“And so Moses finished the work.  Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.  Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled  upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:33b-35)

These last chapters of Exodus contain a detailed account of how Moses and the Israelites carried out the Lord’s instructions for building the tabernacle.   God truly wanted to live in the midst of His people.  In order to accomplish that, the people were asked to willingly bring an offering from what they had.  (Exodus 35:5)  They presented their offerings as a wave offering before the Lord.  (Exodus 35:22)  The people brought so much gold and other valuables, that they had to be asked to stop!  (Exodus 36:6-7) When God is in our midst, we are moved to generosity because of His blessing and presence!

Then God anointed certain people with skill and ability as craftsmen to build the tabernacle exactly as He showed Moses.  (Exodus 35:30-33)  Each person was anointed by God to do practical skilled work.  It wasn’t just the priests or those who were set apart to handle the offerings!  All work is sacred and whatever skill that God has blessed us with should be consecrated to the Lord and used for His purposes.  There is no secular work in God’s economy!

Upon completion of the tabernacle and its furnishing, Moses inspected the work and declared it properly done, “just as the Lord commanded.” (Exodus 39:42)  Those who worked were blessed by Moses!  Not only was Moses pleased, but the Lord commanded that the tabernacle be erected on the first day of the first month and be anointed with the sacred anointing oil.  Aaron and his sons were dressed as prescribed and anointed for their work.  As a sign of God’s approval, the glory cloud descended on the tabernacle and filled the structure.  Moses could not enter because of the glory of God’s presence there!

Today we have something better!  We are the living stones of the new dwelling of God among men.  (1st Peter 2:5)  We are also the new anointed priesthood, set apart to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  When God’s glory dwells in us by the Holy Spirit and there is no room for the old man!  (2nd Corinthians 3:18)

Shalom!  “Shalom” is a Hebrew greeting meaning “peace” to you in it’s greatest sense, peace in spirit, soul, and body.  Sabbath rest is a means God uses to restore “shalom” to our souls and make us holy.   We rest in His presence and the finished work of Christ, ceasing from our own labors and enjoying the peace that forgiveness can bring.

In our reading this week, Moses experienced God’s presence and saw a glimpse of His glory.  After the incident with the golden calf, Moses and Joshua went to meet with God in the tent of meeting outside the camp. (Exodus 33:7)  Moses asked God to teach him His ways so that he might know Him better and find favor to lead His people. “The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14)  Moses knew that it was the presence of the Lord that marked him and God’s people as different.  It is God’s Presence and peace that mark His people today as well!

God then declares that He will answer Moses’ prayer for knowledge of God.  Moses asks to see God’s glory!  (Exodus 33:18)  He is told by God that he will indeed see a glimpse of His glory, but that no one can see God’s face and live. “Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock.  When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.  Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but My face must not be seen.” (Exodus 33:21-23)

Moses is then told to return to the mountain and meet with God.  There God came down in a cloud of glory and proclaimed His name.   “And He passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.  Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished, He punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:6-7)

Moses’ response was to bow and worship!  May God bless you with revelation of His glory this week!

In His Love, Pastor John

We are wired to worship!  Worship is something that effects our whole person.  We can get emotional, dance, shout, sing, and enjoy ourselves in worship.  But worship isn’t supposed to be about us and is not to be focused on us and our pleasure.  It is ascribing worth to the object of our worship (God) by us taking a lower place and using our bodies, minds, and souls to express our appreciation, desire for submission, and honor to God .  What we worship, we will serve. For example, we cannot worship both God and money!

God had brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt to worship Him.  He desired to live in the midst of  His people and receive their appreciation, submission, and honor.  He understood that they needed help to know and trust Him and freely offer their appreciation, submission, and honor to Him.  It was on Mt. Sinai that Moses met with God to receive His instructions for the people and then the instructions for the place and manner of worship.  God is holy and those who worship Him must be holy and approach God freely, thankfully, and obediently.

While Moses was away with God for forty days, the people got restless.  They gathered around Aaron and asked him to make them ‘gods’ to lead them.  (Exodus 32:1)  Aaron told them to take off their earrings of gold and bring them to him.  He took the gold, melted it down, shaped it with a tool into a calf, and presented this to the people as their god.  Then he announced a festival to the Lord, with feasting and offerings offered on an altar in front of the calf.  The people brought their offerings and then began to party (Exodus 32:5-6).

