaments.  The people gave and soon Aaron had fashioned an idol of a golden calf.   They bowed down to the calf-god  made by Aaron and had a lewd party around the idol.  God’s jealousy was aroused!

God spoke to Moses about the idolatry and told him to leave Him alone so He could destroy them.  (Exodus 32:8-10)  God’s verdict–“They are a stiff-necked people.” God is jealous!  (Exodus 34:14)  God had just written two commands that demanded that His people have no gods and make no idols.  (Exodus 20:3-6)

Moses smashed the tablets in holy anger indicating the breaking of God’s Word by the very people who had sworn to obey!  (Exodus 32:19; Exodus 24:3)   Moses, however, did pray and intercede, asking God to spare the people.  God listened but judgment still fell on those who sinned.

Moses called for those on the Lord’s side and the Levites stepped up.  They had to strap on swords and execute those who participated in the idolatry, even if it was their brother, friend or neighbor!   (Exodus 33:27-2)  Three thousand were executed that day.

The lessons for us today are plain.  This loving and compassionate God (Exodus 34:6-7) will not tolerate idolatry or sexual immorality. Lying goes with them, too. Note Aaron’s response about just throwing the gold into the fire and an idol coming out!  We are all born into idolatry and it is a work of the flesh.  (Galatians 6:19-20)  The sword of the Spirit brings conviction which can lead us to repent and forsake idolatry!  We must walk by the Spirit and allow His fruit to grow in our lives.

Let’s not be ’stiff-necked!’  Bow your neck today in reverence and prayer to the merciful and compassionate Lord who paid to free us from the sin of idolatry.   Jesus is interceding for us like Moses of old.  Instead of smashing the tablets, He kept them fully for us!  Through faith in His life and death, we have hope!

A priest’s job is to mediate between men and God.  Men who are dealing with God must be holy and proper.  If those assigned and prepared for this job were not obedient, death would result and did on occasion!  (Leviticus 10:1-6)  God gave great detail about the dress of men who would serve in His house!

The High priest was to wear a breastpiece with two stones, the urim and thummin, over his heart.  (Exodus 28:30) These stones were to enable Aaron to make godly decisions.  These stones’ names mean “lights” and “perfections”.  They have to do with the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden only in God.

The turban for Aaron’s head was made of fine linen.  It had a special gold plate with “Holy to the Lord” engraved on it.  Aaron was to wear that plate on the front of his turban whenever he ministered. (Exodus 28:36-39)

So it is that Jesus Christ is our High Priest forever living to make intercession for us!  (Hebrews 7:23-25)  He carries our names on his breastpiece like precious stones and we are over His heart!  In Him are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge! (Colossians 2:2-3) He stands as the only mediator between God and man, a mixture of earthly (He is a man) and heavenly (He is God). (1st Timothy 2:5-6) Jesus is dressed to meet with God on our behalf and He is better than Aaron or his line because he lives forever.  He is now seated because his work is finished for our redemption.  What a Savior!

Are you dressed to meet with God?  It is not so much a matter of clothes as it is of our heart.  Do we go in faith in His sacrifice?  Are we going humbly?  Are we seeking the proper attire of holiness?  Examine yourself today and get dressed to meet with God!

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

Do you like to follow directions?  Men are particularly prone to trying to put something together from trial and error.    We often feel that instructions are unnecessary.  This attitude usually gets us into trouble and we either get lost or end up with left over parts from the project!

God gave Moses specific instructions as to how His “dwelling place” was to be constructed.  He told them numbers, lengths, weights and the type of materials for each part.  God left nothing to chance. Four times in our reading today God re-emphasizes the need to make everything after the pattern shown on the mountain.  (Exodus 25:9,40; 26:30; 27:9) It may be that God knew Moses was a typical man!

