Maybe you wake up to another day, just trying to get through. You’re tired, maybe even grieving something you have lost, and the last thing you think about is giving God your best. In fact, you have very little to offer Him.
“The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give. 3 These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; 4 blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; 5 ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather; acacia wood; 6 olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; 7 and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. 8 “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. 9 Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.” (Exodus 25 v 1-9)
Look at the list again.
Gold, silver and bronze, blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.
I left out an interesting item. Can you see it?
Goat hair.
Right in the middle of all those precious, costly items is something far less impressive: goat hair.
God asked them to bring whatever their hearts prompted them to give. Everyone could be involved, whatever they had to offer.
Two things stand out to me here.
Where had they gained the gold, silver and clothing? They had brought them from Egypt (Exodus 12:35–36), when the Egyptians gave them these things as God’s people prepared to leave.
Pause a moment.
The very things they carried out of their years of slavery became materials for God’s dwelling place. What they brought out of Egypt would now be used in building a place where God would dwell among them.
Secondly, where did God choose to dwell with them? In the middle of the wilderness, while their future was still uncertain.
He didn’t wait until they reached the Promised Land, when everything was settled. He chose to dwell among them in the dust, the uncertainty, and the long journey.
That still encourages us today.
This is the point.
You may feel you have little to offer God. Perhaps all you have to bring today feels more like goat hair than gold. Bring it anyway. God has a purpose for what we offer Him, even when it seems small or insignificant to us. You may think you have nothing to bring, YOU is not enough. Well, it is, so bring YOU, whatever the state YOU are in.
Perhaps today you know what it is to be alone. What I mean is, you have had to say goodbye to someone, perhaps permanently or for a season, whatever length; now it’s just you, the landscape looks different today.
“Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. 14 He said to the elders, ‘Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.’ 15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud. 17 To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. 18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.” (Exodus 24 v 13-18)
Moses left the elders behind, and Aaron and Hur would handle any disputes. Even Joshua could come only part of the way.
Sometimes, you have to step away from others for a time. Maybe this lonely place will become the place you meet God most deeply.
Is today another one of those days when God isn’t saying anything to you? You have lost the voices of your friends and even your closest, and now even God is silent. Hold on; this could be the six days. The seventh is coming.
Then comes the remarkable revelation. “To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire.” From the bottom of the mountain, the cloud of glory looked like danger. From a distance, people may look at you and see what you are going through as something that could destroy you. But they can’t see what God is doing inside the cloud.
On the night before the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you” (John 17:1). The glory looked like an excruciating cross, and it was. On earth it was shame and agony. But from God’s perspective, it glorified Him.
What you’re walking through may look like fire right now. It may feel like a cross. But in God’s hands, the pain can become the place where His glory is revealed.
How long will this last? This is a genuine question for those in this season. Moses stayed. “Forty days and forty nights.” Elijah walked forty days and nights to that same mountain (1 Kings 19:8). Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness. We all want the hard season over as soon as possible. Sometimes it lasts a while.
So if you’re in the cloud today, stay. Don’t fear. The cloud is not where God abandons you. It’s where He will speak.
Some mornings you wake and everything has changed. Everything that was solid has now given way.
If that’s you today, these verses are for you. They remind you that when the ground gives way, there is higher ground for you.
“Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” 9 Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up 10 and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky. 11 But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.” (Exodus 24 v 8-11)
Seventy-four flawed people climbed a mountain, and they found a God who “did not raise his hand against” them, even though they saw Him.
Scripture is clear that no one can see God’s face and live (Exodus 33:20). They survived for one reason: the blood of the covenant had just been sprinkled over them.
When life collapses, it’s easy to assume God has turned against us. That this is punishment well-deserved. But for us, a far greater blood has been shed. Whatever today feels like, the cross of Christ tells you plainly: God is not against you.
Remember, God walks on higher ground. You may not know how you will take another step. Your ground may have given way, but His has not. The One who walks on the sky is not shaken by what has shaken you.
God prepares a meal, isn’t this amazing?: “they ate and drank.” On the very mountain they had feared, God set a table. What are you fearing? What are you grieving? What have you lost? David would know this later: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (Psalm 23:5).
So come as you are. However you would describe yourself today. There’s a table for the broken, for you. One day, what they glimpsed, you will see in full: “They will see his face” (Revelation 22:4).
Before Moses vanished into the cloud on Sinai, something happened at the foot of the mountain that shows how God makes a covenant with people who cannot keep it.
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to worship at a distance, 2 but Moses alone is to approach the Lord; the others must not come near. And the people may not come up with him.” 3 When Moses went and told the people all the Lord’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, “Everything the Lord has said we will do.” 4 Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said. He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the Lord. 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed against the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.” 8 Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” (Exodus 24 v 1-8)
1. At Sinai, Israel promised with one voice to obey everything the Lord had said, yet within weeks they were dancing around a golden calf.
