THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OR TESTIMONY.
This was a portable chest 1.1 metres long and
.7 metre wide and high. It was made of acacia
wood overlaid with pure gold with carrying
poles permanently in place. Inside was kept the
testimony (two stone tablets with ten
commandments on them). Its covering lid on
which were two golden cherubim, was called an
atonement cover.
The Lord told Moses that "There above the cover
between the two cherubim that are over the ark
of the testimony, I will meet with you and give
you all my commands for the Israelites."
THE TABLE.
This was portable, .9 metre long, .5 metre
wide, .7 metre high made of acacia wood and
overlaid with gold. Its plates, dishes,
pitchers and bowls were of pure gold and its
carrying poles overlaid with gold. Twelve
loaves of bread (one for each tribe) were to be
on the table always. (Acknowledging their total
dependence on God for basic needs).
THE LAMPSTAND.
This was to be made of pure gold having seven
lamps. Its wick trimmers and trays were to be
of pure gold.
(Chapter 25)
THE TABERNACLE (Tent of Meeting)
This was a tent supported by acacia wood frames.
It was 4.5 metres wide, 4.5 metres high and
13.5 metres long. An inner lining of
embroidered linen was covered by goats' hair
and two further coverings of ram skin leather
dyed red and sea cow hide.
A curtain divided the most holy place, which
was a perfect 4.5 metre cube, from the rest of
the tent called the holy place.
(The moment Christ died, the equivalent curtain
in God's temple at Jerusalem, reportedly 3 or 4
inches thick, was torn in two from top to
bottom. Christ thus made it possible for anyone
with true faith in Him to have direct access to
the Lord. No longer are priests and sacrifices
necessary, Christ is both).
The only furniture in the most holy place was
the ark of the covenant. In the holy place was
the table, golden lampstand and altar of
incense.
(Chapter 26)
THE ALTAR OF THE BURNT OFFERING.
This was portable, 1.3 metres high, 2.3 metres
long and wide, and made of acacia wood covered
with bronze. Its pots, shovels, sprinkling
bowls, meat forks and firepans were made of
bronze.
THE COURTYARD.
The Tabernacle was to be within a courtyard 46
metres long, 23 metres wide and made of linen
curtains 2.3 metres high supported by posts on
bronze bases.
An entrance 9 metres wide was in the middle of
the eastern end. Its curtain made by an
embroiderer was of blue, purple and scarlet
linen.
OIL FOR THE LAMPSTAND.
The Israelites were to bring clear oil of
pressed olives so Aaron and his sons could keep
the lamps burning from evening to morning. The
lamp was to be placed outside the curtain
separating the most holy place and in front of
the ark of the covenant or testimony.
(Chapter 27)
The Lord told Moses to bring Aaron and four
sons to serve Him as priests. Special clothing
was to be made for them. Aaron's clothes, to
give dignity and honour, were:
THE EPHOD.
This was a gold, blue, purple and scarlet linen
sleeveless vestment having 2 onyx stones
engraved with the twelve tribes of Israel on
its shoulder pieces. Aaron was to "Bear the
names on his shouders as a memorial before the
Lord."
THE BREASTPIECE.
This was for making decisions and was square,
of like material to the ephod with 12 stones on
it, each engraved with the name of a tribe of
Israel.
Aaron was to wear this "Breastpiece of
Decision" whenever he went into the most holy
place. In it were kept the urim and thummin
(sacred lots) for use in finding God's will.
OTHER PRIESTLY GARMENTS.
These were:
The blue robe of the ephod with the gold
bells on the hem. Aaron was to wear this
whenever he entered the holy place and the
sound would be heard "so that he will not
die."
A plate of pure gold engraved "Holy to
the Lord" attached to a turban on Aaron's
forehead, thus "He will bear the guilt
involved in the sacred gifts the
Israelites consecrate...so they will be
acceptable to the Lord."