The instructions for this Tabernacle started with the Ark of the Covenant!   It was a chest of acacia wood about 4 feet long.  It was to be coated with pure gold.  Two gold cherubim were to be beaten out one sheet of gold and they were to face  each other on the lid of this box.  The box was to have two rings on each side where poles of acacia wood would be used to transport it. Everything was coated with pure gold.   The tablets of Testimony, the ten commands, were to be placed inside of this box.  Later a jar of manna was placed there as well as Aaron’s rod that had budded and sprouted in God’s presence.  (Hebrews 9:1-5)

This ark of the Covenant is a type of Jesus Christ.  John 1:14-15 tells us that Jesus came and “pitched his tent” (tabernacled) among us.  We beheld His glory!  Jesus kept the law of God written on the tablets of Testimony.  He was the only man who has ever lived who fully obeyed the Law and was without sin. (Hebrews 4:15-16) He was the living bread (manna) come down from heaven, that if any man eat of this bread, he would never die!  (John 6:47-50)  He was the one chosen by God to have all authority in heaven and on earth! (Aaron’s rod!) (Matthew 28:18)  He was attended by angels at His birth and ascension!

We who are saved and in relationship with Jesus have his glory in our earthen “tents”.   We are nourished by the heavenly manna, the word of God.  We have authority through the name of Jesus!  Our righteousness comes from His perfect obedience!  What a plan God has laid out!

Is there any such thing as a “harmless sin”?  We sometimes laugh when our young children defiantly disobey.  When our adopted daughters were first released from the orphanage to come with us, they were so cute!  Both my wife and I and the girls had a short time of mutual admiration.  But on one of our first outings, we were waiting to cross the street and cars were speeding by.  One of them (name withheld to protect the innocent!) stuck her foot out towards the street and looked up mischievously  to see what we might do!  Mary and I had a good laugh but realized that we had a job ahead of us and a late start!

Sin entered mankind through Eve’s deception and through the disobedience of Adam.  Sin had consequences.  We can choose to sin, but we get the consequences for free!  The law that God gave Moses on the mountain included Exodus 21-24.  These were practical explanations of the ten commands that helped God’s people understand how these laws would play out in the community of Israel.  A holy God lived in their midst who demanded that they be holy too. (1st Peter 1:15-16)

Some of the laws and their consequences remind us of the “deadliness” of sin!  In Exodus 21:15 and 17, the penalty for attacking father or mother or cursing them was death.  If a man owned a bull that was known to gore others and he did not restrain this animal and a person was killed, the bull and the owner would die! (Exodus 21:28-29)  A sorceress must be put to death!  (Exodus 22:18)  Anyone having sexual relations with an animal must die!  (Exodus 22:19)  One who took advantage of an orphan or a widow would die if that orphan or widow cried out to the Lord!  God gets angry when we mess with those who are hurting!  (Exodus 22:26-27)

God is compassionate and loves us enough to confront sin.  We need to be serious when it comes to sin.  As parents, we need to love our children enough to discipline them and teach them that sin is nothing to mess with.  May the Lord continue to love us enough to discipline us so that sin is not our downfall!

“Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good that we might share in His holiness.” Hebrews 12:10

God carried the whole nation of Israel out of slavery in Egypt with a display of His power in the plagues.  The Israelites were protected and experienced God’s deliverance as they walked out of Egypt, laden down with silver and gold and other valuables.  God’s presence guided them in the pillar of fire and in the cloud.  God provided miraculously for them again and again in sending the manna and quail and then providing water from the rock.  These children understood the mercy of God, but did not fear Him!  This holy fear is a foundation for wisdom.  (Proverbs 1:7)

God led the children of Israel to Mt. Sinai where He gave instructions through Moses to the people.  They were to refrain from sexual relations, wash their clothes, and consecrate themselves to prepare to hear God’s voice speaking to them.  (Exodus 19:10-16)  On the morning of the third day, there was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud, and a loud trumpet blast.  When the trumpet sounded, everyone in the camp trembled with fear!  (Exodus 20:18-19)  The people begged Moses to speak to them, but did not want God to speak for they feared they might die!  Why would God bring these special people out of slavery to do this to them?

