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EXODUS 25 CONTRIBUTION FOR GOD’S SANCTUARY

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July 13

EXODUS 25

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. 3 And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, 4 blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats’ hair, 5 tanned rams’ skins, goatskins, acacia wood, 6 oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, 7 onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. 8 And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. 9 Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it. – Exodus 25:1-9

EXODUS 25 CONTRIBUTION FOR GOD’S SANCTUARY

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The Lord required his people to give a contribution for a sanctuary

He required them to give out of their heart’s desire

They were not forced to give anything that wasn’t voluntary

The sanctuary is a place where the Lord can dwell in their midst.

It is interesting that God requires his people to participate in building a sanctuary where he could dwell among them. You’re probably wondering just like me why God wants participation from his people when he could actually provide everything for himself to build a place they can meet with him.

I think that God was teaching his people skills like accountability, resourcefulness, generosity and stewardship. God is not like a genie that most human beings think. He is more like a good parent who wants to teach the children life skills so that they will develop good habits and a value system that generates teamwork, resourcefulness, responsibility and genuine interest in God and in others.

We were all made in God’s image and we are all capable of these skills because God gave it to us. When we get something without working for it, that just makes for entitled people. When we work hard for something and get involved in doing it with others, there is love and community building. God wants the communion of saints to grow.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think verse 2 mentions to give when their hearts are moved?

EXODUS 24 GOD’S PEOPLE SAW GOD’S GLORY

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July 12

EXODUS 24

9 Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, 10 and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. 11 And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank. 12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” 13 So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. 14 And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we return to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever has a dispute, let him go to them.” 15 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18 Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights. – Exodus 24:9-18

EXODUS 24 GOD’S PEOPLE SAW GOD’S GLORY

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When God made his covenant with his people

Moses, Aaron Nadab and Abihu and the elders saw the Lord

They saw his feet and under it was a sapphire-stone pavement

Then he asked Moses to come up so he to hand him the tablet

The glory of the Lord was in Mt Sinai in six days, covered amidst clouds

Moses entered the cloud and stayed there forty nights and forty days.

Although it wasn’t really stated what the elders saw, it seemed like they saw God’s feet and his footstool made of sapphire-stone pavement. According to a commentary by Cole he says that the elders didn’t dare to raise their eyes above God’s footstool. The blue of the sapphire may suggest that the elders saw the sea of glass before the throne of God (Revelation 4:6). “Ezekiel 1:26 sees God as seated on a sapphire throne, over a crystal ‘firmament’ (verse 22), and the thought is taken up again in the book of Revelation.”

REFLECTION

  • What visions can you imagine as you read these verses?

EXODUS 24 COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND THE ISRAELITES

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July 11

EXODUS 24

Then he said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar. 2 Moses alone shall come near to the Lord, but the others shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him.” 3 Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the rules.  And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do.” 4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord. 6 And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” 8 And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”– Exodus 24:1-8

EXODUS 24 COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND THE ISRAELITES

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The Lord spoke all the laws that he requires from his people through Moses

And Moses wrote down all the words that God has spoken

Then the next day, he got up early to built an altar at the foot of the mountain

He placed twelve pillars according to the twelve tribes of Israel

Then he sent young men to offer burnt and peace offerings

And the blood became the symbol of their covenant with the Lord.

This narrative explains how God himself (through Moses) gave his laws to his own people. The promises that God made to provide and rescue his people were solidified with the burnt offerings and peace offerings of oxen. The half of the blood of these animals were placed in a basin and the other part of it was thrown against the altar. It was the blood that solidified the treaty between two parties. The Israelites agreed to follow the laws of the Lord as part of this covenant. God in turn will do his part to rescue them and give them the land he promised.

REFLECTION

  • How does this covenant still holds true for all Christians today?

EXODUS 23 MORE INSTRUCTIONS FOR MOVING INTO CANAAN

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July 10

EXODUS 23

26 None shall miscarry or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days. 27 I will send my terror before you and will throw into confusion all the people against whom you shall come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. 28 And I will send hornetsbefore you, which shall drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites from before you. 29 I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you. 30 Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land. 31 And I will set your border from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates, or I will give the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you. 32 You shall make no covenant with them and their gods. 33 They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against me; for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.”  – Exodus 23:26-32

EXODUS 23 MORE INSTRUCTIONS FOR MOVING INTO CANAAN

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

God promised the Israelites a land that they will inhabit

He gave them specific instructions how to overtake it

Terror and confusion to the nations living in it will be experienced

Those nations will be driven slowly to ensure their takeover.

In this account we witness a God who has a very detailed plan for his people to occupy Canaan. Did you ever wonder why it took that long for that promised land that was part of the covenant he made with Abraham to be fulfilled? Why would God give them a land that had pagan inhabitants? We cannot surmise God’s thoughts or ways, but we can see that God knows our hearts and abilities. If he gave that land right away to Abraham, the lineage that Jesus would be coming from won’t be fulfilled. I think that it is also because of the stubborn spirit of the Israelites that prolonged the arrival at Canaan. Also, the Israelites wouldn’t have propagated that much hadn’t it been for the long years they were travelling. It is interesting how the land was occupied by pagans. Maybe God wanted to show them his power to destroy these idolaters to his people so that they can rely on God for everything. God even timed the occupation slowly. He thought of everything.

