Reading: Exodus 31:1-11 God commands Israel to build the holy tabernacle and its contents. This requires many special skills to work in gold, silver, bronze, cutting jewels for setting, carving wood (vs 4, 5), and other workmanship such as weaving, embroidery and sewing. Where can Moses find such talented people? The Israelites are slaves and… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 31 (1 of 2)

Reading: Exodus 30:1-10 We usually complete our prayer with “we pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.” As sinners we can only pray because Jesus Christ has opened the way to God through the shedding of his precious blood. We meet this doctrine in Exodus 30. God commands Moses to make an altar, covered in… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 30

Reading: Exodus 29:1-21 This passage describes the ordination of the priests into their holy office. It follows a special procedure so that sin does not corrupt or cause shame in the service of holy God. It is important that the priests are cleansed and made holy because Israel depended on the priest’s ability to enter… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 29

Reading: Exodus 28:5-39 When the High Priest served in the tabernacle he wears special garments showing he was holy to the Lord. His garment includes two onyx stones set in gold, and engraved with the names of the twelve sons of Israel. He also wears the breastplate with twelve precious stones engraved with the same… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 28 (2 of 2)

Reading: Exodus 28:1-4 The priests perform a very important function in the tabernacle. Sinful people cannot come before holy God, therefore they need a mediator who stands between God and the people to reconcile them. In the Old Testament (OT) the priests perform this task and in this they represent Jesus Christ. The Israelites understand… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 28 (1 of 2)

Reading: Exodus 27: 9-19 The tabernacle consists of the inner tent and the surrounding court. The inner tent has two parts, the most holy place and the holy place. The first contains the ark with the mercy seat where God dwells. Only the High Priest has access to it, and only once per year. The… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 27

Reading: Exodus 26:31-37 The most holy place of the tabernacle is covered by a veil (curtain). The holy place is covered by a screen (heavy curtain). Later, the temple built by King Solomon has a similar veil separating the most holy place from the rest of the temple.  Apart from the priests, the Israelites are… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 26 (2 of 2)

Reading: Exodus 26:1-30 God gives instructions to build the tabernacle. It is to be a majestic and most beautiful structure. For example, the inner tent curtains are fine linen with blue, purple, and scarlet thread; woven with artistic designs of cherubim, and connected with golden clasps. Its wood is overlaid with gold. The tabernacle is… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 26 (1 of 2)

Reading: Exodus 25:10-22 God gives instructions for the design of the ark, the most holy object in the tabernacle. It is also called “the ark of the covenant of the LORD.”  We recall that the covenant contains a promise and an obligation, summarised in Genesis 17:1 “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 25 (2 of 2)

Reading: Exodus 25:1-9 God wants Israel to construct “a sanctuary that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8). He first asks the Israelites to contribute material gifts for the building of the tabernacle and its furniture. Each person is to give according to their ability; in other words although the poor give less than the… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 25 (1 of 2)

Reading: Exodus 24:9-11 In Exodus 24 God confirms the covenant with Israel by a solemn ceremony. The people promise to obey the Book of the Covenant. The ceremony is sealed with animal blood symbolizing the Jesus Christ’s blood. In vs 9-11 God concludes the ceremony. He invites Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy elders… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 24 (3 of 3)

Reading: Exodus 24:8 In Exodus 24 God confirms the covenant with Israel by a solemn ceremony. The ceremony is sealed with the blood of the sacrificed animals. This blood is sprinkled on the altar and the people.  Blood is necessary to make possible the covenant between God and His people. Why? Holy God cannot just… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 24 (2 of 3)

Reading: Exodus 24:1-7 In this passage God confirms His covenant with Israel by a solemn ceremony. The covenant is the formal and holy relationship between God and Israel, His special treasure (Exodus 19:5). God has the authority to make this covenant since He was Israel’s (and the world’s) creator and their Redeemer. In this covenant… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 24 (1 of 3)

Reading: Exodus 23:14-33 Israel will inherit the Promised Land which is currently occupied by ungodly nations.  When Israel moves in and gradually needs more territory these nations will be driven out by God, little by little (vs 30). The nations’ gods and feasts are attractive to the carnal flesh and can become a snare for… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 23 (2 of 2)

Reading: Exodus 23:1-9 Here we learn another important principle about God’s justice, namely “You shall not circulate a false report” (vs 1). James 3:6 says the tongue is destructive: “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 23 (1 of 2)

Reading: Exodus 21:12-26 and 22:1-15 In this passage we learn some basic principles of divine justice, including just punishment to fit the crime, fair restitution for loss, and serious sentences as warnings to encourage responsibility and discourage crime. Three different types of crime are mentioned: killing, injury and criminal negligence. Not every crime is the… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 21 & 22

Reading: Exodus 20:18-26 Israel is going to the Promised Land which is occupied by nations serving idols. Their idolatry is so dangerous that God warn against it immediately after giving the Law (vs 23). God repeats this warning many times. Isaiah 45:21 “And there is no other God besides Me”. Why these frequent warnings?  Idolatry… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 20 (2 of 2)