Reading: Exodus 33:1-3 In many Christian homes you will find a plaque on the wall with one word “Immanuel” which means God with us. It is a very beautiful confession, because it expresses the most important thing in life: God is with us through Jesus Christ. Paul later expresses this very comforting assurance in Romans 8:31:… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 33 (1 of 3)

Reading: Exodus 32:25-33. The Israelites make and worship a golden calf. God is very angry saying “let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them” (Ex 32:10). Even after three thousand Israelites died, Moses understands that God is still angry about Israel’s “great sin” (vs 31). So Moses… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 32 (2 of 2)

Reading: Exodus 32:1-10 In Exodus 20:4 God commands Israel “You shall not make for yourself a carved image”. When Moses is on the mountain the people pressure Aaron to make a golden calf to represent God. Israel wants an image of God as evidence of His nearness, and worship it. Vs 4 describes the image… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 32 (1 of 2)

Reading: Exodus 31:12-18 The Sabbath Day (or Sunday for the church today) is important to God. He commands the keeping of the Sabbath Day five times in Exodus. This is not mere repetition; each time God adds more information till a complete picture of the day’s significance emerges. Today we learn that the Sabbath “is… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 31 (2 of 2)

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)