TODAY’S READING: EXODUS 29-32
OVERVIEW:
God gives instruction on the consecration of the priests; God explains how the tabernacle is to operate; God appoints specific men to oversee the building of the tabernacle; God emphasizes the Sabbath day;Israelsins against God; Moses intercedes forIsrael.
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
For 40 days (since the end of Ex. 24) Moses has been back onMount Sinaireceiving explicit direction from God. Israelhad just faithfully promised, “All the words which the Lord hath said will we do.” (Ex. 24:3) What could be better? God’s presence was apparent; God was actively working withIsrael; Moses was at that very moment on the mount hearing from God. BUT – (Gen. 4:7) “Sin lieth at the door.” Aaron, (the High Priest about whom God was giving detailed instructions on how he would picture our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ) bows to the pressures of the people, builds a false god and leads Israel in the worship of it; dancing about it naked and praising it for delivering them from Egypt. How could they be so weak? Sound like anybody you know? AND – Then comes the lame cover up (Ex. 32:24), where when confronted with his sin, Aaron explains that he simply threw the gold into the fire and out popped this golden calf! That “miracle” having taken place, the only natural thing was to then to set it in front of the people, so they could dance around it and party the day away in sensual lust.
Sadly, the wonderful things that God had planned for His people were being permanently polluted by them as He spoke (Acts7:41). While God is painting a beautiful picture of how His people could exemplify His holiness and mercy,Israelis painting the dreadful portrait of how we so often react to His love (I Corinthians 10:1-10).
Make special note that this great sin ofIsraelis also used in Steven’s sermon in Acts 7:41 to illustrate how we so blatantly reject God’s perfect plan.
Paul also lets us know in 1 Cor. 10: 6 & 11 that all these things were done for our examples that we wouldn’t make the same mistaskes.
CHRIST IS REVEALED:
Through God’s plan for Aaron the HIGH PRIEST. Ex.29 (Hebrews7:26- 8:1)
Through the ONCE-A-YEAR SACRIFICE FOR ATONEMENT. Ex. 30:10 (Rom.6:10, Hebrews7:27, 9:7,9:12,10:10)