God’s stated purpose was to instill in them the “fear of God to keep them from sinning.” (Exodus 20:20)   The ten commandments that Moses received revealed sin in the heart of man.  They are the mirror for our soul showing our guilt of breaking His law.  They cannot save us from the penalty but drive us to God for mercy through His Son, Jesus Christ.

As you read Exodus 20:1-17 today, ask the Lord to reveal his holiness to you and open your eyes to your need for holy fear.  Look at each commandment and see how these commands help us to love God and love our neighbor.  If you are breaking any of them, take time and confess with repentance.  Thank God that Jesus Christ fully kept God’s law and that His righteousness is now ours by faith!

“Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid.  God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” Exodus 20:20

For some reason, I’ve been in leadership positions all my life!  I’ve always felt inadequate.   As I’ve worked leading in various secular and church positions, I’ve become acutely aware of my inability to please everyone.  Moses soon learned this same truth!

In the passages of the last few days, God’s redeemed people were delivered from Egypt by a mighty act of power by the Lord, and then from Pharaoh’s pursuing army!  Led by Miriam, Moses’ sister, they danced in joy and sang a song of deliverance!  People sometimes expect everything to be handed to them and they will live happily ever after.  This picture is soon readjusted as troubles cause us to face reality.

A few days after the victory celebration, the Israelites faced hunger and began to grumble, blaming their leader Moses. (Exodus 16:3)  In spite of this, God met their need!  Next, they ran out of water and began to grumble again.  Their hearts were angry and hard and in blaming their leader,  they actually blaming God! (Exodus 16:8)

Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, came for a visit to bring back Moses’ wife and two sons.  Jethro was thrilled to hear the stories of God’s deliverance through his son-in-law.  He observed Moses sitting in judgment with all the people coming to him with their complaints.  His advice to Moses was to raise up some helpers.  Moses should just handle the ‘hard’ cases and let the others do the rest!

Lessons for today are plain.  First, pray and obey before you complain!  When you grumble about your leader,  you are grumbling about God!  Listen to your leadership and support them by prayer and encouragement!  Don’t test or blame God; He is never at fault!  (He makes no mistakes)  If you are a leader, raise up those who can help you with the work.    Leadership can be a joy when you listen to advice.  The main one to please in all of this is God.

” For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.  They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.”

Have you ever followed the Lord’s direction and got more than you bargained for?  Moses had obeyed the Lord and witnessed the 10 plagues that humbled Pharaoh and judged the people of Egypt and their gods.  He and Israel had experienced God’s protection and blessing throughout this time, even though they were slaves and had cruel taskmasters.  The final plague had convinced Pharaoh to send the Israelites away.  The Egyptians had given them many items of silver and gold and they went away rich!  God healed their bodies and there was not one feeble or sick person in the company of over one million people!  The lamb that they had eaten and the blood over their doors had brought them amazing deliverance and blessing!  They left Egypt following the cloud of God’s presence by day and a pillar of fire by night!  But, trouble was lurking not far behind them and would soon put them between the proverbial “rock and hard place”!

The Egyptians came to their senses and Pharaoh decided to bring them back.  He ordered all his army into mobilization and hot pursuit! The Israelites, under the direction of God’s cloud and fire, were camped in the desert by the Red Sea.  They looked up and saw the army of Egypt bearing down on them and “cried out to the Lord”.  (Exodus 14:10-13)  They then began blaming  Moses, saying that they should have stayed in Egypt.  They blamed God for bringing them out in the desert to die!

But if God is for you, who can be against you?  (Romans 8:31)  The God of cloud and fire can do anything!  When you are following His instructions, the journey may get wild and even scary at times, but you will enjoy the ending!   Moses held out his staff over the waters.  The waters were parted and the Israelites walked over on dry ground.  As soon as the Egyptians were between the walls of water, their wheels started to come off and the Lord fought against them.  Moses held out his staff again and the Egyptians were all drowned in the surging sea!