A tunic of fine linen and an embroidered
sash.
Tunics, sashes and headbands were to be made
for Aaron's sons, to give dignity and honour.
Moses was to clothe Aaron and his sons as
above, anoint, ordain and consecrate them as
priests. They were to wear linen undergarments
from waist to thigh when entering the tent of
meeting (Tabernacle) "So that they will not
incur guilt and die."
(Chapter 28)
The Lord told Moses to consecrate them by
presenting them with a bull and two rams
without defect, with bread, cakes and wafers
made without yeast, at the entrance to the tent
of meeting (Tabernacle). Moses was to wash
Aaron and his sons, put the priestly clothes on
them and anoint Aaron's head with oil.
They were to lay their hands on the animals'
heads, which were then to be slaughtered.
Part of the bull's blood and body was put on
the altar, some of its body burnt thereon and
the rest disposed of outside the camp. It was a
sin offering.
Part of the first ram's blood was put on the
altar and its body burnt whole theron and the
rest disposed of outside the camp.
Part of the second ram's (the ram of ordination)
blood was put on Aaron, his sons and part on the
altar. Some of the blood on the altar and some
of the anointing oil were then sprinkled on
their garments. Thus they were consecrated. They
then held a loaf of the bread, a cake and a
wafer (mentioned above) and waved them before
the Lord. It was a Wave Offering which was then
burnt on the altar along with the burnt offering
(as above). Moses was also to wave part of the
ram as a wave offering and part was food for
Aaron and his sons.
Aaron's sacred garments were to be handed down
to his descendants.
Aaron and his sons were to eat the bread and the
second ram after it was cooked in a sacred
place. By these offerings atonement was made for
their ordination and consecration. Unused bread
or meat, being sacred, had to be burnt.
Moses was to take seven days to ordain them,
sacrificing a bull daily as a sin offering to
make atonement, purifying and consecrating and
making the altar and whatever touched it, holy.
Year old lambs were to be offered on the altar
night & morning with frankincense, oil & wine.
The Lord told Moses "There I will meet & speak
with you & .. the Israelites & the place will be
consecrated by my glory. So I will consecrate
the Tent of Meeting...the altar and ..Aaron and
his sons to serve me as priests... Then I will
dwell among the Israelites and be their God.
They will know that I am the Lord their God,
who brought them out of Egypt so that I might
dwell among them. I am the Lord their God."
(Chapter 29)
THE ALTAR OF INCENSE
This was .5 metre long and wide and .9 metre
high made of acacia wood overlaid with gold
having horns on each corner. It was put in the
holy place. Being portable, its carrying poles
of acacia wood were overlaid with gold.
Aaron was to burn incense on it morning and
night when he tended the lamps. Once a year he
was to put the blood of the atoning sin
offering on its horns. (Thus provision was made
for the people's sin to be forgiven so they
could be at one with God).
ATONEMENT MONEY
The Lord told Moses that when he took a census
of the people, all those 20 years old or more
had to give the same money offering as a ransom
to atone for their lives. The money was "for
the service of the tent of the meeting."
BASIN FOR WASHING
The Lord told Moses to make a bronze basin and
stand, placing it between the tent of meeting
and the courtyard altar. Before approaching the
altar or entering the tent of meeting, Aaron
and his sons were to wash hands and feet with
water "that they will not die."ANOINTING OIL
The Lord told Moses to have blended by a
perfumer, 6 kilograms of liquid myrrh, 3
kilograms each of fragrant cinnamon, fragrant
cane, cassia and 4 litres of olive oil for use
as sacred anointing oil. It was to be used to
anoint the tent of meeting, the ark of the
testimony, the table and its articles, the
lampstand and its accessories, the altar of
incense, the altar of burnt offering and all
its utensils and the basin and its stand. Moses
was to consecrate these "so they will be most
holy and whatever touches them will be holy."
