God Blesses His Tabernacle

God Blesses His Tabernacle

Our text:

Exodus Chapters 35-40

We have come to the end of this study of the Book of Exodus. It has now become one of my most favorite books of the Bible. It seems that after a study of God's Word, I find that every passage, every verse, every chapter of every book becomes my favorite. God said He gave us His Complete Word and I believe Him. God said His Word is approved in Heaven and that's all I need to know.

Psa 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

And my hope of "salvation" is in God's Word:

Col 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, [whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel];

Col 1:6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

Though this world will not agree in the day we live in, this world has been changed because the Nation of Israel exist. It is God's Word that tells us the beginnings of this nation and God's Word also tells us of the end of this nation!

In "typology" just as the world was changed by Israel, every human being can be changed by Our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have seen in this Holy Book that only God had the plans for the Tabernacle and He gave these plans to man to build. This Tabernacle did not descend out of Heaven But the true "Pattern" of this Tabernacle did descend out of Heaven and we call Him Jesus.

He has added His presence to the life of the believer and we can work because of Him.

1Co 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

Just as the Tabernacle in Exodus was God's meeting place, the Born Again child of God has Our Lord living within him.

As the earlier chapters of this book dealt with the commands of God, these last chapters deal with actual construction.

We will find that Israel was camped at Mount Sinai at the third month of their escape from Egypt.

Exo 19:1 In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.

We find that ten months later they had assembled this Tabernacle.

Exo 40:2 On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.

We know that Moses had spent 80 of those days communing with God. We can see that there were many of God's people dedicated to the the work of following God's plan to construct this meeting place and the Earthly Throne of God.

We as God's children must be dedicated, and put our whole heart into the work God has given for us to do.

The Greatest "type" of all we seen in this book is that "ALL OF GOD'S HEAVENLY PLAN WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED ON THIS EARTH".

We will see that all the materials were assembled and the Tabernacle was assembled.

*****Our Text:

Exo 35:1 And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said unto them, These are the words which the LORD hath commanded, that ye should do them.

Exo 35:2 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.

Exo 35:3 Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.

The first thing told to these children of Israel was they could work only six days in a row and rest every seventh day. We should not be confused. There was no daily calendar to go by. A "Sabbath" was not on Saturday because there was no Saturday at this time. These people counted days. Work six days and rest on the seventh as commanded of God. We of the church honor Sunday as our day of rest but do we work on all the other days?

In the "Spiritual" sense we know that we cannot go to the work of the Lord unless we first have come to rest in Jesus.

If we keep the true "Sabbath" then we must not be occupied with the things of this world, but we must "Honor" and be occupied with the things of God.

Isa 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, [not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words]:

Isa 58:14 [Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD]; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

To not kindle a fire on our day of rest means 'we must set aside every desire of the flesh and honor God". This is the only way to find our own sabbath day of rest.

Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Col 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

Col 3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

To "mortify" means to subdue all our bodily lusts and cravings.

To work six days means that we cannot neglect our natural responsibilities as God's servants and to that of our families.

*****Our text:

Exo 35:4 And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying,

Exo 35:21 [And they came], every one whose heart stirred him up, and [every one whom his spirit made willing], and they brought the LORD'S offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.

Exo 35:22 And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD.

Did everyone come? We can be sure that there were those that were unwilling to be involved with the things of God.

These that came did not have to be begged or enticed to God's Work. They came freely and joyfully and considered it a privilege to serve Jehovah God.

Everything that is offered to God must come from a "willing heart"! This is the Law of freewill giving. This is the means of eternal blessings.

Moses simply announced that the Lord was willing to receive and then left it in the Holy Spirits hands to prick the hearts of God's people. He had no special enticement to offer. There is only a special joy of knowing you are giving to the work of the Lord.

We can see that there was no lack of "freewill giving" because the people brought more than enough.

*****Our Text:

Exo 36:4 And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made;

Exo 36:5 And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make.

Exo 36:6 And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.

Exo 36:7 For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.

We can see that God's "craftsmen" had no thought of hoarding any extra or saving it. When enough was enough they said so.

In these days of what we call "hard times" it cannot be said that the church has more than enough as many cannot even pay the bills to keep the doors open. Most of the time it is because God's people simply do not freely give of themselves and their abundance, and their tithe.

1.) When God has a specific task to undertake, He does not hold the church responsible for the means to do this task.

2.) When the Lord gives to His own work, He will lay in on the "Hearts" of His people to contribute to that work.

3.) It is when God's people refuse to honor the work of the Holy Spirit in their own hearts.

4.) When we insist on taking on a project where God has not provided we are doing so on our own thoughts.

5.) It is seldom that it can be said that God has blessed a project when He is not in it.

6.) Anything done outside the will of God is doomed to failure.

It takes a "redeemed" people, who know the "glory" of God, that are "devoted" to the "cause" of Our Lord Jesus Christ and think of it as a "privilege" to serve with Him.

God wants wise hearted people to be involved in His work. "every wise hearted man"

These are the ones that God supplies with His Wisdom. "in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom"

Spiritually we first have a people that have rested in Jesus(the Sabbath) and then we these same people freely giving of themselves and now we have the acceptable service of Our Lord of those that have passed from death to life.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

That Godly wisdom will bring forth a renewing of our minds!

Things must be done in this order in order to serve the Lord Jesus Christ!

*****Our text:

Exo 35:25 And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen.

Exo 35:26 And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats' hair.

We should not skip over this from chapter 35:

There will cooperation in the work of the Lord from all sexes. The "Sisters" have their place and their part in God's Work. It does not say they provided any material but that they labored "spun". They did the things that they would normally do at home. This would include instructing children in the ways of God.

*****Our text:

Exo 35:27 And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate;

Exo 35:28 And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.

We can see that the leaders of this new nation set an example for all others in that they also freely gave.

Spiritually, God is saying to all Church leaders including the Pastor to set the example before the flock. Stewardship is an obvious way to show others where our heart is.

1Ti 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; [but be thou an example of the believer], in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Tit 2:7 [In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works]: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

Tit 2:8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

We need only look in our own community and we can see how our church leaders fail us.

*****Our text:

Exo 38:24 All the gold that was occupied for the work in all the work of the holy place, even the gold of the offering, was twenty and nine talents, and seven hundred and thirty shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary.

Exo 38:25 And the silver of them that were numbered of the congregation was an hundred talents, and a thousand seven hundred and threescore and fifteen shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:

The "lesson" for the church. Every gift to the Lord was kept in a complete record. Every penny in the work of the Lord should be accountable.

