CbC Apr. 20-26

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April 20, Sunday

Reading A110 — Exodus 31 — Work and Rest                           Audio: Exodus 31 (ESV)

An audio recording of the following comments is available below:

The Fourth Commandment — Keeping the Sabbath was a very important commandment for the OT Jews.  It was introduced in Exodus 20 with this simple statement: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Ex. 20:8), but it was followed by the longest explanation of the other nine commandments.  In our chapter reading for today, it was also emphasized with the statement, “Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths” (31:13).  Failure to keep it carried the death penalty (vv. 14, 15).  The big question for us is whether it is still required for Christians.  If not, it is the only one of ten that is not also a requirement stated in NT texts.  A whole denomination of Christians, the Seventh Day Adventists, believe that Saturday must continue to be set aside as a day of rest and worship because of OT statements like ones we read today, that “the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever.  It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel…” (vv. 16-17).  One objection is that twice in the above passage it specifies that this was a law for the people of Israel.  Some Christians feel that Sunday is the new Sabbath because it was the practice of early believers to meet for worship on Sundays in celebration of the day Jesus rose from the dead, but that modifies and substitutes the fourth commandment instead of fulfilling it.  The bottom line for us is not to criticize others for their worship (and rest) practices, as Paul instructs us, saying that “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike.  Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind” (Rom. 14:5).  An excellent article on this subject may be read at Should Christians Keep the Sabbath?.

April 21, Monday

Reading A111 — Exodus 32 — The Golden Calf                           Audio: Exodus 32 (ESV)

An audio recording of the following comments is available below:

Responsible Leadership — What a contrast there was in this chapter between the leadership of Moses and Aaron!  Aaron let the people lead him.  They said, “Up, make us gods” (v. 1), and he did.  The people needed a leader because without one, God said, “They turned aside quickly” (v. 8).  Good spiritual leaders guard against that.  Not Aaron!  He “let them break loose” (v. 25).  He refused to take responsibility for his sin, weakly excusing himself when he said to Moses, “…out came this calf” (v. 24).  Moses, on the other hand, took up the responsibility of leadership by confronting his brother (v. 21) about his sin of submitting to idolatry, breaking the first and second commandments.  He also immediately “took the calf … and burned it … and made the people of Israel drink” the ash-filled water (v. 20).  We are spiritual leaders also when we discourage others from doing things we know are wrong, when we admit our own failures, and when we set an example for how one ought to live in godliness.  People are watching us—people who need leadership.  Did you notice what God told Moses when he returned?  He said, “But now go, lead the people…” (v. 34).  Be a leader!

April 22, Tuesday

Reading A112 — Exodus 33 — Seeing God’s Back                     Audio: Exodus 33 (ESV)

An audio recording of the following comments is available below:

Seeing by Faith — Moses’ request to “please show me now your ways, that I may know you…” (v. 13) is the same prayer I pray every morning as I begin my devotional time with the Lord.  It involves an admission of my need and a recognition of God’s infinite greatness.  Moses’ request to “show me” could be seen as the theme of this chapter.  He asked to be shown God’s “ways” in verse 13 and His “glory” in verse 18.  All believers want evidence and encouragement.  Five times in this chapter, a desire for God’s “favor” is expressed (vv. 12-17).  We all need that “favor,” i.e., His blessing and the assurance of His presence.  God said He would only send an angel with Israel into the Promised Land (v. 2), but Moses begged for God Himself to accompany them.  God answered by promising, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do” (v. 17).  As God “used to speak to Moses face to face” (v. 11), He now speaks to us through His Word.  We have all the evidence we need there to support the faith we need in order to stretch out into the future things we do not yet see or understand.

