What does the blessing and prophecy from two elderly saints tell us about God? What can elderly saints teach us if we’ll listen? Let’s look at the latter half of Luke 2.
What did the Holy Spirit reveal to an elderly saint named Simeon?
A man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. He was righteous and devout. He eagerly anticipated the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. The Holy Spirit revealed to him that he wouldn’t die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple area. Meanwhile, Jesus’ parents brought the child to the temple so that they could do what was customary under the Law. (Luke 2:25-27 CEB)
What did Simeon pray as he took the baby Jesus into his arms?
Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God, “Lord, I am your servant, and now I can die in peace, because you have kept your promise to me. With my own eyes I have seen what you have done to save your people, and foreign nations will also see this. Your mighty power is a light for all nations, and it will bring honor to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:28-32 CEV)
What did Simeon prophesy to Mary about Jesus?
And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:33-35 ESV)
What was the exemplary lifestyle of the elderly prophetess Anna?
There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and was a widow for 84 years. She did not leave the temple complex, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. (Luke 2:36-37 HCSB)
What did the elderly prophetess Anna say about Jesus and redemption? Is it much bigger than she probably understood?
And at that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak about Him to all those who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. And when His parents had completed everything in accordance with the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. Now the Child continued to grow and to become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him. (Luke 2:38-40 NASB)
What happened to Jesus when He was twelve at the Passover Feast?
Every year Jesus’ parents would go to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. When Jesus was twelve years old, they went up to the festival as usual. When the days of the festival were over, they left for home. The young man Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. They thought that he was in their group of travelers. After traveling for a day, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. (Luke 2:41-44 ISV)
What happened during His time with the doctors of the law?
And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. (Luke 2:46-48 KJV)
Did the whole experience about Jesus’ absence lead Mary to treasure these things in her heart?
And He said to them, “Why is it that you were searching for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” But they did not understand the statement which He had spoken to them. And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them, and His mother was treasuring all these things in her heart. And Jesus was advancing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (Luke 2:49-52 LSB)
What does the blessing and prophecy from two elderly saints tell us about God? What can elderly saints teach us if we’ll listen? You decide!
Angels & Shepherds (Luke 2)
What does Jesus’ humble birth in a stable rather than a palace tell us about God? What does the announcement to humble shepherds rather than kings tell us about God? Let’s look at Luke 2.
How did Joseph and Mary end up in Bethlehem for Jesus’ birth?
Now it happened that in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus for a census to be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was going to be registered for the census, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was with child. (Luke 2:1-5 LSB)
Where was Jesus born, in a palace or a very humble place?
While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom. (Luke 2:6-7 CEB)
To whom did an angel announce this birth, high society or those from the most humble of professions?
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-12 NIV)
Did the angels carry on with celebrations from pagan origins or praise God?
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:13-14 NKJV)
Did the shepherds carry on with celebrations from pagan origins or praise God?
When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them. (Luke 2:15-20 NLT)
Was Jesus circumcised and redeemed as a firstborn son? If rich people could offer a bull, average people a sheep or goat, what does Joseph and Mary’s sacrifice tell us about their economic level?
When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” (Luke 2:21-24 WEB Exodus 13:2,12; Leviticus 12:8)
What does Jesus’ humble birth in a stable rather than a palace tell us about God? What does the announcement to humble shepherds rather than kings tell us about God? You decide!
How did Joseph and Mary end up in Bethlehem for Jesus’ birth?
Now it happened that in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus for a census to be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was going to be registered for the census, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was with child. (Luke 2:1-5 LSB)
Where was Jesus born, in a palace or a very humble place?
While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom. (Luke 2:6-7 CEB)
To whom did an angel announce this birth, high society or those from the most humble of professions?
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-12 NIV)
Did the angels carry on with celebrations from pagan origins or praise God?
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:13-14 NKJV)
Did the shepherds carry on with celebrations from pagan origins or praise God?
When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them. (Luke 2:15-20 NLT)
Was Jesus circumcised and redeemed as a firstborn son? If rich people could offer a bull, average people a sheep or goat, what does Joseph and Mary’s sacrifice tell us about their economic level?
When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” (Luke 2:21-24 WEB Exodus 13:2,12; Leviticus 12:8)
What does Jesus’ humble birth in a stable rather than a palace tell us about God? What does the announcement to humble shepherds rather than kings tell us about God? You decide!
The Reparation Offering (Leviticus 5)
What about more serious sins that are an offense against God’s holy things? Can they also be forgiven? Should we try to repair any damages we have done to God and others? Let’s look at Leviticus 5.
Is there a specific list of sins that make a person guilty of greater sin before God? Are false witness, carelessness about quarantine, and making hasty vows serious offenses against God?
If a person sins in hearing the utterance of an oath, and is a witness, whether he has seen or known of the matter—if he does not tell it, he bears guilt. Or if a person touches any unclean thing, whether it is the carcass of an unclean beast, or the carcass of unclean livestock, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and he is unaware of it, he also shall be unclean and guilty. Or if he touches human uncleanness—whatever uncleanness with which a man may be defiled, and he is unaware of it—when he realizes it, then he shall be guilty. Or if a person swears, speaking thoughtlessly with his lips to do evil or to do good, whatever it is that a man may pronounce by an oath, and he is unaware of it—when he realizes it, then he shall be guilty in any of these matters. (Leviticus 5:1-4 NKJV)
Should that person confess their sin once they become aware of it?
When you become aware of your guilt in any of these ways, you must confess your sin. Then you must bring to the Lord as the penalty for your sin a female from the flock, either a sheep or a goat. This is a sin offering with which the priest will purify you from your sin, making you right with the Lord. (Leviticus 5:5-6 NLT)
What if the person who has sinned is too poor to afford a lamb?
‘If he can’t afford a lamb, then he shall bring his trespass offering for that in which he has sinned, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, to Yahweh; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering. He shall bring them to the priest, who shall first offer the one which is for the sin offering. He shall wring off its head from its neck, but shall not sever it completely. He shall sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering. He shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the ordinance; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin which he has sinned, and he shall be forgiven. (Leviticus 5:7-10 WEB)
What if the person who has sinned is too poor to afford a pair of birds?
If you are so poor that you cannot afford doves or pigeons, you may bring one kilogram of your finest flour. This is a sacrifice to ask my forgiveness, so don't sprinkle olive oil or sweet-smelling incense on it. Give the flour to a priest, who will scoop up a handful and send it up in smoke together with the other offerings. This is a reminder that all of the flour belongs to me. By offering this sacrifice, the priest pays the price for any of these sins you may have committed. The priest gets to keep the rest of the flour, just as he does with grain sacrifices. (Leviticus 5:11-13 CEV)
How much of a fine was added when the offense was against God’s holy things?
The Lord said to Moses, Whenever you commit wrongdoing, unintentionally sinning against any of the Lord’s holy things, you must bring to the Lord as your compensation a flawless ram from the flock, its value calculated in silver shekels according to the sanctuary’s shekel, as a compensation offering. You will make amends for the way you have sinned against the holy thing: you will add one-fifth to its value and give it to the priest. Then the priest will make reconciliation for you with the ram for the compensation offering, and you will be forgiven. (Leviticus 5:14-16 CEB)
This is variously referred to as the compensation, trespass, reparation or guilt offering. Does it include forgiveness?
If someone sins and without knowing it violates any of the Lord’s commands concerning anything prohibited, he bears the consequences of his guilt. He must bring an unblemished ram from the flock according to your assessment of its value as a restitution offering to the priest. Then the priest will make atonement on his behalf for the error he has committed unintentionally, and he will be forgiven. It is a restitution offering; he is indeed guilty before the Lord. (Leviticus 5:17-19 HCSB)
With his change of heart, did Zacchaeus also engage in acts of restitution? Did Jesus tell him not to bother because he didn’t need to?
Later, Zacchaeus stood up and announced to the Lord, “Look! I’m giving half of my possessions to the destitute, and if I have accused anyone falsely, I’m repaying four times as much as I owe.” Then Jesus told him, “Today salvation has come to this home, because this man is also a descendant of Abraham, and the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:8-10 ISV)
What about more serious sins that are an offense against God’s holy things? Can they also be forgiven? Should we try to repair any damages we have done to God and others? You decide!
Is there a specific list of sins that make a person guilty of greater sin before God? Are false witness, carelessness about quarantine, and making hasty vows serious offenses against God?
If a person sins in hearing the utterance of an oath, and is a witness, whether he has seen or known of the matter—if he does not tell it, he bears guilt. Or if a person touches any unclean thing, whether it is the carcass of an unclean beast, or the carcass of unclean livestock, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and he is unaware of it, he also shall be unclean and guilty. Or if he touches human uncleanness—whatever uncleanness with which a man may be defiled, and he is unaware of it—when he realizes it, then he shall be guilty. Or if a person swears, speaking thoughtlessly with his lips to do evil or to do good, whatever it is that a man may pronounce by an oath, and he is unaware of it—when he realizes it, then he shall be guilty in any of these matters. (Leviticus 5:1-4 NKJV)
Should that person confess their sin once they become aware of it?
When you become aware of your guilt in any of these ways, you must confess your sin. Then you must bring to the Lord as the penalty for your sin a female from the flock, either a sheep or a goat. This is a sin offering with which the priest will purify you from your sin, making you right with the Lord. (Leviticus 5:5-6 NLT)
What if the person who has sinned is too poor to afford a lamb?
‘If he can’t afford a lamb, then he shall bring his trespass offering for that in which he has sinned, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, to Yahweh; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering. He shall bring them to the priest, who shall first offer the one which is for the sin offering. He shall wring off its head from its neck, but shall not sever it completely. He shall sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering. He shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the ordinance; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin which he has sinned, and he shall be forgiven. (Leviticus 5:7-10 WEB)
What if the person who has sinned is too poor to afford a pair of birds?
If you are so poor that you cannot afford doves or pigeons, you may bring one kilogram of your finest flour. This is a sacrifice to ask my forgiveness, so don't sprinkle olive oil or sweet-smelling incense on it. Give the flour to a priest, who will scoop up a handful and send it up in smoke together with the other offerings. This is a reminder that all of the flour belongs to me. By offering this sacrifice, the priest pays the price for any of these sins you may have committed. The priest gets to keep the rest of the flour, just as he does with grain sacrifices. (Leviticus 5:11-13 CEV)
How much of a fine was added when the offense was against God’s holy things?
The Lord said to Moses, Whenever you commit wrongdoing, unintentionally sinning against any of the Lord’s holy things, you must bring to the Lord as your compensation a flawless ram from the flock, its value calculated in silver shekels according to the sanctuary’s shekel, as a compensation offering. You will make amends for the way you have sinned against the holy thing: you will add one-fifth to its value and give it to the priest. Then the priest will make reconciliation for you with the ram for the compensation offering, and you will be forgiven. (Leviticus 5:14-16 CEB)
This is variously referred to as the compensation, trespass, reparation or guilt offering. Does it include forgiveness?
If someone sins and without knowing it violates any of the Lord’s commands concerning anything prohibited, he bears the consequences of his guilt. He must bring an unblemished ram from the flock according to your assessment of its value as a restitution offering to the priest. Then the priest will make atonement on his behalf for the error he has committed unintentionally, and he will be forgiven. It is a restitution offering; he is indeed guilty before the Lord. (Leviticus 5:17-19 HCSB)
With his change of heart, did Zacchaeus also engage in acts of restitution? Did Jesus tell him not to bother because he didn’t need to?
Later, Zacchaeus stood up and announced to the Lord, “Look! I’m giving half of my possessions to the destitute, and if I have accused anyone falsely, I’m repaying four times as much as I owe.” Then Jesus told him, “Today salvation has come to this home, because this man is also a descendant of Abraham, and the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:8-10 ISV)
What about more serious sins that are an offense against God’s holy things? Can they also be forgiven? Should we try to repair any damages we have done to God and others? You decide!
The Sin Offering (Leviticus 4)
What kinds of sin do we all commit that are unintentional? Why is the sacrifice for a priest and the whole congregation’s sins greater than a community leader and an individual common person’s sins? Why are these last two offerings mandatory and not voluntary like the first three? Let’s begin with the forgiveness of unintentional sin in Leviticus 4.
A Priest’s Sin
What if a priest sins unintentionally by doing what is forbidden?
The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘When anyone sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands—If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the Lord a young bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed. He is to present the bull at the entrance to the tent of meeting before the Lord. He is to lay his hand on its head and slaughter it there before the Lord.’” (Leviticus 4:1-4 NIV)
Where was the priest to sprinkle the bull’s blood and pour what was left?
Then the anointed priest shall take some of the bull’s blood and bring it to the tabernacle of meeting. The priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of the blood seven times before the Lord, in front of the veil of the sanctuary. And the priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the Lord, which is in the tabernacle of meeting; and he shall pour the remaining blood of the bull at the base of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. (Leviticus 4:5-7 NKJV)
What was the priest to do with the fat of the bull? What are some examples where a priest could sin?
Then the priest must remove all the fat of the bull to be offered as a sin offering. This includes all the fat around the internal organs, the two kidneys and the fat around them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver. He must remove these along with the kidneys, just as he does with cattle offered as a peace offering, and burn them on the altar of burnt offerings. But he must take whatever is left of the bull—its hide, meat, head, legs, internal organs, and dung— and carry it away to a place outside the camp that is ceremonially clean, the place where the ashes are dumped. There, on the ash heap, he will burn it on a wood fire. (Leviticus 4:8-12 NLT)
The Congregation’s Sin
What if the whole congregation sins unintentionally by doing what is forbidden?
If the whole congregation of Israel sins, and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done any of the things which Yahweh has commanded not to be done, and are guilty; when the sin in which they have sinned is known, then the assembly shall offer a young bull for a sin offering, and bring it before the Tent of Meeting. The elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before Yahweh; and the bull shall be killed before Yahweh. The anointed priest shall bring some of the blood of the bull to the Tent of Meeting. (Leviticus 4:13-16 WEB)
Where was the priest to sprinkle the bull’s blood and pour what was left?
The priest will dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord toward the inner curtain. Then he will put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is before the Lord in the meeting tent. But he will pour all the rest of the blood out at the base of the altar of entirely burned offerings that is at the meeting tent’s entrance. (Leviticus 4:17-18 CEB)
What was the priest to do with the fat of the bull? What are some examples where a whole nation could sin?
After this, the priest will remove the fat from the bull and send it up in smoke on the altar. Finally, he will burn its remains outside the camp, just as he did with the other bull. By this sacrifice the sin of the whole nation will be forgiven. (Leviticus 4:19-21 CEV)
A Leader’s Sin
What if a community leader sins unintentionally by doing what is forbidden?
