Monthly Archives: August 2024

EXODUS 33 THE TENT OF MEETING

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August 15

EXODUS 33

7 Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp. 8 Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent. 9 When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. 10 And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. 11 Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent. – Exodus 33:7-11

EXODUS 33 THE TENT OF MEETING

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Moses was persistent to restore the Israelites’ relationship with God

So, he built his own tent to be the tent of meeting outside the camp

When Moses went out to the tent, everyone would rise up at their tent’s door

Then they waited until Moses went inside and then the pillar of cloud came

As soon as they saw the pillar of cloud, they would rise up and worship

Moses’ assistant Joshua would not depart from the tent until Moses returns.

Moses was relentless to reconcile the Israelites with God and so he made his tent a meeting place between him and God so the Israelites could worship the Lord. Even though Moses didn’t see God face to face as he would die if he did, the pillar of cloud was the way God communicated and directly spoke with Moses. When the pillar of cloud came, the Israelites knew that God’s presence was at the tent of meeting and that Moses is directly having a conversation with the Lord.

At this time, the Israelites repented from their grievous sin and gave up all their ornaments when they knew that God’s punishment would come upon them.  This was the time for restoring their relationship with God by truly worshiping him alone and being in his presence through Moses’ intercession.

REFLECTION

  • How did God show mercy to the Israelites in this account?

EXODUS 33 THE ORDER TO GO TO CANAAN

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August 14

EXODUS 33

The Lord said to Moses, “Depart; go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give it.’ 2 I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 3 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.” 4 When the people heard this disastrous word, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments. 5 For the Lord had said to Moses, “Say to the people of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people; if for a single moment I should go up among you, I would consume you. So now take off your ornaments, that I may know what to do with you.’” 6 Therefore the people of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments, from Mount Horeb onward.

                                                                   – Exodus 33:1-6

EXODUS 33 THE ORDER TO GO TO CANAAN

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After Moses’ intercession for the Israelites’ grievous sin

The Lord God ordered Moses to bring them to Canaan

They could have been punished and not reach that promised land

But the Lord was faithful to fulfill his covenant promise to Abraham

There was one thing that they lost: God will no longer be with them

The people of God mourned and stripped themselves from ornaments.

The Lord wasn’t going to be with them as they travel to the Promised land. Despite their grievous idolatry, the Lord was still going to bring them to the land that was promised to Abraham, but they won’t be accompanied by God anymore. They mourned and stripped themselves from their ornaments.

Many people think that they can just go ahead and sin and there won’t be any consequence to what they do.  They haven’t realized that God hates evil and will not tolerate or condone it. Once we have sinned, there is a corresponding consequence to it. God is love and sin opposes the very essence of God. He hates sin therefore it needs to be punished when even if it is his own people who commits it.

REFLECTION

  • How do you think the Israelites feel after hearing the consequence of their sin?

EXODUS 32 MOSES’ ATTEMPT TO SAVE THE ISRAELITES

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August 13

EXODUS 32

30 The next day Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” 31 So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. 32 But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.” 33 But the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book. 34 But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them.”

35 Then the Lord sent a plague on the people, because they made the calf, the one that Aaron made. – Exodus 32:30-35

EXODUS 32 MOSES’ ATTEMPT TO SAVE THE ISRAELITES

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When the Israelites sinned against God with the golden calf

Moses wanted to compensate for their sins to God

He asked God for the forgiveness of their grievous idolatry

Telling God to blot him out of the book of life for their sake

But the Lord didn’t grant it because those who sinned have to be punished

Moses’ attempt to save the Israelites was an overstepping of his boundary.

I think it was not appropriate for Moses to ask forgiveness for those who sinned against God. Even Jesus himself didn’t do this. When one of his disciples asked him for an assurance for a place in his Father’s house, Jesus’ answer was that it wasn’t up to him but it is his Father who knows whom he chooses.

Moses have overstepped his role as someone that God appointed to lead the deliverance of the people out of Egypt. It wasn’t up to him to make atonement for sins that is grievous to the Lord. It’s as if he was taking the place of Jesus and wanting to sacrifice his life for sinful people. He cannot atone for their sins because he too was a sinful man. Only a sinless man like Jesus can appease God’s wrath against sin. Even the act of asking God forgiveness for other people whom he was leading was I think arrogance and sinful because he wasn’t a savior. He was just someone God used to bring them out of Egypt.

REFLECTION

  • What do you think of Moses’ attempt to save the Israelites in this account?

