Bible Reading Reflection from Exodus 31-40

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (LRAU), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝔼𝕏𝕆𝔻𝕌𝕊 𝟛𝟙:𝟜-𝟝

"To devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft."

Natural talents and skills also come from the Lord. God created us, so, everything in us is, actually.

Let's recognize God when we see and talk about skilful people. Some use them [skills and talents] for the glory of God. Others like Justin Bieber, Priyanka Chopra, almost all celebrities use them for their own glory!

Some do amazing things through the devil as well. So, there must be discerning between the two as well.

 

𝔼𝕏𝕆𝔻𝕌𝕊 𝟛𝟚:𝟚𝟙

"And Moses said to Aaron, ‘What did this people do to you that you have brought such a great sin upon them?’"

Tough God sought to wipe them off. Tough Leader Moses ordered a massacre. Faithful Remnants killed the ungodly.

Weak Leader Aaron compromised. Rebellious People want to have their own way. Aaron had no character to persuade the people or God. Aaron looked to be a devoted man of God, but people didn't trust nor fear him enough.

Perhaps Moses didn’t delegate enough authority and responsibility to Aaron. [Moses delegated authorities to the 70 only after the advice of Jethro]. However, Aaron is like the hireling, and Moses the shepherd.

Aaron was not rebuked by God nor by Moses. In fact, Moses asked Aaron what did the people made him do the unthinkable. Moses knew Aaron exactly. Moreover, God was angry with the people, so was Moses, and so was the faithful. Meanwhile, Aaron seems to express no anger. He seems to be a dispassionate cold guy.

But we can't expect a cricket star to play a football World Cup.

 

𝔼𝕏𝕆𝔻𝕌𝕊 𝟛𝟛:𝟚𝟛

"Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen."

Even the greatest theologian knows only the back part of God. Nobody can understand God fully. One day we shall see Him face to face, and shall not be dead, but be transformed into His likeness!

 

𝔼𝕏𝕆𝔻𝕌𝕊 𝟛𝟜:𝟚𝟠

"So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments."

Moses had to endure another 40 days and nights as a result of breaking the tablets. And the people had to be without Moses again.

But Moses seemed to enjoy it. He even had a shining face this second time!

 

𝔼𝕏𝕆𝔻𝕌𝕊 𝟛𝟝:𝟚𝟡

"All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the LORD had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the LORD."

Have you ever been moved? Or have you been pressured, forced to? Distinguish the difference between the two questions.

 

𝔼𝕏𝕆𝔻𝕌𝕊 𝟛𝟞:𝟝-𝟟

"And said to Moses, ‘The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the LORD has commanded us to do.’ So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, ‘Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.’ So the people were restrained from bringing, for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more."

When was the last time we had enough [forget about having more than enough]? When was the last time we gave enough? When was the last time ‘they’ stopped accepting? This account is amazing! 👍

 

𝔼𝕏𝕆𝔻𝕌𝕊 𝟛𝟟:𝟙

"Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half was its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height."

So, the skilful man obeyed the Lord to render his service to God. God deserves the service of the most skilful people. He deserves the best of all things. But, how have we treated God?

 

𝔼𝕏𝕆𝔻𝕌𝕊 𝟛𝟠:𝟚𝟜

"All the gold that was used for the work, in all the construction of the sanctuary, the gold from the offering, was twenty-nine talents and 730 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary."

Not only skilful people were commissioned to work, but it was also an expensive project. God is worthy of such!

 

𝔼𝕏𝕆𝔻𝕌𝕊 𝟛𝟡:𝟜𝟚-𝟜𝟛

"So the sons of Israel did all the work according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses.  And Moses examined all the work and behold, they had done it; just as the LORD had commanded, this they had done. So Moses blessed them."

They did it! Indeed, physical work outside of us is easier than building the body.

The church is not just the physical building, but the spiritual body. Instead of building the body, people love to tear down with criticism, gossip, and slander.  Strive to build the body, not just the building.

 

𝔼𝕏𝕆𝔻𝕌𝕊 𝟜𝟘:𝟛𝟠

"For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel."

The Lord was with them throughout their journey. Life is a journey, friends. God is with His people throughout life's journey.

God demonstrated with clouds. I like that. My village is full of clouds. God uses natural things like clouds to remind His people of His protection. Elsewhere He set up a rainbow to remind the inhabitants of the earth of His faithfulness.

Rainbow and Cloud will go on! Remember God [especially His faithfulness, protection, and promises], whenever you see clouds and rainbows!