Those That Minister & Build
God not only cares about the construction of the tabernacle and its contents, but he cares about the priestly line mediating between Him and His people. We’ll see the people respond to God’s call to minister and build by bringing their materials and abilities to steward and shape the Kingdom of God.
Watch this week’s teaching video here:
The Tabernacle Part 2
The Lord desires the people of Israel to know and experience His holiness and His glory through the construction of the tabernacle and contents of the outer court. They point us to the ultimate sacrifice and a better High Priest in Jesus Christ.
THE TABERNACLE PART 1
God’s specific instruction to His people in the building of the sanctuary displays His love and affection. Each specific instruction shadows a truth about Christ, the One who would choose to tabernacle among us.
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God calls His people to live distinctly. His law shows how He cares for our worship, all of human life, our stuff, our holiness, and His glory. The way we live and love displays our affection for Him.
This section of Exodus is known as the Book of the Covenant. These are laws that expound upon the 10 Commandments in specific ways. Some of these laws are written for a specific time and culture and others hold timeless moral principles we still abide by today.
The people of God would verbally commit to keeping these laws and God knowing they couldn’t do it on their own, provided a way for them to be covered and covenanted to Him through a blood sacrifice.
7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.”
8 Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” (Exodus 24:7-8)
Even in the law, there is grace. Blood shed and poured on the people so that they might behold the King.
Listen to this week’s teaching here:
The Ten Commandments
12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”
20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”
21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
Love God and love your neighbor as yourself. This week we’ll see God’s law of love commanded to His people in how they are to treat others.
1 And God spoke all these words, saying,
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work,10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
This week we see the beginning of the covenant and commands for God’s people given to help them flourish in fellowship with Him. The 10 commandments help us see the law of love and the love in His law. Watch this week’s teaching video here:
1 On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, 3 while Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” (Exodus 19:1-6)
Freed from oppression and bondage, across the Red Sea, and through the wilderness, the people of God have arrived at the foot of the mountain. This was it. This is what was promised in Exodus 3:12, 12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
So they’re here, at the foot of the mountain, where they’ll camp for the rest of Exodus-for the giving of the law, the building of the tabernacle and a bunch of shenanigans in between.
The Lord leading His people to the foot of this mountain is His way of saying: I promised this way before you guys even started moving. Long before Moses even embraced His calling and went before Pharaoh, before the oppression, before the plagues, before the Passover, before the Red Sea, before the manna and water and war: I, the LORD YOUR GOD, told you I would bring you to this mountain. I’m tried and true. Faithful and steadfast. I have fulfilled what I promised. And I’m just getting started.
God is revealing more of His covenant with His people and these next few weeks (Exodus 19-24) we will see the Mosaic Covenant unfold. This week, we’ll see how God’s love is displayed to His people by reminding them of the covenant, calling them to prepare, and displaying his power, presence, and purpose to the people of Israel.
19:1-8 God’s Fulfilled Promise
19:9-15 God’s Call to Prepare
19:16-25 God’s Power and Presence
20:1-21 God’s Purpose and the People’s Response
Watch this week’s teaching here:
Exodus is the 2nd book in the Bible, written by Moses sometime between 1450-1410 b.c. to the 2nd generation of Israel. It is a historical narrative that points us to the major theme of redemption. This book shows us how God is faithful to fulfill His covenant promises and redeem His people. It is a smaller story that points us to the greater story of the entire bible: the redemption of mankind in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
We are all a part of this story. Our stories fold into God’s story. What season do you find yourself in as you start this study? What sin, suffering, circumstances are you bringing to God and His people to better understand His story for you life? This intro is an invitation to bring it to the light, to uncover the places of doubt and struggle in your own life and ask God to redeem them.
Watch the overview and intro to the second part of Exodus below:
This week, we’ll wrap up the first part of Exodus by looking at 7 lessons of leadership from Moses’ life.
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From deliverance to grumbling. This week, God will test the Israelites in the wilderness to reveal the attitude of their hearts, the allegiance of their hearts, and the affection of the hearts.
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Melissa Danisi 