EXODUS 32 MOSES CHALLENGES GOD’S PEOPLE

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August 12

EXODUS 32

25 And when Moses saw that the people had broken loose (for Aaron had let them break loose, to the derision of their enemies), 26 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the Lord’s side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. 27 And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Put your sword on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor.’” 28 And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell. 29 And Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for the service of the Lord, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day.”– Exodus 32:25-29

EXODUS 32 MOSES CHALLENGES GOD’S PEOPLE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When Moses witnessed that the people have gone against God

He challenged the Israelites to declare who was on the Lord’s side

The whole clan of Levi went to side with the Lord and the rest didn’t

So, Moses asked the Levites to kill all those who were not on God’s side

The Levites followed obediently and killed those against God

Whether they were their son, neighbor or brother, they were executed.

This account may sound harsh but I think Moses was led by God to expose those who were truly for him and those who were against him. God is a God of order and clarity. It is either you belong to him or not. Sadly, even in our current days, we see so many people live compromised lives. They say that believe in God but their lives do not seem to match their beliefs. This is why we are warned in the bible that we should never conform with the world, but to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. We are also warned against following the world systems which to not glorify God but focuses on self-pleasure and gratification. Just like the Israelites decided that they will create their own gods when they couldn’t wait for Moses’ return from the mountain. It is good that Moses confronted their loyalties.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think the Levites didn’t have second thoughts to kill those even their closest family and friends who went against the Lord?

EXODUS 32 MOSES’ ANGER OVER THE GOLDEN CALF

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August 11

EXODUS 32

15 Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, tablets that were written on both sides; on the front and on the back they were written. 16 The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. 17 When Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a noise of war in the camp.” 18 But he said, “It is not the sound of shouting for victory, or the sound of the cry of defeat, but the sound of singing that I hear.” 19 And as soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses’ anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. 20 He took the calf that they had made and burned it with fire and ground it to powder and scattered it on the water and made the people of Israel drink it.21 And Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you that you have brought such a great sin upon them?” 22 And Aaron said, “Let not the anger of my lord burn hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. 23 For they said to me, ‘Make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 24 So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.” – Exodus 32:15-24

EXODUS 32 MOSES’ ANGER OVER THE GOLDEN CALF

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Coming down from the mountain, Moses brought down God’s tablet

Then he witnessed the golden calf they built

Moses’ anger grew and he threw the tablet and burned the calf

Then he threw the calf’s ashes in the water

Then he made the people drink the water with ashes

Finally, he confronted his brother Aaron who actually made the idol.

Was Moses’ anger righteous? Wasn’t he very harsh with letting them drink the water with the burnt ashes of the golden calf? I think that his anger was appropriate because the people of God actually broke their covenant promise to God in just those 40 days that Moses was gone. God tested them and they didn’t pass that test.

REFLECTION

  • How was Moses’ anger towards the people building the calf justified?

EXODUS 32 MOSES INTERCEDES FOR THE ISRAELITES

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August 10

EXODUS 32

7 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’” 9 And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. 10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.”11 But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’” 14 And the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people. – Exodus 32:9-14

EXODUS 32 MOSES INTERCEDES FOR THE ISRAELITES

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When the Israelites made the golden calf, it angered the Lord

He wanted to annihilate the Israelites for making an idol

But Moses interceded for the people of God

He reminded God of covenant promise to them

So, the Lord yielded to Moses’ request

He spared them the disaster they were to receive.

The Israelites deserved all the punishment for building that golden calf, and yet, when Moses implored God to spare them from his wrath, God listened and didn’t do as he planned. We often do not realize how God values our prayers. Because Moses had a big role to play in God’s salvation plan, he found favor from God.

REFLECTION

  • Share whom you have interceded for and prayed to God for mercy and favor?

EXODUS 32 THE GOLDEN CALF

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August 9

EXODUS 32

When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” 2 So Aaron said to them, “Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” 5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.” 6 And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.

                                                             – Exodus 32:1-6

EXODUS 32 THE GOLDEN CALF

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When God’s people became impatient waiting for Moses

They began grumbling and feeling hopeless

So, they asked Aaron to make them an idol

With their gold, they asked Aaron to make a calf

Aaron built an altar before it and rose up early the next day

They offered burnt and peace offerings to it then they rose up and play.

Moses was gone 40 days and the Israelites became restless and hopeless. It is interesting what “waiting” can do to us. In the bible the number 40 is a symbol of testing. Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights and was tempted by the devil. It is a good reminder for us that when things are taking longer, it could be a time of testing our faith for us.

We also witness how Aaron, who was given the responsibility to look after the Israelites when Moses was gone, was swayed to please the people of God who were getting restless and complaining. He gave in to their whining and so as not to look bad, he complied and entertained their requests to fashion a golden calf whom they can worship. He became a people pleaser and forgot his priority to please God. He wasn’t able to stick to the role of looking after God’s people so that they don’t grow weary and hopeless.

