Week 49, Day 3: Year Two
Today’s Reading: Numbers 1:1-54
Some thoughts from the reading..
The book of Numbers begins with the Lord speaking to Moses at Mount Sinai. It is now the beginning of the second year since Israel came up out of Egypt. The Lord commands a census be taken of all the men of Israel who are twenty years old and older. The Lord names twelve leaders, one from each tribe, to be a part of the census. Israel is numbered to have 603,550 men in it. Keep this number in mind as we follow Israel through their wilderness journey. You have a nation moving through a wilderness. This will not be a small endeavor to get them to their journey’s end. Surely from man’s perspective this would be an impossible thing to do. But as we have already seen, God is providing for and guiding them. Although the numbers are so great, God provides for them all they need to survive in the wilderness and come to their new home.
Question: Why do you think the Levites were exempt from the census? Which tribe now takes their place in the census?
Week 45, Day 5: According to all
Today’s Reading: Exodus 39:1-43
Some thoughts from the reading..
After completing the tent and the garments for the priest, we are told that they had done all the work according to all the Lord had commanded them. This phrase is repeated several times, vrs 21, 26, 29, 31, 32, 42. This chapter ends by saying that Moses then blessed them. If we want to be blessed by the Lord, if we want to receive His favor then it will be by doing what God tells us to. Being faithful means that we do our best to remain true to what God has instructed of us. When the Lord returns may we be found in a similar condition. That we have done what the Lord has told us to do.
Week 45, Day 3: The work continues
Today’s Reading: Exodus 37:1-29
Some thoughts from the reading..
Sometimes we are not thrilled at reading some OT passages because we get lost in all the details. Leviticus is a good example of passages that people often do not read because they give so much detail. Chapter 37 gives us the record of Bezelel’s work to construct the items for the tent of meeting. I want to ask you why would it be beneficial for such things to be recorded? I want to suggest that we need to remember that some of these details might have been important for the Israelites to have. After the items inside the tent were made and dedicated, who would see them? These items would not be visible to just anyone. And most of the people would never be able to see them. In particular the ark was covered before being transported. It wasn’t like anyone could swing by the Holy of holies to go chek things out. Some of these details might serve as an aid for the everyday Israelite to be able to visualize for themselves the majesty of such items and to picture what they looked like. Mankind did not have easy ways to pass out photos or make convenient visual aids to explain things. Such passages as chapter 37 can help reinforce a persons ability to “see” and understand what they would never be able to be near.
Question: Thinking about things that most Israelites would never see but had to envision, what things do Christians hold to and yet have never seen or touched?
Week 45, Day 2: The tent is started
Today’s Reading: Exodus 36:1-38
Some thoughts from the reading..
Chapter 36 is a pretty simple chapter. The construction of the tent is begun. Most of the work appears to have been done by Bezalel. Notice how many times it says “then he made”. This man was very instrumental in performing the task at hand. But lest we forget, this man’s abilities were given to him by God (31:1-11). He had been given his knowledge and wisdom directly from God.
When we see people today who are talented athletes or artists what do you normally associate with them? Do you think of them as humble individuals who thank God for their talents? I see the gifts and abilities given to Bezalel as an example of how we need to not let our talents go to our head. Whatever abilities or talents that each of us have, they are abilities that God has granted us. We should always be thankful that we are who we are.
Question: What abilities do you have that you should be thankful to God for (sense of humor, people skills, craftmanship, work skills, etc)?
Week 45, Day 1: Provisions for the work
Today’s Reading: Exodus 35:1-35
Some thoughts from the reading..
Chapter 35 records the laying of the foundation for building the tent. Moses speaks to the congregation and tells them that “whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as the Lord’s contribution” (vs. 5). The people are to bring forth contributions towards the construction of the tent. After Moses speaks to them they depart and those whose hearts were stirred (vs. 21) began to bring their gifts of gold, silver, bronze, blue, purple, scarlet material and others. As we will see they gave generously. This is one of the times where Israel shines. They show an outpouring of good and dedication to seeing the work get done.
This account makes me think about how Christians are supposed to give. They are to give generously and with cheerfullness. I believe that often Christians loose their sense of generocity and cheerfulness when they loose sight of why we give. Israel gave abundantly when they saw a purpose to their giving. We do not need to ever forget the good that is done when we give to the work of the Lord’s church. Teaching of His word, providing for His people. Much good is done. Let us not forget these things when it comes times for us to give on the first day of the week.
Week 44, Day 5: Replacing the tablets
Today’s Reading: Exodus 34:1-35
Some thoughts from the reading..
Moses destroyed the first set of tablets which God had given to him on Mount Sinai when he saw Israel’s idolatrous practices. God instructs Moses to cut another two tablets as he had done previously and to go back up on the moutain. The tablets and the covenant are renewed. Moses is on the mountain for another 40 days and 40 nights. But this time the people do not assume he is not coming back down and go astray.
