Exodus – Be Still…

Exodus 19-20 God’s Top Ten

The Ten Commandments with bibles on a black background

Did you already guess our new theme? This week we’ll focus on “Living as God Desires.” How fitting that we would begin with the 10 commandments. We can really sum all of these up into two: Love God and Love Each Other. But there is so much richness in this passage I hope we don’t miss.

God appears as unapproachable, and the people were afraid. And yet, God makes himself available for the purpose of showing his love by setting some safe boundaries for his children. Many people today want to compartmentalize God and say he was a mean God in the Old Testament and a loving God in the New Testament. He’s the same God.

Exodus 3:13-15 Who is God?

Read Exodus 3:13-15

A red heart with the word God inside it in white letters

Can you even imagine meeting God face to face? That’s what was happening to Moses in our reading today. Do you remember the story of the burning bush? Moses was in the presence of the almighty and great I AM! God introduced himself as “I AM WHO I AM.” The emphasis here cannot be denied. God also says, “This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.” Yahweh is the great I AM!

God has given us a message here, revealing a little of his majesty! His name is eternal! That is, God has no beginning or no end. Hallelujah! Let’s not lose any of the magnitude of this message Moses received. It is profound.

Exodus 40:1-38 – It is Completed (For Now)

Read Exodus 40:1-38

The earthly tabernacle is now complete. Moses has erected what has been constructed from what was given. It is finished on the first day of the new year. God’s timing was again perfect. The book of Exodus now ends with great promise and hope. The people wanted to know that God was with them. His presence is now obvious as a visible reminder in the cloud.

Despite their wayward hearts and rebellious ways, God still loves the Israelites. He wants to give them every opportunity for success. He wants that for us, too. These verses also give us a good role model to follow. Moses continually did everything “just as the Lord had commanded him.” You can’t go wrong when you do that. We get in trouble when we try to be God or do things our way and not God’s way.

Exodus 36:8-39:43 – Building God’s Plan

Read Exodus 36:8-39:43

This was a long reading today. I could have shortened it, but then we’d have a lot of the same over the next number of days. I usually read a passage and let it soak in to see what comes to me. I love that Scripture is alive and speaks to me. Today, I’m still figuring out the message. So if I ramble, I’m sorry.

What I can say is how very impressed I was by Bezalel. He was sure talented and gifted. Is there anything he can’t do? And this was not in the current day with all the fancy tools we have available. What were your impressions of him? I wondered how long it took for all of the construction. I imagine all of this was constructed over a number of weeks and months, maybe years. Just as soon as it seemed Bezalel was done with one project, there was more.

Exodus 35:25-36:7 – It Takes a Village

Read Exodus 35:25-36:7

We’ve heard the phrase, “it takes a village” as it refers to how important it is to be in community with others. We all have something to give. God made us that way. Projects often don’t get completed without everyone pitching in.

God didn’t design us to be alone but to be surrounded by others who love, support, and help us. We are that support to others and sometimes don’t even realize it. When we act out God’s calling on our lives, we are more than likely helping someone with their “village.” When we get involved with projects at church and share our time and experience, we are definitely being part of a “village.”