The Birth Of The King

Book Of Matthew

The Birth of the King

Text: Matthew 1,2

Our Focus: Matthew 1:1, 18-25; 2:1-6

About 30 years after Christ Jesus had ascended back to Heaven, Matthew was inspired, by the Holy Ghost to write this "Gospel", the "Good News" of Jesus Christ Our Lord.

The Bible says:

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.

You can look but you will not find in any of the "Gospels" [Matthew, Mark, Luke, John] any words where it says Matthew spoke at any time.

Matthew states from the beginning that these are the words of Jesus Christ, Son of David, and Son of Abraham.

Matthew did not write to tell us about himself. Matthew wanted us to know about Jesus.

The Bible says:

Act 13:49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

You see, we need to have our own copy of the Word of God.

We need to have access to what Jesus said and to what Jesus did. Jesus

Christ is our example to follow. If we know the truth of Him we will love Him. If we love Him we will be saved, because we will obey Him.

Jesus says:

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.

Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The Holy Ghost used Matthew for three important things in this "Gospel".

1.) To introduce a New Testament,[a New Covenant]:

It had been over 400 years since God had spoken to his children through the prophets. We know God had still worked in the lives of all His creation but no one person stood out during this time.

Jesus said:

Joh 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

Joh 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

Joh 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

You see Matthew was a bridge between the Old Testament and the New Testament.

The theme of the Old Testament is this:

Gen 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

The Old Testament gives us the "History" of the Family of Adam.

God created man in His own image. God is a spirit so this does not mean the way we look as individuals. It is the soul and spirit of man where sin defiles God's creation.

The Apostle Paul best describes man's image:

1Th 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God [your whole spirit and soul and body] be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When God said His image part of this means we have a:

a.) Soul

b.) Spirit

c.) Body

A tree cannot sin against God. An animal can be used of Satan but the animal itself is sin free but can be punished such as the serpent used of Satan in Genesis:

Gen 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

We are not sinners because we sin. [We sin because we are sinners!] The sin of Adam was passed down through all his generations:

Gen 5:3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and [begat a son in his own likeness, after his image]; and called his name Seth:

The New Testament is about the "Generations of Jesus":

Mat 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Jesus is the last Adam:

1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; [the last Adam was made a quickening spirit].

Jesus Christ came to this Earth to save all the "generations of the first Adam".

We can be born (born again) into the generation of Jesus Christ and become the children of God.

When we read of the generations of Adam we see the phrase "and he died".

The Bible tells us:

Rom 6:23 [For the wages of sin is death]; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

But in the Gospel of Matthew we read and "he begat" [where birth] not death is the message.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; [but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord].

The Old Testament is a "Book of Promise". The New Testament is a "Book of Fulfillment"!

The Redeemer is "Promised" in the Old Testament.

Matthew uses the word "fulfilled" 16 times.

Matthew refers back to the Old Testament at least 129 times to show us that Jesus Christ was indeed the promised Messiah, to the Jews and to the Christians.

2.) Matthew introduced us to the New King.

a.) Matthew writes the Gospel of the King.

b.) Mark writes the Gospel of the Servant.

c.) Luke writes the Gospel of the Son of Man.

d.) John writes the Gospel of the Son of God.

3.) Matthew introduced the New People.

Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, [That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church]; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, [tell it unto (the church)]: [but if he neglect to hear (the church)], let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

The "Church", the ones called out: It denotes the whole body of the redeemed, all those whom the Father has given to Christ, the invisible church. The sum total every person that has accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior in any denomination.(The Body of Christ)

Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

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

Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Matthew had an experience with the Lord:

Mat 9:9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

Mat 9:10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

Mat 9:11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

Mat 9:12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

Mat 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Mat 9:14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

Mat 9:15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

Mat 9:16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

Mat 9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

It changed him for the rest of his life:

Mar 2:14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.

His old name was Levi (joined to the world) his new name was Matthew (the gift of Jehovah).

Matthew opened his heart to Jesus and became a new person.

According to tradition, Matthew's ministry was in Palestine for many years and then he made mission journeys to anywhere the Jews had been dispersed. Possibly Persia, Ethiopia, Syria and Greece.

The New Testament may be silent about the life of Matthew but the Holy Ghost made sure the writings of Matthew were to be contained in the 66 books we call the Bible.

*****Our Text:

Mat 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Matthew's audience was to the Jews. Jesus had claimed to be the Messiah and King of the Jew and it was important to show His lineage. It was important for the world to see that indeed Jesus was without doubt the legal heir to the throne of David. Anyone claiming to be "the Son of David" had to be able to prove it. David was a national hero then and he is still now.

In all the New Testament you will not find that anyone questioned this fact about Jesus!

The documents were easily available up to the time of 70AD for anyone to prove different and they could not but to agree.

There is no one else that could prove such a thing now in our day.