He was also to anoint Aaron and his sons. The
oil was sacred, its formula not to be used for
other oil and to be poured on priests' bodies
only. Anyone breaking this rule was to be cut
off from his people.
INCENSE
The Lord told Moses to take equal amounts of
gum resin, onycha, galbanum and pure
frankincense and have them blended by a
perfumer salted, pure and sacred. Some was to
be ground to powder and placed in front of the
testimony in the tent of meeting. It was to be
"holy to the Lord" and anyone making it for
their personal use was to be "cut off from his
people."
(Chapter 30)
CRAFTSMEN
The Lord told Moses that "I have chosen
Bezalel.. and..filled him with the Spirit of
God, with skill, ability and knowledge..to
engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. Moreover
I have appointed Oholiab to help him and I have
given skill to all the craftsmen to make
everything..just as I commanded you."THE SABBATH
The Lord told Moses to tell the Israelites to
keep His sabbath as a "sign between me and
you...so that you may know that I am the Lord,
who makes you holy."... "It will be a sign
between me and the Israelites...for in six days
the Lord made the heavens and the earth and on
the seventh day He abstained from work and
rested."
When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mt
Sinai He gave him the two tablets of the
testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by
the finger of God.
(Chapter 31)
Meanwhile the people felt Moses had been on the
mountain too long so they asked Aaron to make
gods to lead them. They said "As for this
fellow Moses who brought us out of Egypt,
we don't know what has happened to him."
So Aaron took their gold earrings "and made it
into an idol cast in the shape of a calf,
fashioning it with a tool. Then they said
'these are your gods, O Israel who brought you
up out of Egypt!'"
Aaron built an altar in front of the calf and
said "To-morrow there will be a festival to the
Lord." So they sacrificed burnt offerings and
presented fellowship offering. Afterwards they
sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge
in (probably sexual) revelry.
The Lord told Moses "Go down...your people ....
have become corrupt. They have been quick to
turn away from what I commanded them. Leave me
alone ... that I may destroy them. Then I will
make you into a great nation."
But Moses "sought the favour of the Lord," he
said destruction would not look good to the
Egyptians and reminded God of His promises to
Abraham, Isaac and (Jacob) Israel, and asked
Him to spare the Israelites. "Then the Lord
relented and did not bring on His people the
disaster He had threatened."
Moses " went down the mountain with the two
tablets of the testimony in his hands." They
were the work of God and His writing was on
them.
When Moses saw the calf and the dancing he was
angry, threw the tablets and broke them. He
burned the calf, ground it to powder, put it
in the water and made the people drink it.
He said to Aaron "What did the people do to
you, that you led them into such great sin?"
Aaron said he did what they wanted. "They gave
me the gold and I threw it into the fire and
out came this calf!"
Moses saw the people were running wild, that
Aaron had let them get out of control and "so
become a laughing stock to their enemies."So he
said "Whoever is for the Lord come to me." All
the Levites rallied to him. Obeying Moses they
killed 3000 and Moses said "You have been set
apart to the Lord to-day ...and He has blessed
you."
The next day Moses said to the people "You have
committed a great sin. But now I will go up to
the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your
sin."
So Moses said to the Lord "Oh, what a great sin
these people have committed...but now, please
forgive their sin...but if not, then blot me
out of the book you have written."
The Lord said to Moses "Whoever has sinned
against me I will blot out of my book" lead the
people to the promised land "and my angel will
go before you." At the right time I'll punish
them for their sin. The Lord struck them with a
plague for their sin.
(Chapter 32)
The Lord told Moses to move on to the promised
land, that He would send an angel ahead to
drive out opposing nations, but that He would
"not go with you, because you are a stiffnecked
people and I might destroy you on the way."
Hearing this, the people mourned and, as the
Lord instructed, no one put their ornaments on,
while the Lord decided what to do with them.