REFLECTION

  • Why should believers completely trust God’s plan and timing?

EXODUS 23 REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER THE PROMISED LAND

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July 9

EXODUS 23

20 “Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. 21 Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him. 22 “But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. 23 “When my angel goes before you and brings you to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, and I blot them out, 24 you shall not bow down to their gods nor serve them, nor do as they do, but you shall utterly overthrow them and break their pillars in pieces. 25 You shall serve the Lord your God, and hewill bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you.   – Exodus 23:20-25

EXODUS 23 REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER THE PROMISED LAND

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

God was faithful to deliver the Israelites to the land he promised them

An angel of the Lord will be with them when they arrived at that land

The Lord expected them to obey whatever the angel tells them

If they do so, all the people living in Canaan will perish

They need only to serve the Lord their God and no other gods

Then they’ll be blessed if they do so and diseases will leave them all.

In this account, the Lord gave specific instructions to his people as they proceeded to the promised land of Canaan.  Although many nations still dwell in it like the Hittites, Perizzites and the Canaanites, God sent an angel to ensure that they will be able to take over the land and claim it.

The Lord God required from his people complete obedience to whatever the angel tells them to do. They were specifically instructed not to have other gods but him. Since these nations were bowing down to their own gods, the Lord didn’t want them to have anything to do with these pagan gods that they worship. As a result of obedience, they will triumph over these people dwelling in the land that was promised to Abraham. God was faithful to rescue them, he required the same devotion from his covenant people as well.

REFLECTION

  • What awaits those who obey and stay faithful to serve the Lord?

EXODUS 23 ON THE SABBATICAL YEAR AND FEASTS

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July 8

EXODUS 23

10 “For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield, 11 but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave the beasts of the field may eat. You shall do likewise with your vineyard, and with your olive orchard. 12 “Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your servant woman, and the alien, may be refreshed.13 “Pay attention to all that I have said to you, and make no mention of the names of other gods, nor let it be heard on your lips.14 “Three times in the year you shall keep a feast to me. 15 You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. As I commanded you, you shall eat unleavened bread for seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. None shall appear before me empty-handed. 16 You shall keep the Feast of Harvest, of the firstfruits of your labor, of what you sow in the field. You shall keep the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in from the field the fruit of your labor. 17 Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the Lord God.18 “You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with anything leavened, or let the fat of my feast remain until the morning.19 “The best of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God.

“You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.  – Exodus 23:10-19

EXODUS 23 ON THE SABBATICAL YEAR AND FEASTS

This account tells us how God instituted the sabbatical year. Each time the seventh year comes, they are to rest so that the animals, the slaves and the fields could have a respite. This requirement is also stated in the ten commandments that God gave Moses for his people to follow which is to honor the Sabbath day. This day is a day of rest from work so that they will be able to designate that day for pure worship and thanksgiving for the Lord.  Six years they shall work on the field and get the yield from it and rest on the seventh year. The Lord also required for them to commemorate certain feasts like the Unleavened bread, Harvest and Ingathering. According to some commentaries, these were designed for God’s people to remember the bounty that God gave them and also to remember to depend on God always for fruits from their labor. By celebrating these feasts, they will be able to share their joy and thanksgiving as a whole community to a faithful God who constantly takes care of them and provides for all their needs.

REFLECTION How are modern festivals in our countries very different from God’s feasts?

EXODUS 23 LAWS ON PARTIALITY, JUSTICE & KINDNESS

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July 7

EXODUS 23

“You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. 2 You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice, 3 nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit. 4 “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. 5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.6 “You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his lawsuit. 7 Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and righteous, for I will not acquit the wicked. 8 And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.9 “You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. – Exodus 23:1-9

EXODUS 23 LAWS ON PARTIALITY, JUSTICE & KINDNESS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The Lord prohibits us from bearing false witness against someone

Partiality must not be exercised in order for justice not to be perverted

There must be no discrimination in showing kindness to others

Foreigners must also be treated with respect like any one else you’ll encounter.

The book of James covers the sin of partiality in chapter two. In the first verse of this chapter, he reminds believers that partiality must not be exercised by anyone who claims they believe in Jesus Christ. In verse 8 of James 2, he directs us why we cannot be partial because of the royal law, which is to love your neighbor as yourself. In verse 12 he also talks about justice and mercy: that those who have not shown mercy will be judged because mercy triumphs over judgment. He calls this the law of liberty.

I referred to the book of James because it covered these following verses in Exodus 23 that tackles the same requirements for God’s people to follow. Matther 7:12 also summarizes this. 12 “So, whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. It reminds us of God’s nature which is clearly spoken about in 1 John 4:8 which says “8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” If you claim you know God, you will be impartial, just and kind.