*****Chapter 39:

Eight times in this chapter the phrase "as the Lord commanded". The construction of the Tabernacle was completed in exact detail. There was no room for the errors of man. All things must be completed just as the Word of God demands for Our Lord to Tabernacle with us.

These children of God completed the work of God just as they wee told. They added nothing more and they did nothing less. This is a lesson to observe for every Christian.

In God's Work we are to do it just as He instructs us to do, we will "grieve" His Holy Spirit.

In the words of Peter:

Joh 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Joh 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

Joh 6:68 [Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.]

Joh 6:69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

We can surely see that man can have man has only "One" work in Salvation and that is to "Believe" the Word the God has given to us.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17 [That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works].

If we desire God's "blessing" and God's "reward" we must do all things just as God has instructed us in His Word and we Do Have His Complete Word if we have His Bible.

I prefer the truth of the King James Bible!

Our Lord requires "Faithfulness" it is He that provides "Success".

Tit 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

*****Our text:

Exo 39:43 And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.

As Moses was "Mediator" for his people, we must remember that Our Mediator, Jesus Christ, will also inspect every work of every saint of God. It is from this work that we will face Our Lord at His Bema Seat that probably takes place at the Rapture of the Church.

2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1Co 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

1Co 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

1Co 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

God tells us to not come to Him empty handed! God will judge "quality" not "quantity", that which is of the "Spirit" and that which is of the "flesh".

*****Our Text

Chapter 40

Exo 40:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Exo 40:2 On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.

This would be almost a year from the day that Israel had left Egypt. In this chapter we see that is Moses who completes the work of the Tabernacle.

Exo 40:33 And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.

The Bible itself says that this Moses is a "type of Christ".

Heb 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Heb 3:2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.

Heb 3:3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.

Heb 3:4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.

Heb 3:5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

Heb 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

*****Our text:

Exo 40:34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Only when Moses had completed the work of rearing the Tabernacle, only then did the "Glory of the Lord" fill the Tabernacle.

What does this remind us of?

Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

You see it is only after the completed work of Our Lord Jesus on that cross that the Holy Spirit can fill the House.

*****Our text:

Exo 40:36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:

Exo 40:37 But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.

Exo 40:38 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.

All Israel had to do was stay focused on that cloud and it would lead them to the promised land!

To think back on what we have seen:

1.) When Moses descended the first time from the Mount "Judgment" came to this Jewish nation.

When Christ descends to call out His Church:

1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Then the "Time of Jacobs Trouble" will begin:

Jer 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

Jer 30:8 For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:

Jer 30:9 But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.

2.) When Moses descended this second time from the Mount:

a.) Moses appeared with a "radiant face".

A type of Christ:

Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

b.) The tablets of stone were not broken this time.

Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people

c.) The reference to the Sabbath:

Telling us that peace will come during the "Millennial Kingdom".

d.) The reference to the freewill offerings:

Zep 3:9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.

Zep 3:10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.

e.) Israel begins the work of the Tabernacle:

Eze 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Eze 36:28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

f.) The Tabernacle is set up:

Zec 6:12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:

Zec 6:13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

g.) The Lord then dwelt in the "Midst" of His People:

Zec 2:10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.

Zec 2:11 And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.

h.) The "Glory of the Lord" was visibly displayed:

Isa 4:5 And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.

Isa 4:6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

Don't you just love the Word of God, where every passage will lead us to the truth of His Word. Just as the Tabernacle was built and assembled exactly like God instructed. God will complete every work He has started in this world until the day when He says "it is done".

Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, [It is done]. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

And this day comes to all God's Children:

Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

*****A Few Things About Moses

Moses was born at the time of Pharaoh's order to abort all the male children of Israel. This was an attempt by Satan to keep the Nation of Israel from ever existing thus stopping God's plan of Salvation. Moses was saved alive to become a royal prince. Likewise Christ Jesus Our Lord also lived in the time that Herod attempted to slay all the children around Bethlehem but God intervened. This was another attempt by Satan to destroy God's plan of "Salvation".

Moses was adopted into royalty but Christ Jesus is of "Royal Blood" born a King and the King. Moses fled Egypt and became a "shepherd". Jesus was born in a stable and remained a shepherd of His Father's flock all the days of His life.

Joh 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Through Moses at the hand of God, Israel was released from the bondage of slavery. But Through Jesus at the hand of God, all believers are released from Satan's bondage of "Sin".

Moses was the great "Intercessor" for Israel But Christ Jesus is the "Great Intercessor" for all God's children.

It is God Himself that said Moses was a "type" of Christ:

Deu 18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, [like unto thee], and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

Deu 18:19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

When we study the life of Moses we will see many things that resemble Our Lord but we must remember these words:

Heb 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Heb 3:2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.

Heb 3:3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.

Heb 3:4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.

Heb 3:5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

Heb 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

It is Our Lord Jesus Christ that has the means of our Salvation:

Heb 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

Heb 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Let's Pray!

God Renews His Covenant

God Renews His Covenant

Our text:

Exodus Chapters 32-34

We should ask ourselves, can we feel God working behind the scenes in our lives?

The work of God is universal. Though it involves us in every way we may not be able to see it most of the time. In our own lives we have a small view of what is happening in the universe and to be honest we spend a lot of time in the valleys and just cannot see over the mountain that is before us. What we should see is that Jehovah God is in control and our job is to concentrate on the small part He has given us to do. What God does may sometimes be puzzling to us BUT we must remember God does not see the part we play as small. God sees the part we play as essential!

Hell is hot and many are caught in the Devil's snare every day. We cannot save anyone, only God can do that. We are the sower of the seed, the fishermen that cast the hook, we are the friend of the lost though he be our enemy. Our job is to be these things and trust that God still does what He has always done, To Have Mercy On Us to Salvation. Every fisherman will backlash his reel on occassion and we will need God to straighten it out!

He will only do this through His Son Jesus!

Before the Tabernacle is even constructed the Holy Spirit decided we needed to know what took place with Israel while Moses was getting the instructions to build the Tabernacle. The New Nation of Israel had already agreed to God's new two party covenant and God wants us to see their failure. God does not hide sin in His Bible but it is hard to imagine that God's people would sink so low in "Sin" and so fast.

You know just as soon as you commit your self to the Lord, Satan will come calling, to try to trip you up if he can. Before the Tabernacle has been built, this Nation of Israel would build "Idols".

The Bible says:

Ecc 7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

It had not been but a few days since these very same people had met the Lord at Mount Sinai. (Chapter 19)

In Chapter 24:3 we heard them say these words:

"All the words which the LORD hath said will we do"

This vow of the people was ratified in a legal form:

Exo 24:7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.

You see they put it in writing. They could not now declare that they did not know.