REFLECTION

  • How can we avoid impatience and people-pleasing in our Christian lives?

EXODUS 31 ON KEEPING THE SABBATH

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August 8

EXODUS 31

12 And the Lord said to Moses, 13 “You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you. 14 You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death. 16 Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. 17 It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”18 And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God. – Exodus 31:12-18

EXODUS 31 ON KEEPING THE SABBATH

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The Lord gave us days so we can live our lives fully

He gave us six days to toil and one day for worship

Because he himself rested from work on the seventh day

He requires us to give that day to him to give him praise

Anyone who doesn’t keep the Sabbath is dishonoring him

That person is going to be cut off from among his people.

In our current world today, we are plagued with “busyness” and “workaholism.” It’s as if it is abnormal to rest and normal to just keep on and on with our work and whatever preoccupies us. These following verses remind us how God requires his people to keep the Sabbath day holy. It is easy for us to justify working on the Sabbath day and say to ourselves that “I am providing for my family.” But as Christians, are we not supposed to honor this stipulation that God expects from us? Why would anyone who claims they believe in God disregard this very important law? Why did God place a very harsh consequence against whoever will not keep this day to worship and praise him?

REFLECTION

  • Why is it important for Christians to keep the Sabbath day holy?

EXODUS 31 GOD’S DESIGNATED CRAFTSMEN

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August 7

EXODUS 31

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, 4 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, 5 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. 6 And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: 7 the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent, 8 the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense, 9 and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, 10 and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests, 11 and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.”– Exodus 31:1-11

EXODUS 31 GOD’S DESIGNATED CRAFTSMEN

When God instructed Moses with very detailed and specific materials to use for the artistic design of the altar, the tent of meeting, the ark, the mercy seat and all the furnishings of the tent, table and its utensils and the altar of incense and burn offerings, the holy garments, the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, he already had two people in mind to have the abilities to execute the design. He appointed Bezalel and Oholiab to do all the execution of such intricate and detailed designs.

What a great God we serve! He thinks of everything, every detail and measurements of everything that was in his Holy Place. He provides for every design plan he thinks of. I am amazed at the details that the Lord specified in the building of all that is in his most holy place. There is always a symbol that would eventually all point to Jesus and what he is about to do to save mankind from sin and be reconciled with him.

I am so blessed with so much creativity. God has given me musical, painting, decorating, cooking, writing, communicating and teaching abilities. The Lord gives us an overflow of his gifts so that we can spread love and give him the glory. Bezalel and Oholiab were so blessed to execute God’s own designs.

REFLECTION

  • How have you used your gifts/talents to bring glory to the Lord?

EXODUS 30 INSTRUCTIONS ON THE ANOINTING OIL AND INCENSE

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August 6

EXODUS 30

22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Take the finest spices: of liquid myrrh 500 shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, that is, 250, and 250 of aromatic cane, 24 and 500 of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hinof olive oil. 25 And you shall make of these a sacred anointing oil blended as by the perfumer; it shall be a holy anointing oil. 26 With it you shall anoint the tent of meeting and the ark of the testimony, 27 and the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense, 28 and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils and the basin and its stand. 29 You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy. Whatever touches them will become holy. 30 You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests. 31 And you shall say to the people of Israel, ‘This shall be my holy anointing oil throughout your generations. 32 It shall not be poured on the body of an ordinary person, and you shall make no other like it in composition. It is holy, and it shall be holy to you. 33 Whoever compounds any like it or whoever puts any of it on an outsider shall be cut off from his people.’ 34 The Lord said to Moses, “Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (of each shall there be an equal part), 35 and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy. 36 You shall beat some of it very small, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where I shall meet with you. It shall be most holy for you. 37 And the incense that you shall make according to its composition, you shall not make for yourselves. It shall be for you holy to the Lord. 38 Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from his people.” – Exodus 30:22-38

EXODUS 30 INSTRUCTIONS ON THE ANOINTING OIL AND INCENSE

In 1 Samuel 16:13, David was anointed with oil by Samuel and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully on him.  The anointing oil is representative of the Holy Spirit. When we believe in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts and gives us power to overcome evil to be able to worship the Lord. The incense was to be composed of sweet spices seasoned with salt. Salt was widely and variably used as a symbol and sacred sign in ancient Israel. The book of Numbers 18:19 and 2 Chronicles 13:5 illustrate salt as a covenant of friendship. In cultures throughout the region, the eating of salt is a sign of friendship. Our prayers are incense that is a sweet-smelling aroma to the Lord.

REFLECTION

  • How are we to apply anointing oil and incense in our lives as Christians?