Exodus 33-35

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Even though God is going forward with his plan, the Golden Calf incident was damaging.  Go back to Exodus 19

 “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine,  you  will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

God is still going to fulfill the unconditional Covenant he made with Abraham in Genesis 15,  BUT when God put the asterisk on the Covenant with the “IF“, well that’s damaged.  Now only one tribe will be the priesthood and set apart.  Which one?  The ONLY one that stood with Moses yesterday.  Levites (Tribe Levi).  (Ok, if you lived in my head you would run!  So if each tribe had a “class shirt” with a tribe logo….theirs would have the Minecraft Swords on them…between avenging Dinah’s rape in Shechem and the 3,000 at Mt. Sinia…)  Focus Szymanski….

Chapter 33 is one of my favorites by far:

• ¹¹ The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. 
• ¹³ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. 
• “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here”. 
• And by far my favorite:²¹ Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. ²² When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. ²³ Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”  

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Breaking God’s Covenant resulted in the Israelites’ separation from fellowship with Him. It did not terminate their relationship with Him, but it did hinder their fellowship with Him.  Yesterday God was leading them, now he says in verse 2 that He will still fulfill the plan but an Angel will lead them.  (“Go to your room, I love you, but if I see your face I might kill you”, ever have that moment with someone??)  The tent of meeting is set up outside the camp showing the distance that has been caused between God and his people.   The people immediately repent (agree with God that it is wrong and obey) by willingly giving up the “ornaments” that they had used in the rebellion.

You know I don’t talk application BUT think about how serious God takes the 2nd Commandment.  Search your heart.

So Moses is freaking out because until now he just followed God’s lead.  So he meets with God in the tent and pleads with him.  Like one friend to another:

Moses begs for God to pour into him since God won’t be leading.  I LOVE when Moses says “Remember”.  Not sure if you picked up on it, he does it all the time.  As if God needs reminding!  But it is obvious how God loves the intimate relationships and communications.

Then Moses says “Nope! I will not do this!  It is too big!  If you are not going I am not going”….and God says “Ok, I will go” in Verse 17.

Thank Heavens!!

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Chapter 34:  It’s a Big one…read?

¹⁰ Then the Lord said: “I am making a covenant with you.  (He makes them a checklist) 

✅. Do not make a treaty with them.

✅Break down their places of pagan worship 

✅ Do not worship any other god

✅Do not make a treaty with them (repeats!)

✅Do no marry their daughter!

^✅ “Do not make any idols.

^✅“Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread.

✅ Dedicate the firstborn to me

✅ Do not come empty-handed

✅ Honor the Sabbath

✅ Commemorate 3 mandatory festivals and follow the rules of them

✅ Do not mix pagan cultures with ours (goat/milk)

✅“Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.

That’s not a horrible list. He is not asking much.  How many of them do you think they violate?  All of them.

Chapter 35-Materials of the Tabernacle.  When you get to reads like this and find yourself skimming, click the “listen button”.  It might help you hear a pattern or hear something you might have missed.  Try it. Click here for Ch 35

Look for all the small details that just a few weeks ago you would not have picked up on.  The fact that all the yarn is scarlet.  The wood is acacia.  The festivals.  If you have not been able to read every day and have some questions, just ask.  We will fill you in ❤.

(Question:  What did you think about Moses’ face radiating? Do you feel like that this year? ❤️  You may not be able to see it, but others will. 😉)