We must not be fooled God keeps accurate records! At the White Throne of "Judgment" we see the phrase

"and the dead were judged out of those things [which were written in the books], according to their works"

We can miss this day of the "White Throne Judgment" if we will decide now while we are alive to accept the gift of Salvation Our Lord offers us in this time of "Grace". There is only one book we need to be in for sure and that is "The Lamb's Book Of Life".

It is only after these things that The Lord calls Moses up to the top of the Mount:

Exo 24:12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

The very first deacon of the early church, Stephen never forgot this day and we should remember it also:

Act 7:37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.

Act 7:38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

Act 7:39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,

Act 7:40 Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

Act 7:41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

Act 7:42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?

Act 7:43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.

We can see just how deep in sin this "New Nation" would sink without getting close to the Lord Our God.

There has been many of our own children offered up to "false idols" in our day and most never come back to Jehovah God.

We can never stop God's plan but we can be left out of God's plan and that means some one else will get a blessing for what we choose to ignore.



Let's Begin:

*****Our Text:

Exo 32:1 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

Exo 32:2 And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.

Exo 32:3 And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.

Exo 32:4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

Exo 32:5 And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.

Exo 32:6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

Exo 32:7 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:

Exo 32:8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

Exo 32:9 And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:

Exo 32:10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.

There are three main things we will see in this chapter:

1.) We will see the "Idol":

What is an Idol?

An idol is any image, any form, or any thing that represents an object of worship to us. This is anything we set our affections on and indulge in that gets between us and Our Lord.

2.) We will see an "Intercessor":

An "Intercessor" is one that mediates, one who pleads for another person in an attempt to reconcile the differences between two parties.

3.) We will see "The Punishment":

That's any punishment that comes as a direct result of our failures. Israel had not taken their "Covenant with God very serious.

How do we match up in these things.

A.) Do we take the Word of God seriously?

B.) Do we wonder why we suffer when we ignore the Word of God?

C.) Do we wonder why our nation seems to be losing favor in the eyes of God.

D.) Have we truly ask Jesus to be Our Intercessor to reconcile us to a Holy God?

Thank God for Our Intercessor, Our Mediator, Our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ.

These children of Israel were not mad at Moses for being gone for forty days. God had not stopped feeding them. God had not stopped providing their water and meeting all their needs.

They had simply cast away their allegiance to Jehovah. Their "Hearts" had left their "First Love".

What did Jesus say to the Church at Ephesus:

Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

They just simply did not appreciate what Moses had done for them and Moses was God's man.

Do we ever wonder just how does Jesus feels when we fail Him? We know Our Lord can be "grieved".

It's hard to get a smile out of some one we have let down!

Let's hit a little closer home. When we fail in the things of Our Own Church knowing we have such a loving Pastor and the work He put's into it, HOW DO YOU THINK HE FEELS. DO WE REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT HE DOES FOR THIS CHURCH?

This not Sam Duncan's church, This Is God's Church and we are all in this together!

When we let down our Pastor we have let down God's man just as Israel did.

We see that Israel had deliberately ignored the very first commandment. "Thou shalt have no other god's before me"

We as Christians must not lust after things we can see. We must stay focused on the "Invisible God" for we can still see His Creation and if you have been sealed with the Holy Ghost you know His Truth.

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

We know that Israel had served false gods in Egypt and they were still in that sinful flesh:

Jos 24:14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.

You know these words of Joshua still hold true today. We must put away the things we left behind and have a Holy Fear of Our Lord in sincerity and truth.

Our Lord God only expects one kind of worship!

Jesus Christ tells us:

Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

We must realize that if it was time to properly worship Our Lord at this day at the well in Samaria, then it is certainly time to do it right now in these last days.

We know that Israel at this time were only redeemed in "type" and the biggest majority of them had no "faith":

The proof is in the words of Moses:

Deu 32:20 And he(God) said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.

But Paul tells the early church:

1Co 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

There is only one way to avoid these things. We must be filled with the Lord Jesus Christ:

Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

If we open our eyes we can truly see that when the church does not worship in Spirit and Truth then it becomes the "Synagogue" of Satan and Our Lord will be outside knocking at the "door" to see if we let Him back in.

*****What was the response of Aaron:

God had kept Moses away from this nation of Israel for forty days and we said in a previous lesson that the number forty was the number of "testing". Now it was not only Moses that was being tested at this time for he was with Jehovah God but also the Nation of Israel including their future High Priest.

Israel was being tested at this time and we can see that they failed. We can just look around and we can see America is failing while Jesus is in Heaven also.

And You know while Our Lord is away from us and in Heaven at this time, we can be sure we are going to go through some test and hopefully we can turn that test into a Testimony.

When we pray the "sinners prayer" we are making a vow to God to uphold His principles. How good do we keep that vow. If you are like me, you fail every day. Thank God for His "Grace".

My life was a mess and I pray that Christ will make my life into a "Message" for others to see.

We can also say the this was a time of testing for Aaron.

While Moses was being instructed on how to make Aaron the first High Priest, Aaron was building a golden idol to a false God. We can see that Aaron's life was a mess at this time also.

It would be good to point out that this golden calf with the upturned horns did not just represent an idol of false worship but it represented an entire worship system.

This idol was a representation of the false "moon god", Apis to the Egyptians, but the upturn horns represent the crescent moon. Now we do not have to look far in our day to see a certain religion that is represented by the "crescent moon".

The full circle, two upturned horns, represent the "sun god", the "moon god" and on the horizon the "morning star".

This was the triune worship of Egypt when Israel was a slave and this is the false religion that spread to Mesopotamia and what we see in the Book of Revelation as the Babylonian system.

Rev 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, [Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils], and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

Nehemiah referred to this false idol:

Neh 9:18 Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;

The Psalmist referred to this false idol:

Psa 106:19 They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.

Psa 106:20 Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.

Psa 106:21 They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;

The very first deacon of the early church, Stephen referred to this idol:

Act 7:43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.

This was open "Apostasy" to Our Lord and all those that would have us all under one umbrella of worship in our day are asking the Christian to be in "Open Apostasy" to Jehovah God.

The world may be going that way but we are not a part of this world:

1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

1Jn 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

1Jn 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Watch how these things only get worse:

*****Aaron now erects an altar:

Just as today we try to hide the sin of our idolatry by insincere worship of the Living God.

It doesn't even stop there. Now Aaron wants to make a new feast day. How can we ask Our Lord to sanctify our own inventions of worship. If we look around all these things are going on before our very eyes even in our own communities and certainly in our own nation which at one time was considered a Christian Nation.

When we worship our idols in the name of Jesus Christ we have sunk about as low as we can go!