April 23, Wednesday

Reading A113 — Exodus 34 — Replaced Tablets               Audio: Exodus 34 (ESV)

An audio recording of the following comments is available below:

Patience and Holiness — Verses 6-7 in this chapter list seven self-described character qualities of God.  One of them that stood out to me was that He is “slow to anger.”  Remember when Moses broke the first tablets of stone in anger when he saw the golden calf?  Those were the stones on which God had engraved the Ten Commandments, stones that should have been shown the greatest respect.  There was no indication, however, that God expressed any anger at that time or in this chapter when God reminded Moses of “the first tablets, which you broke” (v. 1).  God showed that He is “slow to anger.”  He still is.  You and I also do things in anger and in disrespect, but God is patient and loving toward us.  The second characteristic of God shown in today’s reading that struck me is His holiness, which was demonstrated in Moses’ shining face after he spoke with God.  It was a powerful display that even frightened the Israelites (v. 30).  Does the time we spend with the Lord cause us to reflect His holiness?  Does our face shine with joy after we read His Word and talk to Him?  He wrote these words, too, and they should change us as we respect and submit to them.

April 24, Thursday

Reading A114 — Exodus 35 — Call for Contributions                 Audio: Exodus 35 (ESV)

An audio recording of the following comments is available below:

Moved to Act — Four times in this chapter, the people of Israel were reminded, “the LORD has commanded” what was to be done for the construction of the tabernacle (vv. 1, 4, 10, 29).  Although this work was commanded, there was a strong emphasis on the voluntary willingness of the people to make it happen.  It was to be “a freewill offering to the LORD” (v. 29) — “the LORD’s contribution” (vv. 5, 21, 24).  It was a call to those who had “a generous heart” (v. 5), “whose spirit moved him” (v. 21), “who were of a willing heart” (v. 22), and “whose heart moved them” (v. 29).  What would motivate these sinful people to obey God’s command with a willing spirit?  Part of it might have been guilty feelings, knowing that they did wrong in encouraging Aaron to make the golden calf for them to worship.  A larger part, however, seems to have been God’s action in changing their hearts, which is clearly stated in relation to His choice of Bezalel and Oholiab to head up the work, where “he has inspired him to teach.  … [and] He has filled them with skill…” (vv. 34-35).  When God commands, He equips.  What God proposes, He motivates.  What has God called you to do?  Are you willing?

April 25, Friday

Reading A115 — Exodus 36 — Construction Begins                   Audio: Exodus 36 (ESV)

An audio recording of the following comments is available below:

More Than Enough — We saw in yesterday’s reading that the people’s hearts were made willing to give, and today, we see just how willing they were.  They gave so much that Moses had to forbid them to bring any more (v. 6).  The “material they had was sufficient … and more” (v. 7).  Wow!  Have you ever been part of a church project where that happened?  Again, we see God’s hand in their generosity.  He “put skill” in the craftsmen and stirred their hearts to do the work (v. 2).  Today’s reading describes mostly the construction of the frame and covering of the sanctuary itself.  The posts of that structure were acacia wood that were 15 feet (4.6 m) long.  More than 50 of them had been carried out of Egypt when the people escaped.  They walked through the parted Red Sea with them and dragged them through the desert.  What motivated them to take them out of Egypt?  It had to be God, who had a purpose for their later use.  The great Planner and Provider had designed this tabernacle and supplied the materials for it long before Israel left Egypt.

April 26, Saturday

Reading A116 — Exodus 37 — Making the Furnishings                Audio: Exodus 37 (ESV)

An audio recording of the following comments is available below:

Ordinary People — Although the appearance and dimensions of the contents of the tabernacle had already been described in chapters 25-26, they are repeated in detail in this chapter as the construction was explained.  The specially chosen and gifted Bezalel made these important pieces for the interior of the tabernacle’s Holy Place and Most Holy Place.  He was not alone in this project.  We read earlier that “Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the LORD had put skill” (36:2).  Most Bible characters who get a whole chapter of attention were prophets, kings, warriors, and leaders, but here are featured a group of people who work quietly and skillfully with their hands.  Most of us are more like Bezalel than Moses—behind-the-scenes people who serve the Lord in non-spectacular but important ways.  We are important to God and He assigns significant roles and tasks to us.  We are to work in ways that God has gifted and interested us.  How are you being used?