The Light of the World…

Read: Exodus 36-38
Marked: Exodus 37:17, He also made the lampstand of pure gold; of hammered work he made the lampstand. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its [ornamental] knobs, and its flowers were of the same piece.

The lampstand of pure gold had a centre shaft with a lamp as well as six branches. Three one one side and three on the other with each branch having a lamp (V18).

John the apostle saw seven lamps in heaven (Revelation 1:20) representing the seven churches. The tabernacle that was being built was a model of what is in heaven. In a sense the church was represented in the Old Testament.

All the articles that were being made symbolized the reality found in Jesus Christ and the kingdom fulfilled through the church made up of a multitude of nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues.

Jesus, the Light of the World shining the light of His glory through the church.

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A Stirring of the Heart…

Read: Exodus 33-35
Marked: Exodus 35:21, Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, [and] they brought the LORD’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments.

We are called to do the work of the Lord and are not forced. We freely receive and freely give. Some give more, some give less, but it’s all received by God. We shouldn’t think that what we bring before the Lord isn’t enough or good enough.

Is your heart stirred to give as your heart determines? Do it all in service to God for the work He determines to do.

Are You Ransomed?…

Read: Exodus 30-32
Marked: Exodus 30:11-12, Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the LORD, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when [you] number them.”

The men, aged 20 and above, were to give a half-shekel as a ransom for themselves. The rich (V15), would not give more and the poor would not give less.

This is a picture of the cost of redemption. The price of the ransom wasn’t one for the rich and another for the poor. In the sight of God we are all equal and equally in need of redemption. And the ransom was required of each man. It could not be paid by anyone else.

Jesus became a ransom for us so that we could be redeemed (Mark 10:45; 1 Timothy 2:5-6). One ransom paid for the many. We have all sinned (Romans 3:23) and are equally guilty before God. But by the one ransom we are also equally redeemed from the penalty of sin and death (Romans 6:23).

Jesus is the great equalizer who gave His life a ransom for many.

Be a Picture of Christ…

Read: Exodus 28-29
Marked: Exodus 28:1, “Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest, Aaron [and] Aaron’s sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.”

These chapters detail the choosing, consecration, and ministry of the first priests. The priests ministered to God.

According to verse 36 the priests wore a headpiece of pure gold inscribed with the words: “Holiness to the Lord”. He also wore two stones (V12) on his shoulders as memorial stones for the sons of Israel bearing them up before the Lord.

Additionally, a breastplate with twelve stones on it (V12), with the names of the twelves sons of Israel engraved on them covered his heart.

The priest was a shadow of Christ, who stood between God and man, and was holy to the Lord, representing God to man but also loving man to represent them to God.

Luke 10:27 says the two great commandments are to love God and to love your neighbour. A Christian, according to 1 Peter 2:5 is a member of a holy priesthood, and is to represent God to man but also love man, hold man in his heart, and bear with them to bring them to God.

The priest, a marvellous picture of Christ the Lord, modelling for us how we are to present ourselves to God and to others.

Built Unto the Lord…

Read: Exodus 25-27
Marked: Exodus 25:1-2, Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.

These chapters describe the building of the tabernacle in the desert I love how God says the offering of materials for the making of the tabernacle must be given willingly.

The tabernacle was the meeting place of God with His people. It was ornately built from the finest materials and craftsmanship. Peter says in 1 Peter 2:5, that we are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Christ Jesus.

In Ephesians 2:22 Paul writes, “In whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit”. 1 Corinthians 3:16 confirms that we are the temple of God in whom the Spirit of God dwells.

The tabernacle was covered with layers of various animal hides. The covering of Ram skins (Exodus 26:14) were dyed red. In the same way the tabernacle of our body is covered by the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God.

We are indeed a holy tabernacle set apart for the Lord if we willingly come and give ourselves to Him.

The Enemy of My Enemies…

Read: Exodus 22-24
Marked: Exodus 23:22, “But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.”

At verse 20 God sends an Angel to keep them on the way to the place that has been prepared. This is no ordinary Angel, this Angel has the name of God in Him (V29).

God says when they obey the Angel’s voice, and do all that God speaks, God will be an enemy against their enemies. This Angel is the Lord Jesus who stands in judgment over us.

When we obey Jesus, the Lord becomes the enemy of our enemies. Man’s greatest enemies are sin and death. Jesus destroyed both on the cross. Jesus goes before us leading us to the place He has prepared for those who love Him.

A Special Treasure to the World…

Read: Exodus 19-21
Marked: Exodus 19:5-6, “‘Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth [is] Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These [are] the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

God’s intent for Israel was to make them a kingdom of priests and a holy nation to bring the knowledge of God to the nations. The covenant that God made with Abraham, to make him a great nation and be a blessing (Genesis 12:1-4), was to continue through his children, and the children of Isaac and Jacob.

We see the same covenant similarly spoken of by Peter to Christians, the spiritual children of Abraham, in 1 Peter 2:9. Christians are a chosen generation, a Royal priesthood, a holy nation meant to proclaim the good news about forgiveness of sins and represent the Lord Jesus Christ to the world.

Blessed to be a Blessing…

Read: Exodus 16-18
Marked: Exodus 16:4,Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.

God is going to bless His people with meat and bread from heaven. But there is a two fold purpose. One, He is showing His people they can trust Him to provide. And two, it is a test to see if they will walk in His law or not.

Do I receive God’s blessing selfishly to consume on myself? Or am I willing to share God’s blessing with others?

We are often tested in the simple things God does for us. If we are found faithful with what He gives us, and obedient, we can expect further blessing from God.

Let’s serve God with an open hand gladly receiving each and every blessing from our Father, while giving to our brothers and sisters that they too might be blessed.

Paul, in Acts 20:35 reminds us what Jesus said concerning blessings. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Avoiding Temptation…

Read: Exodus 13-15
Marked: Exodus 13:17, Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them [by] way of the land of the Philistines, although that [was] near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.”

I find this same fickleness at work in me. I know what is right and true, but find that my mind can often convince me to do the opposite or causes me to return to where I came from.

Especially when it comes to following the Lord. Unless I’ve set my course, it is tempting to go back to my old ways of living when things get difficult.

The wisdom of God is apparent in this verse. He lead His people so far away Egypt that going back would be difficult, if not impossible.

When temptation comes it is best to stay away from what is tempting you. Or find some other way that leads you as far away from temptation as possible.

Can We Bargain with God?…

Read: Exodus 10-12.
Marked: Exodus 10:24, Then Pharaoh called to Moses and said, “Go, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be kept back. Let your little ones also go with you.”

Can we bargain with God? Moses told Pharaoh (V9), that they would go with their children and their flocks and herds to offer sacrifices to God. Pharaoh appears to relent at first, but then adds the condition that the flocks and herds be left behind.

It is foolish to bargain with God. His Word must be obeyed. We run into trouble when we try to get out of full obedience to Him. We must worship as He has instructed. We can’t hold anything back from Him.