There is nothing in this world that can cleanse us from our filth but the Shed Blood of Jesus. We must be washed in the Word of God to live in this "Sin Sick" world.

We can see that offerings were made on this altar but none of them were described as "Sin Offerings". Just like today in our world, people see sin as a "cupcake" instead of what it is a "Viper" a "Serpent" a "Poison" that is killing this world we live in.

*****"and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play"

After these people had presented themselves to the "Altar" in false confession, they immediately went back to the ways they had in Egypt and indulged in the "lust of the flesh".

Israel had now certainly broken their covenant with God and disowned the "One" that had "Delivered" them from "Bondage".

They were just having some fun and not worried about the consequences but is this not what is being taught in our world today "if it feels good do it"!

God told Moses these were his people (Verse 7 "thy people"). We see God gave these people to Moses.

They had turned aside from the ways of God. We see this all to often even in our own church where people confess of salvation and go right back to the world they lived in before they knew God.

Can we grieve Our Creator, you know we can.

*****We will next see the Intercessor.

*****Our Text:

Exo 32:11 And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?

Exo 32:12 Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.

Exo 32:13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.

Exo 32:14 And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.

Man is the only thing that God created that can truly worship Him (God). Man was born in innocence but Adam soon changed all that by falling into disobedience.

Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

If man was to ever again to have a relationship with God then it must be on new ground. A new and living way.

Heb 10:20 [By a new and living way], which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

Anything else would only bring death! Though man had fallen out of the "Grace " of God, we still have the obligation to seek God. God gave mankind His Own breath to begin life, so the knowledge of God is still inside of every man.

The natural man does have a religious nature but in most all cases this religious nature will lead every man into idolatry.

Jesus said:

Mat 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

Mat 6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

Man must have his god. Even the Atheists have a god even if it is called the god of denial for that is where they place their worship.

Paul understood this when he wrote to the Romans:

Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

This was the reasoning behind the very first commandment of God.

Moses had placed himself between God and His people. Moses placed himself in harm's way in order that the nation of Israel not die:

God said to Moses "Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them"

Moses placed himself between the ""Wrath of God" and "A Lost People". Moses had prayed for this people all along and he could have easily have just gotten out of the way this time, after all God said we can start over again when He said:

"I will make of thee a great nation"

Moses did not fail in this hour that Israel needed him the most. The "Faith" of Moses had grown until he now could intervene on behalf of Israel. I know a man named Jesus who also did not fail me in the hour of my greatest need.

Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Moses was steadfast in his desire to be associated with these people. I know a some one named Jesus who is stedfast in His association with His Church.

Can we not see all the "types" of Our Lord?

Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Moses ask this Holy God:

"LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?"

And Praise the Lord:

"And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people"

God had given these people to Moses in verse 7 (thy people) but now Moses had given them back to God.

What did Jesus say to His Father:

Joh 17:7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.

Joh 17:8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

Joh 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

Joh 17:10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

We cannot miss these "Types" of Christ because they have real importance in the way of Our Faith. God said to learn from these examples in the Old Testament.

Moses said to God, "what would the world say if you destroyed this people after redeeming them with such awesome power"

This is a plea that God will never refuse!

Moses was saying no matter what they are, they were still God's people. It was God that had laid claim on them.

Moses's Faith had finally risen to the occasion at hand!

I dare say there are not many, myself included that would have done what Moses did but this is exactly what God tells us to do:

God is searching for those that will stand in, and stand up, to reach the lost of this world!

Moses was being tested just as Israel was. God already knew what Moses would do but God knew Moses must prove it to himself.

1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

God would have had to break His promise to Abraham and Moses reminded God of this:

Heb 6:16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

Heb 6:17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

Heb 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Moses had become an "Intercessor" in a "type of Jesus Christ. God will always provide one to stand in the breach:

Psa 106:23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses [his chosen] stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.

We know that the true "Chosen One" is Jesus Christ Our Lord:

Mat 12:18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

You see God never ever has to change His mind because everything He does is always the right thing to do:

Jas 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, [with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning].

Jas 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

*****Our Text:

Exodus 32:15-29

Exo 32:19 And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.

Exo 32:20 And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.

Many will ask, if Moses is this great "type" of Christ then how could he do these things that were mentioned in this chapter.

BUT if we think about it we know that Our Messiah came down from Heaven knowing exactly what condition all our generations of sinners were and are in.

As we study God's Word we should use as a guideline a verse from Thessalonians:

1Th 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

We have to rightly divide the Bible to get the true meaning of what God is saying to us.

The Bible is its own best "commentary".

Jesus said:

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Some things to consider: Moses knew the state of this people before he came down the mountain.

God told him in verses 7,8,9

What we have in this lesson another "type"! It will apply to Israel but also to the Church.

1.) When Moses went up the mountain he was a "type" of the Ascension of Christ.

2.) While he was in the presence of God, he had learned all the things of the Tabernacle and the Priesthood and these were the provisions of God's "Grace".

3.) We now see Moses descend from the mountain in fact he will descend twice in this chapter:

Exodus 32:15 and Exodus 32:29.

We already know that Our Lord has also told us that He will descend twice:

a.) The Church the Rapture:

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

b.) His Second Coming:

Zec 14:3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

Zec 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

After the "Rapture" of the Church, Israel will suffer a terrible "Judgment" BUT at the Second Coming, Israel will have a great "Blessing" (Millennial Reign of Christ).

*****Our Text:

Exo 32:31 And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.

Exo 32:32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

We have seen Moses the "Intercessor" now we see Moses the "Judge" and soon, Moses the "Mediator".

These are all "Types" of Christ.

Moses explains later in Deuteronomy:

Deu 9:18 And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

Deu 9:19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the LORD was wroth against you to destroy you. But the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also.

Deu 9:20 And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.

Deu 9:21 And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, and ground it very small, even until it was as small as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount.

We can also see another "Type".

In the Book of Revelation we read in Chapters 2 and 3 as Christ Our Lord "Judges" His Church.

We know the Church is told to keep away from "Idols":

1Jn 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

We know an "Idol" is anything that we place between our selves and Our Lord.

And we know what damage can come to us if we serve our "Idols":

Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

*****It was Aaron that was left in charge so Moses went straight to Aaron.

You know we might not like this but when Jesus went back to Heaven and He left the Church in charge of this Earth and He left the Pastors, the Preachers, the Evangelist in charge of the Church.

It is the Pastors of the Church the Jesus addresses in the Book of Revelation (Chapters 2-3).

*****Aaron gave a sad response when he said he gave the people what they wanted.

We see this happening in a lot of Churches where the Pastors and Church Leaders "give in" to those that sit in the pews for ungodly reasons.

