Can you believe that we have actually read through ALL of Exodus? We've seen the growth and oppression of the children of Israel, the birth and adoption of Moses, the burning bush, the plagues, and the miraculous escape through the Red Sea. We've watched the Israelites complain, turn away from God, and rededicate their lives. Moses met with God on the mountain and returned with new guidelines for living, and the Israelites donated time and treasures to create the tabernacle in which God resides.

Today I tried to determine my favorite part of the book...it was tough! But I decided on Exodus 34:29-35.

Text:

29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. 32 Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai.
33 When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. 34 But whenever he entered the LORD's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Being in the presence of God not only changed Moses' heart, it changed his physical appearance, too. He had such a glow about him that others couldn't bear to look upon him and he had to wear a veil to cover the glory of God.

The text says that he wore this veil in between the times he met with God, but whenever he was in God's presence it was removed. I wonder if the glow faded as he was away from God?

I think it's important to link these verses with Paul's reference to the veil in 2 Corinthians 3:13-18:

13We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (NIV)

We are able to reflect God's glory wherever we go. But we have to remember that we can only obtain that glow from God by meeting with him. So get you glow on and get moving!

Exodus Day 9

Today's Reading Exodus 38 - 40

Context: Most of today's reading consists of work details related to the tabernacle and the priestly garments.

Today's Devotion Ex 40:33-36

33 Then Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses finished the work. 34 Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
36 In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; 37 but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. 38 So the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels. (NIV)

Taken from www.biblegateway.com

What emotions do you think the Israelites, and especially Moses, had as they finished erecting the tabernacle? I imagine there was pride in the workmanship and a sense of terror that they forgot something! At this point in history God wasn't too forgiving of disobedience -- with one lightning bolt they could all be toast (literally...).

I always wondered how Moses was able to keep track of all the instructions. We don't have any evidence that he took notes on God's directions...God probably embedded them in Moses' brain.

Imagine the relief they felt when God accepted their work and moved in!

Exodus Day 8

Today's Reading: Exodus 34 - 37
Context: Moses has returned to the mountain for addition instruction and a new set of tablets for the ten commandments.

Today's Devotional Text: Ex 34:18-22

18 "Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in that month you came out of Egypt.
19 "The first offspring of every womb belongs to me, including all the firstborn males of your livestock, whether from herd or flock. 20 Redeem the firstborn donkey with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem all your firstborn sons.
"No one is to appear before me empty-handed.

21 "Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.

22 "Celebrate the Feast of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year. 23 Three times a year all your men are to appear before the Sovereign LORD, the God of Israel. 24 I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your territory, and no one will covet your land when you go up three times each year to appear before the LORD your God. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Today's text holds three areas of improvement for me:

1. Celebrations. Do you celebrate enough? We usually devote a week or so to celebrating Christmas at our house because we have so many different relatives we need to visit with. Easter also deserves special treatment, but after the church service our day often continues on as if it weren't a holiday. We go out to dinner for birthdays, but that is really the extent of celebration for us. God told the Hebrews to celebrate with feasts, worship, and fellowship. I want to work harder at making special days memorable!

2. Sabbath. I think the movement to open the stores on Sunday has done a lot of harm to our remembrance of the Sabbath. While our society doesn't stop laboring like many did in earlier times (after all, if you don't cut the grass on Sunday when will it get done?), but now it seems like just another Saturday filled with errands. How would life change if we all devoted our Sunday's to the work of the Lord?

3. Offering. Look back at verse 20...God says that "no one is to appear before me empty handed." We don't have the types of sacrifices that were required under Hebrew law, but how often to I appear before the Lord empty handed? I pray for his protection and blessing on my day, but I don't really hand my day over to him...I really want him to protect and bless the things I have planned. What am I willing to take to God each day? This is an area I need to pay more attention to!

Think about the four chapters you read today...what is God telling you to work on?

Exodus Day 7

Today's Reading: Exodus 30 - 33
Context: God has finished with his instructions to Moses and has given him a tablet with the ten commandments. God became upset at the people because they created and worshipped a golden calf. God told Moses that he would no longer lead the way for the people in the desert because he was afraid he'd kill them if he got near! Moses has been arguing with him.

Today's Devotion Text:

7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the "tent of meeting." Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent. 11 The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

We see Joshua in the text today in two places. He met with Moses after God gave the ten commandments, and it almost seems like he didn' t really know what was going on with the people -- maybe he (Joshua) stayed outside of the camp the entire time Moses was gone.

Here again, in today's devotion text, Joshua is right by Moses' side -- even in the tent of meeting! When Moses finishes talking with God he returns to the camp, but Joshua stays behind. Did Joshua hear God speak, too? Was he guarding the tent, or was God preparing him in some way for his future leadership role? Whatever the reason, Joshua seems to have set himself apart from the influence of the crowd.

Where do you see yourself in today's reading? Like Moses, do you seek the will of God? Are you a key supporter of one of God's chosen? Do you turn quickly to other gods like the Israelites did? Do you cave to peer pressure like Aaron? Do you stand quickly when asked if you support God like the Levites did?

What role do you want to play?

Exodus - Day 6

Did you read Exodus 21-24 over the weekend? We're jumping right into the Exodus 25-29 for today's reading.

