BIBLE READING: Exodus 34

I was blessed with a large group of Christian friends in high school. When many our age were doing dumb things together, I didn’t feel to pressure to conform because I had friends like me. But over time some of my friends started spending more time with others who didn’t have the same spiritual values. They would go to the parties and engage in the things that, at one time, we would have agreed were wrong. I remember confronting one of my friends about this, to which he replied, “If I’m going to influence them, I’ve got to be with them.” At the time the sentiment made sense, but the results told a different story. Over time, my friend became more like them, and his spiritual convictions dwindled.

It is natural for people to assimilate with those around them. It’s Dinah going to see the people of the land (Genesis 34.1-4) or Judah ‘shearing his sheep’ with the Adullamite (Genesis 38.1-ff; 12-ff). The naïve are curious and intrigued by the acceptable practices of the world, which later become a snare in their lives. Biblical and secular history proves it is more common for an individual to be altered by the crowd than vise versa. And while relatability is important to believers, it must not be at the expense of loyalty.

As YHWH restates his promise and judgment against the Canaanites (Exodus 3.8; 13.5; 23.23; 33.2; cf. Genesis 15.18-21), he warns Israel plainly: Don’t become like the people (Exodus 34.12, 15). But YHWH doesn’t stop there. He commands Israel to destroy their gods: “Tear down the altars, break their pillars, cut down their Asherim (for you shall worship no other god…)” (Exodus 34.13). Whatever affinity Israel might find from the locals will corrupt them for future generations. But more importantly, they do not belong to these lifeless things. YHWH, the Living God, is a jealous God, and rightfully so. He secured their freedom as a demonstration of his love and commitment. Israel must not allow any occasion for divided loyalties. They must destroy the idols.

As we journey through this life, we will be distracted and drawn by many things. People, pleasures and pursuits offer much value in establishing our identities; but they are worthless if they draw us from God. He is our life. God doesn’t expect us to destroy others but to bring down their gods by “destroying arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God” (2 Corinthians 10.5). This is no small task that will involve ridicule and rejection (1 Peter 4.1-6; 2 Peter 3.3-6). But we have been bought with a price and empowered to serve the Living God with totality. We must destroy the idols that captivate our attention. Hence why Jesus would call people to such extreme measures (Matthew 5.29-32; 19.21). This is the calling of holiness. Tear down the idols and serve God alone.

BIBLE READING: Exodus 32

“And Aaron said, “Let not the anger of my lord burn hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. For they said to me, ‘Make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So, they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”” (Exodus 32.22-24)

I wonder what Moses’ face looked like as Aaron tried to spin this story. When called out, Aaron crafted an absurd story about this calf magically coming from the fire. Surely, he didn’t think Moses was buying this story… did he?

Many of us have had these moments. We realized we’ve done wrong, but we’re afraid to take responsibility and face the consequences. So, we make up stories in our minds and pass them along as truths to save face. This is always motivated by self-preservation and fear. But if we were honest with ourselves, we would see that we are just covering up the disappointment of our choices.

The fact is, Aaron knew this was wrong. He didn’t even try to argue with Moses about the calf he made. It was a direct violation of the first commandment (Exodus 20.3-6). But he wasn’t just guilty in this matter; Aaron was responsible for the people’s behavior. Moses left Aaron in charge (Exodus 24.14), and he had failed. At that point Moses didn’t try to reason with him. Aaron was clearly not dealing with the facts. Moses took action to control the people and bring the truth to light. Moses is a powerful contrast to Aaron as he dealt directly with their sin but also pled for mercy from God (Exodus 32.25-32). In Moses, we see what a life lived in relationship with God looks like. It not only seeks the best for others, but it does so with in compassion, mercy, and holiness.

A couple of lessons to learn from this episode:

• We must deal with reality. It’s much easier to pretend we’re victims or leave out events that paint us negatively. But our sins will always come to light (1 Timothy 5.24).  Accept responsibility for your choices and those in your sphere of influence. This is fundamental to stewardship. God gives with expectation, and so we must not obscure what is real.
• We must not make excuses. There will always be reasons for not doing the right thing, but frankly, they don’t matter. Wrong choices are never in our best interest and worse they dishonor God. We cannot be satisfied with circumstantial morality. We cannot convince ourselves that conformity is the only option. We cannot allow peer pressure to dictate our behavior. If we are people of God, empowered by his Spirit and the gospel, excuses are nothing more than a failure to trust God.

We are responsible for our behavior and our influence, and God will call us to account for both.

BIBLE READING: Exodus 28-29

As YHWH outlines the activities necessary to prepare the people for worship, he also makes emphatic commitments to this covenant:

“It shall be a regular burnt offering throughout your generations at the entrance of the tent of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet with you, to speak to you there. There I will meet with the people of Israel, and it shall be sanctified by my glory. I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar. Aaron also and his sons I will consecrate to serve me as priests. I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.” (Exodus 29.42-46)

Five times YHWH explicitly says “I will” to emphasize certainty in what they can expect from him.