When a leader sins, doing unintentionally any one of all the things that by the commandments of the Lord his God ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt, or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring as his offering a goat, a male without blemish, and shall lay his hand on the head of the goat and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the Lord; it is a sin offering. (Leviticus 4:22-24 ESV)
What was the priest to do with the blood and fat of the goat? What are some examples where a leader could sin?
Then the priest must take some of the blood from the sin offering with his finger and apply it to the horns of the altar of burnt offering. The rest of its blood he must pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering. He must burn all its fat on the altar, like the fat of the fellowship sacrifice. In this way the priest will make atonement on his behalf for that person’s sin, and he will be forgiven. (Leviticus 25-26 HCSB)
An Commoner’s Sin
What if a commoner sins unintentionally by doing what is forbidden?
If any of the common people of the land inadvertently sins by disobeying one of the Lord’s commands that should not be violated, he will be guilty. When the sin that he committed is disclosed to him, he is to bring his offering for his sin that he had committed: a female goat without defect. He is to lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it at the place for burnt offering. (Leviticus 4:27-29 ISV)
What was the priest to do with the blood and fat of the goat? What are some examples where one of the common people could sin?
And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar. And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the Lord; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him. (Leviticus 4:30-31 KJV)
What alternate animal could be sacrificed instead of a goat?
But if he brings a lamb as his offering for a sin offering, he shall bring it, a female without blemish. And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it for a sin offering in the place where they slay the burnt offering. (Leviticus 4:32-33 LSB)
What was the priest to do with the blood and fat of the lamb? What are some examples where common people could sin?
And the priest is to take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and all the rest of its blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar. Then he shall remove all its fat, just as the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of the peace offerings, and the priest shall offer it up in smoke on the altar, on the offerings by fire to the Lord. So the priest shall make atonement for him regarding his sin which he has committed, and he will be forgiven. (Leviticus 4:34-35 NASB)
Should we make sin offerings, or do we have a better sacrifice?
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4 NIV)
What kinds of sin do we all commit that are unintentional? Why is the sacrifice for a priest’s sins or the whole congregation’s sins greater than a community leader or an individual common person? Why are these last two offerings mandatory and not voluntary like the first three? Do we still need to make these sacrifices? You decide!
A Priest’s Sin
What if a priest sins unintentionally by doing what is forbidden?
The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘When anyone sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands—If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the Lord a young bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed. He is to present the bull at the entrance to the tent of meeting before the Lord. He is to lay his hand on its head and slaughter it there before the Lord.’” (Leviticus 4:1-4 NIV)
Where was the priest to sprinkle the bull’s blood and pour what was left?
Then the anointed priest shall take some of the bull’s blood and bring it to the tabernacle of meeting. The priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of the blood seven times before the Lord, in front of the veil of the sanctuary. And the priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the Lord, which is in the tabernacle of meeting; and he shall pour the remaining blood of the bull at the base of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. (Leviticus 4:5-7 NKJV)
What was the priest to do with the fat of the bull? What are some examples where a priest could sin?
Then the priest must remove all the fat of the bull to be offered as a sin offering. This includes all the fat around the internal organs, the two kidneys and the fat around them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver. He must remove these along with the kidneys, just as he does with cattle offered as a peace offering, and burn them on the altar of burnt offerings. But he must take whatever is left of the bull—its hide, meat, head, legs, internal organs, and dung— and carry it away to a place outside the camp that is ceremonially clean, the place where the ashes are dumped. There, on the ash heap, he will burn it on a wood fire. (Leviticus 4:8-12 NLT)
The Congregation’s Sin
What if the whole congregation sins unintentionally by doing what is forbidden?
If the whole congregation of Israel sins, and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done any of the things which Yahweh has commanded not to be done, and are guilty; when the sin in which they have sinned is known, then the assembly shall offer a young bull for a sin offering, and bring it before the Tent of Meeting. The elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before Yahweh; and the bull shall be killed before Yahweh. The anointed priest shall bring some of the blood of the bull to the Tent of Meeting. (Leviticus 4:13-16 WEB)
Where was the priest to sprinkle the bull’s blood and pour what was left?
The priest will dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord toward the inner curtain. Then he will put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is before the Lord in the meeting tent. But he will pour all the rest of the blood out at the base of the altar of entirely burned offerings that is at the meeting tent’s entrance. (Leviticus 4:17-18 CEB)
What was the priest to do with the fat of the bull? What are some examples where a whole nation could sin?
After this, the priest will remove the fat from the bull and send it up in smoke on the altar. Finally, he will burn its remains outside the camp, just as he did with the other bull. By this sacrifice the sin of the whole nation will be forgiven. (Leviticus 4:19-21 CEV)
A Leader’s Sin
What if a community leader sins unintentionally by doing what is forbidden?
When a leader sins, doing unintentionally any one of all the things that by the commandments of the Lord his God ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt, or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring as his offering a goat, a male without blemish, and shall lay his hand on the head of the goat and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the Lord; it is a sin offering. (Leviticus 4:22-24 ESV)
What was the priest to do with the blood and fat of the goat? What are some examples where a leader could sin?
Then the priest must take some of the blood from the sin offering with his finger and apply it to the horns of the altar of burnt offering. The rest of its blood he must pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering. He must burn all its fat on the altar, like the fat of the fellowship sacrifice. In this way the priest will make atonement on his behalf for that person’s sin, and he will be forgiven. (Leviticus 25-26 HCSB)
An Commoner’s Sin
What if a commoner sins unintentionally by doing what is forbidden?
If any of the common people of the land inadvertently sins by disobeying one of the Lord’s commands that should not be violated, he will be guilty. When the sin that he committed is disclosed to him, he is to bring his offering for his sin that he had committed: a female goat without defect. He is to lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it at the place for burnt offering. (Leviticus 4:27-29 ISV)
What was the priest to do with the blood and fat of the goat? What are some examples where one of the common people could sin?
And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar. And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the Lord; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him. (Leviticus 4:30-31 KJV)
What alternate animal could be sacrificed instead of a goat?
But if he brings a lamb as his offering for a sin offering, he shall bring it, a female without blemish. And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it for a sin offering in the place where they slay the burnt offering. (Leviticus 4:32-33 LSB)
What was the priest to do with the blood and fat of the lamb? What are some examples where common people could sin?
And the priest is to take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and all the rest of its blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar. Then he shall remove all its fat, just as the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of the peace offerings, and the priest shall offer it up in smoke on the altar, on the offerings by fire to the Lord. So the priest shall make atonement for him regarding his sin which he has committed, and he will be forgiven. (Leviticus 4:34-35 NASB)
Should we make sin offerings, or do we have a better sacrifice?
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4 NIV)
What kinds of sin do we all commit that are unintentional? Why is the sacrifice for a priest’s sins or the whole congregation’s sins greater than a community leader or an individual common person? Why are these last two offerings mandatory and not voluntary like the first three? Do we still need to make these sacrifices? You decide!
The Peace Offering (Leviticus 3)
Does the peace offering show the high cost of peace? Does peace with God come through the shedding of blood? As a fellowship or thanksgiving offering, was this shared with God and the priests? Is Jesus our peace? Let’s look at Leviticus 3.
We will later learn that a peace offering may have several purposes (Leviticus 7). Could a peace offering be made from the cattle herd?
If you present an animal from the herd as a peace offering [fellowship offering or thank offering] to the Lord, it may be a male or a female, but it must have no defects. Lay your hand on the animal’s head, and slaughter it at the entrance of the Tabernacle. Then Aaron’s sons, the priests, will splatter its blood against all sides of the altar. (Leviticus 3:1-2 NLT)
Does the offering of an animal without defects remind us of a sinless Savior?
knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish or spot, the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19 WEB)
What was to be done with those parts of the animal that are not to be eaten? Were they placed on top of the burnt offering?
And from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as a food offering to the Lord, he shall offer the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys. Then Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering, which is on the wood on the fire; it is a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. (Leviticus 3:3-5 ESV)
Is Jesus our peace, making peace between us and God, between Jew and Gentile?
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. (Ephesians 2:13-16 NIV)
Could a peace offering also be made from the flock, the sheep and goats?
If his offering as a fellowship sacrifice to the Lord is from the flock, he must present a male or female without blemish. If he is presenting a lamb for his offering, he is to present it before the Lord. He must lay his hand on the head of his offering, then slaughter it before the tent of meeting. Aaron’s sons will sprinkle its blood on all sides of the altar. (Leviticus 3:6-8 HCSB)
What was to be done with the fat and internal organs?
The presenter is then to bring a gift from the peace offering as an offering made by fire to the Lord. He is to remove the fat—the entire fat tail near the spine, the fat that covers the internal organs, all of the fat that is inside the internal organs, the two kidneys with the fat on them by the loins, and the fatty mass that surrounds the liver and kidneys. Then the priest is to burn them on the altar as a food offering made by fire to the Lord. (Leviticus 3:9-11 ISV)
What if the sacrifice was a goat instead of a sheep?
And if his offering be a goat, then he shall offer it before the Lord. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of it, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about. (Leviticus 3:12-13 KJV)
Is there a fellowship aspect to communion for Christians?
Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? (1 Corinthians 10:16 LSB)
Were blood and fat forbidden to be eaten? Could this have been in part for health reasons? Are Christians still forbidden to eat blood?
From it he shall present his offering as an offering by fire to the Lord, the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, which is on the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys. The priest shall offer them up in smoke on the altar as food, an offering by fire as a soothing aroma; all fat is the Lord’s. It is a permanent statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places: you shall not eat any fat or any blood. (Leviticus 3:14-17 NASB)
Does the peace offering show the high cost of peace? Does peace with God come through the shedding of blood? Is Jesus our peace? You decide!
We will later learn that a peace offering may have several purposes (Leviticus 7). Could a peace offering be made from the cattle herd?
If you present an animal from the herd as a peace offering [fellowship offering or thank offering] to the Lord, it may be a male or a female, but it must have no defects. Lay your hand on the animal’s head, and slaughter it at the entrance of the Tabernacle. Then Aaron’s sons, the priests, will splatter its blood against all sides of the altar. (Leviticus 3:1-2 NLT)
Does the offering of an animal without defects remind us of a sinless Savior?
knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish or spot, the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19 WEB)
What was to be done with those parts of the animal that are not to be eaten? Were they placed on top of the burnt offering?
And from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as a food offering to the Lord, he shall offer the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys. Then Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering, which is on the wood on the fire; it is a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. (Leviticus 3:3-5 ESV)
Is Jesus our peace, making peace between us and God, between Jew and Gentile?
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. (Ephesians 2:13-16 NIV)
Could a peace offering also be made from the flock, the sheep and goats?
If his offering as a fellowship sacrifice to the Lord is from the flock, he must present a male or female without blemish. If he is presenting a lamb for his offering, he is to present it before the Lord. He must lay his hand on the head of his offering, then slaughter it before the tent of meeting. Aaron’s sons will sprinkle its blood on all sides of the altar. (Leviticus 3:6-8 HCSB)
What was to be done with the fat and internal organs?
The presenter is then to bring a gift from the peace offering as an offering made by fire to the Lord. He is to remove the fat—the entire fat tail near the spine, the fat that covers the internal organs, all of the fat that is inside the internal organs, the two kidneys with the fat on them by the loins, and the fatty mass that surrounds the liver and kidneys. Then the priest is to burn them on the altar as a food offering made by fire to the Lord. (Leviticus 3:9-11 ISV)
What if the sacrifice was a goat instead of a sheep?
And if his offering be a goat, then he shall offer it before the Lord. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of it, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about. (Leviticus 3:12-13 KJV)
Is there a fellowship aspect to communion for Christians?
Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? (1 Corinthians 10:16 LSB)
Were blood and fat forbidden to be eaten? Could this have been in part for health reasons? Are Christians still forbidden to eat blood?
From it he shall present his offering as an offering by fire to the Lord, the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, which is on the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys. The priest shall offer them up in smoke on the altar as food, an offering by fire as a soothing aroma; all fat is the Lord’s. It is a permanent statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places: you shall not eat any fat or any blood. (Leviticus 3:14-17 NASB)
Does the peace offering show the high cost of peace? Does peace with God come through the shedding of blood? Is Jesus our peace? You decide!
The Grain Offering (Leviticus 2)
Is the grain or meal offering somehow related to communion? Could unleavened bread symbolize our sinless Savior? What could the oil and frankincense picture? Let's look at Leviticus 2.
Could the grain-offering be burnt? Because the Levites had no inheritance in the land, and did not grow their own food, did they rely on offerings?
Now when anyone brings near a grain offering as an offering to Yahweh, his offering shall be of fine flour, and he shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it. He shall then bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests; and he shall take from it his handful of its fine flour and of its oil with all of its frankincense. And the priest shall offer it up in smoke as its memorial portion on the altar, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to Yahweh. And the remainder of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons: a thing most holy of the offerings to Yahweh by fire. (Leviticus 2:1-3 LSB)
Don’t be confused by the old English in the King James Bible calling the meal offering a meat offering. It’s the same thing. Could the grain offering be oven baked?
And if thou bring an oblation of a meat offering baken in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil. And if thy oblation be a meat offering baken in a pan, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mingled with oil. Thou shalt part it in pieces, and pour oil thereon: it is a meat offering. (Leviticus 2:4-6 KJV)
Could the grain offering be baked in a pan? Who ate the remainder?
Now if your offering is a grain offering made in a pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil. When you bring in the grain offering which is made of these things to the Lord, it shall be presented to the priest, and he shall bring it to the altar. The priest then shall take up from the grain offering its memorial portion, and shall offer it up in smoke on the altar as an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the Lord. The remainder of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons: a most holy part of the offerings to the Lord by fire. (Leviticus 2:7-10 NASB)
Was any leavening agent allowed to be included with the grain offering? What is meant by adding salt? Could it have something to do symbolically with preserving the covenant?
Every grain offering you bring to the Lord must be made without yeast, for you are not to burn any yeast or honey in a food offering presented to the Lord. You may bring them to the Lord as an offering of the firstfruits, but they are not to be offered on the altar as a pleasing aroma. Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings. (Leviticus 2:11-13 NIV)
If the grain offering was of firstfruits, how was that handled?
If you offer a grain offering of your firstfruits to the Lord, you shall offer for the grain offering of your firstfruits green heads of grain roasted on the fire, grain beaten from full heads. And you shall put oil on it, and lay frankincense on it. It is a grain offering. Then the priest shall burn the memorial portion: part of its beaten grain and part of its oil, with all the frankincense, as an offering made by fire to the Lord. (Leviticus 2:14-16 NKJV)
Is the grain or meal offering somehow related to communion? Could unleavened bread symbolize our sinless Savior? What could the oil and frankincense picture? You decide!
