Bible

Editor’s Note:  It seems fitting today as we continue to celebrate the independence of God’s People from Egyptian slavery–the Exodus–on America’s Independence Day, July 4.  We can only imagine that million-voice choir singing in that great celebration we read about last week in Exodus 15.  That celebration continued for many days. Happy Independence Day to everyone in America who is seeing this today! 

Continuing our “Getting Started Bible” with Part 2 of the Book of Exodus, chapters 19 through 29. 

Last week we opened this book with Part 1, intending to finish the book today in Part 2, however, these reading sessions are intended to be relatively short.  To that end, we will cover Exodus in three parts with Part 2 today, and Part 3 next week.

_________________________________________________________

Exodus—Part 2

Chapter 19. Sinai Agreement

Third month after the Red Sea crossing, the Sinai Desert:

• At Mount Sinai, the Mountain of the Lord, Moses goes up;
• Through Moses, God offers Israel a new Agreement;
• He asks Israel for their love, loyalty, and obedience;
• If they agree, God will prefer Israel above every nation in the world: They will be His Chosen People;
• Israel accepts the proposed Agreement;
• This mountain is holy–the people cannot touch the holy mountain unless invited, under penalty of death;
• God seals the Agreement at Mt. Sinai in thunder, lightning, fire, smoke, earth tremors, loud trumpet sounds;
• Fearful of God, the people consecrate themselves, pledge to abide by the Agreement.

Chapter 20. Requirements

The top ten of God’s requirements to which they agree:

• I am God who rescued you: I am to be your only God;
• You shall not make, nor worship, any idol;
• Do not disrespect the name of the Lord your God;
• Keep the Sabbath day holy;
• Honor your parents;
• Do not commit murder;
• Do not commit adultery;
• Do not steal;
• Do not commit perjury;
• Do not covet anything your neighbor has;
• The ‘fear of God’ is established in the people by his demonstration of power at the Holy Mountain;
• The people ask Moses to be their representative with God;
• The practice of ‘giving’ and making ‘offerings’ to God is established with the burning of ‘sacrificial’ animals.

Chapter 21. Judgments

God gives Moses many laws and rules for the people:

• Requirements concerning contracts for Hebrew servants;
• Death penalty for murder, attacking parents, kidnapping;
• Penalty for inflicting serious injuries: Life for life, eye for an eye, wound for wound, others;
• Death for animals causing death; penalties for injuring animals.

Chapter 22. Property

Issues of personal property rights:

• Treatment of thieves, restitution system;
• Treatment of animal injuries, theft, misuse;
• Behavioral responsibilities:  Sexual issues, idolatry, hospitality, financial issues, honesty, integrity, diet.

Chapter 23. Justice

God says be a good citizen, worship Him only:

• Stand for what is right, do not follow a crowd in doing wrong;
• Treat all people with equal justice;
• Plant, harvest crops for six years, let land rest on seventh;
• Work six days, rest on seventh;
• Follow God only, none other;
• Celebrate three festivals per year: Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Harvest, Feast of Ingathering;
• God will provide a guardian angel to lead them;
• They will conquer all the tribes of the land of Canaan;
• Worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; no foreign gods;
• They will own the land from the Red Sea to the Euphrates River.

Chapter 24. Back to the Mountain

Moses and Aaron go back up the mountain:

• Moses is told to approach the Lord, write down the laws;
• Everyone agrees to follow the commandments;
• Seventy elders are allowed on the mountain;
• Moses is given the laws to write on tablets of stone;
• Moses stays on the mountain forty days and nights.

Chapter 25. Furnishings

Moses receives instructions for the Tabernacle furnishings:

• Materials are to be given by the people as directed by Moses;
• God gives Moses the plans for the Tabernacle/furnishings;
• Inside the Tabernacle: The Ark of the Covenant, the Mercy Seat, the Table, the Candlestick (Lampstand), the Altar of Incense, the Veil, or curtain, separates the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies;
• Furnishings are solid gold or wood overlaid with gold;
• God will meet with the Israelites above the Ark, between the cherubim, in the Holy of Holies, inside the Tabernacle.

Chapter 26. Worship Center

Moses receives plans and specifications for building the Tabernacle;  

• The Courtyard:  A rectangular space: 150 feet long by 75 feet wide, enclosed by a fence 7.5 feet high, decorated in gold, with brass posts holding ornate curtains, gold trim; a 30 feet wide gate is in the center of the east end wall;
• The Altar of Sacrifice: 7.5 feet square by 4.5 feet high, bronze covered wood, located inside the Courtyard, near the entry gate;
• The Laver: A large bronze water bowl for the priests to wash before offering sacrifices and before entering the Tabernacle, located just outside the Tabernacle;
• The Table and covering: Holds the Shewbread, located inside the Tabernacle along the north wall;
• Tabernacle, or Holy Place: Made of vertical wood board side walls, gold overlaid, 15 feet high, set in silver sockets, a tent roof; located inside the Courtyard, near the west end;
• Inside the Tabernacle are two special spaces: 
  • The Holy Place, 30 feet by 15 feet by 15 feet high;
  • The Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies), 15 feet by 15 feet by 15 feet high, adjacent to the west end of the Holy Place;
• Inside the Holy Place: Table, Altar of Incense, the Candlestick;
• Inside the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies): the Ark of the Covenant, the Mercy Seat, the two cherubim;
• The Ark of the Covenant: a small chest, 2 feet by 2 feet by 4 feet long; contains: stone tablets of the ten commandments, a bowl of Manna, Aaron’s rod; (Chap. 4;)
• The Veil, or curtain: fine linen tapestry between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies;
• The lid, or top of the Ark is the Mercy Seat; attached to each end of the Mercy Seat are the two cherubim, with wings spread, facing the center, looking upon the Ark.

Chapter 27. Ritual

More details given to Moses:

• The Altar of Sacrifice: About 7.5 feet square by 4.5 feet high, to be inside the Courtyard near the entry gate;
• Made of wood, bronze covered, poles on two sides for carrying;
• Purpose of the Altar: the place for burning sacrificial animals as offerings to God;
• Olive oil is burned in the lamps all night, every night;
• Aaron and his sons keep the lamps burning.

Chapter 28. Priesthood

The Priesthood is created: Aaron, his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar are the first Priests, Levites.

• Special priestly garments are ordered to be made;
• Priests are to wear these special garments into the Holy Place.

Chapter 29. Consecration

God has a physical presence in Israel. The Priesthood is consecrated:

• Aaron and his four sons are to be the Priests;
• They are to wear the special garments;
• Loaves of unleavened bread are baked;
• A perfect young bull is sacrificed as a sin offering;
• Two perfect rams sacrificed: one a burnt offering to the Lord; the other cooked and eaten by Aaron and sons;
• Consecration ceremony lasts seven days; Each day a bull, and two lambs are sacrificed, along with bread and drink offerings;
• The Lord will meet with them each day at The Holy Place. 

END OF EXODUS—PART 2