The lessons for us are plain!  Follow God closely and trust Him no matter what obstacles you face.  When you find yourself between a “rock and a hard place”, trust God to direct your way!  ” Stand still and see the salvation of God! ” (Exodus 14:13)

My wife and I adopted two girls from Russia in 1999.  They were 8 and 9 years of age and spoke no English when they came to America in August.  We were eager to share our faith in Jesus with them and took them to church each week.    For Easter of 2000, I did an illustrated sermon with a live lamb, a basin of red paint, and a door frame and a big knife.  I explained the story of the Passover lamb that was killed for the Israelites from Exodus 12.  That day, one of our girls prayed to receive the Lord as her Savior!

The plagues were sent, one by one, to attack the deities and idols of Egypt.  Egyptians worshiped many gods and Pharaoh, himself, was considered like a god.  Scripture states that  Pharaoh hardened his heart through the first few plagues. (Exodus 8:15, 32)  After the plague of death on Pharaoh’s animals, it states that “the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart.”  (Exodus 9:12)  This hardening of a heart is what happens when truth is denied and a person or nation refuses to hear God’s voice.  When you pass a certain point, God then turns you over and hardens your heart!

The final plague was the death of  the firstborn who were not in a home marked by blood.   A spotless lamb was to be brought into the house on the tenth day of the month,  keeping it until the fourteenth day.  The elder in the home was kill the lamb and take blood, sprinkling it on the doorpost and over the lentil.  The lamb was to be roasted in the fire and eaten.  At midnight, the death angel would visit each household.  When he saw the blood on the door post of a house, he would pass over that home.  Every home that wasn’t covered with the blood would find the firstborn suddenly dead!

The lamb that was slain for our sins was Jesus Christ!  He was examined in the temple from the 10th day until the 14th.  He was crucified early in the morning and died at three o’clock  in the afternoon.  Everything necessary for our deliverance from the death angel has been accomplished by the death of God’s firstborn Son!

“Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast–as you really are, for Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed.” 1st Corinthians 5:7

When I was younger, we would hunt frogs each fall on a late October night that was lit by a full moon.  It was an annual ritual that our neighborhood used to enjoy.  The men would go out after dark with flashlights, spears, and burlap sacks and head for the farm ponds.  The frogs would be gathering in clusters, getting ready to head down into the mud for the winter.  They were easy picking!  After harvest, the neighbors would gather to eat fried frog legs and pot-blessing, play cards and swap stories about the harvest.  It was great food and a good time!

In our reading today we have another story about frogs.  Moses had decreed a plague of frogs on the land of Egypt because Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go to worship God.  Frogs filled the land.  They were in the fields, houses, marketplace, Pharaoh’s palace, and even in the bedrooms!  Pharaoh summoned Moses to ask him to pray to God to get rid of those frogs.  Moses, trying to be polite, allowed Pharaoh to set the time when the frogs would be gone.  Pharaoh’s answer was, “tomorrow”.  Why tomorrow?  Did Pharaoh want one more night of frog hunting too?  Did he enjoy sleeping with the frogs?  Maybe one of his magicians had turned one of his kids into a frog?  These are some silly questions to ponder about this story! There are more serious ones.

It amazes me that when God offers us freedom to ask Him for anything, (John 14:13) we often answer just like Pharaoh: “tomorrow”.  Do we want one more night with our addiction?  Do we want to be sick one more night?  Do we want one more night to be angry and bitter?  Tomorrow never really comes.  When we procrastinate, we are saying that we love our sin or problem more than we love God.  We want one more night with the frogs!

Ask the Lord to help you break the bondage of procrastination.  Sit down with him today and get it taken care of!  Frogs may be tasty animals, but you don’t need another night with them!

“Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:7