Today we read that the tabernacle and all of the priestly garments are complete. Multiple chapters of the most specific of details from the larger pieces of gold to be shaped, down to the color of the yarn to use for a vest. The fact that all of the instructions came from God through Moses seems astounding and sometimes a little unreasonably difficult. But then I consider the creator of the universe. I cannot even comprehend the details involved in that!
When reading through the details involved in the building of the ark and the tabernacle, it's obvious that Moses could not, and did not, do everything on his own. God used his chosen people, and equipped them for his purpose. To the craftsmen, designers, and weavers God specifically gave the skills they needed to do the work as He intended.
If the Lord paid attention in such close detail back then, He surely does so now. All of the details in my life...and He is equipping me to serve in specific ways so I can further His purpose. Now if only I had the Urim and Thummim in my back pocket to consult and figure out where that leads!
Friday, March 2, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Show Me Your Glory
I don't know about you, but I thought Moses was rather bold in asking God to show Himself. The Creator of heaven and earth basically just got done saying He might completely destroy all of the people he led out of Egypt...and now Moses wants to see His Glory!?! Even my youngest knows - when Mom or Dad are mad, you leave them alone till they calm down. :-)
But God doesn't say no. And then we see God revealed for who He really is...vengeful, full of wrath, a presence to be feared. Right? That's what everyone thinks about God when you mention the Old Testament. No...the Lord said "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you...I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." (Ex33:19) Moses saw God...who is slow to anger, merciful, compassionate, forgiving. When Moses would go to the Tent of Meeting, "The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend". (Ex 33:11) Friendship with God wasn't possible for anyone else during this time. But thankfully Jesus changed that for us (John 15:15)...and we can freely communicate with Him.
Through prayer, worship, and studying the Bible, we can keep an open line of communication so that, like Moses' radiant face, people will see the change in our lives because of what the Lord has done in us. My question for you...as you've been reading the Old Testament...is it a struggle to read it every day? Does it speak to you as you were hoping it would? Maybe it feels like homework sometimes? It's possible I'm alone in thinking and feeling this way...but in case I'm not, I wanted to encourage you to keep up with the reading - it's important to know our history as God's people. But don't stop there. Find a book in the New Testament to study (not just read, but dig deep into it). Try one of those small books that nobody ever remembers how to find when you open the pages of the Bible...1 Peter, 2 John, James, Titus, Jude, etc. Pray about it, look them over - maybe you have something going on and one of these books has something to teach you. I found that Titus was where I needed to be studying, so I've been going through small chunks each day, and even journaling. It's really been helping me see that the Word is alive and active in my life each day, which (for me) is harder to remember when I'm only reading the Old Testament.
This song goes along with our reading. :-)
Third Day, "Show Me Your Glory"
But God doesn't say no. And then we see God revealed for who He really is...vengeful, full of wrath, a presence to be feared. Right? That's what everyone thinks about God when you mention the Old Testament. No...the Lord said "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you...I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." (Ex33:19) Moses saw God...who is slow to anger, merciful, compassionate, forgiving. When Moses would go to the Tent of Meeting, "The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend". (Ex 33:11) Friendship with God wasn't possible for anyone else during this time. But thankfully Jesus changed that for us (John 15:15)...and we can freely communicate with Him.
Through prayer, worship, and studying the Bible, we can keep an open line of communication so that, like Moses' radiant face, people will see the change in our lives because of what the Lord has done in us. My question for you...as you've been reading the Old Testament...is it a struggle to read it every day? Does it speak to you as you were hoping it would? Maybe it feels like homework sometimes? It's possible I'm alone in thinking and feeling this way...but in case I'm not, I wanted to encourage you to keep up with the reading - it's important to know our history as God's people. But don't stop there. Find a book in the New Testament to study (not just read, but dig deep into it). Try one of those small books that nobody ever remembers how to find when you open the pages of the Bible...1 Peter, 2 John, James, Titus, Jude, etc. Pray about it, look them over - maybe you have something going on and one of these books has something to teach you. I found that Titus was where I needed to be studying, so I've been going through small chunks each day, and even journaling. It's really been helping me see that the Word is alive and active in my life each day, which (for me) is harder to remember when I'm only reading the Old Testament.
This song goes along with our reading. :-)
Third Day, "Show Me Your Glory"
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