February 9, 2017

Insights on Today's Reading

Exodus 30 - The altar of incense is the next piece of furnishing mentioned for the Tabernacle.  Incense, in the Bible, always denotes the prayers of God's people.  God is blessed with the "aroma of prayer" that makes its way into heaven.  The altar of incense was in the Holy Place just outside the entrance to the Holy of Holies.  When the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies he was to bring incense from the incense altar to provide a "smoke screen" in front of the Ark.  Moses was also to collect an equal amount of money from all the adult Israelites to meet the needs of the expenses for the Tabernacle.

Exodus 31 - God provided the special skills needed for Bezalel and Oholiab as they would head up the team of experts to build and produce all the furnishings, curtains, and structure of the Tabernacle.  They would also oversee the sewing of the priests' apparel and the preparation of the incense to be used.  God emphasized once again the keeping of the Sabbath.  As Moses prepared to descend the mountain God gave him the Ten Commandments on two stone tablets, written literally by the "finger" of God.

Exodus 32 - This is one of the most disappointing chapters of the Bible.  Most first-time readers of the Bible find it so hard to fathom the actions of the people below Mt. Sinai, as Moses was on the mount, that Aaron would "make them a god" to lead them.  Even worse was the willingness of Aaron to aid them in their foolishness!  What makes this so unbelievable is that back in chapter 24, seventy of the elders of Israel had joined Moses on the mount and had "seen" the glory of God up close and personal!  How could they settle for a gold calf to worship?!  Moses came down and broke the Ten Commandments at the foot of the mountain to demonstrate what the people had just done themselves!