We do the same. We make sincere commitments at the altar on Sunday, and we often break them by midweek. Our failures do not surprise God, and they should not drive us away from Him.
2. The covenant was never sealed by their promise but by the blood, half splashed on the altar and half sprinkled on the people.
Your standing with God does not rise and fall with your spiritual performance this week. When guilt tells you that you have blown it again, point it to the blood, which has already satisfied God and has been applied to you.
3. Fifteen hundred years later, Jesus lifted a cup and said, “This is my blood of the covenant,” and now our hope holds not because we hold on, but because the blood holds.
The next time you take Communion, come to receive what He has already done. Rest your weight on His faithfulness, and let obedience grow out of gratitude rather than fear.
Exodus 24 is one of the most remarkable chapters in the Old Testament:-
* The elders see the God of Israel and eat and drink in His presence.
* The glory of the Lord settles on Sinai like a consuming fire.
* Moses disappears into the cloud for forty days and forty nights.
Before that, though, something happens at the foot of the mountain among ordinary people. The people read the covenant aloud and promise to obey. Then Moses takes the sacrifice’s blood and sprinkles it over the crowd.
We usually read this scene from a distance, as spectators. So this time, instead of commenting on it, I want to step into the crowd. What follows is an imagined story, but one faithful to the text, about an ordinary boy standing at the foot of the mountain on a day that was anything but ordinary.
First we read the chapter.
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to worship at a distance, 2 but Moses alone is to approach the Lord; the others must not come near. And the people may not come up with him.” 3 When Moses went and told the people all the Lord’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, “Everything the Lord has said we will do.” 4 Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said. He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the Lord. 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed against the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.” 8 Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” 9 Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up 10 and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky. 11 But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank. 12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.” 13 Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. 14 He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.” 15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud. 17 To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. 18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.” (Exodus 24)
A story.
It was not an ordinary day. But I am just an ordinary boy.
I didn’t fully understand everything, but our leader was in a season of amazing revelations from God, and they all took place on the special mountain.
He began to read instructions to us, which I can only categorise as IF, DO NOT, and MUST. Much of it didn’t apply to me directly; I was already doing some of it, but I was failing in what mattered, which deeply concerned me, even though I joined in unison, saying, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” That night I did not sleep, as I grew increasingly guilty and worried I would never meet the requirements.
The next morning, I awoke burdened by the shame of saying I would obey when I knew how impossible it would be for me. If I were in a court of law, I would be guilty as charged right then and there. Then it happened; it was amazing. Outside, we saw our leader had built an altar at the foot of the special mountain.
Animals were being killed, and their blood was divided into 2 parts; one went onto the altar and the other into large bowls.
Our leader repeated what he had said the day before, but this time he read it carefully from the book. Again, we all joined together and said “we will obey,” and again, I felt guilt and shame.
Just then, our leader began to sprinkle blood all over the crowd. And then it happened.
It was just one drop of blood.
It hit my forehead and ran down my face.
At first, it numbed me; then it was like a transfusion of new thoughts.
I no longer felt the raw shame and guilt.
I began to feel clean. I began to strangely feel forgiven.
Like, it was okay; it would all be okay. As if this life was possible. I could do this life because of the blood. So long as I had the blood of the sacrifice on me and the rest on the altar, then I would have peace between God and me.
I was just an ordinary boy, but this was no ordinary day.
Walking back home, determined not to wash off the bloodstain, I began to wish everyone could experience what I had done.
I wondered if the blood would still be sprinkled in 1500 years’ time. I wondered whether, in 3500 years’ time, ordinary people like me would still receive the blood of cleansing and forgiveness as I had that day. I hoped so.
Some things in our lives can’t be managed. They have to be thrown out. As Israel stood on the edge of the Promised Land, God made them extraordinary promises, but all of it came with one clear condition. The gods of the land weren’t to be tolerated or negotiated with; they were to be demolished.
“Do not bow down before their gods or worship them or follow their practices. You must demolish them and break their sacred stones to pieces. 25 Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, 26 and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full lifespan. 27 “I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run. 28 I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way. 29 But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. 30 Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land. 31 “I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the desert to the Euphrates River. I will give into your hands the people who live in the land, and you will drive them out before you. 32 Do not make a covenant with them or with their gods. 33 Do not let them live in your land or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare to you.” (Exodus 23 v 24-33)
You cannot fully worship the Lord while keeping a shrine to something else in the corner of the field. That’s why “Do not bow down before their gods or worship them or follow their practices. You must demolish them and break their sacred stones to pieces” and “Worship the Lord your God” go hand in hand
Israel were called to be His exclusively.