God expects these "Men" to "Preach" "All" His Word and not to add to or take away from it.

Moses came down in the Power of God and stood before 2 million people with out any fear of them and "Gave them the Word of God".

We can see the difference in these two "types". The servant of the Lord can serve in Power but those that yield to the people have no such power and the people know it and will rebel.

Once God's man is established, then we can find out who is on God's side. Just to remain neutral is also to be on Satan's side.

The Bible still says that all these things are written down for us to learn from:

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

In these scriptures we see where Moses used the sword BUT the sword given to the Church is a much more powerful sword:

Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, [and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God]:

This is the sword we are to use on the enemies of the Church. We should not beat our families and friends to death with the Word of God but THE WORD OF GOD MUST CUT DEEP INTO THEIR HEARTS WHILE WE MUST TAKE A DEFINATE STAND UPHOLDING THE WORD OF GOD.

These are the conditions under which we will be "Judged" at the Bema Seat Judgment, that takes place at the Rapture of the Church.

Moses did not try to minimize the sin of Israel. Their sin was very grievous. Moses truly loved this people:

Heb 3:4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.

Heb 3:5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

Heb 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Again we can see a "type" of Christ.

Then Moses presented himself again before the Lord in prayer for his people. Repentance can only come through prayer.

*****Our Lord Jesus is our "Prayer Warrior" in Heaven. No "sin" of the believer can make Jesus stop loving us.

Joh 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

Moses was willing to be blotted out of the Book Of The Living for his people.

Though this is not the Lamb's Book of Life it still shows the willingness of Moses to die for this people at the hands of God.

Psa 69:28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

We know that God has many books:

Mal 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

The One that concerns the Church the most is the "Lamb's Book of Life", but there is another book for rewards.

Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

*****God gives His answer to Moses:

Exo 32:33 And the LORD said unto Moses, [Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book].

This is the importance of the Blood Of Jesus:

Heb 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

*****Our Text:

Exodus 33-34

Exo 34:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest.

Exo 34:2 And be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount.

Exo 34:9 And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.

Exo 34:27 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.

Exo 34:28 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.

We may wonder why the world has changed so drastically to a world of evil but we live in an unrepentant world. If we do not acknowledge our sin to God, then He(God) has to punish us to remain righteous.

God does not and will not wink at sin!

Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Though Israel had sinned grievously, Moses still had to return to God to receive the Tablets of Stone. We know that no purpose of God can fail. Those broken laws might be O K for Israel but only God's Law can stand.

*****We live in a world now where the broken laws are kept but the Christian must keep the written unbroken laws of God.

But God says:

Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

*****God cannot just be tossed aside like He does not exist.

1.) The first Tablets were in "type" man's inability to keep God's Law. These tablets were supplied by God.

Exo 24:12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

2.) The second set of Tablets were supplied by Moses. A "type" of Christ.

Exo 34:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest.

Jesus Christ said:

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

These are the Tablets that are inside the "Ark"!

Deu 10:5 And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as the LORD commanded me.

Another "type" that should not be missed is covered in the Word of God:

Rom 5:20 says Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Rom 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

*****We know Our Lord is a God to be loved and He insists in that love but The Lord Our God is also a God to be feared!

Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

We know a fire will not go out until all the material to be burned is gone!

*****We need to stand in a Holy Awe of Our Lord!

He not only "Pardons" but He will also "Chastise" His children.

*****Even in Heaven, the "Saints" sing praises but they also fall down before Him.

Rev 4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

What did Moses pray to Our Lord:

"I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance"

*****Why are we sealed with the Holy Spirit of God until He takes us to heaven? Because we are a stiff necked people that need Our Lord with us every moment we live in this flesh! We have to have a personal, one on one, relationship with The Master.

Mankind has no ability to meet the requirements of such a Holy God.

Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, [in that it was weak through the flesh], God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

That's why we need Jesus who is the only way to Heaven:

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

If he is not your Lord the make it so today!

Let's pray!

The Tabernacle (Part Three)

God Directs The Tabernacle Design (Part Three)

God Commands Priestly Duties

Text: Exodus Chapters 28 - 31

The Tabernacle required great skill and special talent to follow the examples God gave to Moses. It would take many people with a great dedication to move and erect repeatedly but the most important thing the Tabernacle did was to provide a place to meet with God.

There are many today that think once they are "Born Again they have met all the requirements God gave them and they can go on about their lives and some think that they do not even have to change the way they live. Neither of these things are true and those that think this way need to see what God has to say about it.

God tells the Church:

Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Heb 10:25 [Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: (and so much the more), as ye see the day approaching].

God not only says to not forsake coming together but in the day of the Church(the last days) to even meet more often.

That word "forsaking" means to desert the assembling or to abandon the Church.

The most important things about the Tabernacle took place when "the ministry God assigned to it" took place!

In this time of Israel the Tabernacle defined the ministry of the "Priest".

1.) What is a "Priest"?

One who represents "Man" to "God"!

"that he may minister unto me in the priest's office"

Heb 5:1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men [in things pertaining to God], that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

Heb 5:2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

Heb 5:3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

Heb 5:4 [And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron].

And our High Priest:

Heb 5:5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

To compare a "priest" and "prophet":

A prophet is one who represents "God" to "Man":

Exo 7:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, See, [I have made thee a god to Pharaoh]: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.

So Our Lord:

Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, [now to appear in the presence of God for us]:

1.) We will see that through the attire of the Priest, God has a special concern that everything in our approach to Him shall be perfect. (28:2)

2.) We will see a constant and profound emphasis on "Holiness". (28:36)

This is an example of how our approach to God should be.

3.) We will know the assurance given that the people were never out of God's thoughts. (28:29,30)

4.) What we should realize is the "Glory", the "Power", the "Comfort" and the "Inspiration" of Jesus Christ Our Lord.

Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Heb 4:16 [Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need].

And remember to go see Him in the House that has His name. A local "Bible Believing Church". Any place of worship not based on the "Written Word Of God" is just a place to fellowship and not a "Place of Worship"

God says:

Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

There should be an assembling for worship:

Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

*****Our Text:

Exo 28:1 And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.

Exo 28:2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.

Exo 28:3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

Exo 28:4 And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

Exo 28:5 And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.

Exo 28:6 And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work.

Exo 28:7 It shall have the two shoulderpieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof; and so it shall be joined together.

Aaron and his sons are the first "partnership" of priests in the Bible and Aaron's son were priest only because they were in the family line.

What we will see is that Aaron and his sons are a "type" of the "spiritual priesthood" of all true believers in the New Testament, who are priests only because of Our Lord Jesus. Our True High Priest!

