Exodus 33-36
First, I cannot help but point our Exodus 33:11; “The Lord spoke with Moses face to face, just as a man speaks with a friend. We will read further along in today’s reading that Moses is not allowed to see God face to face again. However, just stop for a moment and think about this: just as a man speaks with a friend. All of this that we are reading is about this one truth; God seeks a relationship with me, personally. His love is not general but personal. Soak that reality into your heart. This has been one of the most difficult things for me to accept as a daughter of the Most High. As we continue with today’s reading, there are 3 principles to be learned from this passage:
1. Do not Go without God
2. Give from the Heart
3. Work with God-given Skills
Moses says, in 33:15, “If Your presence does not go, don’t make us go up from here.” Moses refuses to go without God. How often do we seek to do something for God rather than seek God Himself? How often do we take off headlong into something, even a good thing, without God? This scenario with Moses is about him taking the children of Israel up the mountain into the promised land. Moses already knows that this is God’s plan. Yet, he will still not go unless God is with them. Sisters, it does not matter how good something is, even the good things we do for God; if we move forward without Him, it will not be for His glory. Did you catch that in verse 16? Moses did not want to go without God because He would not be glorified. That is a true heart of submission and humbleness; a heart that seeks only the glory of God. If we are honest with ourselves, jumping into a “good thing” for God is sometimes actually for ourselves rather than for Him. Most importantly, we learn here that we cannot move forward in God’s plan without God Himself. I pray that we all come to the place where we stop and say, “If Your presence does not go with me, I will not go.”
First, I cannot help but point our Exodus 33:11; “The Lord spoke with Moses face to face, just as a man speaks with a friend. We will read further along in today’s reading that Moses is not allowed to see God face to face again. However, just stop for a moment and think about this: just as a man speaks with a friend. All of this that we are reading is about this one truth; God seeks a relationship with me, personally. His love is not general but personal. Soak that reality into your heart. This has been one of the most difficult things for me to accept as a daughter of the Most High. As we continue with today’s reading, there are 3 principles to be learned from this passage:
1. Do not Go without God
2. Give from the Heart
3. Work with God-given Skills
Moses says, in 33:15, “If Your presence does not go, don’t make us go up from here.” Moses refuses to go without God. How often do we seek to do something for God rather than seek God Himself? How often do we take off headlong into something, even a good thing, without God? This scenario with Moses is about him taking the children of Israel up the mountain into the promised land. Moses already knows that this is God’s plan. Yet, he will still not go unless God is with them. Sisters, it does not matter how good something is, even the good things we do for God; if we move forward without Him, it will not be for His glory. Did you catch that in verse 16? Moses did not want to go without God because He would not be glorified. That is a true heart of submission and humbleness; a heart that seeks only the glory of God. If we are honest with ourselves, jumping into a “good thing” for God is sometimes actually for ourselves rather than for Him. Most importantly, we learn here that we cannot move forward in God’s plan without God Himself. I pray that we all come to the place where we stop and say, “If Your presence does not go with me, I will not go.”
Let’s move forward a few chapters to Leviticus 35-36. “Everyone whose heart was moves and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the Lord…..Both men and women came; all who had a willing heart….all the men and women whose hearts prompted them to bring something for all the work that the Lord had commanded to be done.” Giving is a part of our expression of obedience and submission to God that tends to become very legalistic. A very important truth we see here is that giving is from the heart. Our time, skills and gifts that we give to God are based on our relationship with Him. We give because our heart, out of love for Him and the guidance of His Spirit, has prompted us to do so. Yet, how often do we give from a duty driven, guilt ridden obligation? For the Israelites, it was an act of worship. These verses give us a beautiful example of what it means to give to God from the heart. Did you notice the result? Giving from the heart caused an over-abundance of giving and as a result, Moses had to tell them to stop giving! Now that is incredible. The important truth here is that when we are living in that personal relationship with God that He desires, He will prompt us and move us to give. The point is not what we give, but the way we give. Such a simple truth, but one we so often miss.
Finally, one of my most favorite verses in this week’s reading: “He has filled them with skill to do all the work…” I wrote briefly about this yesterday. To expand on the truth, read 36:1; “all the skilled people are to work based on everything the Lord commanded. The Lord has given them wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work….” Sound a little like spiritual gifts taught in the New Testament? Ask yourself, what am I skilled in doing? And don’t say nothing! Have you stopped to consider that it is God you filled you with that skill so that you can complete His work? Just as the Israelites were skilled to build His sanctuary, we are skilled to build His church and kingdom. We are not gifted with our talents and abilities for our own enjoyment but for His work. This does not imply that we are all called to the ministry or that we are to leave our jobs to work for God. This truth is simply that the things you are good at are given to you for Him. There is a place in His church and kingdom work where you are needed or the construction cannot be completed.
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