January 4, 2021
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Reading along with us in some Exodus? Here’s today’s reading:
Exodus 25 (NIV)
Offerings for the Tabernacle
1The Lordsaid to Moses, 2“Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give. 3These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze;..........Continue Reading
A couple of things I notice in this chapter describing how the Ark of the Covenant should be built.
First-God reminds them several times to follow the directions perfectly
Second-God is so specific on every inch of the Ark
Last-The Ark must have been such an amazingly beautiful, ornate piece….something that would have looked like a little piece of heaven here on earth.
Exodus 25
Details and order matter to God..
Exodus 25
Finally caught up after a couple days I got behind!
Exodus 25
Exodus 25
How neat it would be to see these pieces as the Israelites were instructed to make them. All of the elements mentioned here in this chapter would be in the Holy place. All of them representations of God’s presence and covenant with His people. How beautiful they would be in the materials used and the details described. About 75 pounds of gold would be used on the lampstand alone. I suppose it should be no surprise that the God who created so much beauty and detail in the world would ask for it to be in the place where He would meet with Moses, and by extension with the people of Israel. Twelve loaves of bread would be on the table described here representing the 12 tribes. And the bread was to be before Him at all times.
And yet to think these all point to a greater mediator and a greater presence and a greater covenant established in the blood of Christ. But all reenforce God’s desire to grant access to Him and that He always provides a way if we will only come!
The Israelites have the opportunity to give to God from their heart what they have to give.
“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.”
I always had in my mind the snap shot of Moses receiving the 10 commandments alone written on the stone tablets like in cartoons, but he received way more on the top of the mountain. I wonder if all of the practical commands from chapter 21-23 were also included. Apparently he was also given specific instructions for the tabernacle. I wonder if they were on the tablets.
22There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.