When Moses comes down from the mountain something has happened to him. The skin of his face shone. You can understand that when the people first saw this, they fled from him. Moses is able to get Aaron and the rulers in the congregation to come to him. After speaking to the people he then places a veil over his face. This is all very interesting to me since it is an impressive picture to imagine. Also, it is interesting to consider why his face shone. Whatever the reason this is an intriguing and interesting event to imagine. Moses continues to show his reverence toward God by removing the veil whenever he went to speak with God. Moses showed respect by this action.
Question: Paul refers to Moses’s face shining and the veil he wore in 2 Cor 3:12-18. What point(s) does Paul make in this section of scripture? Also, why does Paul say that Moses put the veil over his face?
Week 44, Day 4: Face to Face
Today’s Reading: Exodus 33:1-23
Some thoughts from the reading..
After the golden calf, there is a discourse between God and Moses about whether or not God will continue His presence among Israel as they journey on. God says that He might destroy them (vs. 3). These obstinate people might go on further to incite God’s wrath and He would destroy them. Moses pleads with God to continue on with them. The text tells us that Moses would speak face to face with God (vs. 11). I believe this phrase refers to the close relationship that Moses had with God. Verse 12 tells us that Moses had found favor in God’s sight and verse 11 mentions that God would speak to Moses “just as a man speaks to his friend”. Moses never saw the face of God since we are told to do so would result in death (verse 20). Speaking “face to face” with God is a phrase that relates the manner in which they communicated. God did not speak to Moses through sending a prophet, angels or through visions. Rather Moses could go to the tent of meeting and God would meet him there to discuss things. Thus they had dialogue between one another. Quite amazing. When you consider the how special this kind of relationship is, it should impress us. I cannot think of another person with whom God had such open communication with. Very interesting to consider.
Question: What was it about Moses that made him find favor in God’s sight?
Week 44, Day 3: The golden calf
Today’s Reading: Exodus 32:1-35
Some thoughts from the reading..
When Moses did not come back down from the mountain right away, the people decide that they want Aaron to make them a god. What stands out to me is the thought that Aaron went along with making this idol. Aaron had been with Moses when all the plagues were brought upon Egypt and would later serve as the high priest in presenting the sacrifices. He is the one who directs the people to give their gold over and fashions this calf. I think Moses’ question in verse 21 is rightly asked, “What did this people do to you, that you have brought such great sin upon them?” Aaron had the opportunity to try and restrain the people, to make a stand for what is right, and to remind the people of what they have pledged to do. What happened? It just amazes me to think about how things turned so quickly from a good situation to being so out of control that Moses sends the Levites through to kill some of the people to restore order.
Question: What lessons can we learn about peer pressure from what Aaron did?
Week 44, Day 2: Keeping the Sabbath
Today’s Reading: Exodus 31:1-18
Some thoughts from the reading..
We are coming to the end of the 40 day period that Moses spent on mount Sinai (Exo 24:18). So the instructions given between chapters 25 & 31 are some of the instructions given to Moses during those 40 days. In this chapter we are told that God has filled given certain men to do the work of making the tent of meeting and the articles to go inside. It has been suggested that a nation of slaves would not have been used for skilled labor. Among the slaves you would of had brick making, construction and serving of some sorts but not necessarily the slaves being taught a skilled trade like metal working. So it is suggested that this is perhaps why God would give these men a spirit of wisdom in understanding , in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship. They needed God’s help to be able to complete His instructions to build the tent of meeting.
Moses is also warned about the importance of keeping the Sabbath. It is a sign between God and them that He has sanctified them. Any of Israel who didn’t keep this command were to be killed. This is how important it was for them to keep the Sabbath.
Question: Why do Christians not observe the Sabbath today?
Week 44, Day 1: The altar of incense
Today’s Reading: Exodus 30:1-38
Some thoughts from the reading…
It seems interesting to me that after the instructions about the construction of the tent of meeting and the articles to go inside, we now have instruction given regarding the altar of incense and the laver for washing. Whatever reason for mentioning these articles now, there are some points that stand out to me from this section of instructions. First, God warned them to not offer any “strange” incense on this altar (verse 9). Remember that Nadab and Abihu were killed because they offered strange fire upon the altar (Lev 10:1). The Lord gave specific instruction on what incense to use on the altar (verses 34-38). Strange incense is any other kind, type, variation of this specified incense. Altering or subsituting another incense is what would make it strange incense. In Nadab & Abihu’s case, the strange fire was fire that came from a different source (location) than where they were to take the fire.
The second thing that I think is a good point to note is in verse 13-15. Each person of Israel was to pay a half shekel to the Lord as a ransom for himself (vs. 12). I note this because whether rich or poor, the same amount was to be paid by each person. This indicates that each person was worth the same. They each had to pay the same price for their ransom, no matter their riches. The value of a person is not in their possessions. When we stand before God on the day of judgment we will all answer for our own actions regardless of what we have accumulated during this lifetime. And no matter how much we have, we will not be able to buy our way out of what is justly due.