Chosen Vessels
God himself chose men to construct the Tent Of Meeting, the ark of the testimony with the atonement cover and all the other furnishings of the tent. He chose Bezalel and Oholiab, filled them with the Spirit of God, with ability and knowledge to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. He gave skill to all the other craftsmen. They had to follow all the instructions of God.
✝️ Importance of Sabbath✝️ ,
The Israelites had to observe the Sabbath and celebrate it as a covenant. For six days work can be done but the seventh day which is the Sabbath was a day of rest. It was holy to the Lord. Any one who desecrated it had to be put to death. God gave Moses the Tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.
🔲 Tablets Broken 🔲
Moses was away on the Mount for 40 days and 40 nights. The peoe became very impatient. So made Aaron make them a God out of gold shaped like a calf and they had the boldness to say that it was this God that brought them out of Egypt. They were singing and dancing and celebrating around this idol. At that time Moses descended from the mountain. His anger was greatly kindled, he threw the tablets down and broke them to pieces.
🔥 God’s Anger 🔥
God was very angry and wanted to destroy the people. Moses pleaded for them and sought God’s favour. The Levites rallied around Moses saying they are for the Lord. Following Moses’ command at least 3000 people were killed by the Levites. God struck the rest with a plague for their great sin. God said they were a stiff necked people and he would destroy them on the way to the Promised Land.
⛺ Tent of Meeting ⛺
Moses fixed a tent away from the camp and when ever he went into the tent a cloud would come down at the entrance. God would speak to Moses face to face. The people would worship from their tent. Moses asked God to teach him his ways. The Lord said, My presence will go with you and I will give you rest. Moses wanted to see God’s glory. God hid him in a rock and allowed him to see only His back because His face must not be seen.
🔲 New Stone Tablets 🔲
Moses had to go up to the Mountain again. Moses was given the tablets again with the Ten Commandments. God told him that He expected holiness from His people. They should never make a treaty with aliens and a list of festivals that should be celebrated. Moses’ face was radiant because he had spoken to the Lord.
✝️ The Lord’s Day ✝️
What the Israelites called Sabbath is now called the Lord’s day. God was so strict that if they were unholy on the Sabbath they should be killed. Now we are in the time of grace, but still all believers should observe the Lord’s Day with reverence. Let us not be casual and careless in the way we attend church and worship the Lord. He is our Holy and Awesome God. Let us worship Him with reverence in spirit and in truth.
Mrs Caroline Chellappa 📝
Chennai