Moses had a tent outside the camp where anyone
enquiring of the Lord could go. When Moses went
there the pillar of cloud would stay at the
entrance while the Lord spoke to Moses "face to
face as a man speaks with his friend." When the
people saw the pillar of cloud at the tent
"they all stood and worshipped, each at the
entrance to his tent. " Moses' young aide
Joshua stayed at the tent when Moses returned.
Moses asked the Lord who He would send with him
to lead the people and said "If you are pleased
with me, teach me your ways so I may know you
and continue to find favour with you."
The Lord replied "My presence will go with you
and I will give you rest."
Moses said that only God's presence with them
would distinguish them from any other nation on
earth.
The Lord said to Moses "I will do the very
thing you have asked, because I am pleased with
you and I know you by name."
Moses said, "Show me your glory." The Lord said
"I will cause all my goodness to pass in front
of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord,
in your presence." I will have mercy and
compassion on those I choose. "But" He said,
"you cannot see my face, for no one may see
me and live."
Then the Lord said to Moses "There is a place
near me where you may stand on a rock. When my
glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of
the rock and cover you with my hand until I
have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and
you will see my back, but my face must not be
seen."
(Chapter 33)
The Lord said to Moses "Chisel out two stone
tablets like the first ones and I will write on
them the words that were on the first tablets."
...In the morning Moses was to meet God alone
at the top of Mt Sinai, other men or beasts
were not to be seen anywhere near the
mountain.
Moses did this early next morning and the Lord
came down in a cloud, stood, and proclaimed His
name, THE LORD.
And He passed in front of Moses proclaiming,
"THE LORD, THE LORD, THE COMPASSIONATE AND
GRACIOUS GOD, SLOW TO ANGER, ABOUNDING IN LOVE
AND FAITHFULNESS, MAINTAINING LOVE TO
THOUSANDS AND FORGIVING WICKEDNESS, REBELLION
AND SIN. YET HE DOES NOT LEAVE THE GUILTY
UNPUNISHED."
Moses bowed to the ground and worshipped. "O
Lord, if I have favour in your eyes," he said,
"then let the Lord go with us. Although this is
a stiffnecked people, forgive our wickedness
and our sin, and take us as your inheritance."
Then the Lord said, "I am making a covenant
with you. Before all your people I will do
wonders never before done in any nation in all
the world. The people you live among will see
how awesome is the work that I, the Lord, will
do for you. Obey what I command you to-day."
The Lord said He would remove opposing nations,
that they were not to make treaties with them
and that they were to destroy their religious
shrines because He "is a jealous God." They
were not to intermarry with the inhabitants of
conquered nations or make cast idols. Their
success was to be conditional upon obedience,
sabbath rest was commanded even in the busy
sowing and harvesting seasons.
(Other directions given in verses 18-26 have
been detailed in Chapter 23, verses 14-19).
The Lord told Moses to "Write down these words,
for in accordance with these words I have made
a covenant with you and with Israel." Moses was
with the Lord forty days and nights without
food or water. He wrote the 10 commandments on
the tablets.
Moses was unaware that his face was radiant
when he came down. When Aaron and the people
saw it they were afraid. Moses called Aaron and
the leaders back and he gave them the Lord's
commands.
Then Moses put a veil over his face, but he
removed the veil whenever he entered the Lord's
presence. Whenever he came out and told the
Israelites the Lord's commands his face would
be radiant and he would cover it.
(Chapter 34)
Moses assembled all Israel and reminded them to
keep the sabbath. Then he told them that all
who were willing were to bring offerings for
the construction of the tabernacle (tent of
meeting), courtyard etc. (See Chapter 25). "All
who are skilled among you are to come and make
everything the Lord has commanded." Details of
the tabernacle, ark, curtain, table, bread of
the presence, lampstand, oil, altar of incense,
anointing oil, curtain for the doorway at the
entrance to the tabernacle, altar of burnt
offering, bronze basin and stand, curtains of
the courtyard, tent pegs and ropes and priestly
garments, were given.
