Behavior When Delayed

Behavior When Delayed

Exodus 32: Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”

 

² And Aaron said to them, “Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” ³ So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. ⁴ And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf.

 

Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!”

 

⁵ So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord.” ⁶ Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

 

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GOD turned from speaking to Moses to observing what the people were doing while Moses was gone. They made an idol, ate food and played.

 

My Observations:

• The children of Israel immediately left GOD when Moses was not around.
• Aaron, who saw GOD do amazing things, made an idol when people pressured him.
• The children of Israel did not go anywhere; rather, they sat, ate food and played.

 

Tired of following the rules, the people wanted something to represent a higher being, but did not want to follow one. They did not need an idol to go somewhere else. They could have simply left and went the way they thought they should go. But instead, they chose to ask for something that represented GOD. They also chose to eat and play, not producing anything or going anywhere.

 

Aaron was not surprising in his actions. He was not ready to lead the people. In fact, Moses asked GOD to bring Aaron along. Aaron did not ask to lead the people out of Egypt, nor did GOD ask him. When he thought he was about to lead, he simply pleased the people.

 

Aaron made a golden calf. This seems to represent commerce. The children of Israel came into Egypt tending herds by the advice of Joseph. They could see their economic growth based on this industry icon. We do the same when we celebrate economic success that is not based on GOD’s direction. GOD saw the people leaving HIM in droves.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about what the people did when he was on the mountain?
• Has GOD delayed your dream?
• How do you behave when GOD has delayed your dream and it seems like the leading is gone?

 

Rest Example

Rest Example

Exodus 31: ¹² And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ¹³ “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. ¹⁴ You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. ¹⁵ Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. ¹⁶ Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. ¹⁷ It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’ ”

 

¹⁸ And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.

 

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GOD told Moses to tell the children of Israel to rest on the seventh day. They were to refrain from working and rest, just as the LORD did.

 

My Observations:

• GOD made humans with the limitation of needing rest.
• GOD cursed the earth and caused it to need workers to produce food.
• Humans have a tendency to get nervous or greedy, therefore GOD addressed these mindsets by providing a structure of rest.

 

You would think this would be the easiest law to abide in, but it isn’t. When Satan made humans fall, he introduced anxiousness, lusts and power insatiability. Human accomplishments of creating food, shelter and clothing would cause us to forget GOD when HE was the provider.

 

GOD wanted an entire day where humans would get replenished. Renewing the mind was just as important as rejuvenating the body. Humans were not supposed to think of work on the Sabbath. Their minds were supposed to be focused on GOD and to communicate directly with HIM. GOD allows us to have thing to work on, but HE doesn’t want that thing to have us.

 

GOD also said HE rested on the seventh day. GOD does not need rest, but wanted humans to follow HIS very intentional example. In other words, if GOD, who does not need rest, rested, you should as well.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the Sabbath again?
• What is GOD saying to you about rest?
• Can you take time to rest and to reflect on getting renewed and replenished?

Anointed Skills

Anointed Skills

Exodus 31: Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ² “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. ³ And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, ⁴ to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, ⁵ in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.

 

⁶ “And I, indeed I, have appointed with him Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and I have put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans, that they may make all that I have commanded you: ⁷ the tabernacle of meeting, the ark of the Testimony and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furniture of the tabernacle— ⁸ the table and its utensils, the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils, the altar of incense, ⁹ the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the laver and its base— ¹⁰ the garments of ministry, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, to minister as priests, ¹¹ and the anointing oil and sweet incense for the holy place. According to all that I have commanded you they shall do.”

 

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GOD told Moses who HE gave special skills to. HE wanted Moses to gather the people together to make the tabernacle and all that GOD told him to make.

 

My Observations:

• GOD appoints humans with a variety of gifts and talents for HIS glory.
• Humans can use their gifted talents for GOD’s purpose or their own.
• GOD is aware of all skills humans have and knows when they are used for HIM or not.

 

I strongly believe that each human has a special giftedness that is given by GOD. There are some that are used in churches, but most of the gifts we have are given to us by GOD to do daily work or to create great works.

 

When GOD made humans in HIS image, HE also meant for us to be able to create things like HIM. We have to use the stuff HE created to create things. GOD chose Bezalel, Aholiab, and many others to use their creativity to follow HIS instructions. GOD wanted humans involved in the atonement process and desired for them to use their artistry.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the people HE gave skills to?
• Has GOD given you gifts and talents you overlook or take for granted?
• How will you use your gifts and talents to bring people to GOD and to raise people up to HIM?

Gifted and Skilled

Gifted and Skilled

Exodus 30: ³⁴ And the Lord said to Moses: “Take sweet spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, and pure frankincense with these sweet spices; there shall be equal amounts of each. ³⁵ You shall make of these an incense, a compound according to the art of the perfumer, salted, pure, and holy. ³⁶ And you shall beat some of it very fine, and put some of it before the Testimony in the tabernacle of meeting where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you. ³⁷ But as for the incense which you shall make, you shall not make any for yourselves, according to its composition. It shall be to you holy for the Lord. ³⁸ Whoever makes any like it, to smell it, he shall be cut off from his people.”

 

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GOD gave Moses strict instruction on how to make the incense.

 

My Observations:

• GOD gave certain people gifts and skills to make perfume.
• GOD wanted a smell sensory experience for the priest.
• GOD also wanted the smell sensory experience for the skilled worker and the surrounding people.