1. YHWH will meet with Israel (2X). The very presence of the tabernacle communicated YHWH’s interest in helping them. It is called ‘the tent of meeting’ to emphasize it as a definite location where they could expect to find instruction and mercy from YHWH. But this was no ordinary place of meeting, but was a place of holiness because…
2. YHWH will consecrate the tent of meeting and altar. It is not the people’s decision to make this place holy; it is YHWH’s presence there. He has promised to sanctify it with his glory as they proceed in obedience according to the pattern shown. Furthermore…  
3. YHWH will consecrate Aaron and his sons. He chose them from among the people, a great privilege, not based on their goodness but simply YHWH’s calling. We must observe that God is doing the work of setting them apart. They are going through the processes, but it is his holiness and prerogative that allows it to happen. It is the only way that…
4. YHWH will dwell among the people. When the people YHWH has called purify themselves and engage worship according to holiness, YHWH will settle with them.

As the section concludes, YHWH is emphatic about his identity in relation to them. YHWH is the LORD their GOD. This personalized identification is subtle but profound. Why would the Creator of the universe identify himself in relation to these people? Because He wants all people to know their purpose and his desire. He made us in His image to be in relationship with our Him and at peace.

As Paul reflected on this passage (2 Corinthians 6.16-18), he would say, “since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7.1). We simply cannot experience the blessing of God’s presence if we are impure or unholy. And so, our daily pursuit must be the purification of our souls by obedience to the truth (1 Peter 1.22). When we obey, we are consecrated and prepared to meet God as he desires, and we were intended to do.

BIBLE READING: Exodus 25-27

The following chapters outline YHWH’s design for the tabernacle. He is detailed and meticulous in his instructions, but we must observe that it begins with an opportunity to give.

“Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats’ hair, tanned rams’ skins, goatskins, acacia wood, oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece.” (Exodus 25.2-7)

This is no simple list of everyday items one might expect from desert dwellers. Gold, silver and other metals must be mined with the help of implements. Various colored yarns were typically made using a complex process of extracting color from marine shells. The skins and wood required tools and effort to prepare them. These would have been the most expensive possessions the people owned, and, given their circumstances in the wilderness, it seems likely these items were plundered from the Egyptians themselves (Exodus 12.35-36). In other words, Israel had been given everything YHWH asked for. Now, as he institutes worship, he invites them to offer these things to him.   

It is evident they cannot worship properly without doing this, but YHWH does not demand every person give. Instead, those who would give willingly, from the heart, should contribute. This passage sets a pattern for worship that has always characterized biblical religion. Although God could provide anything ever needed for his purposes, he asks his people to serve him willingly. This provides an opportunity to remember what we had been given and from whom we have received it.

Paul would echo this sentiment in 2 Corinthians 9.7: “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion for God loves a cheerful giver.” In this passage, the collection is not for a physical house, but for the spiritual house – God’s people. Just like Israel, we should not be stingy with our possessions but recognize that “God is able to make all grace abound to you” (2 Corinthians 9.8). This doesn’t mean we will always have abundance, but it does mean we trust God gives us exactly what we need. What God asks of us is never wrong or domineering, but a testing and refining to make us more like him.

God asked for these things so the people could make a place for him to dwell among them (Exodus 25.8). In other words, their choice to give would bless them with a greater experience of YHWH’s presence and providence. In the same we, as we learn to give willingly, we begin to experience and understand the heart of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2.20).

BIBLE READING: Exodus 20-23

The marginalized hold a special place in the heart of YHWH. In the law He gives specific commands regarding treatment of slaves, widows, the fatherless, poor and sojourners. By nature of their circumstances, these people receive the least amount of help, justice and attention. But YHWH sees them, and in his new nation He expects His people to serve them. It is not simply because YHWH is a philanthropist who enjoys being a beneficiary, but because it is the right thing to do. Every person, made in His image, should experience the hope of justice and mercy because that is his prevailing nature.

This reality has been obscured by sinful pride and selfishness but must not be so among God’s people. In fact, it should have been a primary concern to Israel given their recent past. YHWH saw them in their oppression and did not ignore their needs (Exodus 2.23-25). As they moved forward in liberty and hope, they must allow their past to shape them in humility and love.

“You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt… You know the heart of a sojourner…” (Exodus 22.21; 23.9)

Much of the law reflected what YHWH had done for Israel, so it should have been taken personally. But beyond just the personal application, YHWH wanted them to understand it was simply the right thing to do. It is not right to take advantage of the less fortunate. It is not right to oppress others for personal gain. It is not right to have plenty and not share it with others. If we are fulfilling our role in the image of God, we must be in-tune with the needs of others and the ability we have to serve. With power and position comes expectation because that is the image in which we are created.

The world regards these things as noble, but God reveals them as right. The distinction must be firm in our minds because activities of justice and mercy are not subject to our choice. “What does the LORD require but to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6.8; [Matthew 9.13]). In fact, this should be a primary concern as the redeemed people of God. We communicate the gospel in how we treat the socially marginalized. That is because we were slaves to our former passions that destroyed our lives. We were poor, needy and helpless. Paul’s words to the Corinthians echo YHWH’s message to Israel: “such were some of you!” (1 Corinthians 6.11). The gospel compels us to remember our degenerate condition and intentionally reflect towards others the mercy shown to us (Matthew 18.21-35; Ephesians 2.1-10). This is the right thing to do.

We are given much liberty to live as we choose. But if we are YHWH’s people, the marginalized will have a special place in our heart. By his grace we have been redeemed to be messengers of hope, justice and mercy because that is his prevailing nature.