Today's Reading:

Exodus 33
Exodus 34
Exodus 35
Exodus 36

 
God was so upset with the Israelites for breaking their covenant and making a Golden Calf, He told them to leave Mount Sinai and head for the Promise Land- “the land flowing of milk and honey” highlighted fertility: the “milk”, primarily from goats pointed to lush pastures and abundant grazing that allowed herds to thrive and produce, while the “honey” date syrup from overflowing palm trees, and bee honey reflected the land’s wildflowers, fruits, and vegetation that yields natural sweetness. The Promise Land was an oasis of lush greenery in the middle of a vast desert. While angry at the incident, God ultimately relented due to Moses interceding for the Israelites. Sending the Israelites on to the Promised Land via an angel leading them instead of His direct presence showed that God upheld His covenant sworn to their ancestors without condoning the sin of the idol they made. They were allowed to move forward with the mission and promise , even though they broke their end of the covenant , showing God’s grace and mercy. 

God so upset, that He called the Israelites a “stiff-necked people”- a vivid image of a stubborn ox that was yoked and refused to be guided. Their persistent rebellion and disobedience showed how they resisted God through His deliverance and miracles. He had them remove their “ornaments” (gold jewelry that was plundered from Egypt) as a symbol of mourning to strip them of joy and status and show their sin. God told Moses to lead the people to the Promised Land but that He would no longer go with them because in His anger He may destroy them on the way. Moses set up a “tent of meeting” (temporary tent until the tabernacle was made) away from the camp to talk to God and intercede again for the Israelites, pleading for Him to remain with them and God agreed. Joshua never left the tent, staying to guard the holy place where Moses would intercede with God on behalf of the Israelites. Moses asked to see God’s glory- the essence of who He is- the Lord said His goodness would pass in front of Moses while he stood in the rock cleft covered by God’s own hand, but Moses was not allowed to see God’s face and still live. God is holy and His willingness to dwell among the flawed people shows His graciousness and mercy.  

In Chapter 34 God gave Moses homework to make a new set of stone tablets where God would write the Commandments again since Moses broke the first set. After another 40 days, Moses came down to the people with the new tablets- his face glowed so bright from being in God’s presence that the people were afraid. To help the Israelites relax, Moses wore a veil over his face but would remove the veil when he would go to the Tent of Meetings to talk with God. In the New Testament (2 Corinthians 3), Paul talked about Moses’ face and that it was real but fading- the veil was just temporary. This pointed to a greater glory that was permanent in Jesus, where believers could go to Him without a veil.  

Exodus 35-36 (and continuing through 40) mirror the instructions given in chapters 25-31, where the first section was God’s detailed commands to Moses on Mount Sinai for building the tabernacle and this section started the actual execution- the people’s offerings, and the skilled workers teaching others how to help. The repeating verses were to emphasize perfect obedience, as the Israelites had just sinned by building the Golden Calf, and to declare the importance of the Tabernacle where God would dwell. The people gave so generously with their free-will offerings they actually had to be told by Moses to stop giving! Bezalel and Oholiab were acknowledged again as chosen by the Lord, filled with the Spirit to teach the workers. The repetition celebrated grace by God as He renewed the covenant, and the people responded with joy, generosity and hard work. What does this reveal in your own heart about generosity and giving so joyfully and abundantly that the leaders would have to say “enough”- showing that we too long for a space where God’s presence can dwell freely among us?  

Today's Discussion question: 

Our gifts to God show that we too long for a space where God’s presence can dwell freely among us.  How is your own heart? Do you give generously, joyfully and so abundantly like the Israelites that the leaders have to say “enough”?

 
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