Chapter 17

Please read Exodus, chapters 34-40.

These chapters allow us to see how it became practically possible for sinful people to experience fellowship with a most Holy God. What about the mass-congregation? Well, they too were heavily involved. Let’s read about them.

Exodus 35:20-29 “Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses’ presence.”

They now had work to do! See their change of attitude.

v.21 “and everyone WHO WAS WILLING AND WHOSE HEART MOVED HIM

came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the Tent of Meeting,

for all its service, and for the sacred garments.”

These were the people who knew the art of grumbling, who had danced in merriment around an idol-god, a manmade golden calf.

v.22 “ALL WHO WERE WILLING, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds; brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the Lord”.

It was more than a mood change. There was change in the hearts.

v.23 “Everyone who had blue, purple or scarlet yarn, or fine linen, or goat hair,

ram skins dyed red or hides of sea cows brought them.”

Now there were numbers of grateful, loving hearts.

v.24 “Those presenting an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to the Lord, and every one who had acacia wood for any part of the work brought it.

When they did not have gold, silver or bronze, they may have some acacia wood. But that also, they BROUGHT IT.

v.25 “Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had

spun – blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen”.

They did what they could and they gave what they had.

v.26 “And all the women WHO WERE WILLING and had the skill spun the

goat hair.”

They did not have blue, purple or scarlet yearn or fine linen; it was only goat hair; they were willing to give their time and spin that.

v.27 “The leaders brought onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the

ephod and breastplate (Exodus 39)”.

Exodus 40:19 “Then he (Moses) spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering over the tent, as the Lord commanded him.”

It all seems a little complicated. It is not. Here we need to exercise some sanctified common sense. Please feel free to read this verse like this: ‘ Moses spread the Tent (of Meeting) over the tabernacle (contents) and put the

covering (for the tabernacle) over the tent. A precious illustration of what has happened to me. My heart is now the tent of meeting where God meets me, Person to person. That tent of meeting is covered, top, sides and front, completely covered by a tabernacle of God’s glorious, forgiving grace and righteousness. Dear Lord, please lead me, teach me to daily be in that tent of meeting.

The seven chapters are filled with God’s instructions as to how His tabernacle should be built and used. The craftsmen, ordained by God, were inspired by His blue prints. But not everybody was a God ordained crafts-man. What about the mass of the congregation? We did already read about them. The God ordained crafts-men could not have functioned, the work would never have been completed to God’s satisfaction if the congregation had not functioned properly. Read again what they did! What does God expect from our congregations today? Not essentially gold or silver or a lesser thing than that. His desire is for loving, faithful, willing hearts, primarily giving themselves first and after that giving back to Him those things He has given first.

Here are two things we need to notice. They are important for everybody who does not only want to know God. Important for everybody who wants to walk with God. That walk requires devotion to God. Always admiring God’s holiness, His righteousness, His love and grace, His matchless wisdom and His power without limit. God desires devotion from all who know Him and want to walk with Him.

Secondly, God desires obedience in His people. They need to acknowledge His wisdom and His holy will. He desires of His people that they, in obedience, walk under the umbrella of His almighty power and wisdom.

Let us summarize and close with these verses:

Exodus 36:4 “So all the skilled craftsmen, who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work

v.5 and said to Moses ‘The people are bringing more than enough for the work the Lord commanded to be done’ “.

Exodus 39:42,43 “The Israelites (craftsmen with congregation) had done all the work ‘just as the Lord had commanded Moses’. Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses blest them.”

The prayer on my heart is that my readers may turn to the God of the Bible or

get to know Him better. Please do not get overly involved with the people of

Israel, but primarily do get to know the God of the Bible. May He lead all of us

to be a devoted and obedient congregation of His people.

Amen.

H.C.Kalkman.

Chapter 16

Please read Exodus, chapter 34.

Exodus 34:1 “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.”

A thousand times Israel may break the laws that, twice, God wrote in stone. Yet, those laws were in force until they had been fulfilled in full. A Jew, by the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the son of Mary, the son of man, spoke these words:

Matthew 5:17 “Do NOT think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have NOT come to abolish them but to FULFILL them.

v.18 “ I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law, UNTIL EVERYTHING IS ACCOMPLISHED.”