Sadly, Israel made room for the idols of the other nations. By the time of Judges, the angel of the Lord was warning that the nations they had spared would become traps and their gods snares (Judges 2:3). What they refused to break eventually broke them.
Today idols have simply changed shape. Anything we trust for security or comfort in place of God is a sacred stone standing in our land.
So what should we do? Stop negotiating with what God has told us to remove. And give our worship, undivided, to the Lord who goes ahead of us.
Christ did not die to share His throne with our idols.
Are you wondering if it will ever happen? Maybe that is the question the Israelites asked as they faced their future.
God tells them what He would do and how He would do it.
“Do not bow down before their gods or worship them or follow their practices. You must demolish them and break their sacred stones to pieces. 25 Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, 26 and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span. 27 “I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run. 28 I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way. 29 But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. 30 Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land. 31 “I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the desert to the Euphrates River. I will give into your hands the people who live in the land, and you will drive them out before you. 32 Do not make a covenant with them or with their gods. 33 Do not let them live in your land or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare to you.” (Exodus 23 v 24-33)
Sometimes we hold on to a promise bigger than our imagination. This is what the Israelites were told to do. They were told to believe they could enter and take the enemy cities that God had promised them. God tells them what He will do.
He will bless their bread and their water.
He will take sickness from among them.
He will give them a full lifespan.
He will send His terror ahead of them, so that enemies turn and run before a sword is drawn.
He will send the hornet ahead to clear the way.
These are wonderful promises, and today, with our modern minds, we ask impatiently, “When?” Perhaps they did too, because God answers before they ask.
“I will not drive them out in a single year.” Why not? Wouldn’t faster be better? God explains: the land would become desolate and the wild animals would multiply.
“Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.”
This is how God still works in His people. We often want deliverance immediately.
More often, He moves little by little, not only clearing ground, but growing us to occupy it.
From the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, from the desert to the Euphrates.
He goes ahead of us. He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6).
“My angel will go ahead of you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites, and I will wipe them out.” (Exodus 23 v 23)
Eventually, if you follow this blog, we will read about the enemies of God’s people.
Here are six of them: settled, strong nations vehemently opposed to the Israelites and their God.
God knows every enemy, every obstacle, and everything that opposes your destiny.
These ancient nations were not immovable; they, along with whatever stands in your way, are subject to God’s word.
Before the list of enemies comes the promise of presence: “My angel will go ahead of you.” The Angel of the Lord, the Son of God, would walk the road first. He would arrive at every battlefield before they did.
He still does.
Oh, and He knows the result before they begin. “I will wipe them out.”
God doesn’t ask us to be strong enough; sometimes He just tells us to follow Him.
What are you afraid of?
He is ahead of you already. He is in your tomorrow, and He wins.
Going on from yesterday’s message, we see that listening to ‘him’ is the same as obeying God. This is the angel of the Lord, the Son of God.
“If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you.” (Exodus 23 v 22)
This beautiful ancient promise remains relevant today.
What was He saying?
If you truly heed his voice and obey everything I command, I will stand against your enemies and fight those who fight you.
What was He saying?
Listen closely to him and walk in all I tell you, and your battles become mine: whoever sets themselves against you will find me set against them.
What was He saying?
Pay careful attention to his word and keep all that I have spoken; then your enemies will be my enemies, and your adversaries my adversaries.
What was He saying?
When you hang on his every word and live out all I ask of you, you will never stand alone, because I will take your side against all who rise against you.
What was He saying?
Hear him well, obey me fully, and I will oppose all who oppose you.
Do you wonder about tomorrow? Are you concerned about what it will bring? Remember the old church song — Because He lives, I can face tomorrow? I am thinking of this as I write this blog this morning.
“See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. 21 Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him.” Exodus 23 v 20-21.
Isn’t it comforting to know you are not going it alone? God says here that He is sending an angel to guard you and bring you through, and all we have to do is pay attention, listen to him, and obey.
But who is this angel?
Angels generally refuse worship and point away from themselves. This one is spoken of in terms that belong to God alone. Israel must obey his voice. Most striking of all, God says, “My Name is in him.” In Scripture, God’s Name is His very self, His character and His presence. This angel does not merely carry a message from God. He carries God.
This is why many think the angel here is actually the Angel of the Lord, a pre-incarnate appearance of the Son. Both Isaiah (63:9) and Paul (1 Corinthians 10:4) believed in the theophany of the Son of God.
Interestingly, His role is “to bring you to the place I have prepared,” and Jesus said, “I am going there to prepare a place for you… I will come back and take you to be with me” (John 14:2–3). The angel of Exodus brings Israel to “the place I have prepared.” Jesus brings His people to the place He has prepared.
You do not do life alone. Christ goes ahead of you, and because you follow Him, you pay attention to Him and obey Him.
The question for today, then, is not only “Is He with me?” but “Am I listening to Him?”
