Ephod to Remember Mercy

Ephod to Remember Mercy

Exodus 28: ⁵ “They shall take the gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and the fine linen, ⁶ and they shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, artistically worked. ⁷ It shall have two shoulder straps joined at its two edges, and so it shall be joined together. ⁸ And the intricately woven band of the ephod, which is on it, shall be of the same workmanship, made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen.

 

⁹ “Then you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel: ¹⁰ six of their names on one stone and six names on the other stone, in order of their birth. ¹¹ With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel. You shall set them in settings of gold. ¹² And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders as a memorial. ¹³ You shall also make settings of gold, ¹⁴ and you shall make two chains of pure gold like braided cords, and fasten the braided chains to the settings.

 

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GOD told Moses to engrave the names of Israel’s sons onto onyx stones. HE also had Moses make an ephod to hang the two stones.

 

My Observations:

• GOD knew Jacob (Israel) was a scoundrel, yet HE claimed him in HIS family.
• GOD saw the atrocities the sons of Israel did against Joseph and other people, yet HE had their named engraved in rare stones.
• GOD seems to be showing an extreme amount of mercy on the family who was in the lineage of CHRIST.

 

If humans made up the story of JESUS, they would have made it like Hollywood. Everyone in JESUS’s family would be perfect and JESUS would easily defeat evil. But it didn’t happen that way.

 

Israel and his sons were sinners like you and me. Joseph’s own brothers plotted to kill him out of rage and jealousy. Have you ever been jealous or enraged? GOD reveals to us that we need mercy and that HE has shown it. The priest would remember GOD’s mercy on HIS people every time he put on the ephod.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about making the ephod?
• What mercy is GOD showing you right now?
• Have you overlooked GOD’s mercy on you and taken HIS love for granted?

Clothes Used for Acknowledgment

 

Clothes Used for Acknowledgment

Exodus 28: “Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest, Aaron and Aaron’s sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ² And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. ³ So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest. ⁴ And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a skillfully woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. So they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, that he may minister to Me as priest.

 

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GOD told Moses to make holy garments for Aaron and his sons.

 

My Observations:

• GOD enjoys when humans acknowledge HIS use of beauty.
• GOD seemed to have the garments made for the priests to meet with HIM.
• GOD seemed to desire a specific time in which the priest was declared as holy by putting on the garments and having a discussion with HIM.

 

Reverence comes to mind when I see the lengths GOD had Moses go through to make the garments. GOD would supernaturally provide the skills needed to people who would create the garments. The priest was a human who was a sinner. But during the time the priest wore the garment, he would be declared holy.

 

It really stands out to me that GOD enjoys beauty. The garment was not only functional, but beautiful. The priest would feel special and represent the needs of the people in a special way. The garments would not be seen by the masses of people. This was for a meeting between the priest and GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the holy garments?
• What beauty comes to mind that you can acknowledge came from GOD?
• What special skill has GOD gifted you with when HE filled you with the spirit of wisdom?

Lampstand of the Tabernacle

Lampstand of the Tabernacle

Exodus 27: ²⁰ “And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually. ²¹ In the tabernacle of meeting, outside the veil which is before the Testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening until morning before the Lord. It shall be a statute forever to their generations on behalf of the children of Israel.

 

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GOD gave Moses instructions on how to keep the fire of the lampstand burning at each stop.

 

My Observations:

• GOD the FATHER, SON and HOLY SPIRIT showed HIMSELF as fire in a bush to Moses and in a pillar of fire to the children of Israel.
• GOD told Moses that Aaron and his sons, representing the Levitical priests, will tend to the fire.
• GOD wanted a symbolic gesture of showing the people that HE would never leave them and HE could be counted on.

 

When the children of Israel would stop where GOD told them to stop, they would have to erect the tabernacle based on the instructions GOD gave them. The lampstand would be put up and lit until they were told to leave. This meant the priests had to keep olives ready to be pressed into oil. GOD would provide the olives in abundance.

 

GOD wanted you and me to know HE is with us, no matter how things seem. JESUS is the “light” of the world. HE lights up dark paths and eradicates dark thoughts. HE gives HIS light to us to pass on to others. We should never hide the light HE has given us in shame.

 

This symbolic light was to provide encouragement to all people that JESUS has overcome the world. It began with the priests and ended with JESUS being raised from the dead.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about keeping the fire of the tabernacle lampstand?
• What light has GOD given you?
• Is something hindering you from shining GOD’s light on those around you?

A Place of Preparation

 A Place of Preparation

Exodus 27: ⁹ “You shall also make the court of the tabernacle. For the south side there shall be hangings for the court made of fine woven linen, one hundred cubits long for one side. ¹⁰ And its twenty pillars and their twenty sockets shall be bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their bands shall be silver. ¹¹ Likewise along the length of the north side there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, with its twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of bronze, and the hooks of the pillars and their bands of silver.

 

¹² “And along the width of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits, with their ten pillars and their ten sockets. ¹³ The width of the court on the east side shall be fifty cubits. ¹⁴ The hangings on one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three sockets. ¹⁵ And on the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three sockets.

 

¹⁶ “For the gate of the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver. It shall have four pillars and four sockets. ¹⁷ All the pillars around the court shall have bands of silver; their hooks shall be of silver and their sockets of bronze. ¹⁸ The length of the court shall be one hundred cubits, the width fifty throughout, and the height five cubits, made of fine woven linen, and its sockets of bronze. ¹⁹ All the utensils of the tabernacle for all its service, all its pegs, and all the pegs of the court, shall be of bronze.

 

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GOD gave Moses instructions on how to build a courtyard for the tabernacle.

