Devotions

unified diversity

Posted on November 15, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

Exodus 36:8-13

⁸ And all the experts among the workers constructed the tabernacle with ten curtains. They were made of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns, with cherubim woven in by a designer.⁹ The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains were the same size.¹⁰ He joined five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he joined to one another.¹¹ He made loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain of the first set. Likewise he made them on the edge of the outermost curtain of the second set.¹² He made fifty loops on the one curtain, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was in the second set. The loops were opposite one another.¹³ And he made fifty clasps of gold, and joined the curtains one to the other with clasps. So the tabernacle was a single whole.

unified diversity

The various fabrics, substances and parts of the tabernacle were all perfect just as they were, but they were meant to be put together into a unified whole. The diversity of the tabernacle was at once a reflection of the diversity of this world, and the diversity of the tribes of Israel. The construction of the tabernacle into one “single whole” was to demonstrate the one creator of the diverse creation, and the one Father God of a diverse family-nation. The skill of the experts called to construct the tabernacle was partly the skill of taking all these various materials and producing a whole that was greater than the sum of the parts – a holy place befitting a holy God.

The New Testament speaks of diversity and unity as well. There are many members in the church, but it is one body.[1] Each member has been given a different gift or gifts, for the glory of one Lord and the good of the body as a whole.[2] As the place where the presence of God dwells among humans, the fellowship of gospel preaching believers is designed to be a masterpiece, which takes diverse elements and puts them together for a unified purpose.

LORD, teach us how to demonstrate the glory of your perfect unity amid our diversity.

[1] Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-20.

[2] Romans 12:3; 1 Corinthians 3:10; 12:7; Ephesians 4:7.

Posted in church, divisions, fellowship, unity | Tagged Exodus 36 | 1 Comment

much more than enough

Posted on November 14, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

Exodus 35:30-36:7

³⁰ Then Moses told the people of Israel, “Look, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;³¹ and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with understanding, with knowledge, and with all kinds of work,³² to plan with precision, to work in gold and silver and bronze,³³ in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft.³⁴ And he has put it in his heart to teach, also Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan.³⁵ He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver – by any sort of workman or skilled designer. ^36:1 “Bezalel and Oholiab should work in accordance with all that the LORD has commanded along with every craftsman in whom the LORD has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary.”² And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the LORD had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work.³ And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning,⁴ so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing,⁵ and said to Moses, “The people are bringing much more than enough for doing the work that the LORD has commanded us to do.”⁶ So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing,⁷ because the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.

much more than enough

The tabernacle project leapt upon the blueprints of these master artisans and skilled workers. They were skilled not only in producing a finished product, but also in thinking the thoughts necessary for it to come together. Having more than enough of the raw materials to work with was not wasteful, because it enabled them to choose only the best for the project. So, when they were satisfied that they could produce a masterpiece with what was given, they asked the people to stop giving.

The LORD has provided the raw materials for you and me to build a home for himself in our lives as well. His Holy Spirit has taken up residence within every born-again Christian, and is all set to do the work. He knows those raw materials well:

his grace, which turns our weaknesses into his power made perfect,[1]
his word, which corrects our ignorance and sinful ways,[2]
his love, which enables us to stay connected to him while he changes us.[3]

Remove any of those raw materials and the project will be stalled. Fortunately, the LORD puts us into communities where there is much more than enough of those raw materials for the master craftsmen to work with. But often we turn our backs on those communities – those churches. Life in churches is messy, but that is where the finished product is going to come from. The LORD did not call Bezalel and Oholiab to go away into some perfect place to produce the holy place. He commanded them to produce it there, in the wilderness, from gifts given by the Israelites themselves.

LORD, we surrender our will to you, we will not resist the community of faith that you have brought us into. Instead, we will give freely of the abundant gifts you have given us, so that your word, your grace and your love can change us all into a building fit for your presence.

[1] 2 Corinthians 12:5, 9.

[2] 2 Timothy 3:16.

[3] John 15:10; 1 John 4:12.

