Exodus 23-25

What I Noticed Today (Exodus 23-25)

Exodus 23

In Chapter 23, God provides Moses statutes governing justice, the celebration of the Sabbath and annual feasts, and a promise about the conquest of the Promised Land.

In verses 1-9, God provides Moses statutes governing the proper administration of justice that expand the ninth commandment.

• You must not spread a false report.
• You are not to be a malicious witness.
• You must not follow a crowd in doing wrong.
• You must not follow a crowd to pervert justice.
• You must not show favoritism to the poor person in a lawsuit.
• You must not deny justice to a poor person.
• You must not make false accusations.
• You must not kill the innocent.

• You must not take a bribe.
• You must not oppress the foreigner.

In verses 10-19, God provides Moses statutes governing the Sabbath, the Sabbath year, and festivals:

• The land was to be worked for six years but allowed a Sabbath year rest in the seventh year.
• Man was to work for six days but rest on the seventh. The Sabbath rest was for the animals, slaves, and foreigners as well.
• Obey God's commands and do not invoke the names of other gods.

• You are to celebrate a festival in My honor three times per year: the Festival of Unleavened Bread (March-April), the Festival of Harvest (or First-Fruits, spring), and the Festival of Ingathering (autumn).
• You must not offer the blood of the sacrifice with anything leavened. The fat of the sacrifice must not remain until morning. A young goat must not be boiled in its mother’s milk.

In verses 20-33, God makes promises to Moses if the people obey and gives warnings if they disobey.

• God said He would send an angel to guide the Israelites into the Promised Land. They were to obey the voice of the angel and do not defy him.
• If you carefully obey him, then I (God) will be an enemy to your enemies.
• My angel will go before you and bring you into the Promised Land and wipe out its inhabitants.
• You must not bow down to their gods or imitate their practices. You must destroy their sacred pillars.
• Worship the Lord your God, and He will bless you (provide food, remove illnesses, and multiply your children).
• I (God) will make your enemies turn in terror from you and drive them from you over time as you multiply in numbers.
• You must not make a covenant with them or their gods.
• You must not allow them to remain in your land, or they will make you sin.

Exodus 24

In chapter 24, God confirms His covenant promise with the people of Israel.

In verses 1-11, God confirms His covenant with the people:

• God directed Moses to get Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and 70 elders and come to worship the Lord.
• Moses alone is to come up the mountain.
• Moses told the people all the Lord’s words, and the people answered they would do everything the Lord had commanded.
• The next morning Moses set up an altar with twelve pillars (one for each tribe) at the base of the mountain.
• The young men made fellowship offerings on the altar to the Lord.
• Then Moses read to the people all the words of the Lord he had written down (called the “Book of the Covenant”), and again the people confirmed they would do everything the Lord commanded.
• Moses then sprinkled the blood from the sacrifices on the altar and on the people, saying this is the blood of the covenant the Lord has made with you.
• Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and the elders went up the mountain of God and saw God. God did not harm them. They ate and drank.
• Then God called Moses to come further up the mountain so He could give Moses the stone tablets of the Law.
• So Moses and his assistant (Joshua) went up the mountain, leaving the rest behind.
• Moses told them to wait for him, and if any disputes come up, they should bring them to Aaron and Hur.
• Moses went further up the mountain, and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, covering it for six days.
• On the seventh day, the Lord called to Moses. Moses entered the cloud and remained on the mountain 40 days and nights.
• To the Israelites below, the Lord’s glory looked like a consuming fire.

Exodus 25-27

There is incredible imagery in these chapters that detail the construction of the tabernacle and its contents!

Exodus 25

Chapter 25 describes the construction of the tabernacle. The tabernacle served one purpose; it was where God dwelled among the people (25:8). While God could have spoken the tabernacle into existence, He chose instead to have the Israelites make it from materials they brought as offerings. The plans He gave for the tabernacle were extremely detailed.

In verses 1-9, God gave Moses instructions to take an offering for the construction of the tabernacle:

• The materials to be collected included precious metals, yarns, linen, animal skins, woods, oils, spices, and gemstones.
• God told Moses they must make the tabernacle and all its furnishings according to the directions He would give them.

In verses 10-22, God gave instructions to Moses for the construction of the ark of the covenant (or testimony):

• The ark was to be made of acacia wood, covered inside and out with gold.
• Poles of acacia wood were also made and overlaid with gold and inserted into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it. The poles were never to be removed.
• The tablets of the testimony (the Ten Commandments) were to be placed inside the ark.
• A mercy seat was to be constructed and overlaid with gold. On top of the mercy seat, two golden cherubim were fashioned facing one another.
• The mercy seat with the cherubim was placed on top of the ark.
• God would meet with Moses above the mercy seat between the cherubim, and give His instructions from there.

In verses 23-30, God gave Moses instructions for the construction of the table:

• The table was to be made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold.
• Four gold rings were to be made and attached to the table through which poles made of acacia wood overlaid with gold were to be inserted to carry the table.
• Plates, cups, pitchers, and bowls were all to be made out of pure gold.
• The bread of the Presence was to be placed on the table before God at all times.

In verses 31-40, God gave Moses instructions for the construction of the lampstand (menorah):

• A lampstand was to be fashioned out of a single piece of gold. It resembled an almond tree with seven branches total; three on each side and one in the center. Each branch had cups shaped like almond blossoms with petals. The top of each branch had an oil lamp to provide light for the room.
• Snuffers and firepans were also to be made of pure gold.
• The gold needed to make the lampstand, and the implements were one talent (approximately 75 pounds).

Some thoughts for additional consideration:

• Interestingly, degrees of closeness to God existed at Mt. Sinai. The people were furthest away; the elders were permitted to come closer, then Moses and Joshua closer still, and then Moses alone was permitted onto the mountain to be with God for 40 days and nights.
• Today, because of Christ’s finished work on the cross, we are all allowed to be close to God, to glory in His presence. Yet, there are some who remain at a distance, some who are a little closer, and some who are very close. For us, it is a choice, and we decide by our actions exactly how close to God we want to be!
• Jesus Christ is the bread of life (John 6:35).  The Word of God is a light to our paths (Psalm 199:105). Christ’s finished work on the cross removed the barrier of sin that comes between God and us. Now, for those who believe, we are God’s sanctuary, and His Spirit lives in us (1 Cor. 3:16)!

What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.

Tomorrow: Exodus 26-28