Tag: Law

Craftsmanship at its best

February 10, 2020

The-Most-Exquisite-Italian-Craftsmanship-Wood-CarvingExodus 30 discusses the building of the altar of incense, atonement money, washing and incense.  Again, Yahweh is very specific about how to make these items and use them.  The formulas are to be held sacred forever.  Let’s stop and think about each of these for a minute.

Fragrances are some of the most effective triggers for memory.  The incense was to aid in guiding the Israelites to remember everything God did for them.  Why would God command His people to pay into the coffers of the sanctuary for their redemption?  Jesus paid the redemption price once and for all for everyone.  Cleanliness is next to godliness is a common saying.  The basin was for the priests to cleanse themselves before entering the tent.  Spiritual purity can only be gained by the salvation of Christ.  All these objects show the need for one ultimate sacrifice.  Have you accepted Him?

Craftsmen are given in Exodus 31 to do all the work that needs to be done.  This work requires skill and God given talent just as many Christians use in their service today.

The importance of the Sabbath is emphasized.  This is one of the commandments that carries the death penalty.  The prohibition on working more than six days a week joins Christians and Jews.  Today many don’t view this as a needed lifestyle.  We work all seven days and see no problems.  Doctors tell us that we are often working ourselves to death.  Isn’t that what Jehovah is saying here?

Exodus 32 concludes the instructions that Yahweh is giving to Moses.  He ends this by telling His servant that the Israelites have violated the first of the commandments and worshipped an idol.  The festival also violated the things that God told them to do.  They promised to follow Jehovah before Moses went up onto the mountain.  Forty days later they have already violated the law.

Everyone has an excuse.  Even Moses let his anger get the best of him.  He broke the tablets and had to remake the tablets himself.  A mass slaughter takes place as the Levites execute those involved in the idolatry.  Then God sends a plague that kills even more.  Will these drastic results stop further disobedience?  No.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

I bet you Jehovah can give you an answer

February 8, 2020

The garments for the priests which include Aaron and his sons are detailed in chapter 28 of Exodus.  The garments continue the dedication to the worship of Yahweh as the one true God.  All the care given to the clothing of the priests emphasizes the glory of God.

The Urim and Thummim are worn by Aaron.  These devices were like modern dice.  They were used in the process of casting lots.  When they needed a direct word from God to decide an issue, the lot was cast and showed yes or no.  Is that gambling? I would not want to wager anything against Yahweh.

Consecration is a term that is discussed in Exodus 29.  To consecrate is to dedicate for a specific purpose.  Ordination is another word that is used here that sometimes is not understood.  It is setting someone aside for a specific purpose.  In Christian churches, we ordain ministers, elders, deacons and other positions in the congregations.

Consecration and ordination are very important ceremonies.  God wanted these done in a specific way.  Many churches view their ceremonies as just as holy as the methods that are specified by Jehovah.  Often, we forget the reasons why certain things or actions are considered sacred.  We are no different from the Israelites.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

The Tent of Meeting

February 8, 2020

A mobile sanctuary is discussed in Exodus 25.  Not like the converted mobile homes that are used in some mission areas in this country.  This is a tent like their living conditions.  God gave specific directions on materials and how to build it.  He is very detailed in the design.

He also gives instructions for the construction of the Ark of the Covenant.  He tells Moses to put the tablets in it.  This is the Ark that the Mana must be placed in.  It is to be carried by poles and not touched by any but the chief priest who will succeed Aaron.

Exodus 26 continues the description of how the tabernacle is to be built.  Why is it important for the Israelites to build this to God’s specifications?  This is an attempt to show them how to be obedient.  If they had non-specific instructions, the design would have been a source of argument as it is in many churches today.

Human beings tend to want to do things their own way.  God left no chance for discussion of design.  Moses had been shown how to do it.  Jehovah was allowing no chance for disagreement.

We are still going through the instructions in Exodus 27 for the Tent of Meeting and all its utensils, garments and necessary items.  As we read this chapter, consider all the items of worship that God instructed Moses to create.  Why was this required?

One option is to have something to represent God and His presence.  Other gods had temples.  God knew that it would be years before they entered the promised land even though the spies had not yet gone in.  Once in the land, it would take many years for the people to get settled and decide they needed a place to worship Jehovah.  This Tabernacle was to serve until a permanent temple could be constructed. Unbeknown to the people this structure would be used in the wilderness for forty years.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

Civilized society

February 6, 2020

We continue with statutes that are to be observed upon arriving in the Promised Land in Exodus 22.  Each person is expected to obey these laws to create a civilized society.  Basic court procedure is established in this law as well as guidelines dealing with negligence and loss of property and accidental death.

Rape and rights of women, what few they had at this time, are also dealt with.  Sorcery is condemned as are all other types of worship of other gods.  Another area that is dealt with is general hygiene and food preparation.  These rules were for safety even before the FDA, USDA and OSHA.

The statement of the law continues in Exodus 23.  Much of these instructions are common sense and we wonder why God felt it necessary to tell people not to follow the crowd and pervert justice in that way.  Shouldn’t everyone know that if you see livestock that has wandered away from the owner, it should be returned to them?  Is bribery something that we don’t know is wrong?

The Sabbath day and the Sabbath year is also a procedure that should have been learned by every farmer.  As a child, I remember reading that agricultural specialist George Washington Carver teaching crop rotation in the late 1880’s.  Why aren’t these things passed down and continued with each generation?

Every new generation wants to rebel from the old-fashioned ideas.  They also want to come up with something new that they can claim.  These selfish reasons seem to be the answer for many of our mistakes.

God even promises at the end of this chapter to send an angel to drive the other nations from the Promised Land.  He tells them that it will not be all at once.  He warns them that they will be led astray if they do not kill them and remove them completely from the land as He has instructed.  As usual, they will not listen

In Exodus 24 Moses is the only one that is to get close to Jehovah on the mount.  An altar is built, sacrifices travel up to God, and promises are made by the Israelites.  Certain of the elders could come to a certain point and view Yahweh from a distance.  Moses continued with God for over a month.  This was a problem for the people as we will see tomorrow.