REFLECTION

  • What can you say about those who discriminate the poor, the sick and needy?

EXODUS 22 ON TREATING THE POOR & GIVING YOUR BEST TO GOD

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July 6

EXODUS 22

25 “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. 26 If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, 27 for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.28 “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.29 “You shall not delay to offer from the fullness of your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me. 30 You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep: seven days it shall be with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to me.31 “You shall be consecrated to me. Therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs. – Exodus 22:25-31

EXODUS 22 ON TREATING THE POOR AND ON GIVING YOUR BEST TO GOD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The Lord wants us to show compassion to the poor and needy

Whenever they come to us, we ought to give out of generosity

We must give our best when we give an offering to God

For he is the one who gave us all that we possess and have.

Many bible verses tell us that we serve a God who is full of steadfast love and compassion. He takes care of all our needs and always comforts us.  He is merciful and just in how he treats us, forgiving us and doesn’t give us punishments we deserve all the time.

Since he made us all in his own image, he placed in our hearts an ability to show compassion and love for others as well. But because of our sinful nature, we usually forget to show such consideration and kindness to the poor and needy. We get so wrapped up in our own little world that we build for ourselves, one that prioritizes our comfort and our security. Because we live in a fallen world, we only think of our own welfare most of the time. God stipulated laws so we can go against our nature and follow the design that he made us to be: loving and compassionate human beings. He requires us to give our best to him. I think it is a protection for our idolatrous nature to ask from us to give our best to him so we don’t feed our selfish nature that wants to go against God’s design.

REFLECTION

·       How can our selfish nature hinder us from being compassionate to others?

EXODUS 22 LAWS ON FORNICATION & BESTIALITY

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July 5

EXODUS 22

16 “If a man seduces a virginwho is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price for her and make her his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money equal to the bride-price for virgins.18 “You shall not permit a sorceress to live. 19 “Whoever lies with an animal shall be put to death.20 “Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the Lord alone, shall be devoted to destruction. 21 “You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. 22 You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, 24 and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless. – Exodus 22:16-24

EXODUS 22 LAWS ON FORNICATION & BESTIALITY

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

God made man and woman for each other in marriage so that they can multiply

They are to give their bodies to each other within the sanctity of marriage

Any act of fornication outside of marriage is a violation of God’s design for sex

When a man or a woman has sex with an animal, it is an abomination to God.

Why would God include laws on fornication and bestiality? We serve a very detailed and specific God who sees everything including what’s inside of us. He lays down boundaries.

In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, we are told that God owns our bodies and is the temple of the Holy Spirit. We don’t own our bodies and we were bought with a price. What does this practically mean for us? Since God is the owner and we are not, we have no right to do anything we want with it. We cannot just have sex with any other person or defile our bodies having union with someone out of marriage, especially not with an animal. Bestiality is defined as sex between a human and an animal. When a human engages in this kind of perversion, he/she has lowered down God’s design to being just like animals, which do not have an intellect and a will. Premarital sex has been prevalent in our society nowadays that men and women do not know the gravity of the effects of this in our well being. Sex is not just a physical act but also an emotional bond. People will experience feelings of guilt, embarrassment, distrust, resentment, lack of respect when they indulge

In pre-marital sex or adultery.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think God was very specific about laws against defiling our bodies?

EXODUS 22 ON BORROWING AND LENDING

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July 4

EXODUS 22

9 For every breach of trust, whether it is for an ox, for a donkey, for a sheep, for a cloak, or for any kind of lost thing, of which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before God. The one whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor.10 “If a man gives to his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any beast to keep safe, and it dies or is injured or is driven away, without anyone seeing it, 11 an oath by the Lord shall be between them both to see whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor’s property. The owner shall accept the oath, and he shall not make restitution. 12 But if it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. 13 If it is torn by beasts, let him bring it as evidence. He shall not make restitution for what has been torn.14 “If a man borrows anything of his neighbor, and it is injured or dies, the owner not being with it, he shall make full restitution. 15 If the owner was with it, he shall not make restitution; if it was hired, it came for its hiring fee.– Exodus 22:9-15

EXODUS 22 ON BORROWING AND LENDING

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When one borrows something from someone

It is with care and respect that the borrower handles them

If the borrowed object was damaged by the borrower

Just compensation is expected if the damage was intentional.

In Proverbs 22:7, it says that the borrower is slave to the lender. There is truth to this because when we use someone else’s property, we ought to take care of it while we are using it. Same goes when we borrow money, we ought to responsibly pay it back. The lender must not enslave the borrower with very high interest rates if they are to honor the laws of the Lord. These laws teach us boundaries and how to honor other people’s possessions. It teaches us to be responsible for those things that do not belong to us and also to honor the oaths and agreements we take. Integrity is key in lending and borrowing. Ps 37:21 says “The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives.” The word of God is clear that when something is borrowed it should be paid back. Someone refusing to repay manifests a wicked heart. God wants us to have a generous and giving heart.

REFLECTION

  • How is it dangerous to lend something to someone wicked and untrustworthy?