As we think about this scene, we can see how easy it is to follow our natural inclinations.  A ‘god’ must be valuable so the people brought their gold to Aaron.  A ‘god’ must be powerful and lead them so Aaron made a golden “calf”.  This was probably one of the ‘gods’ of Egypt that represented strength and virility.  Their worship started out with an offering but then progressed to eating and drinking and then to pagan revelry which included sexual immorality.  The flesh always wants a ‘god’ that allows freedom to indulge!  What a person worships, he will serve!  (Luke 16:13)

One of the main duties of a priest is to represent men before God.  A priest must care for people and their needs and be able to help them connect with God.  Without help, we as humans are in a difficult position with our Creator.  We are born in sin and darkness, caring only about ourselves.  Our sins separate us from God and we have no way in ourselves to approach God.  (Isaiah 59:2)  But a priest who understands and knows God and is trained and equipped to contact God for us can bridge the gap!  God provided such a Priest in Jesus Christ!

The Levitical priesthood was to have special clothes made of fine linen.  These clothes were designed to give them dignity and honor before God and man.  (Exodus 28:2)  They must be properly dressed and their clothes were designed to help them with their work.  The first piece of clothing was the ephod made of gold, blue, purple and scarlet yarn.  This ephod was to be made by a skilled craftsman and fashioned to fit the priests.  Two black onyx stones engraved with the names of the twelve sons of Israel were to be fastened on the shoulder pieces of the ephod.  Aaron, the high priest, was to bear these as a memorial before the Lord. (Exodus 28: 12)

In addition to the ephod, a breastpiece was also part of the clothing.  This breastpiece was to be made like the ephod of the same kind of colored yarn.  It was to have twelve precious stones mounted on it in four rows of three stones each.  These stones each represented one of the sons of Israel and their offspring.  The priest was to bear these stones on his chest, symbolically carrying them on his heart before the Lord.  (Exodus 28:29)

Jesus Christ is now our High Priest.  He knows how we feel and represents our needs before God, His Father.  (Hebrews 4:14-16)  He carried our black sins on His shoulders to the altar of the cross. He carries each person as a precious jewel on his heart before the Father.   He is now dressed in robes of perfect righteousness because of perfect obedience.  He enables all who trust in Him to become priests as well!  He dresses us in His holy garments!  We become the righteousness of God in Him! (2nd Corinthians 5:21)

How would your life be different if you knew that God lived with you in a special tent?   This is what the Israelites experienced for many years after Mt. Sinai.  Moses was given specific instructions while he was on the mountain with God during the two forty day periods.  These instructions included the ten commandments as the foundation of holiness for God’s people and then the practical explanation of how these ten words worked out in their everyday life. (Exodus 20:3-17)  In order for God to be in their midst, they must be holy.  Holiness is all about love flowing in our lives.

The Lord commanded the Israelites to bring Him an offering from the plunder of Egypt.  (Exodus 25:2-7)  A true test of our love coming from our heart is to follow the money that we give and spend.  This offering was to be given willingly and cheerfully, not out of compulsion.  (2nd Corinthians 9:7)  The offering was then to be used to build a sanctuary for the Lord so that He might dwell with them on their journey.  God gave them the exact pattern for this special sanctuary called the tabernacle.

The tabernacle was really an elaborate tent that contained a special box called the ark of the covenant.  The ark was to be made of special wood, covered with pure gold.  It’s lid was call the atonement cover and it was to be specially made from one sheet of beaten gold and contained two cherubim, one on each end.  The cherubim were angelic figures with wings outstretched over the cover. This box contained the ten commandments given to Moses by the Lord.  (Exodus 25:17-21)  God told Moses that He would meet with him there, on the atonement cover between the angelic cherubim.

As we think about this amazing process, Jesus Christ comes to our mind.  He came to God’s people 1500 years later and pitched His tent in their midst!  (John 1:14)  His humble body was completely obedient to God’s law and he willingly gave Himself as the offering to build God’s true house!  It is through Him that all mankind can now meet with God in the true tabernacle in heaven, where the real cherubim surround the throne crying “Holy, Holy, Holy!”  It is through Him that we each become a dwelling place for God’s glory during our stay here on earth!  Praise the Lord!