It is easy to skip over these long list of names when we read but we miss some important lessons when we do.

This long list of names connect Jesus with the true history of this world.

THAT THE JESUS OF THE BIBLE WAS A REAL PERSON IS AN UNDENIABLE FACT!

It is most unusual to find the names of women in Jewish genealogies since names and inheritance came through the father but the Holy Ghost provides further proof of true history of the Jewish nation.

In this lesson we would miss the Doctrine of Salvation in typology and actual lessons in the Doctrine of Salvation.

Jesus Christ is not of an earthly nature but He was born of the "Virgin Mary" in the earthly fashion. Because of this there are some shady charactery in His family tree. We could find some of the same in our own family tree. Because of forgiveness God accepts the past as if it did not exist.

I.) Grandma Tamar:

[Mat 1:3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar];

The story in the Book of Genesis:

Gen 38:11 Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.

Gen 38:12 And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

Gen 38:13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.

Gen 38:14 And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.

Gen 38:15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.

Gen 38:16 And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?

Gen 38:17 And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it?

Gen 38:18 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.

Gen 38:19 And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.

The Results:

Gen 38:27 And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.

Gen 38:28 And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.

Gen 38:29 And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.

Gen 38:30 And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.

We can see just how wicked this woman was. A "daughter in law" changed into a deceitful "harlot". Judah said that even through all this that [he was the one more deceitful].

a.) Tamar represents the DOCTRINE OF SIN.(In Typology)

b.) She "seduced" and "blackmailed" Judah her father in law.

Lev 18:15 says Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

We know Judah was deceived though he was still wrong. Tamar knew that she was doing evil.

Lev 20:12 says And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them.

A sin worthy of death by God's own words. But before we pass judgement!

The Bible says:

c.) Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

d.) INSPITE OF THE FACT SHE WAS SO WICKED, SHE WAS STILL ALLOWED TO BE IN THE FAMILY OF GOD.

BECAUSE GOD NEVER CHANGES!

Mal 3:6 says [For I am the LORD, I change not]; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

NOW THEN (I) ALSO CAN BECOME A MEMBER OF GOD'S FAMILY.(God never changes)

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

II.) Grandma Rahab:

Mat 1:5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab;

a.) Rahab represents the DOCTRINE OF FAITH.(In Typology)

Jos 2:1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

Jos 2:2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.

Jos 2:3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.

Jos 2:4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:

Jos 2:5 And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.

Jos 2:6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.

Jos 2:7 And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.

Jos 2:8 And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;

Jos 2:9 And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.

Jos 2:10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.

Jos 2:11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

Jos 2:12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:

Jos 2:13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.

Jos 2:14 And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.

Jos 2:15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.

Jos 2:16 And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.

Jos 2:17 And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.

Jos 2:18 Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt [bind this line of scarlet thread] in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.

Jos 2:19 And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.

Jos 2:20 And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.

Jos 2:21 And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and [she bound the scarlet line in the window].

Rahab came straight from the "Red Light District" into the family tree of Jesus Christ.

(Through the blood of Jesus)=The Scarlet line.

b.) Rahab had hid the spies and because she obeyed and bound the red cord(scarlet thread), she and her family would be protected and saved. DOES THIS NOT SOUND LIKE THE RED BLOOD OF JESUS THAT WE ARE WASHED IN.

Act 20:28 says 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].

c.) Rahab was changed from a "Harlot" to a "Hero").

Eph 2:12 says That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, [having no hope], and without God in the world:

Eph 2:13 [But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ].

d.) She was also allowed into the family of God BY FAITH.

Luk 7:50 says And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Eph 2:8 says For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Heb 11:31 says By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

Jas 2:25 says Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? (Rahab's works came after she believed just as every child of God) She did not work to get her faith.

III.) Grandma Ruth: (Book Of Ruth)

Mat 1:5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and [Booz begat Obed of Ruth]; and Obed begat Jesse;

a.) Ruth represents the DOCTRINE OF GRACE. (In Typology)

Rth 1:16 says And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

Rth 1:17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

b.) She moved to Bethlehem(House of Bread) from Moab(The Trashcan).

Mic 5:2 says But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Mic 5:3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.

Joh 6:33 says For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

Joh 6:34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

c.) Boaz(Type of God) gave her everything she could ever want.

Eph 2:7 says That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

d.) She went from poverty to riches because of God's amazing "Grace".

1Pe 2:3 says If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

1Pe 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

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.

{GRACE IS THE UNDESERVED FAVOR OF GOD}.

Eph 2:4 says But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

By that same "Grace" am I saved! By that same "Grace" are we all saved that call upon Jesus!

IV.) Grandma Bathsheba:

Mat 1:6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king [begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;]

2Sa 11:3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

2Sa 12:24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.

a.) Bathsheba represents the DOCTRINE OF FORGIVENESS.(In Typology)

b.) She conceived with King David while her husband was in the war.