There never was one other Jew who could accomplish the whole of the Law in full. The Man Jesus Christ, He could and He did.

I do not like repeating. But now I must. For ages many who are now the Church of the Lord Jesus have been misled. When I was still young my parents and I were attending a church; morning and evening, Every Sunday, the pastor would begin the service by reading out the Ten Commandments. Hundreds of pastors would do the same. Their congregations never learned the truth. Many Christians became confused. In our youth group we had a couple of teen-age sisters. Much against the ideas of their dad they were present, every week. In their home you would not find a single photo. Dad would not allow for that. He was taught to observe the Law of God, given to Israel, through Moses, ‘You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything’ (Exodus 20:3). My dear mother was not allowed to do any knitting on Sunday, because she was to remember the Sabbath day’ and had ‘six days for labor and do all her work’ (Exodus 20:8). A dear elderly man was the blacksmith in the township His relatives lived in a nearby town. On Saturday afternoon he would step on his push-bike to go and visit them. In the evening, halfway back home, in the distance, he could hear the large town clock, twelve o’clock midnight. The good man was sure to step off his bike, to walk the other halfway home. Twelve o’clock midnight meant the Sabbath had begun and you must not do any work on the Sabbath day (Exodus 20:8). As far as heaven is from earth so large is the difference between the seventh day and the first day of our week, Saturday the Jewish Sabbath and the Lord’s Day, our Sunday.

God never, ever gave those commandments to any one else but the nation of Israel (Psalm 147:19,20). Israel was hideously rebellious. The Lord never expected them not to vandalize His commandments. They were meant to convict them of their sinfulness. But Israel used them as a yardstick of their imagined righteousness

While the Lord and Moses had a face to face conversation, while the pillar of cloud stood at the entrance of the tent, the Israelites stood at the entrances of their tents and . . . worshipped (v.10). Their repentance had been profound! God’s very serious judgment had been effective and now His anger, once again gave way to loving grace in forgiveness. Sin had been atoned for, to facilitate reconciliation. Israel’s most Holy God would now again communicate with His people.

Chapter 15

Please read Exodus, chapter 33.

Exodus 33:1 “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham,. Isaac and Jacob, saying, I will give it to your descendants.”

A grossly rebellious, failing people, and a gracious, faithful God! Hundreds of years ago He promised on oath and He did not, does not forget.

v.3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But . . . I will not go up with you, because you are a stiff necked people, and I might destroy you on the way.”

An alarming message! Moses may have been surprised and distressed. Once in the past, this same God had told him: ”I have indeed seen, I have heard, I am concerned, so I have come down” (Exodus 3:7,8).

And now ‘I will not go up with you. I might destroy you on the way.”.

God’s judgment on His people had been carried out; three thousand dead in one day; than a plague. But their condition called for more than judgment. It was claiming repentance.

v.4 “When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments.

True repentance is inwardly earnest, outwardly effective.

v.5 “For the Lord had said to Moses, ‘Tell the Israelites you are a stiff necked people. If I were to go with you, even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments, and I will decide what to do with you.’ “

v.6 “So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb.”

‘I will decide what to do with you’.

Those were the words of the Lord. To Moses He said: ’the people YOU have led up out of Egypt’. The remaining part of this chapter tells us what the Lord decided to do with this people

Exodus 33:7 “Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the ‘tent of meeting’.”

The Lord had promised that He would dwell amongst His people, in a tabernacle. Once a year only the High Priest would be allowed to enter that section called the Holy of Holies, and that not without blood. That happened on what was called ‘the great day of atonement’.

But at the ‘tent of meeting’ there was freedom to enter for anyone who wished to inquire of the Lord.

‘Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the ‘tent of meeting’ outside the camp.’

The Lord was not pleased with the nation, yet He desired to be found by any one of them who would seek Him. He would have His goodness and grace available to all. God’s most wonderful, loving grace The God of the Bible.

Exodus 33: 9 “As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses.”

Now see a little more about honest repentance.

Exodus 33: 10 “When ever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshipped, each at the entrance of his tent.”

Reverently they stood, willingly identifying with their Almighty Leader and His humble, trusted servant.