Context: Moses is on the holy mountain and God is giving him instruction. In the past four chapters he has talked about laws related to Hebrew servants, personal injuries, protection of property, social responsibility, justice and mercy, annual festivals, and he has confirmed the covenant. In today's reading God has given detailed instructions for the building of the ark of the covenant, the tabernacle, and the items to go into the tabernacle.

Ex 27:1-5
1 "Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests. 2 Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron, to give him dignity and honor. 3 Tell all the skilled men to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest. 4 These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests. 5 Have them use gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Many years before Moses appeared before Pharaoh to request the release of the Hebrew people, God was preparing his elect for the work that was to come. There were many men (and women?) who learned sewing, wood working, metal working, and construction at the feet of skilled craftsmen. They had years to practice these crafts, becoming very skilled in their own right. Now, after they have been taken away from everything they know, God is giving them the job of a lifetime -- to create a tabernacle and to outfit God's own holy priests in a manner defined by God himself.

Did you catch verse 3 above? "Tell all the skilled men to whom I have given wisdom in such matters..." Through the course of their lives God has prepared them with skill and wisdom. I'm sure there were days in the lives of each of these craftsmen when they questioned their choice of career. It was too difficult to learn, and their backs, arms, and fingers cramped. they destroyed several items out of foolishness, carelessness, and ignorance before they became proficient enough to turn out something of value. I'm sure there were days when they thought they should quit (perhaps prompted by the criticism of the knowledgeable craftsmen they apprenticed for).

But God was preparing them for this very moment. He watched as they smashed their thumbs, burned their arms, and bled from the prick of the needle.

What difficult lessons or skills are you learning that may be part of God's training regime?

NOTE: I am giving away two copies of "Closer Than Your Skin" on by book review blog today. This book helps you learn how to develop closer communication with God so you can better understand his will and more tangibly feel his love! Leave an e-mail address or some other way that I can contact you in case you win!

Exodus Day 5

Read Exodus 17 - 20

Today's Devotion:
Read Exodus 17-20

I'm really having trouble choosing just one series of verses from this text, so I decided to just list some of the questions and thoughts I had while going through these chapters. I hope it causes you to read the text and come up with some of your own questions!

1. Ex 17:1 Isn't it interesting that they are traveling in the Desert of Sin??? I didn't notice that yesterday. Was it called that before they started, or was that the name given to it because it was where they sinned?

2. Ex 17:2 Why did God wait to provide water until the people grumbled? Did they grumble without first asking God to provide it for them? How often do I complain about something without going to God first? Way too often...

3. Ex 17:3 Already the Israelites were planning to return to Egypt...what they remembered as full pots of meat sound much better than manna day after day. But they have forgotten the reality of slavery and the poverty they were forced into. Sin is like that -- it's really tempting to go back to, but we quickly forget the painful side of our life back then.

4. Ex 17:14 God told Moses to record the battle against the Amalekites and to be sure Joshua heard it. Joshua was leading the battle, but he didn't realize the true reason for the win...that Moses was on the hill worshipping God. This is one of the first hints we have that Joshua will be important in Israeli history.

5. Ex 18:2 Moses sent Zipporah away before he actually went into Egypt. I wonder how he had changed since she last saw him? He's been through an amazing spiritual encounter, but she may have been expecting her familiar shepherd.

6. Ex 18:14 Have you ever had a mentor who helped you see a more effective way to do things? How often do we continue struggling with the need to be in charge and responsible for everything instead of delegating?

7. Ex 19:12 Why did God only show himself to Moses and a few others? He set himself apart as one to be feared...such a different God than we see once Christ appears.

8. Ex 20: 17 Don't covet...hmm, it seems like that is one of the biggest problems people in America have today. We always want more...and someone else always has more for us to want! Just think what it would be like if we were all satisfied with what we have?

I'd love to hear about the thoughts you had while reading through the text!

Exodus Day 4

Today's reading is Exodus 13 - 16.

Devotion: Ex 13:11-16

Context: God's final instructions as the Israelites leave Egypt.

Text:

11 "After the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he promised on oath to you and your forefathers, 12 you are to give over to the LORD the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD. 13 Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons.
14 "In days to come, when your son asks you, 'What does this mean?' say to him, 'With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in Egypt, both man and animal. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.' 16 And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand."

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Wow...either consecrate the first born lamb to the Lord or kill them? That's a tough instruction!

I looked up the word 'consecrate', and the Hebrew word dictionary says 'redeemed'...hmm, that didn't really help me much! My Oxford Dictionary/Thesaurus (a REALLY cool book, by the way!) helped more. Redeemed can be defined as 'saving someone from sin, error, or evil', 'repay or clear a debt', and 'fulfill a pledge or promise'. To consecrate is 'to make or declare something to be holy or sacred'.

The Israelites were to remember God's miracle of Passover every time they looked at their firstborn -- child or animal. To remember that He loved His people enough to save them from slavery and to protect their children from the plague on the Egyptians.

Do you have anything that reminds you of God's love? We don't set one child apart from the rest, but we still need to remember how much God has done for us on a regular basis. If the Israelites, who saw all of the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and the daily miracle of manna, could forget God's love for them, it is much easier for us to forget.

Look around your desk or your home, and find something that reminds you of how far you have come since you accepted Jesus. Whenever you see that item (or person), be sure to send up a prayer of thanks!