2Sa 11:4 says And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.

2Sa 11:5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.

c.) She became an honorable woman as her son Solomon wrote.

Pro 31:10 says Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

d.) She is the perfect picture of forgiveness.

Act 5:30 says The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

Act 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Col 1:14 says In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Eph 1:7 says In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Mic 7:18 says Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

**********WE WOULD HAVE TO BE BLIND TO NOT SEE THAT EVEN IN THE "BEGATS" GOD HAS REVEALED TO US HIS MESSAGE OF SALVATION.

1.) We are all sinners! [Tamar]

2.) We must all have faith! [Rahab]

3.) Only through God's "Grace" can we be saved! [Ruth]

4.) When we repent, we will be forgiven! [Bathsheba]

Matthew clearly omitted some of the male names in his list. We can see it was intentional and not because of his ignorance.

*****Our Text:

Mat 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Mat 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

Mat 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Mat 1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

Mat 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Mat 1:24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

Mat 1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Matthew 1:16-18 make it very clear that the birth of Jesus was different than that of any other Jewish boy that had ever lived. Matthew points out that Joseph did not begat Jesus but that he was only the husband of Mary of whom Jesus was born.

Here Matthew adds, "who is called Christ".

Christ is the Greek word for "The Anointed" which in Hebrew would be intended the "Jewish Messiah".

The Doctrine of the Virgin Birth states that Jesus was born of an earthly mother without the need of an earthly father.

The Bible says:

Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; [Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son], and shall call his name Immanuel.

and:

Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and [between thy seed and her seed]; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

and:

Jer 31:22 How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? [for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man].

It is in Jesus that these things were fulfilled.

Every child that is born into the world is a new creature but Jesus being the eternal God existed before Mary and Joseph or any other of His ancestors:

The Apostle John added these words:

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

*****Our Text:

Mat 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Mat 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Mat 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Mat 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

Mat 2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

Mat 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

The Days of Herod:

This was Herod the Great. Herod was not a Jew at least not a full blooded Jew. Herod was an Idumaean a descendant of Esau.

The Bible says:

Gen 27:39 And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;

Gen 27:40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and [shalt serve thy brother]; and [it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck].

Gen 27:41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

I believe we can see that the prophesy of Isaac was fulfilled in this time of the Herods. Herod was a cruel and crafty man. He did not permit anyone, even his own family, to interfere with his rule. We can be sure he was influenced by Satan and nothing would permit him in the satisfying of his evil desires. He was a ruthless murderer who had slain a wife and two brothers because he suspected them of treason. He truly broke the rule of the Jews over Edom during his rule. He hated the Jews, the very people he ruled. It is no surprise for him to try to kill Jesus.

These wise men, Magi, were pagan astrologers from far to the East. We get our word "Magic" from this word "Magi". We must remember why these men had come to Israel and Jerusalem. "Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?"

It is probable that there were more than just three of them.

They came to Worship the Christ Child!

It is assumed by most people that there were only three of these men because of the three gifts that are mentioned. The Bible does not say. We can be sure of one thing, when this caravan arrived in Jerusalem it did cause a great commotion. We should believe that it would take more than three wise men to cause such a commotion in Israel. Herod was troubled and all of Jerusalem. Herod would not be so troubled by a small group of foreigners.

These men were Gentiles. From the beginning Jesus came to be savior to all the world!

The Bible says:

Joh 4:42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: [for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world].

It seems that most Jew have never agreed with that.

If you follow the light of God, God's Creation, you will find yourself at the feet of Jesus either being a volunteer or against your own will, but all knees will bow to Christ Jesus in time!

Rom 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

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:

Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Because it is in Christ Jesus that:

Col 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

and:

Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

That's Father, Son and Holy Ghost!

1.) These wise men were seeking a King.

2.) Herod was opposing the King.

3.) The children of Israel were ignoring the King.

We can see from verse 3 and 4 that these chief priests and scribes were well aware of the prophesies of the Messiah. They did not have to research for the answers. They had them memorized.

The Bible says:

Mic 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

The wise men did not know this and God sent a star to guide them to the very home of Jesus.

The High Priests and Scholars of Israel were five miles or less from the Messiah and would not even go and see Him.

We can see that Herod took notice immediately at the mention of another King..

By now Joseph had moved Mary from the stable where Jesus was born to a house:

Luk 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Mat 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Baby Jesus was at least one year old at this time but no more than two.

Bethlehem means "House of Bread". At this very place we are witness to the "Bread of Life".

The Bible says:

Joh 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

Joh 6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

Joh 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Joh 6:48 I am that bread of life.

This Herod died in 4BC according to history. That would make baby Jesus to be born sometime between 6BC and 5BC.

As we begin our study into the Book of Matthew we will see that the fulness of time had come and the Savior of the World was born that He might die for all our sin.

Let's Pray!

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!