Exodus 33:11 “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.”

It happened in ‘the tent of meeting’, outside the camp, some distance away.

God has been meeting with men on battlefields, in busy hospitals and noisy barracks, in the homes of the rich and the poor. When ever, wherever He speaks to you, will you listen and respond?

Now hear some words of the conversation, coming from the heart of Moses:

Exodus 33:13 “If You (Lord) are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with You. Remember that this nation is Your people.”

Remember? In his younger life Moses had murdered an Egyptian. Then, for forty years, he was alone with his God in the desert, looking after sheep. Now, alone with God, in the Tent of Meeting, he may speak ‘face to face’ with God. And still prays: ”so I may know You and continue to find favour with You”

It will take a lifetime to learn and know Him and it will take the rest of my days as well.

v.14 “The Lord replied: ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”’

The eternal God, the God of glory, face to face with me, a sinful, failing Christian. Yes, oh yes, and there is still more than that! I hear Him say to me: ’I will give you rest.’( Matthew 11:28).

v.15 “Then Moses said to Him, ‘if Your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.

v.16 How will anyone know that You are pleased with me and with your people unless You go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth.’ “

What here was the concern in the heart of Moses? Was it about himself? Was it about the people? I think not! The heart of Moses was concerned about the glory of God! The God Who in a mighty and miraculous way had delivered this people out of Egypt. Would the world around begin thinking that He is not a reliable God? Would the nations say: ’The God of Israel surely is not stronger than any of our gods. He is just as unfaithful as our idol-gods.’ That was the concern in the heart of Moses. Glory to God! It also must be of the first importance in our attitudes and actions today.

Exodus 33:17 “And the Lord said to Moses: ’I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you, and I know you by name.’ “

v.18 “Then Moses said: ’Now show me Your glory.’ “

v.19 “And the Lord said: ’I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim My Name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion’.”

v.20 “But” He said “You cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live.”

Once Moses had covered his face because he was afraid to look at God (page 3). Now, after a long way of walking with God, Moses desires to see the glory of God How good, how gracious the God of Moses. Seeing the immensity, the light of His glory would have been more than blinding. It would have been destructive. But Moses was precious to the heart of God because the heart of God is mercy and compassion. There is enough for everyone who seeks Him for a Person to person meeting. Today seeking Him offers a precious promise. We find it in the New Testament:

1 John 3 :1-3.

v.2 “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

v.3 Everyone who has this hope IN HIM, purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

Are you one of the children of God? Are you sure that He will appear and that you will be like Him, and see Him as He is? One day, those only who have met Him at the Cross of Jesus, will be with Him, in the great tent of meeting, our Father’s house in Heaven

Exodus 33:21 “Then the Lord said,’ there is a place near Me where you may stand on a rock.

v.22 When My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.

Not unless, at the Cross of Jesus, we have seen part of God’s glory, shall we ever see the fullness. But to the praise and glory of His holy Name His mighty hand will cover all who will, at the Cross of Jesus, acknowledge that forgiving, compassionate glory of God. Until we see Him, face to face.

v.23 “Then I will remove My hand, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”

When Moses passed away, left this earthly body behind in a grave, God did remove His hand and Moses was allowed to meet Him face to face. Forever he is at home in His Father’s house.

Chapter 15

Please read Exodus, chapter 32.

This is a sad, disappointing chapter. It show us the early end to Israel’s repeated promises ‘We will do, we will obey’.

On top of the mountain, hidden in fire and smoke, the finger of God wrote the Ten Commandments, engraved in stone. Before Israel could set sight on them they trespassed, sinned grievously.

Exodus 32:1 “When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said: ‘Come, and make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses, who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him’”

Israel would have been truthful if only they had said: ’All the Lord has spoken we will not do, we will not obey.’ Now they are telling Aaron that they will place their trust and confidence in a man made god. It was the mirror image of a world wanting to do without God. It was degradation at its peak. ‘Make us gods’. Making themselves available to worship handcrafted idols. Oh, the sad delusion of things that may be touched and seen, gratifying and satisfying human senses.