 

My Observations:

• GOD seemed to be providing a place for the high priest to transition from the day to day, to getting ready to meet with the Most High GOD.
• GOD gave very specific numbers of pillars.
• GOD used a mixture of bronze and silver.

 

To prepare the high priest for meeting GOD, a courtyard was arranged to transition the mindset from whatever was going on, to focusing on meeting with GOD. This shows that GOD was to be handled with reverence, though the formality was disassembled when JESUS died on the cross.

 

Later, when prophets saw a glimpse of GOD, they trembled at HIS sight. Sixty pillars would be needed in the construction. Twenty for the south, twenty for the north, ten for the west and ten for the east. GOD gave specific instructions for the pillars on the east. GOD wants us to prepare ourselves when speaking with HIM.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the courtyard and the pillars?
• Has GOD become common to you?
• How are you viewing GOD in your life?

Altar of the Tabernacle

Altar of the Tabernacle

Exodus 27: “You shall make an altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide—the altar shall be square—and its height shall be three cubits. ² You shall make its horns on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it. And you shall overlay it with bronze. ³ Also you shall make its pans to receive its ashes, and its shovels and its basins and its forks and its firepans; you shall make all its utensils of bronze. ⁴ You shall make a grate for it, a network of bronze; and on the network you shall make four bronze rings at its four corners. ⁵ You shall put it under the rim of the altar beneath, that the network may be midway up the altar. ⁶ And you shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. ⁷ The poles shall be put in the rings, and the poles shall be on the two sides of the altar to bear it. ⁸ You shall make it hollow with boards; as it was shown you on the mountain, so shall they make it.

 

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GOD gave Moses specific instruction on how to make an altar to sacrifice animals to HIM.

 

My Observations:

• GOD expected specific animals to be sacrificed at specific times for specific reasons.
• GOD chose bronze as the metal which could withstand heat and maintain integrity.
• GOD knew the sacrifice would be messy, so HE had Moses build a way to clean it.

 

Sacrifices would be a reminder of Adam and Eve’s sin and for the need of bloodshed to atone for sin. GOD killed an animal to cover Adam and Eve. But HE also died for our sins, showing humans that HIS blood was needed to save humanity.

 

The altar would be able to transfer ashes and blood away from the top. Cleaning the altar was thought of in the design. Bronze is made of copper and tin. Neither metal is mentioned in the revelation of heaven, only gold. GOD also knew the children of Israel would need to cary the altar around, so HE designed a way to carry it. GOD was pointing to the sacrifice of JESUS.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the details of the altar?
• Has GOD ever given you specific instructions?
• How often do you remember the sacrifice JESUS made for you?

Important Veil

Important Veil

Exodus 26: ³¹ “You shall make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen. It shall be woven with an artistic design of cherubim. ³² You shall hang it upon the four pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold. Their hooks shall be gold, upon four sockets of silver. ³³ And you shall hang the veil from the clasps. Then you shall bring the ark of the Testimony in there, behind the veil. The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the Most Holy. ³⁴ You shall put the mercy seat upon the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy. ³⁵ You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand across from the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south; and you shall put the table on the north side.

 

³⁶ “You shall make a screen for the door of the tabernacle, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver. ³⁷ And you shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold; their hooks shall be gold, and you shall cast five sockets of bronze for them.

 

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GOD provided Moses with the final instructions to build the tabernacle. HE gave the measurements of the veil that would be used to divide the holy place from the most holy place.

 

My Observations:

• GOD established a place and a process of temporarily forgiving sins through a remediator, namely a high priest.
• GOD required a certain amount of formality that HE taught the children of Israel.
• GOD had Moses make a veil to protect other people from HIS glory.

 

Keeping the people safe was GOD’s number one purpose. If HE wanted to harm humans HE would not have gone through the lengths that HE did to have them make the tabernacle in this fashion. GOD was planning to meet with humans to provide guidance and to forgive sins.

 

Humans would be able to listen to GOD and surrender what they were doing to be led by GOD. The ark of the Testimony would be behind the veil. Moses was not given the instructions of the contents of the ark yet. But the ark was supposed to carry remnants of how GOD provided. GOD was building a temporary tent to meet with humans to forgive sins and to be with them.

 

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the veil measurements?
• Has GOD told you to do something and is providing protection in the thing HE told you to do?
• What lengths has GOD taken to show you mercy, forgiveness and love?

Holding the Structure Together

Holding the Structure Together

Exodus 26: ²⁶ “And you shall make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards on one side of the tabernacle, ²⁷ five bars for the boards on the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the far side westward. ²⁸ The middle bar shall pass through the midst of the boards from end to end. ²⁹ You shall overlay the boards with gold, make their rings of gold as holders for the bars, and overlay the bars with gold. ³⁰ And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain.

 

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GOD provided Moses with the instructions on how to hold the temporary structure together.

 

My Observations:

• GOD wanted the children of Israel to succeed, so HE gave very detailed instructions.
• GOD wanted the structure to be held together in a sturdy fashion.
• GOD wanted to be with HIS people without the distractions of the structure falling apart.

 

Providing the engineering of how to keep the structure together seems to be a pattern that GOD showed before. When HE gave Noah specific instructions, HE used the ark to save humanity. This time HIS reason for building the tabernacle was to be with HIS creation and guide them daily.

 

GOD told Moses t use strong wood, overlayed with a substance that came from heaven, namely gold. Gold was not currency to GOD, rather building material. HE was preparing a place to have safe discussions with HIM so the people would not be harmed by HIS presence. GOD could not risk a panel or a curtain falling down, exposing the high priest to HIS glory, which would kill a person instantly.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the bars that would hold the tabernacle together?
• Has GOD indicated to you that HE wants to be with you?
• How is GOD showing you that HE wants a strong stable relationship with HIM?