1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Aaron the High Priest, in offering sacrifices was also a "type" of Christ who offered the "Ultimate Sacrifice". All other sacrifices were only a shadow to His sacrifice.

Aaron was also a "type" of Christ in his death. When Aaron's time came to die, God told Moses to bring Aaron and Eleazar to Mount Hor.

Num 20:23 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying,

Num 20:24 Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.

Num 20:25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor:

Num 20:26 And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.

Num 20:27 And Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.

Num 20:28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.

Aaron died there and God concealed the record of his burial. By Aaron's going up the Mount and not returning it becomes a "type" of the ascension of Jesus Christ.

Eleazar returned in his place, wearing the high priestly garments. In "type" this represents the "Second Coming" of Our Lord.

While Aaron was living it was Eleazar who was chief over the tribe of the Levites.

Num 3:32 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.

It was Eleazar that was over "Oil" for the Lampstand, the "Incense", the "Anointing Oil, and the "Tabernacle" itself.

Num 4:16 And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof.

Aaron in "type" was as the ministry of Christ on this earth and Eleazar was a "type" of a Christ ministry in Heaven, throughout the Church Age until His Coming again.

Comparing scripture with scripture we can see that the Levites are a "type" of the Church:

Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

Eph 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

compare:

Num 1:48 For the LORD had spoken unto Moses, saying,

Num 1:49 Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:

Num 1:50 But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.

Num 2:33 [But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel]; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Num 3:12 And I, [behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel] instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;

Num 3:13 Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: [mine shall they be: I am the LORD].

Num 3:41 [And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the LORD)] instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel.

Num 3:45 Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; [and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD].

And the Church:

Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

*****I.) The Ephod: (28:4-7)

It is only in the "Ephod", the "Curious Girdle" of the Ephod and the "Breast Plate" that we find "Gold" woven into the fabric. We know the "Gold" represents in "type" of "Deity". Mixed with the blue, the scarlet, and the fine twined linen we have in "type" the "Royalty", the "Suffering" and the "Spotless Righteousness" of Jesus Christ Our Lord. (in that order)

The (2) shoulder pieces:

Two is the number for "fellowship" the "joining together" is the very purpose of the "Priesthood". Even at the name of "Levi" we get the meaning of "joined unto".

Gen 29:34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be [joined unto me], because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.

Rachel had suffered from the want of a child but Leah had suffered for the WANT OF LOVE!

The "Levites" are in "type" the Church, as the Church seeks to be "joined unto" Our Lord Jesus.

The 2 piece Ephod being "joined together" at the "shoulders" is in "type" the role of Christ Jesus, our "Eternal High Priest" joining man to God. The "Shoulders" represent the "Sustaining Power of God"

*****II.) The Curious Girdle:

Exo 28:8 And the curious girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.

Lev 8:7 And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and [he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith].

The binding of the "Curious Girdle" indicated the High Priest was ready for his service.

In "type" we can know that Our Own High Priest is willing to and ready to meet our every need and that His "strength" will never fail.

*****III.) The (2) stones:

Exo 28:9 And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:

Exo 28:10 Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth.

Exo 28:11 With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.

Exo 28:12 [And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial].

Also on the "Shoulders" were these (2) stones and the High Priest bore the names engraved on those (2) stones.

This represents that "those written in the Lamb's Book of Life" will alway be carried with Our Own Great High Priest and it is He that "Sustains" us.

*****IV.) The Breast Plate of Judgment:

Exo 28:15 And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it.

Exo 28:16 Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof.

Exo 28:17 And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.

Exo 28:18 And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.

Exo 28:19 And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.

Exo 28:20 And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings.

Exo 28:21 And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.

The "Breastplate" is the most costly of all the garments. God is a God of order and this is the first of the "garments mentioned".

Exo 28:4 And these are the garments which they shall make; [a breastplate], and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

Though each stone may have a significance there is not time in this study to get into that. What we can readily see is that each name is recorded twice.

1.) Once on the Onyx stone:

Exodus 28:9

2.) Once on the stones of the Breastplate.

Exodus 28:21

This can certainly mean that God will never forget the names of "His Children".

Isa 49:15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

Isa 49:16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

The Apostle John also saw these names on the gates of New Jerusalem:

Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

This "breastplate" was securely fastened with (4) golden chains. (2) to the shoulder pieces and (2) to the curious girdle.

Jesus Christ will always hide the names of God's Children on His heart!

The "union with Christ" (2) is a major theme in the Tabernacle study.

*****Our Text:

Exo 28:30 And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.

The "Urim" and the "Thummim" are defined as "lights" and "perfections".

In other words it is the job of the High Priests to shed "light" on the "complete truth", The Perfect Word Of God!

The "Urim" and the "Thummim" were a combination that represent God's Perfect Balance in "Grace", "Mercy", "Judgment" and "Wrath"!

1Jn 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, [that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all].

Deu 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

All the perfections of God are seen in Jesus Christ:

Joh 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? [he that hath seen me hath seen the Father]; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

The "Urim" and the "Thummim" are only a foreshadow of Jesus Christ!

*****Our Text:

Exo 28:31 And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue.

Exo 28:32 And there shall be an hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an habergeon, that it be not rent.

Exo 28:33 And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:

Exo 28:34 A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about.

Exo 28:35 And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not.

The Hebrew word for "robe" used here is "meheel". It is uses 28 times in the Bible.

1.) 19 times robe or robes.

2.) 7 times as mantle.

3.) 1 time cloak.

4.) 1 time coat.

There should be little doubt that this was the upper or outer garment,

This "Robe of Blue" points to Our Heavenly Prince, the soon coming KING of Kings.

It was a woven work and probably seemless.

Joh 19:23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: [now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout].

Exo 39:22 And he made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue.

Exo 39:23 And there was an hole in the midst of the robe, as the hole of an habergeon, with a band round about the hole, that it should not rend.

A special feature of this Robe was that it had a full circle of Golden Bells and Pomegranates(of blue, of purple, and of scarlet).

We have the symbolism of the colors:

Blue = Heavenly

Purple = Royalty

Scarlet = Suffering

But also Our Lord's "Fruitfulness" on this Earth.

These "Bells" were meant to be heard when the High Priests was in and out of the Holy Place.

God tells us that those that believe will know the joyful sound of Our Lord:

Psa 89:15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.

We should also know the glad tidings of the Word of God:

Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, [How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things]!

Rom 10:18 But I say, Have they not heard? [Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world].

*****Our text:

Exo 28:36 And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

Exo 28:37 And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be.

Exo 28:38 And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.

Exo 28:39 And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework.