It is FAITH alone that does see things not yet seen. Things we may know with absolute assurance, things we learn from the authority of God’s Word, our Bible, things that the God of the Bible is sharing with us. How true it is and how sad that the world’s delusions can conquer the servants of God.

He was an outstanding Bible teacher. His sermon delivery was excellent. His congregation loved him. One day, in the church office, he saw his secretary and soon he began an affair with her. What he saw he touched and before long he left his wife behind, lost his job and went off with his new love. Possible? Fact! He chose and decided to please his old, sinful Adam nature and not to have his new, divine Jesus nature out rule it.

Exodus 32:2 “Aaron answered them, ‘Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing and bring them to me.’ “

Aaron, Who called you into His service? Who ordained you to be the High Priest of the nation? What are you doing? Allowing your self to be dictated to by rebellious people? Only God has the privilege of dictating you! There and then Aaron decided. Did not wait one moment. Did not want to know the will of God. Worked without waiting in prayer.

Exodus 32:3 “So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron.”

Eagerly they anticipated the exchange. They would turn away from the only true and living God, the God Who is such a loving and faithful Father. They now would place their trust in a dead lump of gold, worship a lifeless idol,

carved by human hands. Has there ever been a truer image of human stupidity, of man’s sinful intent and attitude? Please have a good look and see if you can recognize the futility of life lived without the eternal, most Holy and loving God, Who is the God of the Bible. The heavenly, eternal realities denied, traded for temporal, deceiving, earthly dust.

‘Make us gods!’ Politicians, scientists, sports people, financiers, orators, musicians, make us gods. Gods we may touch, we wish to see them, to worship them. Five, ten or twenty years or later those gods will still be dead, turning into dust. Be honest with self, is your joy and trust in such gods?

Exodus 32:4 “And he (Aaron) took what they handed him and made it into an idol, cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said: ‘These are your gods, o Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt’.

Confidently they confirmed their own choice. Deaf to truth and blind to reality they blundered on.

Exodus 32:5 “When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced” ’tomorrow will be a festival to the Lord.’ “

‘A festival’’. The evil falseness of it all! A festival! That will stop them from grumbling. ‘To the Lord’. That will settle their worries! Bring in the appearance of authenticity. In our world today how often does the Bible show in the hands of a man who decidedly does not want God to speak? How often does a cross have to serve as a good luck charm? In the windscreen of a car or on a woman’s half naked breast. And still, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who died a horrendous death, on a rough wooden cross, He remains patient, waiting for the repentance of man.

Exodus 32:6 “So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”

This verse allows us a succinct portrayal of our world with millions of religious people, who have no relationship with God. Rising early, Israel was keen to insult God with their offerings. Could burnt offerings and fellowship offerings make Him feel welcome to their revelry? Or, why should we need Him in our schools or parliaments or in the meetings of the world’s powerful men. It happened at the base of Mount Horeb on that day, is happening in this world this day.

Exodus 32:7 “THEN THE LORD said to Moses:’ Go down, because YOUR people, whom YOU brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt.

v.8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘these are your gods, o Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”

Yes, then the Lord! The one Who is the everlasting, always all seeing Lord. He was there when they came to Aaron with their demands, when, under the

pressure, Aaron caved in, God was there when they decided to get up early to begin their insults. He was there, but most certainly not with them when they

brought their idol their offerings. He was there and allowed them to do their own things. Why were they not wiped out on the spot? Well, please remember, God had made promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! In those promises God had spoken about ‘eternal’ and ‘everlasting’. Israel could never, will never be able to bend the holy character of God. Neither can you or I. Does He then wipe sins under the carpet? No, most certainly not! His holy righteousness will never, ever allow that. But God, as it were, moves away from fellowship with His people. To Moses He said: ‘ Go down to your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt.’

Exodus 32:9 “’I have seen these people’ the Lord said to Moses, ‘and they are a stiff-necked people.

v.10 Now leave Me alone so that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.’ “

Oh, the righteous anger of a holy God. It came to peace and compassion when one man prayed.