Could the grain-offering be burnt? Because the Levites had no inheritance in the land, and did not grow their own food, did they rely on offerings?
Now when anyone brings near a grain offering as an offering to Yahweh, his offering shall be of fine flour, and he shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it. He shall then bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests; and he shall take from it his handful of its fine flour and of its oil with all of its frankincense. And the priest shall offer it up in smoke as its memorial portion on the altar, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to Yahweh. And the remainder of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons: a thing most holy of the offerings to Yahweh by fire. (Leviticus 2:1-3 LSB)
Don’t be confused by the old English in the King James Bible calling the meal offering a meat offering. It’s the same thing. Could the grain offering be oven baked?
And if thou bring an oblation of a meat offering baken in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil. And if thy oblation be a meat offering baken in a pan, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mingled with oil. Thou shalt part it in pieces, and pour oil thereon: it is a meat offering. (Leviticus 2:4-6 KJV)
Could the grain offering be baked in a pan? Who ate the remainder?
Now if your offering is a grain offering made in a pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil. When you bring in the grain offering which is made of these things to the Lord, it shall be presented to the priest, and he shall bring it to the altar. The priest then shall take up from the grain offering its memorial portion, and shall offer it up in smoke on the altar as an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the Lord. The remainder of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons: a most holy part of the offerings to the Lord by fire. (Leviticus 2:7-10 NASB)
Was any leavening agent allowed to be included with the grain offering? What is meant by adding salt? Could it have something to do symbolically with preserving the covenant?
Every grain offering you bring to the Lord must be made without yeast, for you are not to burn any yeast or honey in a food offering presented to the Lord. You may bring them to the Lord as an offering of the firstfruits, but they are not to be offered on the altar as a pleasing aroma. Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings. (Leviticus 2:11-13 NIV)
If the grain offering was of firstfruits, how was that handled?
If you offer a grain offering of your firstfruits to the Lord, you shall offer for the grain offering of your firstfruits green heads of grain roasted on the fire, grain beaten from full heads. And you shall put oil on it, and lay frankincense on it. It is a grain offering. Then the priest shall burn the memorial portion: part of its beaten grain and part of its oil, with all the frankincense, as an offering made by fire to the Lord. (Leviticus 2:14-16 NKJV)
Is the grain or meal offering somehow related to communion? Could unleavened bread symbolize our sinless Savior? What could the oil and frankincense picture? You decide!
The Burnt Offering (Leviticus 1)
Do the offerings in various ways foreshadow different aspects of the sacrifice of our Savior? How does the burnt offering prefigure Jesus? Do we offer our lives to God completely? Let’s begin with the burnt offering in Leviticus 1.
What was the first kind of offering mentioned in Leviticus? Could an unblemished or flawless male have prefigured a sinless Jesus?
Then the Lord called to Moses and said to him from the meeting tent, Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When any of you present a livestock offering to the Lord, you can present it from either the herd or the flock. If the offering is an entirely burned offering from the herd, you must present a flawless male, bringing it to the meeting tent’s entrance for its acceptance before the Lord. (Leviticus 1:1-3 CEB)
Laying on of hands is a doctrine found throughout the Bible. It was used for conveying a blessing, healing, confessing sin and putting hands on the head of a sacrifice, ordination and setting apart. What could it possibly mean here?
Lay your hand on its head, and I will accept the animal as a sacrifice for taking away your sins. After the bull is killed in my presence, some priests from Aaron's family will offer its blood to me by splattering it against the four sides of the altar. (Leviticus 1:4-5 CEV)
Did flaying the burnt offering foreshadow Jesus being flogged? Did burning all of it picture Jesus’ life on the cross as a total sacrifice?
Then he shall flay the burnt offering and cut it into pieces, and the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. And Aaron's sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, the head, and the fat, on the wood that is on the fire on the altar; but its entrails and its legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, as a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. (Leviticus 1:6-9 ESV)
For families unable to afford a large animal, was an offering from the sheep or goats also to have been unblemished? What could the washing have pictured?
But if his gift for a burnt offering is from the flock, from sheep or goats, he is to present an unblemished male. He will slaughter it on the north side of the altar before the Lord. Aaron’s sons the priests will sprinkle its blood against the altar on all sides. He will cut the animal into pieces with its head and its suet, and the priest will arrange them on top of the burning wood on the altar. But he is to wash the entrails and shanks with water. The priest will then present all of it and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt offering, a fire offering of a pleasing aroma to the Lord. (Leviticus 1:10-13 HCSB)
For an even poorer family, was a smaller offering of a bird acceptable? Did Jesus’ parents offer a pair of doves in making a similar sacrifice (Luke 2:24)?
If his offering is a burnt offering of birds to the Lord, he is to bring turtledoves or young doves. The priest is to bring it to the altar to offer it up in smoke. He is to decapitate it and drain its blood on the side of the altar, and then he is to eviscerate it and throw the viscera and the feathers to the east side of the altar, where the fatty ashes are located. He is then to tear it open by its wings, but not divide it completely into two parts. The priest is then to offer all of it on the wood over the fire as a burnt offering by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. (Leviticus 1:14-17 ISV)
Do the offerings in various ways foreshadow different aspects of the sacrifice of our Savior? How does the burnt offering prefigure Jesus? Do we offer our lives to God completely? You decide!
What was the first kind of offering mentioned in Leviticus? Could an unblemished or flawless male have prefigured a sinless Jesus?
Then the Lord called to Moses and said to him from the meeting tent, Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When any of you present a livestock offering to the Lord, you can present it from either the herd or the flock. If the offering is an entirely burned offering from the herd, you must present a flawless male, bringing it to the meeting tent’s entrance for its acceptance before the Lord. (Leviticus 1:1-3 CEB)
Laying on of hands is a doctrine found throughout the Bible. It was used for conveying a blessing, healing, confessing sin and putting hands on the head of a sacrifice, ordination and setting apart. What could it possibly mean here?
Lay your hand on its head, and I will accept the animal as a sacrifice for taking away your sins. After the bull is killed in my presence, some priests from Aaron's family will offer its blood to me by splattering it against the four sides of the altar. (Leviticus 1:4-5 CEV)
Did flaying the burnt offering foreshadow Jesus being flogged? Did burning all of it picture Jesus’ life on the cross as a total sacrifice?
Then he shall flay the burnt offering and cut it into pieces, and the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. And Aaron's sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, the head, and the fat, on the wood that is on the fire on the altar; but its entrails and its legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, as a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. (Leviticus 1:6-9 ESV)
For families unable to afford a large animal, was an offering from the sheep or goats also to have been unblemished? What could the washing have pictured?
But if his gift for a burnt offering is from the flock, from sheep or goats, he is to present an unblemished male. He will slaughter it on the north side of the altar before the Lord. Aaron’s sons the priests will sprinkle its blood against the altar on all sides. He will cut the animal into pieces with its head and its suet, and the priest will arrange them on top of the burning wood on the altar. But he is to wash the entrails and shanks with water. The priest will then present all of it and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt offering, a fire offering of a pleasing aroma to the Lord. (Leviticus 1:10-13 HCSB)
For an even poorer family, was a smaller offering of a bird acceptable? Did Jesus’ parents offer a pair of doves in making a similar sacrifice (Luke 2:24)?
If his offering is a burnt offering of birds to the Lord, he is to bring turtledoves or young doves. The priest is to bring it to the altar to offer it up in smoke. He is to decapitate it and drain its blood on the side of the altar, and then he is to eviscerate it and throw the viscera and the feathers to the east side of the altar, where the fatty ashes are located. He is then to tear it open by its wings, but not divide it completely into two parts. The priest is then to offer all of it on the wood over the fire as a burnt offering by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. (Leviticus 1:14-17 ISV)
Do the offerings in various ways foreshadow different aspects of the sacrifice of our Savior? How does the burnt offering prefigure Jesus? Do we offer our lives to God completely? You decide!
Mary's & Zechariah's Songs (Luke 1)
Is it wrong to have church songs with lyrics about I, me and my as some believe? What about Mary’s Song? When Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, did he speak in tongues or prophesy? Can even righteous people like Zechariah have doubts and others like Mary simply believe? Let’s continue in Luke 1.
Why was Mary blessed and Zechariah made mute? Do we believe or doubt? Let’s begin with Mary and Elizabeth’s greetings.
Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” (Luke 1:43-45 NLT)
My Soul Magnifies the Lord
Is there room for Christian music about I, me, and my? This is often called the Song of Mary or the Magnificat from the Latin word for “magnifies.”
Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord. My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed. For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name. (Luke 1:46-49 WEB)
Does the remainder of the Magnificat focus more on others?
He shows mercy to everyone, from one generation to the next, who honors him as God. He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations. He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty-handed. He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, remembering his mercy, just as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants forever.” (Luke 1:50-55 CEB)
When John was born, did Zechariah back up his wife’s words? Did his speech return?
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months. Then she went back home. When Elizabeth's son was born, her neighbors and relatives heard how kind the Lord had been to her, and they too were glad. Eight days later they did for the child what the Law of Moses commands. They were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John.” The people argued, “No one in your family has ever been named John.” So they motioned to Zechariah to find out what he wanted to name his son. Zechariah asked for a writing tablet. Then he wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was amazed. At once, Zechariah started speaking and praising God. (Luke 1:56-64 CEV)
What happened with the news of these marvelous events?
And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him. (Luke 1:65-66 ESV)
Praise the Lord
When Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, did he speak in tongues or prophesy? This is sometimes called the Song of Zechariah or the Benedictus from the Latin word for “praise.”
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and provided redemption for His people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, just as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets in ancient times; salvation from our enemies and from the clutches of those who hate us. He has dealt mercifully with our fathers and remembered His holy covenant—the oath that He swore to our father Abraham. (Luke 1:67-73a HCSB)
What would John become and for whom would he prepare the way?
He granted us deliverance from our enemies’ grip so that we could serve him without fear and be holy and righteous before him all of our days. And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, because you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way and to give his people knowledge of salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of the tender mercy of our God, his light from on high has visited us, to shine on those who sit in darkness and in death’s shadow, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:73b-79 ISV)
Where did John the Baptist live during his childhood years?
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel. (Luke 1:80 KJV)
Is it wrong to have church songs with lyrics about I, me and my as some believe? What about Mary’s Song? When Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, did he speak in tongues or prophesy? Can even righteous people like Zechariah have doubts and others like Mary simply believe? You decide!
Why was Mary blessed and Zechariah made mute? Do we believe or doubt? Let’s begin with Mary and Elizabeth’s greetings.
Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” (Luke 1:43-45 NLT)
My Soul Magnifies the Lord
Is there room for Christian music about I, me, and my? This is often called the Song of Mary or the Magnificat from the Latin word for “magnifies.”
Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord. My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed. For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name. (Luke 1:46-49 WEB)
Does the remainder of the Magnificat focus more on others?
He shows mercy to everyone, from one generation to the next, who honors him as God. He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations. He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty-handed. He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, remembering his mercy, just as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants forever.” (Luke 1:50-55 CEB)
When John was born, did Zechariah back up his wife’s words? Did his speech return?
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months. Then she went back home. When Elizabeth's son was born, her neighbors and relatives heard how kind the Lord had been to her, and they too were glad. Eight days later they did for the child what the Law of Moses commands. They were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John.” The people argued, “No one in your family has ever been named John.” So they motioned to Zechariah to find out what he wanted to name his son. Zechariah asked for a writing tablet. Then he wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was amazed. At once, Zechariah started speaking and praising God. (Luke 1:56-64 CEV)
What happened with the news of these marvelous events?
And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him. (Luke 1:65-66 ESV)
Praise the Lord
When Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, did he speak in tongues or prophesy? This is sometimes called the Song of Zechariah or the Benedictus from the Latin word for “praise.”
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and provided redemption for His people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, just as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets in ancient times; salvation from our enemies and from the clutches of those who hate us. He has dealt mercifully with our fathers and remembered His holy covenant—the oath that He swore to our father Abraham. (Luke 1:67-73a HCSB)
What would John become and for whom would he prepare the way?
He granted us deliverance from our enemies’ grip so that we could serve him without fear and be holy and righteous before him all of our days. And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, because you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way and to give his people knowledge of salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of the tender mercy of our God, his light from on high has visited us, to shine on those who sit in darkness and in death’s shadow, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:73b-79 ISV)
Where did John the Baptist live during his childhood years?
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel. (Luke 1:80 KJV)
Is it wrong to have church songs with lyrics about I, me and my as some believe? What about Mary’s Song? When Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, did he speak in tongues or prophesy? Can even righteous people like Zechariah have doubts and others like Mary simply believe? You decide!
Gabriel's Visits (Luke 1a)
By what miracles were John the Baptist and Jesus born? Do even righteous people like Zechariah doubt and others like Mary simply believe? Let’s begin looking at Luke 1.
What was the stated purpose of Luke, and who was it initially written to?
Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. (Luke 1:1-4 NKJV)
Who is this first account about? How do they figure into the Gospel?
When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old. (Luke 1:5-7 NLT)
What was Zachariah’s responsibility in the temple at Jerusalem?
Now while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his division according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. (Luke 1:8-10 WEB)
Who appeared to Zechariah and what was his reaction?
All at once an angel from the Lord appeared to Zechariah at the right side of the altar. Zechariah was confused and afraid when he saw the angel. (Luke 1:11-12 CEV)
Was John filled with the Holy Spirit before his birth? Must this mean something other than speaking in tongues as many believe?
The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayers have been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to your son and you must name him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many people will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the Lord’s eyes. He must not drink wine and liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth. He will bring many Israelites back to the Lord their God. (Luke 1:13-15 CEB)
What would Zechariah’s son, John, accomplish in preparation for the Lord?
And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared. (Luke 1:16-17 ESV)
Did Zechariah doubt and was he disciplined for it? Do we ever doubt God?
“How can I know this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.” The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.” (Luke 1:18-20 HCSB)
What happened after this appearance? What happened to his wife, Elizabeth?
Meanwhile, the people kept waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed in the sanctuary so long. But when he did come out, he was unable to speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them but remained unable to speak. When the days of his service were over, he went home. After this, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and remained in seclusion for five months. She said, “This is what the Lord did for me when he looked favorably on me and took away my public disgrace.” (Luke 1:21-25 ISV)
Did the same angel go and visit another person? Who?
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. (Luke 1:26-27 KJV)
What did Gabriel discuss with Mary, and what was her son to be called?
And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and was pondering what kind of greeting this was. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. (Luke 1:28-31 LSB)
What did Gabriel say about Jesus and what He would also be called?
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also the holy Child will be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:32-35 NASB)
What did Gabriel say about Elizabeth? How was Mary’s reaction different from Zacharias’?
Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:36-38 NIV)
Where did Mary go for a family visit? Filled with the Holy Spirit did Elizabeth speak in tongues or speak a blessing?
Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! (Luke 1:39-42 NKJV)
By what miracles were John the Baptist and Jesus born? Do even righteous people like Zechariah doubt and others like Mary simply believe? You decide!
What was the stated purpose of Luke, and who was it initially written to?
Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. (Luke 1:1-4 NKJV)
Who is this first account about? How do they figure into the Gospel?
When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old. (Luke 1:5-7 NLT)
What was Zachariah’s responsibility in the temple at Jerusalem?
Now while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his division according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. (Luke 1:8-10 WEB)
Who appeared to Zechariah and what was his reaction?
All at once an angel from the Lord appeared to Zechariah at the right side of the altar. Zechariah was confused and afraid when he saw the angel. (Luke 1:11-12 CEV)
Was John filled with the Holy Spirit before his birth? Must this mean something other than speaking in tongues as many believe?
The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayers have been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to your son and you must name him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many people will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the Lord’s eyes. He must not drink wine and liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth. He will bring many Israelites back to the Lord their God. (Luke 1:13-15 CEB)
What would Zechariah’s son, John, accomplish in preparation for the Lord?
And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared. (Luke 1:16-17 ESV)
Did Zechariah doubt and was he disciplined for it? Do we ever doubt God?
“How can I know this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.” The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.” (Luke 1:18-20 HCSB)
What happened after this appearance? What happened to his wife, Elizabeth?
Meanwhile, the people kept waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed in the sanctuary so long. But when he did come out, he was unable to speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them but remained unable to speak. When the days of his service were over, he went home. After this, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and remained in seclusion for five months. She said, “This is what the Lord did for me when he looked favorably on me and took away my public disgrace.” (Luke 1:21-25 ISV)
Did the same angel go and visit another person? Who?
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. (Luke 1:26-27 KJV)
What did Gabriel discuss with Mary, and what was her son to be called?
And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and was pondering what kind of greeting this was. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. (Luke 1:28-31 LSB)
What did Gabriel say about Jesus and what He would also be called?
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also the holy Child will be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:32-35 NASB)
What did Gabriel say about Elizabeth? How was Mary’s reaction different from Zacharias’?
Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:36-38 NIV)
Where did Mary go for a family visit? Filled with the Holy Spirit did Elizabeth speak in tongues or speak a blessing?
Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! (Luke 1:39-42 NKJV)
By what miracles were John the Baptist and Jesus born? Do even righteous people like Zechariah doubt and others like Mary simply believe? You decide!
Tabernacle Set Up (Exodus 40)
How much detail is required to set up a healthy local church? Have we done so exactly as the Lord commanded? Are some things to be treated as holy? Let’s look at Exodus 40.
When was the tabernacle first set up after the Exodus from Egypt?
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “On the first day of the first month you shall set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. You shall put in it the ark of the Testimony, and partition off the ark with the veil. You shall bring in the table and arrange the things that are to be set in order on it; and you shall bring in the lampstand and light its lamps. (Exodus 40:1-4 NKJV)
Was there a specific sequence to setting up the tabernacle for the first time? Is there a divine sequence to setting up a new church?
Place the gold incense altar in front of the Ark of the Covenant. Then hang the curtain at the entrance of the Tabernacle. Place the altar of burnt offering in front of the Tabernacle entrance. Set the washbasin between the Tabernacle and the altar, and fill it with water. Then set up the courtyard around the outside of the tent, and hang the curtain for the courtyard entrance. (Exodus 40:5-8 NLT)
Was the tabernacle anointed with oil to sanctify it as holy?
You shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and shall make it holy, and all its furniture, and it will be holy. You shall anoint the altar of burnt offering, with all its vessels, and sanctify the altar, and the altar will be most holy. You shall anoint the basin and its base, and sanctify it. (Exodus 40:9-11 WEB)
Were the priests washed with water and anointed as a part of their ordination ceremony?
Then bring Aaron and his sons to the meeting tent’s entrance and wash them with water. Dress Aaron in the holy clothes. Anoint him and make him holy so that he may serve me as priest. Then bring his sons and dress them in tunics. Anoint them like you anointed their father so that they may serve me as priests. Their anointing is to the priesthood for all time in every generation. (Exodus 40:12-15 CEB)
Did all this take place in the second year after their freedom from Egyptian slavery?
Moses followed the Lord's instructions. And on the first day of the first month of the second year, the sacred tent was set up. The posts, stands, and framework were put in place, then the two layers of coverings were hung over them. The stones with the Ten Commandments written on them were stored in the sacred chest, the place of mercy was put on top of it, and the carrying poles were attached. The chest was brought into the tent and set behind the curtain in the most holy place. These things were done exactly as the Lord had commanded Moses. (Exodus 40:16-21 CEV)
How did they arrange the table, lampstand and altar of incense?
He put the table in the tent of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil, and arranged the bread on it before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses. He put the lampstand in the tent of meeting, opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle, and set up the lamps before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses. He put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the veil, and burned fragrant incense on it, as the Lord had commanded Moses. (Exodus 40:22-27 ESV)
Where was the altar of burnt offerings placed in relation to the tabernacle?
He put up the screen at the entrance to the tabernacle. Then he placed the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, and offered the burnt offering and the grain offering on it, just as the Lord had commanded him. (Exodus 40:28-29 HCSB)
Where was the basin placed in relation to the altar of burnt offering and the tabernacle?
He put the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it for washing. Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and feet from it. When they entered the Tent of Meeting and approached the altar, they washed, just as the Lord had commanded him. He set up the court all around the tent and the altar, and hung up the screen for the gate of the court. And so Moses finished the work. (Exodus 40:30-33 ISV)
After everything was finally set up, what did the Lord do?
Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. (Exodus 40:34-38 KJV)
How much detail is required to set up a healthy local church? Have we done so exactly as the Lord commanded? Are some things to be treated as holy? You decide!
When was the tabernacle first set up after the Exodus from Egypt?
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “On the first day of the first month you shall set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. You shall put in it the ark of the Testimony, and partition off the ark with the veil. You shall bring in the table and arrange the things that are to be set in order on it; and you shall bring in the lampstand and light its lamps. (Exodus 40:1-4 NKJV)
Was there a specific sequence to setting up the tabernacle for the first time? Is there a divine sequence to setting up a new church?
Place the gold incense altar in front of the Ark of the Covenant. Then hang the curtain at the entrance of the Tabernacle. Place the altar of burnt offering in front of the Tabernacle entrance. Set the washbasin between the Tabernacle and the altar, and fill it with water. Then set up the courtyard around the outside of the tent, and hang the curtain for the courtyard entrance. (Exodus 40:5-8 NLT)
Was the tabernacle anointed with oil to sanctify it as holy?
You shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and shall make it holy, and all its furniture, and it will be holy. You shall anoint the altar of burnt offering, with all its vessels, and sanctify the altar, and the altar will be most holy. You shall anoint the basin and its base, and sanctify it. (Exodus 40:9-11 WEB)
Were the priests washed with water and anointed as a part of their ordination ceremony?
Then bring Aaron and his sons to the meeting tent’s entrance and wash them with water. Dress Aaron in the holy clothes. Anoint him and make him holy so that he may serve me as priest. Then bring his sons and dress them in tunics. Anoint them like you anointed their father so that they may serve me as priests. Their anointing is to the priesthood for all time in every generation. (Exodus 40:12-15 CEB)
Did all this take place in the second year after their freedom from Egyptian slavery?
Moses followed the Lord's instructions. And on the first day of the first month of the second year, the sacred tent was set up. The posts, stands, and framework were put in place, then the two layers of coverings were hung over them. The stones with the Ten Commandments written on them were stored in the sacred chest, the place of mercy was put on top of it, and the carrying poles were attached. The chest was brought into the tent and set behind the curtain in the most holy place. These things were done exactly as the Lord had commanded Moses. (Exodus 40:16-21 CEV)
How did they arrange the table, lampstand and altar of incense?
He put the table in the tent of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil, and arranged the bread on it before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses. He put the lampstand in the tent of meeting, opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle, and set up the lamps before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses. He put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the veil, and burned fragrant incense on it, as the Lord had commanded Moses. (Exodus 40:22-27 ESV)
Where was the altar of burnt offerings placed in relation to the tabernacle?
He put up the screen at the entrance to the tabernacle. Then he placed the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, and offered the burnt offering and the grain offering on it, just as the Lord had commanded him. (Exodus 40:28-29 HCSB)
Where was the basin placed in relation to the altar of burnt offering and the tabernacle?
He put the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it for washing. Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and feet from it. When they entered the Tent of Meeting and approached the altar, they washed, just as the Lord had commanded him. He set up the court all around the tent and the altar, and hung up the screen for the gate of the court. And so Moses finished the work. (Exodus 40:30-33 ISV)
After everything was finally set up, what did the Lord do?
Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. (Exodus 40:34-38 KJV)
How much detail is required to set up a healthy local church? Have we done so exactly as the Lord commanded? Are some things to be treated as holy? You decide!
Inspecting the Tabernacle (Exodus 39)
Had Israel built the tabernacle and priest’s clothing just as the Lord had commanded? What might the various components picture about Jesus? Could Moses’ final inspection be a type of judgment of our lives? Let’s look at Exodus 39.
Is there significance to the people’s obedience, as the Lord commanded, being mentioned ten times in this chapter?
The craftsmen made beautiful sacred garments of blue, purple, and scarlet cloth—clothing for Aaron to wear while ministering in the Holy Place, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. (Exodus 39:1 NLT)
What was the possible significance of the detail in the high priest’s ephod or vest?
He made the ephod [vest] of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. They beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in with the blue, the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen, the work of the skillful workman. They made shoulder straps for it, joined together. It was joined together at the two ends. The skillfully woven band that was on it, with which to fasten it on, was of the same piece, like its work: of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, as Yahweh commanded Moses. (Exodus 39:2-5 WEB)
What might be the significance of Israel being pictured as twelve gems?
They prepared the gemstones by mounting them in gold settings and engraving on them the names of Israel’s sons, like an official seal is engraved. The stones were attached to the vest’s shoulder pieces as reminder stones for the Israelites, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. (Exodus 39:6-7 CEB)
What might be the significance of placing the gems representing Israel near the high priest’s heart?
The breastpiece was made with the same materials and designs as the priestly vest. It was 22 centimeters square and folded double with four rows of three precious stones: A carnelian, a chrysolite, and an emerald were in the first row; a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond were in the second row; a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst were in the third row; and a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper were in the fourth row. They were mounted in a delicate gold setting, and on each of them was engraved the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. (Exodus 39:8-14 CEV)
Weaving gold was a skill possibly learned in Egypt. What might be the significance of these expensive materials for the priest’s clothing?
And they made on the breastpiece twisted chains like cords, of pure gold. And they made two settings of gold filigree and two gold rings, and put the two rings on the two edges of the breastpiece. And they put the two cords of gold in the two rings at the edges of the breastpiece. They attached the two ends of the two cords to the two settings of filigree. Thus they attached it in front to the shoulder pieces of the ephod. (Exodus 39:15-18 ESV)
What was the purpose of the golden rings attached to the ephod or vest?
They made two other gold rings and put them at the two other corners of the breastpiece on the edge that is next to the inner border of the ephod. They made two more gold rings and attached them to the bottom of the ephod’s two shoulder pieces on its front, close to its seam, above the ephod’s woven waistband. Then they tied the breastpiece from its rings to the rings of the ephod with a cord of blue yarn, so that the breastpiece was above the ephod’s waistband and did not come loose from the ephod. They did just as the Lord had commanded Moses. (Exodus 39:19-21 HCSB)
What was possibly the purpose of making images of pomegranates in the vest or ephod?
He made the robe of the ephod of woven work, entirely of blue. The opening of the robe was in the middle, like the opening of a coat of mail, with a binding around the opening so it would not be torn. On the hem of the robe, they placed pomegranates made of blue, purple, and scarlet material and woven linen. They made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates, on the hem of the robe, all around between the pomegranates. There was a bell and a pomegranate, then a bell and a pomegranate, all around the hem of the robe for when the High Priest ministered, just as the Lord commanded Moses. (Exodus 39:22-26 ISV)
How were the coats for the priests made? What might be the significance of the materials used?
And they made coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons, And a mitre of fine linen, and goodly bonnets of fine linen, and linen breeches of fine twined linen, And a girdle of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, of needlework; as the Lord commanded Moses. And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, Holiness To The Lord. And they tied unto it a lace of blue, to fasten it on high upon the mitre; as the Lord commanded Moses. (Exodus 39:27-31 KJV)
Was the tabernacle now finally completed? Was it done as God had commanded?
Thus all the service of constructing the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was completed; and the sons of Israel did according to all that Yahweh had commanded Moses; so they did. (Exodus 39:32 LSB)
Was there a final inspection of the various parts of the tabernacle? What spiritual picture of Jesus might each part represent?
Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses, the tent and all its furnishings: its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its bases; and the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, and the covering of fine leather, and the covering curtain; the ark of the testimony, its poles, and the atoning cover; the table, all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence; the pure gold lampstand, with its arrangement of lamps and all its utensils, and the oil for the light; and the gold altar, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the curtain for the doorway of the tent; the bronze altar and its bronze grating, its poles and all its utensils, the basin and its stand; the hangings for the courtyard, its pillars and its bases, and the curtain for the gate of the courtyard, its ropes and its pegs, and all the equipment for the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of meeting; the woven garments for ministering in the Holy Place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, to serve as priests. (Exodus 39:33-41 NASB)
Had Israel done just as the Lord had commanded? Was the final inspection approved?
The Israelites had done all the work just as the Lord had commanded Moses. Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses blessed them. (Exodus 39:42-43 NIV)
Had Israel built the tabernacle and priest’s clothing just as the Lord had commanded? What might the various components picture about Jesus? Could Moses’ final inspection be a type of judgment of our lives? You decide!
Is there significance to the people’s obedience, as the Lord commanded, being mentioned ten times in this chapter?
The craftsmen made beautiful sacred garments of blue, purple, and scarlet cloth—clothing for Aaron to wear while ministering in the Holy Place, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. (Exodus 39:1 NLT)
What was the possible significance of the detail in the high priest’s ephod or vest?
He made the ephod [vest] of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. They beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in with the blue, the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen, the work of the skillful workman. They made shoulder straps for it, joined together. It was joined together at the two ends. The skillfully woven band that was on it, with which to fasten it on, was of the same piece, like its work: of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, as Yahweh commanded Moses. (Exodus 39:2-5 WEB)
What might be the significance of Israel being pictured as twelve gems?