Posted in church, consideration of others, holiness, ministry, spiritual gifts | Tagged Exodus 35, Exodus 36 | 1 Comment

everyone who could

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

Exodus 35:20-29

²⁰ Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.²¹ And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, bringing the LORD’s contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments.²² So they came, both men and women. All who had an inclined heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, all kinds of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the LORD.²³ And every one who possessed blue or purple or scarlet yarns or fine linen or goats’ hair or tanned rams’ skins or goatskins brought them.²⁴ Everyone who could make a contribution of silver or bronze brought it as the LORD’s contribution. And every one who possessed acacia wood of any use in the work brought it.²⁵ And every skillful woman spun with her hands, and they all brought what they had spun in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen.²⁶ All the women whose hearts stirred them to use their skill spun the goats’ hair.²⁷ And the leaders brought onyx stones and other stones to be set, for the ephod and for the sacred pouch,²⁸ and spices and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense.²⁹ All the men and women, the sons of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the LORD had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the LORD.

everyone who could

Construction of the tabernacle would be the work of those with specialized skill and calling. But the raw materials and the constructed and collected elements of the tabernacle could be given by anyone in the camp. It was an equal opportunity project. Everyone who had been given a gift fit for this symbol of the LORD’s presence brought that gift and contributed it as a freewill offering to the work.

Today, the LORD is doing a special building project among his people themselves. He uses a similar means of ministering to the world. He gives gifts to men and women, and inclines the hearts of those gifted to contribute those gifts to his work. What would the church look like today if the ministry was not left to a few professionals, but everyone who could – would?

LORD, incline our hearts to share the gifts you have given us for the building up of the whole church.

Posted in church, spiritual gifts | Tagged Exodus 35 | 1 Comment

responding to elaborate grace

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

Exodus 35:4-19

⁴ Moses told all the congregation of the people of Israel, “This reflects what the LORD has commanded.⁵ Take from among yourselves a contribution to the LORD. Whoever has an inclined heart, let him bring the LORD’s contribution: gold, silver, and bronze;⁶ blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; goats’ hair,⁷ tanned rams’ skins, and goatskins; acacia wood,⁸ oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense,⁹ and onyx stones and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the sacred pouch.¹⁰ “Let every skillful craftsman among you come and make all that the LORD has commanded:¹¹ the tabernacle, its tent and its covering, its hooks and its frames, its bars, its pillars, and its bases;¹² the ark with its poles, the mercy seat, and the veil of the screen;¹³ the table with its poles and all its utensils, and the face bread;¹⁴ the lampstand also for the light, with its utensils and its lamps, and the oil for the light;¹⁵ and the altar of incense, with its poles, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle;¹⁶ the altar of burnt offering, with its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its utensils, the basin and its stand;¹⁷ the drapes of the court, its pillars and its bases, and the screen for the gate of the court;¹⁸ the pegs of the tabernacle and the pegs of the court, and their cords;¹⁹ the finely worked garments for serving in the Holy Place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests.”

responding to elaborate grace

Moses continues to explain every aspect of the ten words that are written on the covenant tablets. The practical outworking of the commands relating to their relationship with God[1] includes the tabernacle worship. So, Moses explains how these wandering Israelites can show their devotion to God in that context.

1. It took willing hearts. Although the requirements for the tabernacle were precise and specified, no one was singled out and commanded to give. These contributions had to come from those who were moved by the Holy Spirit.

2. It took reciprocal love. The LORD challenged those who feared him most to love him. They needed to renew their minds, so that they could respond to his grace rather than his judgment. This event was right after one of the most vile of transgressions committed by the Israelites as a whole: the golden calf incident. It took faith and courage to respond to the LORD in love.

3. It took elaborate worship. The service in the tabernacle was an amazing and complicated spectacle. Each item of furniture and each garment of the attending priests was a teaching tool. It is right and proper to respond to elaborate grace with elaborate worship.

LORD, thank you for your elaborate grace. Teach us how to worship you in ways that reflect your love and grace, and befit your awesomeness.

[1] particularly Exodus 20:2-7.

Posted in giving, love, ministry, worship | Tagged Exodus 35 | 1 Comment

sacred rest

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

Exodus 35:1-3

¹ Moses assembled all the congregation of the sons of Israel and said to them, “These are the words that reflect what the LORD has commanded you to do.² Work should be done for six days, but on the seventh day you should have a Sabbath of sacred rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it should be put to death.³ You should kindle no fire in all your homes on the Sabbath day.”

sacred rest

Believers in Christ are under no obligation to cease working one day a week. Neither this command, nor the death penalty associated with it are repeated in the New Testament as an obligation for Christians. Instead, the apostles allowed those who wished to hold a Sabbath to do so, but told them not to insist that others do so.[1]

But the principle of the Sabbath is not one that anyone should overlook. The LORD rescued the Israelites from painful and humiliating labor as slaves in Egypt. He commanded them to celebrate that rescue by ceasing to labor one day a week. That one day of rest is to be a sacred time, one in which the redeemed reflect upon the grace and mercy of their redeemer.

Setting aside time to reflect upon our deliverance and honor the One who redeemed us from slavery to sin is a good idea for anyone at any time.