Exodus 32:11 “ BUT MOSES sought the favor of the Lord, His God. ‘O Lord’ he said, ‘why should your anger burn against YOUR people, whom YOU brought up out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?

v.12 Why should the Egyptians say ‘It was with evil intent that He brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them of the face of the earth. Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on YOUR people.

v.13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’ “

Do you remember Abraham, one man who pleaded for the cities of Sodom and Gomorah and how the angels from heaven were sent to rescue Lot from that terrible disaster? Moses was another such a praying man.

Do you know why God is not judging this wicked world right now? Tens of thousands are praying for human souls who may be struck by His judgment. Do you know someone who is praying for you?

Exodus 32:14 “Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.”

The most holy God, flaming in righteousness, in merciful grace He relented and so answered his servant’s prayer.

Exodus 32:15 “Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back.

v.16 The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God,

engraved on the tablets.”

It has been mentioned already; it is worth repeating. The finger of God engraved in stone the death warranty for every Israelite who could not fulfil all God’s commands. Apart from the Lord Jesus Christ not one other Jew ever could. Those commands never applied to non-Jews (Psalm 147:19,20). Today Jews and non-Jews may be saved for all eternity, not by laws, but by FAITH in GRACE.

Exodus 32:19 “When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain.

Back and front those tablets had displayed the holy Law, engraved by the finger of God. And now they are portraying the sinful attitude of a rebellious, God dishonouring people. In their indulgent revelry they are faced with the pieces of the Covenant they had broken, at the foot of the mountain.

Exodus 32:20 “And he (Moses) took the calf they had made and burned it in the fire; then ground it to powder, scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it.”

He made them to drink that water and so they must identify with the god they had chosen for themselves. That god had been burnt in the fire and grounded into dust. That god could never ever offer any ground for hope. That has happened and will happen to every idol we may fancy, because there is only one true God, the God of the Bible. I am so very, very grateful, that God is my Father in Heaven. What about you?

Exodus 32:26 “So he (Moses) stood at the entrance to the camp and said: ’Who ever is for the Lord, come to me.’ And all the Levites rallied to him.”

The Levites were the clergy of Israel. Apparently they did have nothing to do with the revelry around the golden calf. They were glad to make their stand with their God appointed leader. Who was the real leader?

Exodus 32:27 “Then he (Moses) said to them: ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbour.’ “

v.28 “The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand people died

v.29 Then he (Moses) said :’You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers and He (God) has blessed you this day.’ “

On that day, a day of terrible bloodshed, not Moses, but God had been their leader. The God Who will always act in righteous judgment. Righteous in that day and righteous in the Judgment still to come.

Do you find it difficult to believe that God would bless the men who, in one day, killed about three thousand people, who were their brothers, friends and neighbours? Well, would you mind, starting again at the beginning of these

Glimpses in Exodus? Come with me again to that then country of Egypt? There let’s look around and see Israelites slaving in the brick pits. See them harassed and driven by slave masters. Look into their eyes and notice their hundreds of years of hopelessness. Hear them crying out to the God of heaven. See them in that night, when there was sorrow and death in every house in Egypt but the joy of God’s presence in every house in Israel. When, twice, on dry ground, they walked between two walls of water, their God safely leading them to the other side. See and hear them there, singing, praising, bringing glory to their God. Hear them grumbling, their protests until they saw water coming out of a rock and meat falling out of the air. See their food, Manna, day after day, enough for every man, woman and child. Hear their snooty claims: ‘ Every thing the Lord has said, we will do! We will obey!’ And then, hear the heart-rending cries of their revelry while they dance around, a man shaped, golden idol. Do you hear them? ‘THIS is the god who brought us up, out of Egypt.’ They were looking for trouble, inviting righteous judgment, from a holy God. It has never been different. All humans love something they may see and touch. Have it here and have it now, but ‘it’ is always temporal. When death comes ‘it’ will not go with them into eternity! But surely, God’s judgment will! To them it came in more than one way.

Exodus 32:33 “The Lord replied to Moses, ’Who ever has sinned against me I will blot out of My book’

v.34 “Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and My angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for Me to punish, I will punish them for their sin

v.35 And the Lord struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made.”

What does the God of the Bible teach us? “You may be sure that your sin will find you out “(Numbers 32:23).

It will not go under the carpet. Holiness demands that sin must be dealt with; dealt with righteously, either in forgiveness or in judgment.