They prepared the gemstones by mounting them in gold settings and engraving on them the names of Israel’s sons, like an official seal is engraved. The stones were attached to the vest’s shoulder pieces as reminder stones for the Israelites, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. (Exodus 39:6-7 CEB)
What might be the significance of placing the gems representing Israel near the high priest’s heart?
The breastpiece was made with the same materials and designs as the priestly vest. It was 22 centimeters square and folded double with four rows of three precious stones: A carnelian, a chrysolite, and an emerald were in the first row; a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond were in the second row; a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst were in the third row; and a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper were in the fourth row. They were mounted in a delicate gold setting, and on each of them was engraved the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. (Exodus 39:8-14 CEV)
Weaving gold was a skill possibly learned in Egypt. What might be the significance of these expensive materials for the priest’s clothing?
And they made on the breastpiece twisted chains like cords, of pure gold. And they made two settings of gold filigree and two gold rings, and put the two rings on the two edges of the breastpiece. And they put the two cords of gold in the two rings at the edges of the breastpiece. They attached the two ends of the two cords to the two settings of filigree. Thus they attached it in front to the shoulder pieces of the ephod. (Exodus 39:15-18 ESV)
What was the purpose of the golden rings attached to the ephod or vest?
They made two other gold rings and put them at the two other corners of the breastpiece on the edge that is next to the inner border of the ephod. They made two more gold rings and attached them to the bottom of the ephod’s two shoulder pieces on its front, close to its seam, above the ephod’s woven waistband. Then they tied the breastpiece from its rings to the rings of the ephod with a cord of blue yarn, so that the breastpiece was above the ephod’s waistband and did not come loose from the ephod. They did just as the Lord had commanded Moses. (Exodus 39:19-21 HCSB)
What was possibly the purpose of making images of pomegranates in the vest or ephod?
He made the robe of the ephod of woven work, entirely of blue. The opening of the robe was in the middle, like the opening of a coat of mail, with a binding around the opening so it would not be torn. On the hem of the robe, they placed pomegranates made of blue, purple, and scarlet material and woven linen. They made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates, on the hem of the robe, all around between the pomegranates. There was a bell and a pomegranate, then a bell and a pomegranate, all around the hem of the robe for when the High Priest ministered, just as the Lord commanded Moses. (Exodus 39:22-26 ISV)
How were the coats for the priests made? What might be the significance of the materials used?
And they made coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons, And a mitre of fine linen, and goodly bonnets of fine linen, and linen breeches of fine twined linen, And a girdle of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, of needlework; as the Lord commanded Moses. And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, Holiness To The Lord. And they tied unto it a lace of blue, to fasten it on high upon the mitre; as the Lord commanded Moses. (Exodus 39:27-31 KJV)
Was the tabernacle now finally completed? Was it done as God had commanded?
Thus all the service of constructing the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was completed; and the sons of Israel did according to all that Yahweh had commanded Moses; so they did. (Exodus 39:32 LSB)
Was there a final inspection of the various parts of the tabernacle? What spiritual picture of Jesus might each part represent?
Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses, the tent and all its furnishings: its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its bases; and the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, and the covering of fine leather, and the covering curtain; the ark of the testimony, its poles, and the atoning cover; the table, all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence; the pure gold lampstand, with its arrangement of lamps and all its utensils, and the oil for the light; and the gold altar, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the curtain for the doorway of the tent; the bronze altar and its bronze grating, its poles and all its utensils, the basin and its stand; the hangings for the courtyard, its pillars and its bases, and the curtain for the gate of the courtyard, its ropes and its pegs, and all the equipment for the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of meeting; the woven garments for ministering in the Holy Place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, to serve as priests. (Exodus 39:33-41 NASB)
Had Israel done just as the Lord had commanded? Was the final inspection approved?
The Israelites had done all the work just as the Lord had commanded Moses. Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses blessed them. (Exodus 39:42-43 NIV)
Had Israel built the tabernacle and priest’s clothing just as the Lord had commanded? What might the various components picture about Jesus? Could Moses’ final inspection be a type of judgment of our lives? You decide!
The Courtyard (Exodus 38)
The courtyard of the tabernacle contained the altar of sacrifice. Did this picture the ultimate sacrifice of God’s Son? It also contained the laver or wash basin. Did this picture baptism and the cleansing of the church by Jesus? Does the detail teach us not to be sloppy in our approach to worshiping God? Let’s look at Exodus 38.
What were the dimensions of the altar of burnt offering? Who was our supreme sacrifice?
He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood. It was square. Its length was five cubits, its width was five cubits, and its height was three cubits. He made its horns on its four corners. Its horns were of one piece with it, and he overlaid it with bronze. He made all the vessels of the altar: the pots, the shovels, the basins, the forks, and the fire pans. He made all its vessels of bronze. (Exodus 38:1-3 WEB)
How were the sacrifices supported while fire was put underneath? How does a total sacrifice picture Jesus?
He made a grate for the altar of copper mesh underneath its bottom edge and extending halfway up to the middle of the altar. He made four rings for each of the four corners of the copper grate to house the poles. He made the poles out of acacia wood, and he covered them with copper. He put the poles through the rings so that the poles were on the two sides of the altar when it was carried. He made the altar with planks but hollow inside. (Exodus 38:4-7 CEB)
What was the large bowl for? Does a wash basin picture Christians being baptized and washed from our sins? Does it picture Jesus cleansing His Bride, the church?
Bezalel made a large bowl [laver, washbasin] and a stand out of bronze from the mirrors of the women who helped at the entrance to the sacred tent. (Exodus 38:8 CEV)
How did the court look? Were the building materials quality or cheap?
And he made the court. For the south side the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, a hundred cubits; their twenty pillars and their twenty bases were of bronze, but the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. And for the north side there were hangings of a hundred cubits; their twenty pillars and their twenty bases were of bronze, but the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. And for the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their ten pillars, and their ten bases; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. (Exodus 38:9-12 ESV)
Was it a very large courtyard? How many gates were there into the court of the tabernacle?
The hangings on the east toward the sunrise were also 75 feet in length. The hangings on one side of the gate were 22½ feet, including their three posts and three bases. It was the same for the other side. The hangings were 22½ feet, including their three posts and three bases on both sides of the courtyard gate. All the hangings around the courtyard were of finely spun linen. The bases for the posts were bronze; the hooks and bands of the posts were silver; and the plating for the tops of the posts was silver. All the posts of the courtyard were banded with silver. (Exodus 38:13-17 HCSB)
There was only one way into the court of the tabernacle. Could this picture only one gate to salvation? What did Jesus say?
I’m the gate. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved. He’ll come in and go out and find pasture. (John 10:9 ISV)
Were the same three colors used for the gate of the court of the tabernacle?
And the hanging for the gate of the court was needlework, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: and twenty cubits was the length, and the height in the breadth was five cubits, answerable to the hangings of the court. And their pillars were four, and their sockets of brass four; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their chapiters and their fillets of silver. And all the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about, were of brass. This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest. (Exodus 38:18-21 KJV)
Again, who were the main two skilled craftsmen involved in building the tabernacle?
Now Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that Yahweh had commanded Moses. With him was Oholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, a craftsman and a skillful designer and a weaver in blue and in purple and in scarlet material and fine linen. (Exodus 38:22-23 LSB)
How much gold and silver was used in the various parts of the tabernacle?
All the gold that was used for the work, in all the work of the sanctuary, which was the gold of the wave offering, was twenty-nine talents and 730 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. And the silver of those of the congregation who were counted was a hundred talents and 1,775 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; a beka a head (that is, half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary), assessed to each one who passed over to those who were counted, from twenty years old and upward, for 603,550 men. (Exodus 38:24-26 NASB)
What were the bases and hooks for the tabernacle made from?
The 100 talents of silver were used to cast the bases for the sanctuary and for the curtain—100 bases from the 100 talents, one talent for each base. They used the 1,775 shekels to make the hooks for the posts, to overlay the tops of the posts, and to make their bands. (Exodus 38:27-28 NIV)
How much bronze was used to build the tabernacle in the wilderness?
The offering of bronze was seventy talents and two thousand four hundred shekels. And with it he made the sockets for the door of the tabernacle of meeting, the bronze altar, the bronze grating for it, and all the utensils for the altar, the sockets for the court all around, the bases for the court gate, all the pegs for the tabernacle, and all the pegs for the court all around. (Exodus 38:29-31 NKJV)
The courtyard of the tabernacle contained the altar of sacrifice. Did this picture the ultimate sacrifice of God’s Son? It also contained the laver or wash basin. Did this picture baptism and the cleansing of the church by Jesus? Does the detail teach us not to be sloppy in our approach to worshiping God? You decide!
What were the dimensions of the altar of burnt offering? Who was our supreme sacrifice?
He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood. It was square. Its length was five cubits, its width was five cubits, and its height was three cubits. He made its horns on its four corners. Its horns were of one piece with it, and he overlaid it with bronze. He made all the vessels of the altar: the pots, the shovels, the basins, the forks, and the fire pans. He made all its vessels of bronze. (Exodus 38:1-3 WEB)
How were the sacrifices supported while fire was put underneath? How does a total sacrifice picture Jesus?
He made a grate for the altar of copper mesh underneath its bottom edge and extending halfway up to the middle of the altar. He made four rings for each of the four corners of the copper grate to house the poles. He made the poles out of acacia wood, and he covered them with copper. He put the poles through the rings so that the poles were on the two sides of the altar when it was carried. He made the altar with planks but hollow inside. (Exodus 38:4-7 CEB)
What was the large bowl for? Does a wash basin picture Christians being baptized and washed from our sins? Does it picture Jesus cleansing His Bride, the church?
Bezalel made a large bowl [laver, washbasin] and a stand out of bronze from the mirrors of the women who helped at the entrance to the sacred tent. (Exodus 38:8 CEV)
How did the court look? Were the building materials quality or cheap?
And he made the court. For the south side the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, a hundred cubits; their twenty pillars and their twenty bases were of bronze, but the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. And for the north side there were hangings of a hundred cubits; their twenty pillars and their twenty bases were of bronze, but the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. And for the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their ten pillars, and their ten bases; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. (Exodus 38:9-12 ESV)
Was it a very large courtyard? How many gates were there into the court of the tabernacle?
The hangings on the east toward the sunrise were also 75 feet in length. The hangings on one side of the gate were 22½ feet, including their three posts and three bases. It was the same for the other side. The hangings were 22½ feet, including their three posts and three bases on both sides of the courtyard gate. All the hangings around the courtyard were of finely spun linen. The bases for the posts were bronze; the hooks and bands of the posts were silver; and the plating for the tops of the posts was silver. All the posts of the courtyard were banded with silver. (Exodus 38:13-17 HCSB)
There was only one way into the court of the tabernacle. Could this picture only one gate to salvation? What did Jesus say?
I’m the gate. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved. He’ll come in and go out and find pasture. (John 10:9 ISV)
Were the same three colors used for the gate of the court of the tabernacle?
And the hanging for the gate of the court was needlework, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: and twenty cubits was the length, and the height in the breadth was five cubits, answerable to the hangings of the court. And their pillars were four, and their sockets of brass four; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their chapiters and their fillets of silver. And all the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about, were of brass. This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest. (Exodus 38:18-21 KJV)
Again, who were the main two skilled craftsmen involved in building the tabernacle?
Now Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that Yahweh had commanded Moses. With him was Oholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, a craftsman and a skillful designer and a weaver in blue and in purple and in scarlet material and fine linen. (Exodus 38:22-23 LSB)
How much gold and silver was used in the various parts of the tabernacle?
All the gold that was used for the work, in all the work of the sanctuary, which was the gold of the wave offering, was twenty-nine talents and 730 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. And the silver of those of the congregation who were counted was a hundred talents and 1,775 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; a beka a head (that is, half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary), assessed to each one who passed over to those who were counted, from twenty years old and upward, for 603,550 men. (Exodus 38:24-26 NASB)
What were the bases and hooks for the tabernacle made from?
The 100 talents of silver were used to cast the bases for the sanctuary and for the curtain—100 bases from the 100 talents, one talent for each base. They used the 1,775 shekels to make the hooks for the posts, to overlay the tops of the posts, and to make their bands. (Exodus 38:27-28 NIV)
How much bronze was used to build the tabernacle in the wilderness?
The offering of bronze was seventy talents and two thousand four hundred shekels. And with it he made the sockets for the door of the tabernacle of meeting, the bronze altar, the bronze grating for it, and all the utensils for the altar, the sockets for the court all around, the bases for the court gate, all the pegs for the tabernacle, and all the pegs for the court all around. (Exodus 38:29-31 NKJV)
The courtyard of the tabernacle contained the altar of sacrifice. Did this picture the ultimate sacrifice of God’s Son? It also contained the laver or wash basin. Did this picture baptism and the cleansing of the church by Jesus? Does the detail teach us not to be sloppy in our approach to worshiping God? You decide!
Symbols in the Tabernacle (Exodus 37)
Are there pictures of Jesus in the tabernacle? How did the ark, mercy seat, table, lampstand and altar prepare us for Jesus? Does God desire to dwell with us? Are we reminded of the true bread from heaven, the true high priest, and a better covenant to come? Let’s look at Exodus 37.
The Ark
Does the ark of the covenant and what it contained picture Jesus and God’s plan of salvation?
Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. He overlaid it with pure gold, inside and outside, and made a gold molding around it. He cast four rings for it on its four feet, two rings on one side of it and two rings on its other side. He made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it. (Exodus 37:1-5 ISV)
The Mercy Seat
Is this a seat of judgment or mercy? Does it picture Jesus and God’s plan of salvation? A weakness of the KJV is the double plural attached to cherubs. The Hebrew ending “im” is already a plural and there is no need to add an “s” as in “cherubims.”
And he made the mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the breadth thereof. And he made two cherubims of gold, beaten out of one piece made he them, on the two ends of the mercy seat; One cherub on the end on this side, and another cherub on the other end on that side: out of the mercy seat made he the cherubims on the two ends thereof. And the cherubims spread out their wings on high, and covered with their wings over the mercy seat, with their faces one to another; even to the mercy seatward were the faces of the cherubims. (Exodus 37:6-9 KJV)
The Table
Does the table of showbread picture Jesus and God’s plan of salvation?
Then he made the table of acacia wood, two cubits long and a cubit wide and one and a half cubits high. He overlaid it with pure gold and made a gold molding for it all around. He made a rim for it of a handbreadth all around and made a gold molding for its rim all around. He cast four gold rings for it and put the rings on the four corners that were on its four feet. Close to the rim were the rings, the holders for the poles to carry the table. He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold, to carry the table. He made the utensils which were on the table, its dishes and its pans and its offering bowls and its jars, with which to pour out drink offerings, of pure gold. (Exodus 37:10-16 LSB)
The Lampstand
Does the lampstand picture Jesus and God’s plan of salvation?