Verse 38 tells us that the "Most Holy Things" that man can do are still corrupted and stained with "Sin".

It is only our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ who "MUST" bear the iniquity of all "Holy Things"!

That "plate of Gold" on Aaron's forehead is symbolic of Jesus Christ bearing us, even though we can pray and offer up gifts to God. Anything we offer God are acceptable only by virtue of the "Shed Blood Of Jesus"!

Heb 9:21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Jesus offers up a "Warning" for those that try to get to the "Wedding Supper" of the "Bride" by any other means.

Mat 22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

Mat 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Mat 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

It is Our Lord that has chosen the "Wedding Garments"!

Rom 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

God speaks of Abraham

Rom 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Rom 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Rom 4:23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

Rom 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

These garments of the High Priest should tell us that only through the "Righteousness of Jesus" (Our Garment) can we be admitted to the Marriage Supper Of The Lamb!

Paul goes on to say our garment must be Jesus Christ:

Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

We know that Adam and Eve tried to make their own garments with the fig leaves but the correct garment had to come through the "Blood" of an "Innocent Lamb".

God's Lamb is Himself!

Gen 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, [God will provide himself a lamb] for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

*****Our Text:

Exo 28:39 And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework.

Exo 39:27 And they made coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons,

Exo 39:28 And a mitre of fine linen, and goodly bonnets of fine linen, and linen breeches of fine twined linen,

Exo 39:29 And a girdle of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, of needlework; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Though the coats that were worn by Aaron and his sons were identical, Aaron wore the "Mitre" while his sons wore "Bonnets".

Both of these are "symbols" of the "Reverence" of God.

*****Our text:

Exo 28:42 And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:

Exo 28:43 And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute for ever unto him and his seed after him.

We can see that they all wore the linen britches.

The wearing of under garments were not done in these days. This linen britches served the priests as tis function. This shows us that we all should dress appropriatley, and reverance the House of God for every child of God is a priest.

1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

*****Our Text:

Exodus 29:1-37

*****The Washing:

Exo 29:4 And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water.

There can be little doubt that this in "type" is refering to the newly "Born Again" child of God:

Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, [by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost];

Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Moses was God's man so he had to do the washing.

We also see Our Lord Jesus:

Joh 13:10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

*****The Anointing:

Lev 8:10 And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them.

Lev 8:11 And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them.

Lev 8:12 And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.

The Tabernacle and everything that was in it, were anointed with "Oil" (our Holy Ghost) and all the vessels were "Sanctified"(set apart for sacred service).

Only the "Altar" was sprinkled in addition to the anointing. (The Altar is in "type" the "Cross")

It is believed that only Aaron was anoited with oil and then this anointing was counted for his sons and those that followed.

When Our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ was anointed then that anointing was counted for everyone that believes on Him for their "Salvation".

*****The Sin Offering:

Exo 29:10 And thou shalt cause a bullock to be brought before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the bullock.

Exo 29:11 And thou shalt kill the bullock before the LORD, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Exo 29:12 And thou shalt take of the blood of the bullock, and put it upon the horns of the altar with thy finger, and pour all the blood beside the bottom of the altar.

Exo 29:13 And thou shalt take all the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul that is above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and burn them upon the altar.

Exo 29:14 But the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and his dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp: it is a sin offering.

Israel had no High Priest until Aaron was anointed by Moses. Moses had performed all official duties up until this point.

*****The laying on of hands:

This was a ceremonial act that represented the transfering of "Sin" to "innocent" victim. Immediatly after the transfer then the bullock was killed and the "Blood was applied to the Altar". To the Altar, the Horns and what remained was poured on the ground at the bottom of the Altar.

Why?

Verse 21, "he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him"

(Set aside for the sacred use of God!)

The "Sin Offering", was not a sweet savor unto the Lord and was to be burnt with fire outside the Tabernacle and the camp.

Our Lord Jesus was led to the Hill called Golgotha:

Joh 19:17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

Joh 19:18 Where they crucified him,

Heb 13:11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.

Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

*****The Burnt offering:

Exo 29:15 Thou shalt also take one ram; and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the ram.

Exo 29:16 And thou shalt slay the ram, and thou shalt take his blood, and sprinkle it round about upon the altar.

Exo 29:17 And thou shalt cut the ram in pieces, and wash the inwards of him, and his legs, and put them unto his pieces, and unto his head.

Exo 29:18 And thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar: it is a burnt offering unto the LORD: it is a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

The "Burnt" signified God's acceptance in anticipation of the "SHED" Blood of Jesus.

Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Before we go any further let's point out the difference between the "Shed Blood" and as some say the "Spilt Blood"

1.) To "shed" is an intentional act.

2.) To spill though it could be intentional, is most times by accident.

Jesus Christ intentionally died on the Cross and He intentionally "Shed" His Blood! It was no accident!

The "washing" of the inwards symbolizes the inner being, the nature, the affections, the attitudes.

The "washing" of the legs symbolizes our walk in this life.

The Bible says after we are redeemed we too need a washing:

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Eph 5:26 That [he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word],

TO SAY WE HAVE FAITH WITHOUT SEEING THE FRUIT OF IT IS A FALSE CLAIM!

Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

All dead faith will be fruitless!

*****The "Ram of Consecration":

Exodus 29:19-28

Moses would kill this ram only after Aaron and his sons had identified themselves with the ram by laying their hands uppn it's head.

Moses then killed the ram and took the blood and put it on:

1.) The tip of Aaron's right ear = his dedication to the Word of God

2.) The thumb of Aaron's right hand = his service to God

3.) The big toe of Aaron'd right foot = his walk with God

4.)Moses did the same to each of Aaron's sons.

We are washed in the blood of Jesus:

Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works [to serve the living God]?

Moses then sprinkled the blood upon the Altar "round about" which means on "every side"

There were "seven" parts of this "Consecration Lamb" that were to be burnt on that Altar together with unleavened bread and an unleavened cake tempered with oil and an unleavened wafer anointed with oil.

Lev 8:25 And he took the fat, and the rump, and all the fat that was upon the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and the right shoulder:

Lev 8:26 And out of the basket of unleavened bread, that was before the LORD, he took one unleavened cake, and a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and put them on the fat, and upon the right shoulder:

Lev 8:27 And he put all upon Aaron's hands, and upon his sons' hands, and waved them for a wave offering before the LORD.

Lev 8:28 And Moses took them from off their hands, and burnt them on the altar upon the burnt offering: they were consecrations for a sweet savour: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

1.) The Unleavened "Bread" = "Freedom from Sin" (Especially that of Jesus)

2.) The Unleavened "Cakes tempered with oil" = Speak of Our Lord Jesus being filled with the Holy Spirit even before His birth at Bethlehem.