LORD, thank you for rescuing us from bondage to a cruel taskmaster.

[1] Romans 14:5-6.

Posted in Sabbath, Sabbath keeping, worship | Tagged Exodus 35 | 1 Comment

intently gazing on the glory

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

Exodus 34:27-35

²⁷ And the LORD told Moses, “Rewrite these words, because these words show that I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.”²⁸ So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.²⁹ When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.³⁰ Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.³¹ But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them.³² Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them everything that the LORD had told him in Mount Sinai.³³ And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.³⁴ Whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded,³⁵ the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

intently gazing on the glory

The Israelites initially saw Moses’ face and were rightly afraid. Moses used the veil from that time onward, until the glow faded. He removed it every time he returned to the meeting tent to talk with God again. The veil was not to protect Moses, but to protect the people from the consequences of intently gazing on the glory of the LORD as a rebellious, stiff necked people.[1] It was a reminder that the covenant and the relationship it governs is not quite what it could have been.

How different is what Paul says about new covenant believers. He says “we all, with unveiled faces are continuously reflecting the glory of the Lord, and being transformed into that same image from one level of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”[2] Like Moses, we can remove our veils, because our meeting tent time is continuous. But unlike Moses, our glow is not fading away, because we can intently gaze upon the glory of God from now on.

LORD, we want your presence – not occasionally, but perpetually.

[1] see Scott J. Hafemann, Paul, Moses, and the History of Israel. (London: Paternoster, 2005).

[2] 2 Corinthians 3:18.

Posted in discipleship, Moses, prayer, relationship with God, witness | Tagged Exodus 34 | 1 Comment

retrying the covenant

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

Exodus 34:10-26

¹⁰ And he said, “See, I am making a covenant. In front of all your people I will do miracles, such as have not been done in all the land or in any nation. And all the people among whom you reside will see the work of the LORD, for it is an terrifying thing that I will do with you.¹¹ “Observe what I command you this day. See, I will remove from you the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.¹² Be careful not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you are going, or else it will become a trap in your middle of your camp.¹³ You should tear down their altars and break their sacred pillars and cut down their Asherim¹⁴ (because you should worship no other god, because the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),¹⁵ because when you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and when they lust after their gods and sacrifice to their gods and you are invited, you eat of his sacrifice,¹⁶ and you take of their daughters for your sons, and their daughters lust after their gods and make your sons lust after their gods.¹⁷ “You should not make for yourself any gods out of cast metal.¹⁸ “You should keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Seven days you should eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month Abib, because in the month Abib you came out from Egypt.¹⁹ All that open the womb are mine, all your male livestock, the firstborn of cow and sheep.²⁰ The firstborn of a donkey you should redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you should break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you should redeem. And none should appear before me empty-handed.²¹ “Six days you should work, but on the seventh day you should rest. In plowing time and in harvest you should rest.²² You should observe the Feast of Weeks, the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the year’s end.²³ Three times in the year should all your males appear before the LORD God, the God of Israel.²⁴ Because I will remove nations from around you and enlarge your borders; so no one will seek your land, when you go up to appear before the LORD your God three times in the year.²⁵ “You should not offer the blood of my sacrifice with anything leavened, or let the sacrifice of the Feast of the Passover remain until the morning.²⁶ You should bring the best of the firstfruits from your soil into the house of the LORD your God. You should not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.”

retrying the covenant

Moses had asked the LORD to retry the covenant – the one that had not even been ratified before the Israelites broke it with a frenzy of uncontrolled idolatry. The LORD consented to retry the relationship. But he also warned that the temptation to rebel and lust after other gods would remain among the Israelites.

The LORD could have “zapped” the Israelites and forced them to never think about betraying him. But he chose not to. He wanted a real relationship, based on shared trust and mutual responsibility. He did not want puppets he could manipulate to his own liking, nor did he want his people manipulating him. A mutual covenant between God and his people was the LORD’s idea. It still is.

So, the sovereignty/freedom paradox continues to this day. God is in control of everything, and we are responsible to him. The Bible teaches both truths. Trusting God does not require our figuring that paradox out.

LORD, we surrender to your new covenant through Christ. Thank you for drawing us to yourself.