The whole Israelite community withdrew from
Moses' presence and those willing brought
offerings, presenting their gold as wave
offerings and making freewill offerings for the
work of the Lord.
Moses told the Israelites that the Lord had
chosen Bezalel and filled him with the Spirit
of God "to engage in all kinds of artistic
craftsmanship." Oholiab, as well as Bezalel was
given the ability to teach others.
(Chapter 35)
Moses summoned Bezalel, Oholiab and "every
skilled person to whom the Lord had given skill
and ability to know how to carry out all the
work of constructing the sanctuary.... just as
the Lord commanded" and gave them the offerings
to construct the sanctuary. The people
generously brought more than enough so Moses
had to restrain them.
They constructed the tabernacle detailed in
Chapter 26.
(Chapter 36)
They made the ark as detailed in Chapter 25.
They made the table as detailed in Chapter 25.
The lampstand was made as detailed in Chapter
25, also the altar of incense oil and incense
as detailed in Chapter 30.
(Chapter 37)
The altar of burnt offerings was made according
to the instructions in Chapter 27.
They made the bronze basin and stand from the
mirrors of the women who served at the entrance
to the tent of meeting.
They made the courtyard as detailed in Chapter
27.
Materials used for the tent of meeting
(tabernacle) as the Lord commanded were:
Gold - about 1 metric ton
Silver - about 3.4 metric tons
Bronze - about 2.4 metric tons
Each of the 603,550 men 20 years old or more
counted in the census gave about 5.5 grams of
silver.
(Chapter 38)
They made woven garments for ministering in the
sanctuary and for Aaron (as the Lord commanded
Moses) from blue, purple and scarlet yarn.
The ephod was made according to the Lord's
instructions in Chapter 28 as was the
breastpiece and the other priestly garments.
These were the robe, turban, headbands,
undergarments, sash and plate.
So all the work on the tent of meeting was
completed. The Israelites did everything just
as the Lord commanded Moses. Moses inspected
the work, saw it was done as the Lord
commanded, and blessed them.
(Chapter 39)
Then the Lord said to Moses "Set up the first
tabernacle, the tent of meeting, on the first
day of the month. Place the ark of the
testimony in it and shield the ark with the
curtain. Bring in the table and set out what
belongs on it. Then bring in the lampstand and
set up its lamps. Place the gold altar of
incense in front of the ark... and put
the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle.
Place the altar of burnt offering in front of
the entrance to the tabernacle ...Place the
basin between the tent of meeting and the altar
and put water in it. Set up the courtyard
around it and put the curtain at the entrance
to the courtyard.
Take the anointing oil and anoint the
tabernacle and everything in it. Consecrate it
and all its furnishings, and it will be holy.
Then anoint the altar of burnt offerings and
all its utensils, consecrate the altar and it
will be most holy. Anoint the basin and its
stand and consecrate them.
Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the
tent of meeting and wash them with water. Then
dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him
and consecrate him so he may serve me as
priest. Bring his sons and dress them in
tunics. Anoint them just as you anointed their
father so they may serve me as priests. Their
priesthood will continue for all generations to
come."
Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded
him.
So the tabernacle was set up and Moses finished
the work.
"Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting and
the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
Moses could not enter the tent of meeting
because the cloud had settled on it, and the
glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever
the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle,
they would set out, but if the cloud didn't
lift, they did not set out - until the day
it lifted. So the cloud of the Lord was
over the tabernacle by day, and the fire was
in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the
house of Israel during all their travels."
(Chapter 40)
This great series of events beginning
with the birth of Moses and his rescue from
the Nile, foreshadowing Israel's deliverance
from Egypt, is climaxed. From now on Israel
marches through the desert in the Lord's
presence who leads them to the land
of the fulfilled promises.
HERE ARE SOME MAIN POINTS FROM EXODUS:
1. Remember that God's timing is right
though it may make no sense to you at
all. Moses went from a king's palace
to years in the bush before God had
him ready for his mission.
