Discovering True Intimacy with Our Savior
In our last episode, Bezalel and Oholiab put the finishing touches on the temple and Moses inspected the work. When he saw that everything was done according to God’s plan, he blessed them. Let’s read Exodus chapter 40:
Reflection Questions:
1. What words or phrases repeated in this passage? Why do you think they were important enough to repeat?
2. What did you learn about who God is?
3. How do you need to respond?
In our previous episode, we listened as Bezalel and Oholiab continued work on the Tabernacle. We heard how they built the bronze altar for burnt offerings and all its utensils as well as the washbasin and the courtyard. Let’s continue with Exodus chapter 39:
Reflection Questions:
1. Did you notice any words or phrases that repeated in this passage? What stood out to you?
2. How does this passage point us to Jesus?
3. How do you need to respond?
In our last episode, we listened as people began executing God’s plans for the Tabernacle. Let’s continue on with Exodus chapter 38.
Reflection Questions
1. It can seem sometimes like Scripture repeats itself very literally, and that is because it does. Why do you think it’s important to hear all the details of how everything was made?
2. What do you see God doing in this chapter?
3. What does that teach you about who He is
In our last episode, Bezalel and Oholiab went to Moses so the people would no longer bring offerings. They had more than enough materials.
Then, they got to work on the curtains, the coverings, and the structure of the Tabernacle and made it to the specifications God required.
Reflection Questions:
1. What stood out to you today? Did anything surprise you?
2. First, we heard God lay out the plans for the Tabernacle. Today, we’re hearing about the work it took to create all the things. What does that say about who God is and who we are?
3. How do you need to respond in light of what you learned?
So far this season, we’ve caught up with the Israelites from where we left off in Genesis and seen God’s faithfulness to His word and His covenant with Abraham back in Genesis 15.
We met a man named Moses who had a heart for rescuing God’s people, the Israelites. Moses’s story was complicated, but God chose him to rescue His people out of the land of their slavery and lead them into a land of abundance – The Promised Land.
After 400 years of oppression – right on time based on God’s promise to Abraham back in Genesis – God moved on behalf of His people and rescued them. He executed 10 plagues because one man refused to humble himself. When God finally broke his heart, Pharaoh did, indeed, let God’s people go, but changed his mind and tried to chase them down with his whole army. The Israelites thought they were trapped but God had a plan to fight for them and to take them through the Red Sea on dry ground.
Then, God leads His people to the wilderness – a place where He would test their faith after the miracles they saw Him do on their behalf. But the struggles of not having their basic necessities, like food and water, eclipsed all the miracles. So, God miraculously and supernaturally provided for them with bread in the mornings, meat in the evenings, and water in the most unlikely of places.
When they came to Mount Sinai, God called Moses to come up. There He made a covenant with His people and they promised to be obedient. Then, Moses went up higher on the mountain and God gave him the blueprints for a Tent – A Tabernacle – where He could dwell among the people.
God designed a tent with intricately details which we heard all about a couple of weeks ago, and then things went sideways.
Last week, there was a lot of drama in the camp AND on the top of the mountain. While Moses was away and buried in the cloud of God’s presence, the people became restless. They wanted a god they could see, and so Aaron obliged which made God very, very angry. Moses interceded for them and convinced God to relent in his anger, to be faithful to His people even though they were not, and to accompany them personally to the Promised Land because Moses was fully dependent on God to get them there. When we last left Moses, he was giving the instructions God gave him to the people. Let’s see what happens next in Exodus chapter 36.
Reflection Questions:
1. What stood out to you today? Did anything surprise you?
2. Where did you see God’s Spirit working?
3. What does that teach you about God’s character?
In our last episode, God called Moses up to the mountain again and replaced the tablets he broke. If you remember, the last time Moses went up the mountain, God wanted the people to come with him but they were too scared. This time, God doesn’t want anyone or anything to come with Moses and that is when He shows Him a glimpse of His glory.
Again, we saw Moses beg God to travel with them and again, he intercedes for the nation of Israel. God made a covenant with Moses and told him he will perform mighty miracles and drive out those that occupy the land. This time, it came with a warning that they are to never to make a treaty with the people who live in the land because God knew they would end up following the ways of those people. Instead, God told Moses they were to destroy all their “holy places” so Israel wouldn’t be tempted to worship other gods.
And then, God outlined three festivals gives some additional covenant requirements.
Moses communed with God for 40 days and 40 nights at the top of the mountain. When he came back down, the people were afraid to go near him because his face had become radiant from being so close to God. Let’s find out what happens in Exodus chapter 35.
Reflection Questions:
1. What do you see God doing in this passage?
2. What does that teach you about who He is?
3. How do you need to respond?
