Reading: Exodus 40:17; John 1:14; Revelation 21:1-5 When Solomon completes the temple “the cloud filled the house of the LORD”. God continues to dwell with His people, as promised. But later Israel falls into serious sins and refuses to repent. It becomes so serious that the LORD’s glory departs from the temple (Ezekiel 10:18) and… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 40 (2 of 2)
Reading: Exodus 40:17, 34-38 In Exodus 25:8 God commands Israel to make the tabernacle and promises “that I may dwell among them.” In Exodus 29:46 God adds “And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt.” God dwelling among His people is a… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 40 (1 of 2)
Reading: Exodus 36:8-18; 37:1,2. In Exodus 26-28 God commands Israel to build the holy tabernacle, furniture and the priests’ garments, according to His design. God’s instructions are very detailed and precise, including measurements, materials, colours, technical items (26:17). God fills Bezalel with the Holy Spirit’s wisdom, understanding and knowledge to build and supervise the construction… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 36 & 37
Reading: Exodus 35:4-9 In Exodus 35 the Israelites are still camped by Mt Sinai. They have received the law, and instructions to build the holy tabernacle according to God’s design (Exodus 26-28). The time has now come to construct the tabernacle. It is a very important moment, because the tabernacle is to be evidence of… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 35
Reading: Exodus 20:4-6; 34:14 God is very concerned about idol worship. When, in the future, Israel enters the Promised Land they must not to make a covenant with Canaan’s inhabitants; they must completely destroy their pagan places of worship. God then adds “for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 20 & 34
Reading: Exodus 34:12-26 God renews the covenant with Israel to show His great power (for example, by driving out the Canaanite nations) and receive all the glory. God also renews His covenant to fulfil His promises to Israel, that is to be their loving God and, more specifically, to give them the Promised Land. This… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 34: 12-26
Reading: Exodus 34:8-11 Israel repents from the sin of the golden calf and Moses mediates for the people, confessing their sins and seeking God’s help. See now God’s compassion and grace: first God promises to go with Israel again. To strengthen Israel’s faith, God also reveals His great name and attributes. Finally God renews the… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 34: 8-11
Reading: Exodus 34:5-7 and Psalm 100 We have studied the name and seven attributes of God. He is merciful, gracious, longsuffering, good, truth, forgiving and just. How we should respond to this revelation? God also teaches us this. For example, Psalm 100 “Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 34 & Psalm 100
Reading: Exodus 34:5-7 and Psalm 33:1-9 God reveals that, in relation to sin, He is also just. God does not want us to think that His mercy and goodness can be used as a license for sin, therefore He will by no means clear the guilty. This refers to His severe judgment against those who… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 34 & Psalm 33
Reading: Exodus 34:5-7 and Psalm 32 God is also abounding in goodness and truth (or: abounding in love and faithfulness). This refers to God’s covenant promises and faithfulness. When God promises to love His covenant people, He always loves them. His love and faithfulness are abounding; that is, without limit. Psalm 36:5 “Your faithfulness reaches… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 34 & Psalm 32
Reading: Exodus 34:5-7 and Psalm 103:1-14 Because Exodus 34:5-7 tells us so much about God and is quoted very often in the Bible, we will study it closely. First God reveals He is “The LORD, the LORD God”; this is followed by seven attributes of God, namely merciful, gracious, longsuffering, good, truth, forgiving and just.… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 34 & Psalm 103
Reading: Exodus 34:5-7 and Psalm 105:1-11 Here God proclaims his name and some of His wonderful attributes. First God reveals He is “The LORD, the LORD God”. LORD, or Jehovah, means “I am who I am”. God is eternal, self-sufficient, the source of all being, and faithful to everything He says. When we experience hardship,… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 34 & Psalm 105
Reading: Exodus 33:19- 23 and 34:1-9 Moses finds grace in God’s sight and then asks the Lord “Please, show me Your glory”. The Lord replies “You shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen” (Ex 33:17, 18 and 23). In Exodus 34:6 the Lord passes before Moses, revealing His back. But then… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 33 & 34
Reading: Exodus 33:12-17 Since Israel’s sin with the golden calf, God promises to give to Israel the Promised Land, adding that His angel should lead them. But God says He will not go with them. Moses understands that he and the people are now deprived of the special privilege of God’s presence which they had… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 33 (3 of 3)
Reading: Exodus 33:4-11 Israel sins with the golden calf therefore God will depart from them. This awakens the Israelites from their spiritual sleepiness; suddenly they understand the seriousness of their situation. If God is not with us, we are doomed. They repent; “they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments” (vs 4) just as… Continue reading Meditation: Exodus 33 (2 of 3)
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)
