Daily Devotions
Exodus
"The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways." Deuteronomy 28:9
Text: Exodus 40 : 1a
THE MAIN LESSON
All was ready at last! Bezalel and Aholiab and all the gifted artisans had worked very hard! Their diligence and faithfulness bore testimony of their appropriate response to the mighty moving of the Spirit of God in their hearts. While these observations are true, they are not the main lessons at all.
The book of Nehemiah recorded an important epoch in the checkered history of Israel. For a period of time (seventy years), Israel was in exile. They were driven out of their home land by the Babylonians. But when the determined exiled period of seventy years was over, Nehemiah led one contingent of returnees back to Jerusalem. Their task was to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. On completion of this great task, the Levites offered a prayer that revealed vital insights.
“But you are God, ready to pardon,
Gracious and merciful, slow to anger,
Abundant in kindness,
And did not forsake them.”
NEHEMIAH 9:17
The Levites, in deep reflection, felt that the greatest lesson they learned was about the LORD, rather than the hard work put in by all the gifted artisans. It is right to mention the good work put in by all, but the main lesson was centered in discovering afresh the kind of God that they had in the LORD!
1. A God ready to pardon
Moses was able to obtain the favor of the Lord again, only because God Himself was ready to pardon!
2. Gracious and merciful
God had indeed been most gracious and merciful. Israel could have been disinherited and set aside because of its sinful ways! But because God was gracious and merciful, Israel was pardoned and spared!
3. Slow to anger, abundant in kindness
God had indicated that He was angry with sinful and erring Israel. But His anger was not explosive. Because He was abundant in kindness, he was ready to set aside His righteous anger against Israel. “He did not forsake them!”
THE WORD TO ERECT THE TABERNACLE
God had approved of Israel’s efforts to build the Tabernacle. He expressed this by giving word to Moses to erect the Tabernacle. God was in full communion with His people again. Once again, He gave vital words of instruction to the nation through Moses.
“Then the LORD spoke to Moses…”
EXODUS 40:1A