Short Reflection from Exodus 21-40

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (BRU-F) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟚𝟙:𝟙𝟝

"He who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death."

I grew up hearing people say that "Parents are the visible form of the Almighty God, obey them." Or "Parents are the representation of God in your life, obey them." They are certainly wrong btw. It's not in the Bible. It's even anti-biblical, far from being found in the Bible.

However, children are to obey their parents in the Lord. And to honor their parents. And in this verse, never to strike their parents.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟚𝟚:𝟚𝟡

"You shall not delay the offering from your harvest and your vintage. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me."

I think it's good to give offerings and "tithes" and contributions on time. It's good to pay rental fees on time too. You know when you don't get money on time, it's not pleasant na? Let's give on time too!

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟚𝟛:𝟠

"You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of the just."

Bribe is still illegal by the law of the land. Much more evil in the eyes of the Lord.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟚𝟜:𝟚

"Moses alone, however, shall come near to the LORD, but they shall not come near, nor shall the people come up with him."

The idea of equality in all things is just impractical. Nor is it possible even in their dream world, heaven. There is a hierarchy of importance, value, and roles.

Even here, Moses was singled out among leaders.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟚𝟝:𝟚

"Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution."

Apart from the required tithes, God still wanted the Israelites to be generous. The tithes under the Law constituted over 25% of their income. And they are encouraged to give more without further obligation but generously.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟚𝟞:𝟙

"Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet material; you shall make them with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman."

God deserves the best works of humans. If the Taj Mahal can be built for a wife, God deserves much more of our praise, glory, honor, and our love.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟚𝟟:𝟚𝟘

"You shall charge the sons of Israel, that they bring you clear oil of beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually."

Sometimes, commanding the people of God and requiring their contribution is necessary. Even Apostle Paul urged his readers to be generous in giving!

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟚𝟠:𝟛𝟝

"It shall be on Aaron when he ministers; and its tinkling shall be heard when he enters and leaves the holy place before the LORD, so that he will not die."

People must treat the worship of God sacred, solemn, and fearful.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟚𝟡:𝟜𝟝

"I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God."

Again and again, here and there, God expressed His presence in the midst of His people. The real problem is people don't like the presence of God; they want the presence of Moses instead of God. They want pastors to pray for them instead of them praying to God.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟛𝟘:𝟛𝟠

"Whoever shall make any like it, to use as perfume, shall be cut off from his people."

God demands that He be treated specially and uniquely. God is not like anything. He is other!

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟛𝟙:𝟙𝟠

"When He had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God."

It was oral first then written.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟛𝟚:𝟚𝟝

"Now when Moses saw that the people were out of control--for Aaron had let them get out of control to be a derision among their enemies--"

Aaron wasn't a strong leader. He bowed down to the sinful demands of the people. He wasn't a political leader but a spiritual leader; so, he shouldn't have done it.

Yesterday, in our meeting, I suggested that this coming Sunday (friendship Sunday) it would be good to find a friend in the church and pray together. One brother said that the idea of prayer might make people uncomfortable. Well, I said, the church is a place of prayer; if they are uncomfortable, let it be. I am not going to stop preaching the gospel in my church because a visitor doesn't find it uncomfortable.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟛𝟛:𝟙𝟝

"Then he said to Him, 'If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.'"

Sure, we should be terrified to go anywhere the Lord is not favorable.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟛𝟜:𝟡

"He said, 'If now I have found favor in Your sight, O Lord, I pray, let the Lord go along in our midst, even though the people are so obstinate, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your own possession.'"

How we need God when the people are rebellious! God wanted to abandon them, and how would Moses a mere man control them, if the Lord didn't put the fear of the Divine in their sight? Even in our modern churches, we need God to put the fear of the Divine in the hearts of the congregations. Oh! I pray for that in my church, among the people I dwell!

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟛𝟝:𝟙𝟘

"Let every skillful man among you come, and make all that the LORD has commanded"

An invitation to the skillful to serve the Lord willingly and gladly. It would be an honor to work for a reputed professional. God is more pro than anyone and reputable than anyone.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟛𝟞:𝟚

"Then Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every skillful person in whom the LORD had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to the work to perform it."

I pray that the Lord will stir up the hearts of many congregants, His people to build up the body of Christ, in commitment, sincerity, love, faithfulness, and sound doctrine.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟛𝟟:𝟙

"Now Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood; its length was two and a half cubits, and its width one and a half cubits, and its height one and a half cubits;"

This verse is full of "he made" referring to Bezalel. I think we better start comparing skillful people to Bezalel to increase our Bible vocabulary among God's people.

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟛𝟠:𝟚𝟚

"Now Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the LORD had commanded Moses."

Bezalel on his part has completed his work. Later on, the people would finish and Moses would approve their work and it was also approved by the Lord too!

 

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."

It's so nice to see the obedience of Israelites like this. They were rebellious people, but there were times they were faithful too! 👍

 

𝔼𝕩𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕤 𝟜𝟘:𝟛𝟜

"Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle."

They completed the instruction given to them and the Lord approved their work.