 

Anyone near the tabernacle would be able to smell the incense when it was burning. This mixture was sacred to GOD and was to be used as a reminder of the atonement of sins. We forget GOD easily. That is what free will is. GOD used the sense of smell as a reminder to focus on HIS grace and mercy for just a moment.

 

If someone tried to make the mixture for a casual purpose, that person was supposed to lose the protection that GOD provided. They would not die, but their choice would leave them on their own, away from GOD. Everyone had to be warned about this. GOD prepared everyone for HIS presence.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the specific instructions to make the incense?
• Has GOD ever given you very specific instructions to further HIS relationship with you?
• Have you reflected on the great lengths GOD has taken to be with you?

Anointed Recipe

Anointed Recipe

Exodus 30: ²² Moreover the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ²³ “Also take for yourself quality spices—five hundred shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much sweet-smelling cinnamon (two hundred and fifty shekels), two hundred and fifty shekels of sweet-smelling cane, ²⁴ five hundred shekels of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil. ²⁵ And you shall make from these a holy anointing oil, an ointment compounded according to the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy anointing oil. ²⁶ With it you shall anoint the tabernacle of meeting and the ark of the Testimony; ²⁷ the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense; ²⁸ the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the laver and its base. ²⁹ You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy; whatever touches them must be holy. ³⁰ And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister to Me as priests.

 

³¹ “And you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘This shall be a holy anointing oil to Me throughout your generations. ³² It shall not be poured on man’s flesh; nor shall you make any other like it, according to its composition. It is holy, and it shall be holy to you. ³³ Whoever compounds any like it, or whoever puts any of it on an outsider, shall be cut off from his people.’ ”

 

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GOD gave Moses instructions on purchasing the ingredients of the Holy Anointing Oil.

 

My Observations:

• GOD switched from measurements to purchase amounts when it came to the ingredients of the Anointing oil.
• The priests were expected to pay for the ingredients versus having them donated.
• The ingredients, once mixed together, would be declared holy by GOD and its use was sacred.

 

After GOD flooded the earth, Noah sent out a dove that returned with an olive branch. This represented peace between humans and GOD. The wrath was over. GOD introduced another sensory experience that the priest would experience. The aroma of the anointing oil would keep the priest focused on the task at hand, namely atonement for sins.

 

Each item in the holy of holies location was to be anointed with the special oil. Aaron and his sons would also require Moses to anoint them. The mixture needed a human touch versus being poured over the head. This symbolic touch declared the recipient as holy. GOD took the anointing process seriously.

 

Challenge:

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the anointing oil?
• Is GOD meticulously doing things in your life?
• What is GOD anointing you to do?

Basin of Motive

Basin of Motive

Exodus 30: ¹⁷ Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ¹⁸ “You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base also of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. And you shall put water in it, ¹⁹ for Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in water from it. ²⁰ When they go into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to the Lord, they shall wash with water, lest they die. ²¹ So they shall wash their hands and their feet, lest they die. And it shall be a statute forever to them—to him and his descendants throughout their generations.”

 

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GOD told Moses to make a basin for Aaron and his sons to wash their hands and their feet.

 

My Observations:

• GOD seems to be addressing clean hands, meaning righteousness.
• GOD seems to be addressing clean feet, meaning reason for being at a place.
• GOD warns the priests that their motive for being there could atone for the people or cause the priest to die.

 

Motive was addressed by JESUS when the activity of washing was done by the Pharisees. Looking clean on the outside while being corrupt on the inside was the problem GOD had with religious leaders. This symbolic cleaning would turn into a ritual that made religious leaders think they were more holy than they really were.

 

GOD seems to want our motive to be aligned with HIS. HE wants all humans to be saved while we want humans to admire us over HIM. Do you see the conflict? When we tell GOD that we don’t seem to have the right motive, HE is faithful and just to cleanse us of that unrighteousness. GOD is the only one who can clean the inside so our motives align with HIS.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about making the basin?
• What are you putting before the LORD that needs cleansing?
• Have you asked GOD to examine your motives so HE can clean them and align them to HIS purpose?

Atonement Census

Atonement Census

Exodus 30: ¹¹ Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ¹² “When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the Lord, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them. ¹³ This is what everyone among those who are numbered shall give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs). The half-shekel shall be an offering to the Lord. ¹⁴ Everyone included among those who are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering to the Lord. ¹⁵ The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when you give an offering to the Lord, to make atonement for yourselves. ¹⁶ And you shall take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shall appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of meeting, that it may be a memorial for the children of Israel before the Lord, to make atonement for yourselves.”

 

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GOD told Moses to take an annual census and to collect a half a shekel for every adult.

 

My Observations:

• A half a shekel would equate to about five dollars for every adult.
• Children were excluded in the amount, so therefore there is a time in which innocence becomes a decision.
• The tabernacle was supposed to be used for the atonement of sins and needed to be kept up.

 

Once a year, a census would be taken to service the tabernacle. The same GOD that inspired Timothy to write “A workman is worth his wages,” is the same GOD who wanted the tabernacle cleaned and repaired. The money did not seem to be for the priests, rather the workers who would clean the curtains, and wash the altar.

 

It would take a lot of people to maintain the tabernacle when it was disassembled. Equal amounts would be given by the rich and the poor to maintain the tabernacle. The importance of this place was to atone for sins. Each year everyone needed to chip in to remember what GOD was doing in the forgiveness of sin.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the upkeep of the tabernacle?
• Is GOD opening your eyes to the importance of atonement to HIM?
• How do you remember and support what JESUS did for you?