Then he made the lampstand of pure gold. He made the lampstand of hammered work, its base and its shaft; its cups, its bulbs, and its flowers were of one piece with it. There were six branches going out of its sides; three branches of the lampstand from the one side of it and three branches of the lampstand from the other side of it; three cups shaped like almond blossoms, a bulb and a flower on one branch, and three cups shaped like almond blossoms, a bulb and a flower on the other branch—so for the six branches going out of the lampstand. And on the lampstand there were four cups shaped like almond blossoms, its bulbs and its flowers; and a bulb was under the first pair of branches coming out of it, and a bulb under the second pair of branches coming out of it, and a bulb under the third pair of branches coming out of it, for the six branches coming out of the lampstand. Their bulbs and their branches were of one piece with it; the whole of it was a single hammered work of pure gold. And he made its seven lamps with its tongs and its trays of pure gold. He made it and all its utensils from a talent of pure gold. (Exodus 37:17-24 NASB)
The Altar
Does the altar of incense, the oil and incense picture Jesus and God’s plan of salvation?
They made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long and a cubit wide and two cubits high—its horns of one piece with it. They overlaid the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and made a gold molding around it. They made two gold rings below the molding—two on each of the opposite sides—to hold the poles used to carry it. They made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. They also made the sacred anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense—the work of a perfumer. (Exodus 37:25-29 NIV)
Does the letter to the Hebrews explain how the tabernacle pictures Jesus and God’s plan of salvation?
So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant. (Hebrews 9:11-15 NLT)
Are there pictures of Jesus in the tabernacle? How did the ark, mercy seat, table, lampstand and altar prepare us for Jesus? Does God desire to dwell with us? Are we reminded of the true bread from heaven, the true high priest, and a better covenant to come? You decide!
The Ark
Does the ark of the covenant and what it contained picture Jesus and God’s plan of salvation?
Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. He overlaid it with pure gold, inside and outside, and made a gold molding around it. He cast four rings for it on its four feet, two rings on one side of it and two rings on its other side. He made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it. (Exodus 37:1-5 ISV)
The Mercy Seat
Is this a seat of judgment or mercy? Does it picture Jesus and God’s plan of salvation? A weakness of the KJV is the double plural attached to cherubs. The Hebrew ending “im” is already a plural and there is no need to add an “s” as in “cherubims.”
And he made the mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the breadth thereof. And he made two cherubims of gold, beaten out of one piece made he them, on the two ends of the mercy seat; One cherub on the end on this side, and another cherub on the other end on that side: out of the mercy seat made he the cherubims on the two ends thereof. And the cherubims spread out their wings on high, and covered with their wings over the mercy seat, with their faces one to another; even to the mercy seatward were the faces of the cherubims. (Exodus 37:6-9 KJV)
The Table
Does the table of showbread picture Jesus and God’s plan of salvation?
Then he made the table of acacia wood, two cubits long and a cubit wide and one and a half cubits high. He overlaid it with pure gold and made a gold molding for it all around. He made a rim for it of a handbreadth all around and made a gold molding for its rim all around. He cast four gold rings for it and put the rings on the four corners that were on its four feet. Close to the rim were the rings, the holders for the poles to carry the table. He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold, to carry the table. He made the utensils which were on the table, its dishes and its pans and its offering bowls and its jars, with which to pour out drink offerings, of pure gold. (Exodus 37:10-16 LSB)
The Lampstand
Does the lampstand picture Jesus and God’s plan of salvation?
Then he made the lampstand of pure gold. He made the lampstand of hammered work, its base and its shaft; its cups, its bulbs, and its flowers were of one piece with it. There were six branches going out of its sides; three branches of the lampstand from the one side of it and three branches of the lampstand from the other side of it; three cups shaped like almond blossoms, a bulb and a flower on one branch, and three cups shaped like almond blossoms, a bulb and a flower on the other branch—so for the six branches going out of the lampstand. And on the lampstand there were four cups shaped like almond blossoms, its bulbs and its flowers; and a bulb was under the first pair of branches coming out of it, and a bulb under the second pair of branches coming out of it, and a bulb under the third pair of branches coming out of it, for the six branches coming out of the lampstand. Their bulbs and their branches were of one piece with it; the whole of it was a single hammered work of pure gold. And he made its seven lamps with its tongs and its trays of pure gold. He made it and all its utensils from a talent of pure gold. (Exodus 37:17-24 NASB)
The Altar
Does the altar of incense, the oil and incense picture Jesus and God’s plan of salvation?
They made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long and a cubit wide and two cubits high—its horns of one piece with it. They overlaid the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and made a gold molding around it. They made two gold rings below the molding—two on each of the opposite sides—to hold the poles used to carry it. They made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. They also made the sacred anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense—the work of a perfumer. (Exodus 37:25-29 NIV)
Does the letter to the Hebrews explain how the tabernacle pictures Jesus and God’s plan of salvation?
So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant. (Hebrews 9:11-15 NLT)
Are there pictures of Jesus in the tabernacle? How did the ark, mercy seat, table, lampstand and altar prepare us for Jesus? Does God desire to dwell with us? Are we reminded of the true bread from heaven, the true high priest, and a better covenant to come? You decide!
A Community Task (Exodus 36)
Was building the tabernacle very much a community task, all who were willing? Is building a healthy local church also an undertaking involving the whole congregation, all who are willing? Let’s look at Exodus 36.
How did Bezalel and Aholiab proceed to work with the freewill offerings of the people?
Now Bezalel and Oholiab and every person wise at heart, to whom Yahweh has given wisdom and discernment to know how to do all the work of the service of constructing the sanctuary, shall do in accordance with all that Yahweh has commanded. Then Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every person wise at heart to whom Yahweh had given wisdom, everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to the work to do it. And they received from Moses the entire contribution which the sons of Israel had brought to do the work in the service of the sanctuary. And they still continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning. (Exodus 36:1-3 LSB)
Was the freewill offering from the people generous enough for the work to be done?
And all the skillful people who were performing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work which they were performing, and they said to Moses, “The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the Lord commanded us to perform.” So Moses issued a command, and circulated a proclamation throughout the camp, saying, “No man or woman is to perform work any longer for the contributions of the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing any more. For the material they had was sufficient and more than enough for all the work, to perform it. (Exodus 36:4-7 NASB)
What three colors were used for the curtains? Could blue picture heaven where Jesus came from, purple represent the royalty of the King of kings, and red symbolize His blood?
All those who were skilled among the workers made the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim woven into them by expert hands. All the curtains were the same size—twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide. They joined five of the curtains together and did the same with the other five. (Exodus 36:8-10 NIV)
How were the curtains to be attached to the tabernacle and to each other?
He made loops of blue yarn on the edge of the curtain on the selvedge of one set; likewise he did on the outer edge of the other curtain of the second set. Fifty loops he made on one curtain, and fifty loops he made on the edge of the curtain on the end of the second set; the loops held one curtain to another. And he made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains to one another with the clasps, that it might be one tabernacle. (Exodus 36:11-13 NKJV)
What layers were there to protect the curtains from the elements?
He made eleven curtains of goat-hair cloth to serve as a tent covering for the Tabernacle. These eleven curtains were all exactly the same size—45 feet long and 6 feet wide. Bezalel joined five of these curtains together to make one long curtain, and the other six were joined to make a second long curtain. He made fifty loops for the edge of each large curtain. He also made fifty bronze clasps to fasten the long curtains together. In this way, the tent covering was made of one continuous piece. He completed the tent covering with a layer of tanned ram skins and a layer of fine goatskin leather. (Exodus 36:14-19 NLT)
Acacia is a particularly strong and durable wood especially suited to outdoor use. Natural boards of this width are not readily available today, perhaps indicating that they came from ancient forests no longer in existence. What was the purpose of these hardwood boards?
He made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing up. Ten cubits was the length of a board, and a cubit and a half the width of each board. Each board had two tenons, joined to one another. He made all the boards of the tabernacle this way. He made the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side southward. He made forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards: two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets under another board for its two tenons. (Exodus 36:20-24 WEB)
What about the north and west sides of the tabernacle?
For the dwelling’s other side on the north, they made twenty boards and forty silver bases, two bases under the first board, two bases under the next board, and so on. For the back of the dwelling on the west, they made six boards. They made two additional boards for the dwelling’s rear corners. They were spread out at the bottom but joined together at the top with one ring. In this way, these two boards formed the two corners. And so there were eight boards with their sixteen silver bases, with two bases under every board. (Exodus 36:25:30 CEB)
Were there crossbars as is used in any stabilizing construction technique?
Five crossbars were made for each of the wooden frames, with the center crossbar running the full length of the wall. The frames and crossbars were covered with gold, and gold rings were attached to the frames to run the crossbars through. (Exodus 36:31-34 CEV)
Cherubim are not cute little babies like the popular mythical figures, but powerful and strong angels. Where were they depicted apart from the mercy seat?
He made the veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; with cherubim skillfully worked into it he made it. And for it he made four pillars of acacia and overlaid them with gold. Their hooks were of gold, and he cast for them four bases of silver. (Exodus 36:35-36 ESV)
What did the screen for the entrance to the tent look like?
He made a screen embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen for the entrance to the tent, together with its five posts and their hooks. He overlaid the tops of the posts and their bands with gold, but their five bases were bronze. (Exodus 36:37-38 HCSB)
Was building the tabernacle very much a community task, all who were willing? Is building a healthy local church also an undertaking involving the whole congregation, all who are willing? You decide!
How did Bezalel and Aholiab proceed to work with the freewill offerings of the people?
Now Bezalel and Oholiab and every person wise at heart, to whom Yahweh has given wisdom and discernment to know how to do all the work of the service of constructing the sanctuary, shall do in accordance with all that Yahweh has commanded. Then Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every person wise at heart to whom Yahweh had given wisdom, everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to the work to do it. And they received from Moses the entire contribution which the sons of Israel had brought to do the work in the service of the sanctuary. And they still continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning. (Exodus 36:1-3 LSB)
Was the freewill offering from the people generous enough for the work to be done?
And all the skillful people who were performing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work which they were performing, and they said to Moses, “The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the Lord commanded us to perform.” So Moses issued a command, and circulated a proclamation throughout the camp, saying, “No man or woman is to perform work any longer for the contributions of the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing any more. For the material they had was sufficient and more than enough for all the work, to perform it. (Exodus 36:4-7 NASB)
What three colors were used for the curtains? Could blue picture heaven where Jesus came from, purple represent the royalty of the King of kings, and red symbolize His blood?
All those who were skilled among the workers made the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim woven into them by expert hands. All the curtains were the same size—twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide. They joined five of the curtains together and did the same with the other five. (Exodus 36:8-10 NIV)
How were the curtains to be attached to the tabernacle and to each other?
He made loops of blue yarn on the edge of the curtain on the selvedge of one set; likewise he did on the outer edge of the other curtain of the second set. Fifty loops he made on one curtain, and fifty loops he made on the edge of the curtain on the end of the second set; the loops held one curtain to another. And he made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains to one another with the clasps, that it might be one tabernacle. (Exodus 36:11-13 NKJV)
What layers were there to protect the curtains from the elements?
He made eleven curtains of goat-hair cloth to serve as a tent covering for the Tabernacle. These eleven curtains were all exactly the same size—45 feet long and 6 feet wide. Bezalel joined five of these curtains together to make one long curtain, and the other six were joined to make a second long curtain. He made fifty loops for the edge of each large curtain. He also made fifty bronze clasps to fasten the long curtains together. In this way, the tent covering was made of one continuous piece. He completed the tent covering with a layer of tanned ram skins and a layer of fine goatskin leather. (Exodus 36:14-19 NLT)
Acacia is a particularly strong and durable wood especially suited to outdoor use. Natural boards of this width are not readily available today, perhaps indicating that they came from ancient forests no longer in existence. What was the purpose of these hardwood boards?
He made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing up. Ten cubits was the length of a board, and a cubit and a half the width of each board. Each board had two tenons, joined to one another. He made all the boards of the tabernacle this way. He made the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side southward. He made forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards: two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets under another board for its two tenons. (Exodus 36:20-24 WEB)
What about the north and west sides of the tabernacle?
For the dwelling’s other side on the north, they made twenty boards and forty silver bases, two bases under the first board, two bases under the next board, and so on. For the back of the dwelling on the west, they made six boards. They made two additional boards for the dwelling’s rear corners. They were spread out at the bottom but joined together at the top with one ring. In this way, these two boards formed the two corners. And so there were eight boards with their sixteen silver bases, with two bases under every board. (Exodus 36:25:30 CEB)
Were there crossbars as is used in any stabilizing construction technique?
Five crossbars were made for each of the wooden frames, with the center crossbar running the full length of the wall. The frames and crossbars were covered with gold, and gold rings were attached to the frames to run the crossbars through. (Exodus 36:31-34 CEV)
Cherubim are not cute little babies like the popular mythical figures, but powerful and strong angels. Where were they depicted apart from the mercy seat?
He made the veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; with cherubim skillfully worked into it he made it. And for it he made four pillars of acacia and overlaid them with gold. Their hooks were of gold, and he cast for them four bases of silver. (Exodus 36:35-36 ESV)
What did the screen for the entrance to the tent look like?
He made a screen embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen for the entrance to the tent, together with its five posts and their hooks. He overlaid the tops of the posts and their bands with gold, but their five bases were bronze. (Exodus 36:37-38 HCSB)
Was building the tabernacle very much a community task, all who were willing? Is building a healthy local church also an undertaking involving the whole congregation, all who are willing? You decide!
Resurrection & Ascension (Mark 16)
Who did Jesus meet after His resurrection? What will happen to whoever believes and is baptized? What did the disciples do after Jesus ascended to heaven? Are we continuing that legacy? Let’s find out in Mark 16.
What happened after sunset, when the Sabbath ended, and the following Sunday morning early?
Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside. (Mark 16:1-4 NLT)
What did the women discover? What were they told?
Entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were amazed. He said to them, “Don’t be amazed. You seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen. He is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him! But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He goes before you into Galilee. There you will see him, as he said to you.’” (Mark 16:5-7 WEB)
Did they leave the tomb quickly? Why were they afraid?
Overcome with terror and dread, they fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. (Mark 16:8 CEB)
Who did Jesus first meet after His resurrection?
Very early on the first day of the week, after Jesus had risen to life, he appeared to Mary Magdalene. Earlier he had forced seven demons out of her. She left and told his friends, who were crying and mourning. Even though they heard that Jesus was alive and that Mary had seen him, they still would not believe it. (Mark 16:9-11 CEV)
Did Jesus also appear to others after His resurrection?
