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?

Unprotected Interaction

Unprotected Interaction

Exodus 3: Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. ² And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. ³ Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”

 

⁴ So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!”

 

And he said, “Here I am.”

 

⁵ Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” ⁶ Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.

 

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Moses was a Hebrew who believed in GOD’s direction. He would live with the murder he did for the rest of his life. He fled the murder scene and lived in the desert where he found peace. One day, Moses went a different route to graze the flocks of his father-in-law Jethro. GOD appeared to him as a flame in a bush and told him to remove his sandals, for where he stood was holy ground.

 

My Observations:

• Moses was content to stay in the desert the rest of his life.
• GOD pursued Moses and appeared to him differently than he had ever appeared to anyone before.
• GOD seemed to want a special interaction with Moses that required the physical touch of his feet.

 

I believe when writers use the words “the Angel of LORD,” it usually represents JESUS. But this morning I see more than JESUS here. I see the totality of GOD speaking to Moses. The FATHER, SON and HOLY SPIRIT are present here, versus one entity. If the FATHER spoke, HE could say “I am GOD.” JESUS and the HOLY SPIRIT could say the same thing.

 

Appearing as a fire that did not harm HIS creation seemed like GOD’s way of showing that HE means no harm, but could if HE wanted to. I also believe that it is impossible to comprehend GOD so HE showed HIS appearance to Moses in a unique way.

 

We try to separate GOD into roles and sometimes leave out one entity or another. GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON and GOD the HOLY SPIRIT wanted to interact with HIS creation without any manmade item getting in the way. Moses sin did not block the desire of GOD to want the interaction.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD appear to Moses and why does HE want Moses to remove his sandals?
• Have you ever felt unworthy to have GOD pursue you?
• Is GOD pursuing you  and does HE want you to remove something that blocks a holy interaction with HIM?