(Chapter 1)
2. When God sends you on a mission don't
try to get out of it by making
excuses about your ability to do it.
He chose you BECAUSE with Him nothing
is impossible.
(Chapter 2)
3. Together with other believers, you may
experience suffering, but, in His time and
when it's best for you you'll be set free.
(Chapters 3-12)
4. If you think God is giving you a "raw deal"
when you are doing what He has told you to
do, "get it off your chest" and tell Him.
(Chapter 5)
5. God always keeps His word, but in the
struggle of everyday life, it's easy to lose
sight of this. Blistered hands from brick
-making were more real to the Israelites in
Egypt than God's promise given 400 years
earlier that He would save them. This trust
in God won't necessarily get you out of
difficult circumstances but it helps you
keep the circumstances in perspective.
6. Gain spiritual strength from the overall
message that God:
- Is in control of history.
- Uses ordinary frail uncertain fearful
individuals like you (not committees,
organisations or supermen) to truly set
people free from bondage.
- Works miracles - with Him NOTHING is
impossible.
- Is right with you - everpresent to tell
you when to move and when to stop.
- Will provide all your daily physical needs.
- Gives clear instructions on morals,
ethics etc. so you can truly succeed
every day.
- Does all these things because He loves
you and not because you deserve them.
- Is a God of justice, truth, mercy,
faithfulness and holiness (has NO
impurity).
- "Zaps" the "bad guys" - those who
stubbornly reject Him, but only after
giving them repeated opportunities to
believe in Him.
- Makes you part of His family (a church
or gathering of His people). Being
present as your spiritual family head
(God the Holy Spirit), you will share
in His guidance and encouragement.
7. Your age has no bearing on your usefulness
to God. Moses was 80 when he began his
main work.
8. God can achieve many goals through one
action. With the plagues on Egypt God:
- Progressively increased Moses' faith.
- Gave repeated chances for Pharaoh and
his people to believe Him.
- Gave a record for use in teaching
generations of Israelites "That you may
know I am the Lord."
- Taught that He distinguishes between His
people and unbelievers and protects His
own.
- With the death of a "spotless" lamb
marked the escape of Israel from Egypt.
- Instituted a continuing ceremony that
would point forward to Christ ("The lamb
of God who takes away the sign of the
world" - John's gospel Chapter 1, verse
29) with the passover lamb's sacrifice.
9. When you are defenceless with the enemy
roaring towards you and the deep blue
blocking escape, remember Moses' words "Do
not be afraid. Stand firm and see the
deliverance of the Lord. The Lord will
fight for you and you need only to be
still." And this was the man who said
"I can't speak well"!!
(Chapter 4 verse 10)
The Red Sea escape shows God's love. We
are all heading for a total "wipeout" but
God offers escape and new life, not because
we deserve it but because He loves us.
This theme is repeated throughout the book
of Exodus.
10. It was a great speech but Moses, it seems,
preferred a prayer meeting to action. So
God said "Why are you crying out to me?
Tell the Israelites to move on." Make
sure prayer is not an excuse for inaction!
(Chapter 14 verse 15)
11. The best kind of prayer meeting is one
filled with praise for God. This shows a
mature relationship with Him.
(Chapter 15)
Your options in life are basic. You either
try to make yourself happy, (a sure recipe
for failure) or you put God first
and get true happiness from Him.
(Matthew's gospel, Chapter 6, verse
33).
12. If God calls you to be a leader, don't be
discouraged by the fickleness and faith-
lessness of those He calls you to lead.
(Chapter 16)
13. God wants to have daily God to man
and heart to heart talks with you like He
did with Moses. He wants a daily personal
relationship where success comes from
obeying His directions as summed up in the
10 commandments.
