The Tabernacle has now been prepared and assembled. It seems as well that Moses’ make shift “Tent of Meeting” has been replaced by the new shrine. The Tabernacle has been consecrated and so that specific work was finished for Moses. God’s manifest presence God’s presence with his people has been represented by a pillar of… Continue reading The Glory of God
Tag: Old Testament Studies
Moving In
We’ve moved home a couple of times. We’ve never built our new home from scratch. I probably don’t need to tell you that. However, each move means careful planning, getting measurements, choosing furniture, assembling shelves, hanging curtains etc. The Israelites would one day move into “God’s place”, the promised land. In the meantime, during their… Continue reading Moving In
Rebellion
There is now an interruption to the instructions that YHWH is giving to Moses on Sinai. Whilst Moses was meeting with God on the mountain, trouble was brewing in the camp below. Aaron would be tested, how would he respond? “Make us gods” The people observe that Moses is taking time to return from Sinai. … Continue reading Rebellion
The true and better Sinai
When the people of Israel were at Sinai, God told Moses to set boundaries around the mountain. This was the place where God would meet the people, where they would hear him and receive his word. Yet, for all but Moses, it was to be at a distance. One day, people were bringing their kids… Continue reading The true and better Sinai
Are you washed in the blood?
Imagine if you had been stood amongst the people as Moses spoke and then demonstrated the covenant by sprinkling or showering you with blood from the sacrifices. We tend to be queasy about blood, ancient people were less so. The blood was significant and significant because it was not just something happening in the distance… Continue reading Are you washed in the blood?
Holiness as blessing and challenge
God’s holiness is a great theme in the Sinai passages. We see this in the way that the Law tells his people how to live in his holy presence and in the conditions that are set. There is a delineation between who can approach YHWH and who cannot. Some of the people can come so… Continue reading Holiness as blessing and challenge
The Law
Sinai It’s two months after the Israelites have left Egypt when the arrive at Sinai. The people camp around the mountain and Moses climbs up to appear before YHWH (Exodus 19:1-3a). God speaks to Moses and gives instructions to the people. The context is that they have seen what God did to the Egyptians, punishing… Continue reading The Law
Not consumed
Here’s my summing up talk from an all age service looking at Moses and the Burning Bush (Exodus 4-5). A sign and a sending
Crossing over
A long cut The quickest route out of Egypt would have been directly out of Goshen and then the coast route around the edge of the Mediterranean but that would have taken the people through Philistine territory. God recognises that this will bring them into open conflict early on and at this stage the people… Continue reading Crossing over
Where are God’s people?
The plagues, marking out the land and the people of Egypt for curse rather than blessing is a fulfilment of Genesis 12:1-3. God had promised that those who blessed Abraham and his offspring would be blessed and so it had been the case when Joseph came down to Egypt. He had also warned that those… Continue reading Where are God’s people?
Faithroots 