After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. (Mark 16:12-13 ESV)
Did Jesus also appear to the eleven remaining disciples? Why did He rebuke them? What two step approach did He summarize as the way to salvation?
Later, He appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw Him after He had been resurrected. Then He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; they will pick up snakes; if they should drink anything deadly, it will never harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.” (Mark 16:14-18 HCSB)
Did Jesus then ascend to heaven? Did the disciples then go and preach everywhere?
So the Lord Jesus, after talking with his disciples, was taken up to heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. Then his disciples went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the signs that accompanied it. (Mark 16:29-20 ISV)
Who did Jesus meet after His resurrection? What will happen to whoever believes and is baptized? What did the disciples do after Jesus ascended to heaven? Are we continuing that legacy? You decide!
What happened after sunset, when the Sabbath ended, and the following Sunday morning early?
Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside. (Mark 16:1-4 NLT)
What did the women discover? What were they told?
Entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were amazed. He said to them, “Don’t be amazed. You seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen. He is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him! But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He goes before you into Galilee. There you will see him, as he said to you.’” (Mark 16:5-7 WEB)
Did they leave the tomb quickly? Why were they afraid?
Overcome with terror and dread, they fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. (Mark 16:8 CEB)
Who did Jesus first meet after His resurrection?
Very early on the first day of the week, after Jesus had risen to life, he appeared to Mary Magdalene. Earlier he had forced seven demons out of her. She left and told his friends, who were crying and mourning. Even though they heard that Jesus was alive and that Mary had seen him, they still would not believe it. (Mark 16:9-11 CEV)
Did Jesus also appear to others after His resurrection?
After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. (Mark 16:12-13 ESV)
Did Jesus also appear to the eleven remaining disciples? Why did He rebuke them? What two step approach did He summarize as the way to salvation?
Later, He appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw Him after He had been resurrected. Then He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; they will pick up snakes; if they should drink anything deadly, it will never harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.” (Mark 16:14-18 HCSB)
Did Jesus then ascend to heaven? Did the disciples then go and preach everywhere?
So the Lord Jesus, after talking with his disciples, was taken up to heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. Then his disciples went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the signs that accompanied it. (Mark 16:29-20 ISV)
Who did Jesus meet after His resurrection? What will happen to whoever believes and is baptized? What did the disciples do after Jesus ascended to heaven? Are we continuing that legacy? You decide!
Everyone has a Part (Exodus 35)
Was the old covenant law like a schoolmaster bringing us to faith? How did the Sabbath, the tabernacle and gifts from the Holy Spirit to certain individuals bring us to faith? Let’s look at Exodus 35.
What was the purpose of the old covenant law? Does it lead us to faith?
Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian [schoolmaster] until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. (Galatians 3:24 NLT)
What day was central to the old covenant and what was to be done on it?
Moses assembled all the congregation of the children of Israel, and said to them, “These are the words which Yahweh has commanded, that you should do them. ‘Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of solemn rest to Yahweh: whoever does any work in it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations on the Sabbath day.’” (Exodus 35:1-3 WEB)
What was the freewill offering for and of what did it consist?
Moses said to the whole Israelite community, This is what the Lord has commanded: Collect gift offerings for the Lord from all of you. Whoever freely wants to give should bring the Lord’s gift offerings: gold, silver, and copper; blue, purple, and deep red yarns; fine linen; goats’ hair; rams’ skins dyed red; beaded leather; acacia wood; the oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet-smelling incense; gemstones; and gems for setting in the priest’s vest and in the priest’s chest pendant. (Exodus 35:4-9 CEB)
What were they to use their God-given skills to build?
If you have any skills, you should use them to help make what I have commanded: the sacred tent with its covering and hooks, its framework and crossbars, and its post and stands; the sacred chest with its carrying poles, its place of mercy, and the curtain in front of it; the table with its carrying poles and all that goes on it, including the sacred bread; the lamp with its equipment and oil; (Exodus 35:10-14 CEV)
What other parts of the tabernacle were people’s skills to be used for? Is there a part for everyone to contribute?
and the altar of incense, with its poles, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle; the altar of burnt offering, with its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its utensils, the basin and its stand; the hangings of the court, its pillars and its bases, and the screen for the gate of the court; the pegs of the tabernacle and the pegs of the court, and their cords; the finely worked garments for ministering in the Holy Place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests. (Exodus 35:15-19 ESV)
What kinds of things did the people offer willingly? Do we offer willingly? Is this a picture of the many and varied ministries within a local church?
Then the entire Israelite community left Moses’ presence. Everyone whose heart was moved and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its services, and for the holy garments. Both men and women came; all who had willing hearts brought brooches, earrings, rings, necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry—everyone who waved a presentation offering of gold to the Lord. Everyone who had in his possession blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, fine linen or goat hair, ram skins dyed red or manatee skins, brought them. (Exodus 35:20-23 HCSB)
What other valuable things did the offering consist of? Are physical things more important to us than serving God?
Everyone who could give an offering of silver and bronze brought it as a contribution for the Lord. Also all who had acacia wood for any use in the work brought it. Every skilled woman spun with her hands, and brought what she had spun: blue, purple, and scarlet material, and fine linen. All the women who were skilled artisans spun the goat hair. The leaders brought onyx stones and stones to be set in the ephod and the breast piece, spices and oil for the light and for the anointing oil and the aromatic incense. Each Israeli man and woman whose heart was prompted brought something as a freewill offering to the Lord for all the work that the Lord had commanded them to do through Moses. (Exodus 35:24-29 ISV)
What kinds of skills had God specifically gifted to different men and women for the work of the tabernacle? Does God still give gifts, filling men with the Spirit?
And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the Lord hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work. And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work. (Exodus 35:30-35 KJV)
Was the old covenant law like a schoolmaster bringing us to faith? How did the Sabbath, the tabernacle and gifts from the Holy Spirit to certain individuals bring us to faith? You decide!
What was the purpose of the old covenant law? Does it lead us to faith?
Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian [schoolmaster] until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. (Galatians 3:24 NLT)
What day was central to the old covenant and what was to be done on it?
Moses assembled all the congregation of the children of Israel, and said to them, “These are the words which Yahweh has commanded, that you should do them. ‘Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of solemn rest to Yahweh: whoever does any work in it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations on the Sabbath day.’” (Exodus 35:1-3 WEB)
What was the freewill offering for and of what did it consist?
Moses said to the whole Israelite community, This is what the Lord has commanded: Collect gift offerings for the Lord from all of you. Whoever freely wants to give should bring the Lord’s gift offerings: gold, silver, and copper; blue, purple, and deep red yarns; fine linen; goats’ hair; rams’ skins dyed red; beaded leather; acacia wood; the oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet-smelling incense; gemstones; and gems for setting in the priest’s vest and in the priest’s chest pendant. (Exodus 35:4-9 CEB)
What were they to use their God-given skills to build?
If you have any skills, you should use them to help make what I have commanded: the sacred tent with its covering and hooks, its framework and crossbars, and its post and stands; the sacred chest with its carrying poles, its place of mercy, and the curtain in front of it; the table with its carrying poles and all that goes on it, including the sacred bread; the lamp with its equipment and oil; (Exodus 35:10-14 CEV)
What other parts of the tabernacle were people’s skills to be used for? Is there a part for everyone to contribute?
and the altar of incense, with its poles, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle; the altar of burnt offering, with its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its utensils, the basin and its stand; the hangings of the court, its pillars and its bases, and the screen for the gate of the court; the pegs of the tabernacle and the pegs of the court, and their cords; the finely worked garments for ministering in the Holy Place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests. (Exodus 35:15-19 ESV)
What kinds of things did the people offer willingly? Do we offer willingly? Is this a picture of the many and varied ministries within a local church?
Then the entire Israelite community left Moses’ presence. Everyone whose heart was moved and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its services, and for the holy garments. Both men and women came; all who had willing hearts brought brooches, earrings, rings, necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry—everyone who waved a presentation offering of gold to the Lord. Everyone who had in his possession blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, fine linen or goat hair, ram skins dyed red or manatee skins, brought them. (Exodus 35:20-23 HCSB)
What other valuable things did the offering consist of? Are physical things more important to us than serving God?
Everyone who could give an offering of silver and bronze brought it as a contribution for the Lord. Also all who had acacia wood for any use in the work brought it. Every skilled woman spun with her hands, and brought what she had spun: blue, purple, and scarlet material, and fine linen. All the women who were skilled artisans spun the goat hair. The leaders brought onyx stones and stones to be set in the ephod and the breast piece, spices and oil for the light and for the anointing oil and the aromatic incense. Each Israeli man and woman whose heart was prompted brought something as a freewill offering to the Lord for all the work that the Lord had commanded them to do through Moses. (Exodus 35:24-29 ISV)
What kinds of skills had God specifically gifted to different men and women for the work of the tabernacle? Does God still give gifts, filling men with the Spirit?
And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the Lord hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work. And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work. (Exodus 35:30-35 KJV)
Was the old covenant law like a schoolmaster bringing us to faith? How did the Sabbath, the tabernacle and gifts from the Holy Spirit to certain individuals bring us to faith? You decide!
Replacement Tablets (Exodus 34)
Does God sometimes require a do over after we have broken things? How great is God’s mercy? Do we let our light shine from within? Let's look at Exodus 34.
Were the previous tablets “the work of God?“ Was Moses to chisel a copy of the stone tablets himself this time, for God to write on?
The Lord said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. Be ready in the morning, and then come up on Mount Sinai. Present yourself to me there on top of the mountain. No one is to come with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain; not even the flocks and herds may graze in front of the mountain.” So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the Lord had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. (Exodus 34:1-4 NIV)
How much greater is God’s mercy than His punishment?
Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.” (Exodus 34:5-7 NLT)
What was Moses’ prayer about this time? Do we also need God’s pardon? Do we desire His inheritance?
So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped. Then he said, “If now I have found grace in Your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray, go among us, even though we are a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance.” (Exodus 34:8-9 NKJV)
Did God make a covenant to drive out six corrupt and perverse nations?
He said, “Behold, I make a covenant: before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been worked in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of Yahweh; for it is an awesome thing that I do with you. Observe that which I command you today. Behold, I will drive out before you the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. (Exodus 34:10-11 WEB)
What did God have to say about international agreements or treaties between Israel and foreign nations?
Don't make treaties with any of those people. If you do, it will be like falling into a trap. Instead, you must destroy their altars and tear down the sacred poles they use in the worship of the goddess Asherah. I demand your complete loyalty—you must not worship any other god! (Exodus 34:12-14 CEV)
Is idolatry like prostitution? Were ritual sex acts part of pagan worship?
Don’t make a covenant with those who live in the land. When they prostitute themselves with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, they may invite you and you may end up eating some of the sacrifice. Then you might go and choose their daughters as wives for your sons. And their daughters who prostitute themselves with their gods might lead your sons to prostitute themselves with their gods. Don’t make metal gods for yourself. (Exodus 34:15-17 CEB)
What festival season were they to keep? What about the firstborn?
You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month Abib, for in the month Abib you came out from Egypt. All that open the womb are mine, all your male livestock, the firstborn of cow and sheep. The firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. And none shall appear before me empty-handed. (Exodus 34:18-20 ESV)
What weekly and other annual festival seasons were they to observe?
You are to labor six days but you must rest on the seventh day; you must even rest during plowing and harvesting times. Observe the Festival of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering at the turn of the agricultural year. Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel. For I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your territory. No one will covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the Lord your God. (Exodus 34:21-24 HCSB)
What other stipulations did God require of Israel under this covenant?
You are not to offer the blood of my sacrifice with anything leavened, nor are you to allow the sacrifice of the Festival of Passover to remain until morning. You are to bring the best of the first fruits of the ground to the house of the Lord your God. You are not to boil a young goat in its mother’s milk. (Exodus 34:25-26 ISV)
How long was Moses on the mountain this time? What were the words of the covenant?
And the Lord said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel. And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. (Exodus 34:27-28 KJV)
Why were people afraid to come near Moses after he came down from the mountain?
Now it happened when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses’ hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him. Then Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. (Exodus 34:29-30 LSB)
What did Moses do to his face when he finished speaking with the people?
Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers in the congregation returned to him; and Moses spoke to them. Afterward all the sons of Israel came near, and he commanded them to do everything that the Lord had spoken to him on Mount Sinai. When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. (Exodus 34:31-33 NASB)
What did Moses do with the veil when he went in to speak with the Lord?
But whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord. (Exodus 34:34-35 NIV)
What light does Jesus expect to shine from our lives?
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 NKJV)
What internal light does Jesus expect to find in us? Does where our eyes are focused have anything to do with that light?
Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is unhealthy, your body is filled with darkness. Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light. (Luke 11:34-36 NLT)
Does God sometimes require a do over after we have broken things? How great is God’s mercy? Do we let our light shine from within? You decide!
Were the previous tablets “the work of God?“ Was Moses to chisel a copy of the stone tablets himself this time, for God to write on?
The Lord said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. Be ready in the morning, and then come up on Mount Sinai. Present yourself to me there on top of the mountain. No one is to come with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain; not even the flocks and herds may graze in front of the mountain.” So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the Lord had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. (Exodus 34:1-4 NIV)
How much greater is God’s mercy than His punishment?
Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.” (Exodus 34:5-7 NLT)
What was Moses’ prayer about this time? Do we also need God’s pardon? Do we desire His inheritance?
So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped. Then he said, “If now I have found grace in Your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray, go among us, even though we are a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance.” (Exodus 34:8-9 NKJV)
Did God make a covenant to drive out six corrupt and perverse nations?
He said, “Behold, I make a covenant: before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been worked in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of Yahweh; for it is an awesome thing that I do with you. Observe that which I command you today. Behold, I will drive out before you the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. (Exodus 34:10-11 WEB)
What did God have to say about international agreements or treaties between Israel and foreign nations?
Don't make treaties with any of those people. If you do, it will be like falling into a trap. Instead, you must destroy their altars and tear down the sacred poles they use in the worship of the goddess Asherah. I demand your complete loyalty—you must not worship any other god! (Exodus 34:12-14 CEV)
Is idolatry like prostitution? Were ritual sex acts part of pagan worship?
Don’t make a covenant with those who live in the land. When they prostitute themselves with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, they may invite you and you may end up eating some of the sacrifice. Then you might go and choose their daughters as wives for your sons. And their daughters who prostitute themselves with their gods might lead your sons to prostitute themselves with their gods. Don’t make metal gods for yourself. (Exodus 34:15-17 CEB)
What festival season were they to keep? What about the firstborn?
