Bible Pathways - January 25, 2006
January 25, 2006
Read Exodus 23
In Today's
Laws instituted; three feasts which must be kept; the Angel of the Lord promised for a guide; instructions for Tabernacle furnishings
The Israelites were commanded: Serve the LORD your God (Exodus 23:25). This was followed by 14 blessings which God promised them for their obedience. Included was the assurance: I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out (23:31). Then came a warning concerning the Canaanites: Thou shalt make no covenant (agreement) with them, nor with their gods (23:32). All of the people responded, saying: All the words which the LORD hath said will we do (24:3).
God alone determines what is acceptable conduct as well as acceptable worship to Him. Therefore, He gave Moses detailed instructions for building and furnishing the Tabernacle where He would accept the worship of His people.
The Tabernacle provided a way for the Israelites to maintain a right relationship with God and a place for them to worship Him. But, most importantly, it was a place for the invisible presence of God to dwell among His people In outward appearance, covered with rams' skins (26:14), it was unattractive, like Jesus, of whom Isaiah prophesied: He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him (Isaiah 53:2). However, like Jesus, the Tabernacle was the only place on earth where God met with His people.
The court of the Tabernacle was a rectangular enclosure with only one entrance through which mankind could approach God (Exodus 26:36; 27:16-18). This illustrates what our Lord Jesus declared: I am The Door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved (John 10:9). Its white linen wall of separation was symbolic of the holiness of God and excluded all Gentiles (those without a covenant relationship with God). Consequently, they could not so much as look over the curtain fence to observe what was going on inside the courtyard or even come near it, or they would be put to death (Numbers 1:51). This linen curtain illustrates that sin has separated the natural man from the Holy Presence of God.
The Bible says: The Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. . . . Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:17,29).
Christ Revealed:
As the Ark of the Covenant (Testimony). The wood demonstrates His humanity; the gold overlay His deity. Only through His blood sprinkled on it could one receive forgiveness. God dwelt above the Mercy Seat (Exodus 25:10-22). Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the
Word Studies:
23:2 decline after many = yield to the evil majority; 23:8 gift = bribe; 23:13 be circumspect = take heed, be cautious; 23:31 sea of the Philistines =
Prayer Needs:
Pray for The International Shortwave Radio Broadcast in honor of Bonnie Wilhite · Staff: Kenneth Roy Roberts III · Government Officials: Sen. Conrad Burns (MT) and Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ) · Country: French Guiana (168,000) on the northern coast of South America · Major language: French · Religious freedom · 88% Protestant · Prayer Suggestion: Remember that one of the purposes of prayer is to glorify God (Psalm 115:1).
Optional
Memory Verse for the Week: Colossians 1:15