14. While the above holds true God is not your
mate. He is to be loved but in respectful
awe. Mt Sinai shook and smoked at God's
presence "so that the fear of God will be
with you to keep you from sinning."
(Chapter 20, verse 20)
15. God wants you to do every single thing
every day His way. Chapters 21-23, verse
9, give examples of His detailed concern
for justice and fair dealing.
16. Give the very best of what you have to the
Lord's service. Second best indicates a
wrong attitude to God and is NOT an option.
17. When you are right with God there is no
need to fear spiritual enemies. God has
gone ahead and defeated them (through the
death and resurrection of Christ).
Nevertheless, not all God's victories are
instantaneous. Step by step success is
sometimes best for your growth.
(Chapter 23)
HERE'S HOW TO GET RIGHT WITH GOD:
God made you in His own image, so you
could enjoy real life, sharing His love,
friendship and creation. He is totally
interested in you, having specially
prepared plans for your life.
God loves you too much to force His plans
upon you. He leaves you free to choose His
way or your own. In fact, everybody begins
by choosing to go their own way - "do their
own thing." This breaks His law of love
and separates us from Him, a spiritual and
physical death penalty. Even so, He
continues to care for us. He shares our
resulting pain and sorrows. The good news
is that He showed the depth of His love for
you by paying your penalty and eliminating
the cause of your separation. He did this
by dying in your place at Calvary and
opening the way for you to be re-united
with Him.
The Cross shows how valuable you are to
Him. All He asks in response to His love
is belief in what Jesus Christ has done
for you and a genuine desire to go His way
rather than your own. If you want to do
this, then tell Him in your own words like
these:
Dear God, I have been going my
own way but now I want to turn
and go your way. I believe you
will forgive all my past sins
and give me a new life as a
member of your family. I
believe the way to do this is
through trust in your Son Jesus
Christ.
Thanks for accepting me.
You have done the most important thing
possible - become a member of God's family.
God now lives within you in the person of
the Holy Spirit. This means you have
become God's masterpiece. You can't be
more special than that. To grow you will
need to meet with other members to give
and receive encouragement.
You can do that by joining a loving and
accepting Christian denominational church
or meeting in your home. Our book, "How
to Meet with God at Home" has details.
The word "church" means a meeting of God's
family (true believers in Jesus Christ).
It does not exist between meetings
because it is not an organisation but an
intermittently observable organism.
18. Don't be swayed by public opinion, always
act in line with God's direction (His Word
in the Bible).
19. Obeying God can bring hardship in an evil
world. So if you are suffering, don't
assume you're out of favour with God.
Check with Him about it.
(Chapter 6)
20. God sees your POTENTIAL not JUST what
you are NOW.
(Chapter 10)
21. God won't always work how YOU think best.
If He doesn't lead you by the shortest
route it's because that route would not
be best FOR YOU. Remember He sees the start
AND the end of the journey.
(Chapter 12)
22. Israel had to be taught repeatedly that
God would provide. Had they REALLY
trusted God they would have been spared
much grief. But God used their experience
by having them repeatedly focus on His
past faithfulness so as to gain confidence
for the future.
(Chapter 23)
So trust God completely and when you fail
keep a record of how He helped you through
and use it to boost your confidence in
Him for the future.
23. When confronted with an "unbeatable"
enemy pray and keep on praying.
(Chapter 17)
24. Give God your exclusive allegiance. He
won't tolerate rivalry or unfaithfulness.
Jealousy (in the right sense) is part of
love.
(Chapter 20)
25. Only God can supply all your needs.
Contentment is found only in Him.
Believe and act on this or you risk
failure by trying to make yourself
happy at others' expense, as shown in
the last five commandments.
(Chapter 20)
26. Only once in history did God say He
wanted a structure where He would meet
with His people. Even then it was
temporary and portable. When He did,
nothing was left to man's imagination.
He gave detailed instructions, using the
skills and materials of His people.
God showed the people He was with them by
a cloud over the structure by day and
fire by night.