You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month Abib, for in the month Abib you came out from Egypt. All that open the womb are mine, all your male livestock, the firstborn of cow and sheep. The firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. And none shall appear before me empty-handed. (Exodus 34:18-20 ESV)
What weekly and other annual festival seasons were they to observe?
You are to labor six days but you must rest on the seventh day; you must even rest during plowing and harvesting times. Observe the Festival of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering at the turn of the agricultural year. Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel. For I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your territory. No one will covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the Lord your God. (Exodus 34:21-24 HCSB)
What other stipulations did God require of Israel under this covenant?
You are not to offer the blood of my sacrifice with anything leavened, nor are you to allow the sacrifice of the Festival of Passover to remain until morning. You are to bring the best of the first fruits of the ground to the house of the Lord your God. You are not to boil a young goat in its mother’s milk. (Exodus 34:25-26 ISV)
How long was Moses on the mountain this time? What were the words of the covenant?
And the Lord said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel. And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. (Exodus 34:27-28 KJV)
Why were people afraid to come near Moses after he came down from the mountain?
Now it happened when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses’ hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him. Then Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. (Exodus 34:29-30 LSB)
What did Moses do to his face when he finished speaking with the people?
Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers in the congregation returned to him; and Moses spoke to them. Afterward all the sons of Israel came near, and he commanded them to do everything that the Lord had spoken to him on Mount Sinai. When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. (Exodus 34:31-33 NASB)
What did Moses do with the veil when he went in to speak with the Lord?
But whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord. (Exodus 34:34-35 NIV)
What light does Jesus expect to shine from our lives?
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 NKJV)
What internal light does Jesus expect to find in us? Does where our eyes are focused have anything to do with that light?
Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is unhealthy, your body is filled with darkness. Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light. (Luke 11:34-36 NLT)
Does God sometimes require a do over after we have broken things? How great is God’s mercy? Do we let our light shine from within? You decide!
A Stubborn People (Exodus 33)
If God called the Israelites a stubborn people, what would He say about us? If there was one man in a stubborn nation who found grace in God’s sight, how many of us have found that same grace? Let’s look at Exodus 33.
Why did God say that He would not go up with the Israelites?
The Lord said to Moses, “Go and leave this place, you and the people whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt. Go to the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I’ll give it to your descendants.’ I’ll send a messenger before you. I’ll drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Go to this land full of milk and honey. But I won’t go up with you because I would end up destroying you along the way since you are a stubborn people.” (Exodus 33:1-3 CEB)
Why did the people remove their fancy jewelry? Was it because they had misused their jewelry before in crafting an idol?
Even before the Lord said these harsh things, he had told Moses, “These people really are rebellious, and I would kill them at once, if I went with them. But tell them to take off their fancy jewelry, then I'll decide what to do with them.” So the people started mourning, and after leaving Mount Sinai, they stopped wearing fancy jewelry. (Exodus 33:4-6 CEV)
What exactly was the tent of meeting and what was it for?
Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp. Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent. When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. (Exodus 33:7-9 ESV)
What would Moses do after meeting with the Lord there?
As all the people saw the pillar of cloud remaining at the entrance to the tent, they would stand up, then bow in worship, each one at the door of his tent. The Lord spoke with Moses face to face, just as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his assistant, the young man Joshua son of Nun, would not leave the inside of the tent. (Exodus 33:10-11 (HCSB)
What questions did Moses have for the Lord after those disappointing events?
Moses told the Lord, “Look, you have told me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you haven’t let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name,’ and also, ‘You have found favor in my sight.’ Now, if I’ve found favor in your sight, please show me your ways so I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. And remember, this nation is your people.” (Exodus 33:12-13 ISV)
How did God answer Moses’ plea? Did one man in a stubborn nation find grace in God’s sight?
And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. (Exodus 33:14-17 KJV)
What did Moses then ask of God? Why can a man not see God’s face? Could other places where men did see God’s face, be referring to the pre-incarnate Son of God and not God the Father?
Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of Yahweh before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” (Exodus 33:18-20 LSB)
How did God protect Moses from seeing His face?
Then the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.” (Exodus 33:21-23 NASB)
If God called the Israelites a stubborn people, what would He say about us? If there was one man in a stubborn nation who found grace in God’s sight, how many of us have found that same grace? You decide!
Why did God say that He would not go up with the Israelites?
The Lord said to Moses, “Go and leave this place, you and the people whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt. Go to the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I’ll give it to your descendants.’ I’ll send a messenger before you. I’ll drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Go to this land full of milk and honey. But I won’t go up with you because I would end up destroying you along the way since you are a stubborn people.” (Exodus 33:1-3 CEB)
Why did the people remove their fancy jewelry? Was it because they had misused their jewelry before in crafting an idol?
Even before the Lord said these harsh things, he had told Moses, “These people really are rebellious, and I would kill them at once, if I went with them. But tell them to take off their fancy jewelry, then I'll decide what to do with them.” So the people started mourning, and after leaving Mount Sinai, they stopped wearing fancy jewelry. (Exodus 33:4-6 CEV)
What exactly was the tent of meeting and what was it for?
Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp. Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent. When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. (Exodus 33:7-9 ESV)
What would Moses do after meeting with the Lord there?
As all the people saw the pillar of cloud remaining at the entrance to the tent, they would stand up, then bow in worship, each one at the door of his tent. The Lord spoke with Moses face to face, just as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his assistant, the young man Joshua son of Nun, would not leave the inside of the tent. (Exodus 33:10-11 (HCSB)
What questions did Moses have for the Lord after those disappointing events?
Moses told the Lord, “Look, you have told me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you haven’t let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name,’ and also, ‘You have found favor in my sight.’ Now, if I’ve found favor in your sight, please show me your ways so I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. And remember, this nation is your people.” (Exodus 33:12-13 ISV)
How did God answer Moses’ plea? Did one man in a stubborn nation find grace in God’s sight?
And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. (Exodus 33:14-17 KJV)
What did Moses then ask of God? Why can a man not see God’s face? Could other places where men did see God’s face, be referring to the pre-incarnate Son of God and not God the Father?
Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of Yahweh before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” (Exodus 33:18-20 LSB)
How did God protect Moses from seeing His face?
Then the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.” (Exodus 33:21-23 NASB)
If God called the Israelites a stubborn people, what would He say about us? If there was one man in a stubborn nation who found grace in God’s sight, how many of us have found that same grace? You decide!
The Golden Calf (Exodus 32)
How quickly do our churches fall away from the truths taught by Jesus and the apostles, and build golden calves of alternate traditions? How quickly can apostasy occur? Let’s look at Exodus 32.
How quickly and easily was it for Israel and its spiritual leaders to slide down into idolatry?
When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. “Come on,” they said, “make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.” So Aaron said, “Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” (Exodus 32:1-2 NLT)
Would our churches be so enthusiastic about apostasy as Israel was?
All the people took off the golden rings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. He received what they handed him, fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it a molded calf. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 32:3-4 WEB)
Do people still celebrate apostasy as if it is a good thing?
When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf. Then Aaron announced, “Tomorrow will be a festival to the Lord!” They got up early the next day and offered up entirely burned offerings and brought well-being sacrifices. The people sat down to eat and drink and then got up to celebrate. (Exodus 32:5-6 CEB)
What did God say to Moses about the idol worship that Israel had slid into?
The Lord said to Moses: Hurry back down! Those people you led out of Egypt are acting like fools. They have already stopped obeying me and have made themselves an idol in the shape of a young bull. They have bowed down to it, offered sacrifices, and said that it is the god who brought them out of Egypt. Moses, I have seen how stubborn these people are, and I'm angry enough to destroy them, so don't try to stop me. But I will make your descendants into a great nation. (Exodus 32:7-10 CEV)
Like Moses, do we intervene in prayer for our churches when they stray?
But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. (Exodus 32:11-12 ESV)
Did God really need reminding or was He speaking to Moses in anthropomorphic terms, similar to the manner of a parent with a child?
Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel—You swore to them by Your very self and declared, ‘I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and will give your offspring all this land that I have promised, and they will inherit it forever.’” So the Lord relented concerning the disaster He said He would bring on His people. (Exodus 32:13-14 HCSB)
What did Moses return with after forty days on the mountain? Can you spot how many depictions of the tablets are just plain wrong?
Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two Tablets of the Testimony in his hand, tablets which were written on both sides. They were written on one side and the other. The tablets were the work of God and the writing was God’s writing, inscribed on the tablets. (Exodus 32:15-16 ISV)
What did Joshua think he heard as he descended the mountain with Moses?
And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear. (Exodus 32:17-18 KJV)
What did Moses do when he realized what was going on? Would we get angry if the church slid into idolatry? What are some modern idols?
Now it happened, as soon as Moses came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing; and Moses’ anger burned, and he threw the tablets from his hands and shattered them at the foot of the mountain. Then he took the calf which they had made and burned it with fire and ground it to powder and scattered it over the surface of the water and made the sons of Israel drink it. (Exodus 32:19-20 LSB)
What lame excuse did Aaron give to Moses? Do we also make lame excuses for bowing to the sinful wishes of a congregation?
Then Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you, that you have brought such a great sin upon them?” And Aaron said, “Do not let the anger of my lord burn; you know the people yourself, that they are prone to evil. For they said to me, ‘Make a god for us who will go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we do not know what happened to him.’ So I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.’ Then they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.” (Exodus 32:21-24 NASB)
Did Moses then call a meeting of all who were on the Lord’s side in this matter? Who rallied to him?
Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him. (Exodus 32:25-26 NIV)
Did Moses order capital punishment of the people involved in idolatry? What could be the punishment in a Christian congregation?
And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let every man put his sword on his side, and go in and out from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and let every man kill his brother, every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.’ ” So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And about three thousand men of the people fell that day. Then Moses said, “Consecrate yourselves today to the Lord, that He may bestow on you a blessing this day, for every man has opposed his son and his brother.” (Exodus 32:27-29 NKJV)
What did Moses announce to the people? What shocking prayer did he say to God?
The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a terrible sin, but I will go back up to the Lord on the mountain. Perhaps I will be able to obtain forgiveness for your sin.” So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Oh, what a terrible sin these people have committed. They have made gods of gold for themselves. But now, if you will only forgive their sin—but if not, erase my name from the record you have written!” (Exodus 32:30-32 NLT)
What was God’s answer? How did He punish those involved?
Yahweh said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot him out of my book. Now go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. Behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I punish, I will punish them for their sin.” Yahweh struck the people, because of what they did with the calf, which Aaron made. (Exodus 32:33-35 WEB)
How quickly do our churches fall away from the truths taught by Jesus and the apostles, and build golden calves of alternate traditions? How quickly can apostasy occur? You decide!
How quickly and easily was it for Israel and its spiritual leaders to slide down into idolatry?
When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. “Come on,” they said, “make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.” So Aaron said, “Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” (Exodus 32:1-2 NLT)
Would our churches be so enthusiastic about apostasy as Israel was?
All the people took off the golden rings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. He received what they handed him, fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it a molded calf. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 32:3-4 WEB)
Do people still celebrate apostasy as if it is a good thing?
When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf. Then Aaron announced, “Tomorrow will be a festival to the Lord!” They got up early the next day and offered up entirely burned offerings and brought well-being sacrifices. The people sat down to eat and drink and then got up to celebrate. (Exodus 32:5-6 CEB)
What did God say to Moses about the idol worship that Israel had slid into?
The Lord said to Moses: Hurry back down! Those people you led out of Egypt are acting like fools. They have already stopped obeying me and have made themselves an idol in the shape of a young bull. They have bowed down to it, offered sacrifices, and said that it is the god who brought them out of Egypt. Moses, I have seen how stubborn these people are, and I'm angry enough to destroy them, so don't try to stop me. But I will make your descendants into a great nation. (Exodus 32:7-10 CEV)
Like Moses, do we intervene in prayer for our churches when they stray?
But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. (Exodus 32:11-12 ESV)
Did God really need reminding or was He speaking to Moses in anthropomorphic terms, similar to the manner of a parent with a child?
Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel—You swore to them by Your very self and declared, ‘I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and will give your offspring all this land that I have promised, and they will inherit it forever.’” So the Lord relented concerning the disaster He said He would bring on His people. (Exodus 32:13-14 HCSB)
What did Moses return with after forty days on the mountain? Can you spot how many depictions of the tablets are just plain wrong?
Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two Tablets of the Testimony in his hand, tablets which were written on both sides. They were written on one side and the other. The tablets were the work of God and the writing was God’s writing, inscribed on the tablets. (Exodus 32:15-16 ISV)
What did Joshua think he heard as he descended the mountain with Moses?
And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear. (Exodus 32:17-18 KJV)
What did Moses do when he realized what was going on? Would we get angry if the church slid into idolatry? What are some modern idols?
Now it happened, as soon as Moses came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing; and Moses’ anger burned, and he threw the tablets from his hands and shattered them at the foot of the mountain. Then he took the calf which they had made and burned it with fire and ground it to powder and scattered it over the surface of the water and made the sons of Israel drink it. (Exodus 32:19-20 LSB)
What lame excuse did Aaron give to Moses? Do we also make lame excuses for bowing to the sinful wishes of a congregation?
Then Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you, that you have brought such a great sin upon them?” And Aaron said, “Do not let the anger of my lord burn; you know the people yourself, that they are prone to evil. For they said to me, ‘Make a god for us who will go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we do not know what happened to him.’ So I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.’ Then they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.” (Exodus 32:21-24 NASB)
Did Moses then call a meeting of all who were on the Lord’s side in this matter? Who rallied to him?
Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him. (Exodus 32:25-26 NIV)
Did Moses order capital punishment of the people involved in idolatry? What could be the punishment in a Christian congregation?
And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let every man put his sword on his side, and go in and out from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and let every man kill his brother, every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.’ ” So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And about three thousand men of the people fell that day. Then Moses said, “Consecrate yourselves today to the Lord, that He may bestow on you a blessing this day, for every man has opposed his son and his brother.” (Exodus 32:27-29 NKJV)
What did Moses announce to the people? What shocking prayer did he say to God?
The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a terrible sin, but I will go back up to the Lord on the mountain. Perhaps I will be able to obtain forgiveness for your sin.” So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Oh, what a terrible sin these people have committed. They have made gods of gold for themselves. But now, if you will only forgive their sin—but if not, erase my name from the record you have written!” (Exodus 32:30-32 NLT)
What was God’s answer? How did He punish those involved?
Yahweh said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot him out of my book. Now go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. Behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I punish, I will punish them for their sin.” Yahweh struck the people, because of what they did with the calf, which Aaron made. (Exodus 32:33-35 WEB)
How quickly do our churches fall away from the truths taught by Jesus and the apostles, and build golden calves of alternate traditions? How quickly can apostasy occur? You decide!
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