3.) The Unleavened "Wafers anointed with oil" = This special "anointing" by the Holy Spirit gave to us in "Type" Our Lord's power to fulfiull the work assigned by the Father in every minute detail.

Moses then took of the "anointing" oil ("Holy Spirit") and the "Blood" from the Altar ("Blood of Calvary") and sprinkled it upon Aaron and his sons.

Lev 8:30 And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons' garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him.

Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Aaron and his sons then boiled the the remaining flesh of the "Consecration Ram" and ate it with the bread from the basket "at the door of the Tabernacle".

All these ceremonies were to be completed and repeated for "seven days". Seven the number of "perfection".

In "type" this shows that it is imperitive for the "believer" to abide in Christ Jesus "always"! That we die not!

Lev 8:35 Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the LORD, [that ye die not]: for so I am commanded.

Aaron performed his first priestly duties on the (8th) day, (his new beginning) but he still had to sacrifice another calf before he could begin.

But Our Lord:

Heb 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

Heb 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

Heb 7:28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

And Our Lord Jesus will never have to sacrifice Himself ever again:

Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

Heb 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

The believer knows certain things:

1.) We are "formed" by Our Lord:

Psa 139:13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

Psa 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Psa 139:15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Psa 139:16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

2.) We are "purchased" by Our Lord:

Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

3.) We are "cleansed" by Our Lord:

Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

4.) We are "redeemed" by Our Lord:

Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

5.) We are then "endowed" with the Holy Spirit for safe keeping:



Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

How can we ever deny Him?

*****Our text:

Exodus Chapter 30

The Incense Alter:

Exo 30:1 And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.

Exo 30:2 A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it be: and two cubits shall be the height thereof: the horns thereof shall be of the same.

Exo 30:3 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about.

Exo 30:4 And two golden rings shalt thou make to it under the crown of it, by the two corners thereof, upon the two sides of it shalt thou make it; and they shall be for places for the staves to bear it withal.

Exo 30:5 And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.

Exo 30:6 And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.

Exo 30:7 And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.

Exo 30:8 And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.

Exo 30:9 Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.

Exo 30:10 And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the LORD.

We must notice the order in which God teaches us these things. God instructed Moses on the "Consecration" of the Priest before He introduced this Golden Altar.

In "Type" this Altar represent Our Lord Jesus as our "Mediator"!

1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

1Ti 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Aaron and the Brazen Altar are "types" of Christ in His sacrificial role at Mount Calvary but this Golden Altar stood squarely in front of the 'Mercy Seat" depicting Christ Jesus interceeding at God's right hand for all believers.

1.) We still have the "uncorruptable wood" the humanity of Jesus.

2.) We still have the "Golden deity" the One True God.

3.) We still have the "One" cubit the "One" being the need for unity with human relationships.

4.) We have "two" cubits high pointing to the "union and fellowship with Our Lord Jesus.

We must remember if our "vertical" relationship with Christ is not as it should be then our "horizontal" relationships with our families and all other will also suffer.

Mat 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Our "prayers" will go unheard and be fruitless because of faulty human relationships!

*****The Horns and the Crown:

Those "Horns" still symbolize power! On the Brazen Altar it is the "Power of the Blood" but here on the Golden Altar they represent the "Power of Prayer".

A "Horn" on each corner means the the "powere of Prayer" is available to every believer in the "same strength". We hinder that power by our own actions.

Psa 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

These "horns" do symbolize the "power of prayer" but they do not magnify the power of prayer.

The "incense" represents our prayers but until incense is burnt on the Golden Altar which represents Our Advocate with the Father, can we have no "Power in our Prayer life"

1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

It is only in Jesus that our prayers have power!

If a "prayer" is not prayed in the "Name of Jesus", that name above all other names, it will not be answered. We must pray under His Authority, under His Glory.

Jesus Christ is our "legal Advocate" just as He is "Our Savior"!

*****The Golden Crown on this Altar, which is not present on the Brazen Alter, is the "Divine Autthority" that backs this altar. This Golden Crown is in "type" the Victory Our Savior had at the Cross!

1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

*****This Golden Altar stood just outside the "Veil" of the "Holy of Holies". It was squarely in front of the "Mercy Seat". Christ Jesus opened for us a "new and living way" through Himself because that "Veil" is fore ever gone to the believer, but we still haave to pass by this Golden Altar before we can go through that "Door", that "Door" being Jesus.

Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

But we must go "Humbly" no matter what others teach.

Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

We cannot be lifted up any other way.

1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

We cannot be exalted when the time comes in any other way.

Mat 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

God will allow us to approach His Throne without any kind of appoinment but only if we come through the "Door of Jesus" HUMBLY!

Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of the Levitcal priesthood!

1.) We cannot bypass the Cross.

2.) We cannot bypass the Washing by His Word.

3.) We cannot forego the Living Bread.

4.)But Most Important of All, we have to have Jesus Christ as Our Intercessor!

Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

*****This Golden Altar was intended for "Sweet Incense" if our prayers are not seasoned with "love, devotion, and worship then we are offering "strange incense"!

Joh 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Aaron was to burn sweet incense upon this Altar every morning and every evening so once a day was not enough.

In order for a sinner to be saved a prayer of faith had to be prayed. This person is then Born Again into a new life. That prayer was then was the breath that gave "New Life".

Prayer then is the Chistian Believer's vital breadth. Our bodies cannot survive without breathing and our spirit cannot survive without prayer.

Paul said:

1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

*****The Annointing Oil

Exo 30:22 Moreover the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Exo 30:23 Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels,

Exo 30:24 And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin:

Exo 30:25 And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.

Exo 30:26 And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony,

Exo 30:27 And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense,

Exo 30:28 And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot.

Exo 30:29 And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.

Exo 30:30 And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.

Exo 30:31 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations.

Exo 30:32 Upon man's flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you.

Exo 30:33 Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people.

We already know that "Oil" symbolizes the Holy Spirit. We have seen that all the Vessels, the Furniture and the Tabernacle itself have been anointed with "Oil".

Everyone of these objects represent certain aspects of Jesus Christ, His Ministry, and the Church.

Isa 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

Isa 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

We can see this totally symbolized in the Golden Lampstand.

Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

As a Lampstand it would be the Oil that flowed. The Lamp could not burn without the "Oil".

All this points to the "Work" of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Oil cannot be poured on anything that man chooses but only on the things that God has chosen.

Exo 30:32 Upon man's flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you.

Even the sweet spices for the incense was reserved for the Tabernacle.

What God sets apart for His use is Holy, Sanctified, and Reverent.

Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Let's Pray!