(This was a teaching method that was
replaced when God came in the person of
Jesus Christ).
(See Hebrews Chapters 7 - 10)
Significantly, the Ten Commandments were
placed at the centre of the most holy
place in the structure where God would
give Moses commands for the Israelites.
So remember that:
a. Man made structures are unimportant
in God's scheme of things.
b. God is with you.
c. Know and obey His word.
d. God takes His relationship with you
seriously.
27. The first thing anyone saw when entering
the courtyard around the structure was
the altar of sacrifice.
You need to continually remember that
Christ sacrificed Himself so that your
sins could be forgiven, enabling you,
by faith, to become God's child.
28. Keep the Sabbath "So that you may know
that I am the Lord who makes you holy."
This gives you time to recall all
God's blessings. Without it you'll
forget the goal of your life (to love
God and your neighbour -especially by
telling them how to know Him) amid the
rush of daily living. The Sabbath
helps you keep the balance that's
critical for a life of faith in Christ.
(Chapter 31)
29. Beware of "religious leaders" who
compromise and worship practices based
on opinion polls instead of God's Word.
It's all or nothing with God, He won't
accept second best.
30. The "reluctant starter saved Israel's
bacon" so take heart if you feel
inadequate for the task God calls you
to. Those who do God's will are never
failures.
31. The logical conclusion to disobedience
to God is anarchy (and ultimate Auschwitz).
People either worship God (love and obey
Him),or,in one form or another, themselves.
32. Moses' spiritual vitality was shown by
his anger at sin. He had a Christlike
attitude in asking God's forgiveness
for the people's sin and being ready to
be blotted out of God's book as a
substitute for them. By God's
indwelling Holy Spirit you are to be
the same.
(Chapter 32)
33. Say and mean what Moses said to God "If
you are pleased with me, teach me your
ways so I may know you and continue to
find favour in you."
34. Moses couldn't physically see God but He
actually lives in you (as a believer) in
the person of the Holy Spirit.
(Chapter 33)
35. God loves to do things together with you.
He didn't really need Moses' help in
cutting the tablets of stone. He asked
Moses' help to deepen their relationship.
Likewise, the people were asked to help
with the construction of the Tent of
Meeting.
(Chapter 35)
36. God revealed His character to Moses and
He does the same to you. He is:
- Compassionate - Knows and understands
how you feel, being
constantly with you.
- Gracious - He loves you because
He IS love, not
because you deserve
it.
- Slow to Anger
- Abounding in
Love and
Faithfulness - He keeps His word
even if you don't.
- Maintaining
His Love - He doesn't switch it
on and off.
- Forgiving of wickedness, rebellion
and sin (to those who genuinely ask
for forgiveness).
But He does not leave the (unrepentant)
guilty unpunished.
37. God sent Moses and the Israelites
towards the Promised Land demanding
exclusive allegiance. There was to be no
compromising, no expedient adoption of
other cultural practices to appease foreign
powers. Likewise, your walk with Him must
be strictly according to His word and
guided constantly by His Spirit.
(Chapter 34)
38. Generosity with money for God's work is
a mark of commitment.
(Chapter 35)
39. God has given you a skill or skills to be
used for Him. Find what they are, use
them, and don't compare yourself with
others especially if they have more
spectacular ones.
(Chapters 35 & 36)
40. God only once set up a structure for use in
meeting with His people. Fully detailed
instructions were given for its
construction and use including the clothing
and function of its priests. This was
temporary, being replaced by Jesus Christ
Himself, as the letter to the Hebrews
explains.
Bear this in mind concerning modern day
religious structures and systems.
(Chapters 37-39)
41. The Israelites only moved as God
directed. It's essential that you move
and stop in God's service as He directs.
You may be ridiculed for this but
activity other than God directed is just a
waste of time - NOTHING will be
accomplished. (See John's Gospel, Chapter
15, verse 15).
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