We are not alone in our journey through this world.  God says in His word that angels are ministering spirits, sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.  (Hebrews 1:14)  Jesus Christ taught that each child has at least one angel that stands before the Father on their behalf.  (Matthew 18:10)

“See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.  Pay attention to him and listen to what he says.  Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since My Name is in Him.  If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you.” (Exodus 23:20-22)   This amazing statement follows some very practical instructions to God’s people on how to live in a manner that would please God and enable them to live with Him in intimacy.  They must listen carefully and obey.  They must follow their “guide” to God’s prepared place.

Among the practical instructions were the ten commandments given to His people on the mountain.  (Exodus 20)  God then broke these down into practical laws so the people could better understand.  For example, anyone cursing their father or mother was to be put to death.  (Exodus 21:17)  This would break the 5th commandment to honor father and mother and receive a long life.  (Exodus 20:12) Another example would be stealing.  Taking another’s property demanded restitution with a fine.  (Exodus 22:1-3)  Stealing is not loving your neighbor and violates the eighth commandment. (Exodus 20:15)

God wanted pure worship from His holy people.  They were to have no other gods before Him.  (Exodus 20:3)  They should honor God with tithes and offerings of the first and the best.  (Exodus 22:29) (Exodus 23:19)  They were not to practice sorcery or witchcraft, going to an evil spirit instead of God.  (Exodus 22:18)  These laws were to help them on their journey to prepare to live with God and worship Him forever in the place He prepared!

Jesus Christ came 1500 years later and  He told us that He had prepared a place for us and would come back and take us to Himself.  He told us He was the “way” to the Father.   (John 14:1-6)  We have His word and Holy Spirit as our guide, as well as angels sent to help us on our way!

What is it that you treasure more than anything else in this world?  Would it be silver or gold or maybe precious jewels?  Would it be your house or car?  What about technology, like a computer or cell phone or video game?   Would it be your health and life?  What about your children?  There are many possibilities to consider.

God has a treasured possession that He tells us about in His word!  “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagle’s wings and brought you to Myself.  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, you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:4-6)  The nation of Israel was God’s treasured possession.  He had carried them on eagle’s wings out of slavery and bondage to a place of intimacy and worship.  His main goal was to bring them to Himself!  There was a condition, however; complete obedience by faith was expected. They would become priests to God and be set apart as His special possession!

This idea is carried into the New Testament as well.  Peter talks about this same thought in his letter written to Gentile Christians as well as Jewish.  “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1st Peter 2:9-10)

No one can come to Christ unless drawn by the Holy Spirit and chosen by God.   (John 6:43, 63-64)  He shines the light of His love into our darkness and calls us into His glorious light.  He takes us from our lost and hopeless state, and declares us His people by grace.  However, each person must respond to God’s choice by freely choosing to become one of His chosen. (Romans 10:9-10)  We become God’s treasured possession because we freely accept His will for our lives and become priests, interceding before God on behalf of others.  What a treasure we have in Christ!

You would think that God’s people would not grumble against Him!  The Israelites had seen the miracles of the plagues in Egypt and been protected from their effects.  They had been miraculously delivered from the death angel by the blood of the Passover lamb.  They had seen the Lord lead them with a cloud of glory by day and fire by night.  They experienced deliverance through the Red Sea and saw how Pharaoh and his army were drowned.  They had been given loads of silver and gold before they left Egypt and saw God bring manna to feed them in the desert.  Their clothes and shoes did not wear out and not one of them was sick or disabled!  What they experienced of God’s presence and miraculous power would make most of us stand in awe!

Yet, after being fed with manna and traveling on to Rephidim, they found no water to drink.  They first quarreled with Moses.   (Exodus 17: 1-3)  God’s leadership always takes flack when things don’t go as the people think it should.  The people easily turn on leaders, but God looks at this differently.  They are actually turning on Him!  (Exodus 16:8)  Moses asked them why they were putting the Lord to the test by quarreling with Him.  They responded by blaming Moses for bringing them out into the desert to die of thirst!  It is amazing how short-sighted and forgetful people can become.  Miracles don’t instantly transform people into faith giants!

