Pastor Billington's Blog

Exodus 36

We again see the detail that goes into the worship center, and we also note the beauty of the materials and the presentation. While I’ll admit that I think a case can be made for a less ostentatious worship center/style in today’s age, there is something to be said for a space that draws your attention to the beauty and majesty of God. Perhaps we can take an example from Jesus’ life as instruction. Maybe it’s okay to spend some of our resources on worship, while we are more frugal in our lives.

Luke 7:37-38 (WEB) “Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.”

And we see that on display in our passage. The people were made aware of the need, and they rose to meet the challenge. Moses eventually responds, “We have enough!“ This should be the normal response of God’s people for God’s projects. But this means that both the leaders and the people need to be in the right place with God. God’s people should always have soft hearts for God’s work.

Thought for the day: We should never regret using our resources for the kingdom.

Matthew 6:19-20 (WEB) “Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Exodus 35

We know from the New Testament that God supernaturally gifts His people for ministry (Romans 12:6-8). But we also recognize that He expects us to use our time, talents, and treasure for ministry as well, as we see here. And we also realize that there are those who are especially gifted or talented in certain areas, like Bezalel and Oholiab. We should always check our pride at the door when it comes to ministry. I’ve seen too many people get offended or upset when someone else is chosen to lead a ministry or project. Humility should be one of the hallmarks of a believer.

Philippians 2:3-5 (WEB) “…doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus…”

Thought for the day: Blessing comes when you use your time, talents, and treasure for the kingdom of God!

Matthew 25:21 (WEB) “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ “

Exodus 34

There are some significant reminders here regarding how God wants His people to worship once they come into the promised land. After all, He has done mighty miracles on their behalf – the type of miracles that have never been seen before! He expects them to serve Him with a single-minded devotion, turning away from other gods and even destroying their places of worship. They need to remember that He is a jealous God! He also expects them to observe the Sabbath, show up for the required festivals, keep their sacrifices pure, obey the 10 commandments, redeem the firstborn, and make sure that they give the firstfruits of their harvests to Him.

Note that God is not just jealous. He is also merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth. However, that doesn’t mean He’s a pushover. Sin is still punished, and the effects of that punishment can last a long time.

Thought for the day: I believe that when we spend time with God our countenance changes too. Our faces may not shine, but it will make a difference in how we look and act!

Proverbs 15:13 (WEB) “A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but an aching heart breaks the spirit.”

Exodus 33

Exodus 20:5 (WEB) “for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God”

We see the truth of that statement in the last two chapters. God is creator, He is awesome, He is majestic, He is fearsome, and He is holy. Idolatry is such an affront to Him that He tells Moses He won’t be in their midst anymore. But we also see how Moses is maturing as a leader!

Exodus 32:32 (WEB) “Yet now, if you will, forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out of your book which you have written.”

Exodus 33:15 (WEB) “Moses said to him, ‘If your presence doesn’t go with me, don’t carry us up from here.’ “

Paul also reflects this same attitude when he expresses his care for God’s people:

Romans 9:3 (WEB) “For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers’ sake, my relatives according to the flesh.”

God ultimately responds to Moses’ plea and says, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Thought for the day: The ministry of intercession is something all God’s people should engage in, leaders or not!

1 Timothy 2:1 (WEB) “I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks be made for all men…”

Exodus 32

Does God really change his mind (Exodus 32:14)? What about sovereignty? There have been a lot of discussions about this topic and these verses over the centuries, with multiple ways of looking at it. The literal Hebrew means that God “relented/repented” of his decision. However, the same word is used in 1 Samuel 15:29 to express a different understanding: “And he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!” So, is this a contradiction?

Perhaps the best way to understand it is to look at the intent of the passage. God is expressing his frustration at the Israelite’s for their capriciousness and idolatry. He is willing to wipe them out. But He is also willing to be swayed, and Moses’ response sways Him. Trust me, if it was something He really wanted to do, nothing would stop Him! But this seems to be as much a test of Moses as anything else. God, in His sovereignty, is willing to “change His mind” based on Moses’ intercession. Similar situations are found throughout the Bible where God says He will do one thing or another based on His people’s response:

2 Chronicles 7:14 (WEB) “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

So, what about 1 Samuel 15? The intent there is to say that God is NOT capricious. He is not impulsive or unpredictable. He doesn’t go back and forth on a whim. He doesn’t just change his mind willy-nilly! He is not like man. And in the Bible, we see Him giving His people choices, which He responds to appropriately and properly, and in accordance to His sovereign will.

There are two other observations we can make from our passage. First, we see the continual pull of idolatry on people’s hearts, which reminds us that our dissatisfaction with our lot in life can drive us far from God. And second, this is the point where the Levites express their devotion to God. They are later blessed with the priesthood.

Thought for the day: Aaron refuses to take responsibility for his role in the idolatry: “So they gave it to me; and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.” Don’t be an Aaron!

Proverbs 28:13 (WEB) “He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

Exodus 31

It’s very appropriate for musicians, artists, and craftsmen who are believers to use those talents for the building of the church and the furthering of the kingdom of God. In fact, can you think of anything more appropriate?

Even though the Sabbath was for Israel (31:16-17), rest and worship are for all people at all times.

Mark 6:31 (WEB) “He said to them, ‘Come away into a deserted place, and rest awhile.’ “

Hebrews 13:15 (WEB) “Through him, then, let’s offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which proclaim allegiance to his name.”

Thought for the day: While a “Sabbath” isn’t required in the New Testament, we could say that it’s recommended. Worship and rest are vital, and if we can set apart a whole day that’s even better. We just have to be sure that our Sabbath doesn’t become a requirement for everyone else.

Romans 14:5 (WEB) “One man esteems one day as more important. Another esteems every day alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind.”

Exodus 30

The ransom money provided by the census not only served as a way to provide money for the functioning of the tabernacle, it also served as an atonement. In that way, it prefigures Jesus Christ!

Mark 10:45 (WEB) “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The oil used for consecration is also used for anointing in the Old Testament. It is frequently thought to represent the Holy Spirit.

Luke 4:18 (WEB) “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.”

The incense represents prayer.

Psalm 141:2 (WEB) “Let my prayer be set before you like incense; the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice.”

Together, they show us how we are empowered (anointed) to live for God, and how we maintain our relationship with Him!

Galatians 5:16 (WEB) “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

Jeremiah 29:12-13 (WEB) “You shall call on me, and you shall go and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You shall seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart.”

Thought for the day: Prayer and the Spirit coincide when we are at our weakest, and we should be thankful to God for that!

Romans 8:26 (WEB) “In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered.”

Exodus 29

The priests had to make sacrifices for themselves because they were sinful. Not so with Jesus!

Hebrews 7:26-28 (WEB) “For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who doesn’t need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this once for all, when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men as high priests who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son forever who has been perfected.”

The sin offering purifies the altar, and the burnt offering atones for the sin of the priests. The ram of ordination provides the blood that consecrates the priests and their garments, and putting the blood on the right ears, thumbs, and toes served as both a reminder and an identification. The only reason that they were able to minister before the Lord was because of the sacrifice! The anointing with oil is a form of consecration that sets them apart, the grain offerings are a symbol of gratitude, and the drink offerings a form of dedication. Some offerings are consumed and are only God’s, while some offerings are shared with the priests as a way of providing for them. Once the priests were sanctified, they could take care of the daily offerings.

Thought for the day: We are priests too, which means we should live our lives in such a way that our service is pleasing to God.

1 Peter 2:5 (WEB) “You also as living stones are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”