Posted in relationship with God, responsibility, sovereignty of God | Tagged Exodus 34 | 1 Comment

renewal plea

Posted on November 8, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

Exodus 34:1-9

¹The LORD told Moses, “Cut yourself two stone tablets like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.² Be ready by the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and station yourself there for me on the top of the mountain.³ No one should come up with you, and let no one be seen anywhere on the mountain. Let no flocks or herds graze opposite that mountain.”⁴ So Moses cut two stone tablets like the first. And he got up early in the morning and climbed Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand two stone tablets .⁵ The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.⁶ The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,⁷ keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”⁸ And Moses instantly bowed his head toward the ground and worshiped.⁹ And he said, “If now I have found grace in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord walk among us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”

renewal plea

Moses sought a renewal of the covenant originally planned. The LORD had created an opportunity for Moses to seek that renewal, and Moses was ready. The LORD had reminded Moses of his forgiveness and unfailing grace and mercy. So, Moses naturally asked that the original contract be restored and that the Lord walk among his people as before. If this had never happened, there would not have been a conquest of the promised land.

In our lives today, we should expect events to unfold which have the potential to open new opportunities for us to draw closer to the LORD. Rather than just accept our forgiveness as “done deal” and going on with our lives as if the LORD has no other use for us, we should strive for a closer walk. His mercies are new every morning, so we should seek that renewal. I’m not talking about a single “second blessing” of empowerment or sanctification. I’m talking about a constant refilling and cleansing that comes from the Lord walking among us. That is the kind of life we can live in Christ.

LORD, come to us again, and renew and restore us daily.

Posted in dependence upon God, discipleship, renewal | Tagged Exodus 34 | 1 Comment

wanting more

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

Exodus 33:18-23

¹⁸ Moses said, “Please show me your glory.”¹⁹ And he said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will show grace to whom I will show grace, and will show mercy to whom I will show mercy.²⁰ But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for a man should not see me and live.”²¹ And the LORD said, “See, there is a place by me where you should stand on the rock,²² and while my glory passes by I will put you in a crevice of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.²³ Then I will take away my hand, and you should see my back, but my face should not be seen.”

wanting more

Moses and some of the Israelite elders had already seen God from a distance.[1] But no one had ever seen God face to face. Since Moses was now privy to one-on-one time with God as a mediator for the Israelites, he enjoyed fellowship with his almighty creator. Anyone who has ever experienced this naturally wants more. So, Moses boldly asked for a glimpse of the LORD’s cheeks.

But (as is his privilege) the LORD said no. The LORD had a plan to make his presence known through the visible entrance of his only Son.[2] Until then, his people will have to settle with other ways of him revealing himself to them:

He will display his goodness.
He will proclaim his name.
He will show grace (unmerited love) to some.
He will manifest mercy (unmerited forgiveness) to some.

So, Moses did not get his prayer answered directly that day. Instead, the LORD arranged a glimpse under controlled conditions. It was a taste of what is to come. Moses would have to be content to see a poor reflection of his God.[3] One day all Israel would see him face to face. One day we will too.

LORD, we accept the temporary limits you set for our relationship with you. But we, like Moses, long to see you face to face.

[1] Exodus 24:10.

[2] John 1:18.

[3] 1 Corinthians 13:12.

Posted in faith, Jesus Christ, Moses, relationship with God | Tagged Exodus 33 | 1 Comment

a prayer to be different

Posted on November 6, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

Exodus 33:12-17

¹² Moses told the LORD, “See, you told me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in my sight.’¹³ Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now how you do things, so that I may know you in order to find grace in your sight. Consider that this nation is also your people.”¹⁴ And he said, “My face will go with you, and I will give you rest.”¹⁵ And he said to him, “If your face will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.¹⁶ For how should it be known that I have found grace in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are different, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the land?”¹⁷ And the LORD said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found grace in my sight, and I know you by name.”

a prayer to be different

Moses’ prayer is the prayer of every godly leader who has tried to make a difference in the world. He wants himself and his people to be different from those who do not know the LORD. If that difference is not there, then there is no sense going on.

This is an intense and challenging time for Moses and Israel. They had just gone through a horrible ordeal because of the rebellion at Sinai. Moses wants some assurance that all the time and life that he has invested will actually matter. He reasons that if God has truly saved him by grace, and called the people of Israel by grace, then it should produce a difference in their lives.

The difference begins here. It starts with asking the LORD who called us to turn us into the people he wants. It is seeking the inheritance that is promised because of God’s grace. We came to the LORD just as we are, expecting forgiveness through Christ. But we cannot stay there. We strive to be changed by that grace.

God’s answer to Moses is reassuring. He said “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found grace in my sight, and I know you by name.”He will finish what he started.

LORD, we thank you for the grace that called us to yourself. We trust that same grace to change us into the different people you want us to be.

Posted in discipleship, leadership, Moses, sanctification | Tagged Exodus 33 | 1 Comment