To help Mose through this situation, God gave him specific instructions.  He told Moses to walk on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with him.   He was to go to the rock at Horeb and God would stand before him there.  Moses was to strike the rock and God would supply water for the people to drink!   (Exodus 17:5-6)  When Moses obeyed, water gushed out to satisfy the 2-3 million people, and their flocks and herds, as well!

The New Testament gives insight into this event.  Paul taught that the spiritual rock that the Israelites drank from was Christ.  (1st Corinthians 10:1-6)  He was smitten for us to give us “Living Water”.   He has walked ahead of us and taken God’s rod of judgment on sin!  Drink today from the smitten Rock!  The living water is flowing freely for all to drink!

Greetings in the Wonderful Name of Jesus Christ!  Welcome to another day of rest and reflection!  How wonderful it is to be delivered from slavery to sin and enjoy new life in Jesus Christ!

I want to think about Moses for a few minutes today.  Moses was a man highly favored of God.  His godly parents feared God and were allowed to raise this child after he was miraculously taken out of the water of the Nile River by Pharaoh’s daughter.  The name “Moses” means “drawn out of the water”!  God often uses water as a medium of spiritual cleansing or new birth.  We are first born through water–from our mother’s womb–born  in sin and under God’s wrath.

This Moses, eighty years later, would lead all of God’s people through walls of water to deliverance from Pharaoh’s army.  God used the water then to protect His people from destruction and to destroy the enemies of His people.  He used that deliverance to purify them of the slavery mentality and take them to new life in the land of promise.

In Joshua’s day, God took the Nation of Israel back through the waters of the Jordan River at flood-stage by a miraculous parting.  This was another “baptism” of those who came through the desert experience of 40 years.  This new generation had to go through the waters to prepare them to worship and make war in the promised land!

One greater than Moses or Joshua, who came through the “baptized” nation of Israel, would go into the waters of the Jordan and be baptized by John the Baptist.  As he came out of those waters, he would receive the Spirit and confirmation of His Father’s approval.  He would become the means by which all peoples of the earth could escape  judgment and receive new birth.   Jesus commanded all who would repent, to believe and be baptized in water!  This baptism helps us connect with people of faith from all generations!  God takes us through the waters to new life in Him!  Take time today to reflect on Moses, Jesus and water!   In His Love, Pastor John

Why does God lead His people into impossible situations?  Does He get a thrill out of seeing His people suffer and experience fear?  Why did God lead the Israelites out of Egypt by way of the desert route instead of the shorter route through the land of the Philistines?  God has His reasons and they are all working for the good of His people if they will follow in faith!

The stated reason why God took these people on the longer route is that they were not ready to fight to possess the land.  God knew that although they were out of Egypt, they still had a slave mentality.  Although they were armed for battle, they did not have the heart for battle! (Exodus 13:17-18)  God led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.  (Exodus 13:21-22)  This was a visible evidence of His presence with His people.  One would think that this miraculous visible presence of God would convince the people to follow, but miracles do not always change the heart or transform us! God is preparing us by using impossible situations to display His glory!   His grace and glory transform us!

Pharaoh, in the mean time, realized what he had done!  He decided to pursue the Israelites with his chariots and army.  The Israelites saw them coming and began to complain and be fearful.  They would be no match for the Egyptians alone!  They were terrified and cried out! (Exodus 14: 10-12)  Moses reassured them that the Lord was with them and He would fight for them.  (Exodus 14:13)  Having a man of faith as a leader is a great comfort and help when the going gets rough!  Moses knew God and obeyed the Lord as He continued to instruct him!  (Exodus 14:15-17)

God delivered His people through the water of the Red Sea with a miraculous “baptism”.  They walked over on dry land between two walls of water while their enemies were drowned!  This “baptism” would help them to understand God’s ability to do the impossible again and again as they walked with Him!

If you are in a desperate situation today, take a moment to reflect on God’s presence and power.  Allow Him to guide you through the situation to safety on the other side!  Your trouble can reveal His glory!