Archives for February 2014

You shall not offer unauthorized incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering, and you shall not pour a drink offering on it. Exodus 30:9 (ESV)

The incense speaks of prayer. Our prayers should not be casual or disrespectful etc but should be holy. This is why Jesus said when we pray we should say hallowed (holy) be your name…

You shall take the atonement money from the people of Israel and shall give it for the service of the tent of meeting, that it may bring the people of Israel to remembrance before the LORD, so as to make atonement for your lives.” Exodus 30:16 (ESV)

This points forward to Jesus who paid the ransom for out atonement, once for all

and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, Exodus 31:3–4 (ESV)

God filled Bezalel with is Holy Spirit so that the tabernacle could be furnished to his glory. This also points to the fact that Jesus builds the church by the Holy Spirit. God has given us His Spirit and the practical abilities we need to work in his house for his glory.

And the LORD relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people. Exodus 32:14 (ESV)

Moses intercessory prayer points forward to Jesus intercessory ministry. When we pray to God he is willing to respond… so pray.

But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?” John 5:47 (ESV)

We must believe God’s written word, the bible and come to Jesus or we can not have life.

And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. Exodus 28:2 (ESV)

The high priest’s uniform points forward to the better High Priest Jesus Christ and represents the glory, beauty and majesty of God.

You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him for my priesthood. Exodus 28:3 (ESV)

We should use the skills God has anointed us with to his glory

And you shall set the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel. And Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders for remembrance. Exodus 28:12 (ESV)

As the high priest Aaron would represent the entire nation of Israel before God this is why their names are on the shoulders and later on the breastplate. The use of such precious stones for representation shows the value God places on his people.

And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron’s heart, when he goes in before the LORD. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the LORD regularly. Exodus 28:30 (ESV)

Jesus now fill this office for us

“You shall make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet, ‘Holy to the LORD.’ Exodus 28:36 (ESV)

This points to one of the main functions of the high priest, which is to make intercession for the people that they would be holy and acceptable before God

But the flesh of the bull and its skin and its dung you shall burn with fire outside the camp; it is a sin offering. Exodus 29:14 (ESV)

Hebrews 13:11 tells us this type of sin offering points to the ultimate sin offering Jesus Christ who was crucified outside the camp.

and you shall kill the ram and take part of its blood and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron and on the tips of the right ears of his sons, and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the great toes of their right feet, and throw the rest of the blood against the sides of the altar. Exodus 29:20 (ESV)

This points to the fact that all believers as God’s priest now need the cleansing blood of Jesus to consecrate what we hear, what we do and where we go

And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God. Exodus 29:46 (ESV)

God’s purpose in all this is is own self disclosure to us and glory. Also this was all to allow and establish relationship (meet with you, speak with you)

This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. John 5:18 (ESV)

Jesus clearly declare himself to be the Son of God, which makes him equal with God, this is why they wanted to kill him

For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. John 5:20 (ESV)

We get a glimpse into the loving relationship of the Father and the Son. Jesus submits to and relies on the Father in his incarnation as a man.

For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. John 5:21 (ESV)

Praise God today that Jesus specifically chose to give us life (salvation)

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. John 5:24 (ESV)

A judgment day is coming, death is not the end. If we hear the gospel and truly believe we have eternal life and actually pass from death to life. How can we escape if we neglect such a great salvation.

“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. John 5:30 (ESV)

Jesus is the great judge

“And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. Exodus 26:31 (ESV)

It is wonderful that in God’s detailed design, building and assembly instructions for the tabernacle there is room for artistry. God is the original artist. Skilful and artistic expression have their place in service and worship.

You shall make it hollow, with boards. As it has been shown you on the mountain, so shall it be made. Exodus 27:8 (ESV)

Like Jesus said, whatever we do we should do in accordance with what God has shown us. This could be for example through his word, our Pastors or something the Lord has laid on our hearts.

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” John 5:6 (ESV)

Jesus asks us the same question today, because if the answer is yes he has the power to accomplish it in his sovereign grace as we see later in verse 8

Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” John 5:14 (ESV)

Although all sickness is connected to the fall and in general illness and misfortune happen to all so we must all repent, in this case Jesus is talking about some specific sin committed by this man leading to his state of illness. Specific sins can lead to illness and even death so if God brings healing and deliverance in these cases it is imperative that we do not return to that sin as Jesus warns this man.

And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.” Exodus 24:8 (ESV)

This points forward to the blood of Jesus, shed for the new covenant

“Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. Exodus 25:2 (ESV)

Our hearts should be open and generous in giving to the Lord

And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain. Exodus 25:40 (ESV)

Hebrews 8:5 tells us that the very pattern and design of the tabernacle pointed forward to Jesus and the true tabernacle in heaven

So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” John 4:48 (ESV)

This is the lowest quality of faith, we should just take God at his word

I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the does of the field, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases. Song of Solomon 3:5 (ESV)

We must boldly tell our children that they should not be in an intimate and sexual relationship until they are married.

“Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death. Exodus 21:16 (ESV)

The stealing of men form Africa for sale in the European and American slave trade was an abomination before God