God hand picks us for the job He would have us do, just like He picked Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and then fills us with His Spirit and understanding and knowledge to enable us do His work just like He would want it to be done Exodus 31:2-3.

If we are to fulfill our calling, it therefore, must be necessary for us to be willing to be led by the Holy Spirit and not by our flesh or by others, and especially when what they sow into our lives is in opposition to God’s will. He also sends us the help of other like-minded people whom he has also gifted, though they may be from another ‘tribe’ altogether, just as He chose Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan to assist Bezalel, vs 6.

The purpose of this union however remains clear, and that being, to do everything just as God has commanded. The commandment to keep the Sabbath was primarily directed to indicate that all we do for the Lord is His work, in and through us, and must not be something originating from ourselves, and according to our will, or for our glory, while expecting Him to bless us in the process, for He is the one who sanctifies us as we do His will, 12-17!

The worship of the golden calf is proof enough to show us that if our communion is not primarily with the Lord Himself, but dependent on the men/woman that He is anointing and using, then invariably we will fall away from the Living God when these men/woman are no longer around, Exodus 32:1.. On the other hand Moses was very different from the Israelites, because He knew God intimately and in such a way that when God suggested the destruction of the idolators, Moses pleaded with God on their behalf, and asked God to spare them for the glory of His Name, and His covenant promise made to their ancestors, vs 9-14. God also desires that we walk similarly in fellowship with Him. It is also interesting to note that the Levites got to be priests unto God, not on the basis or some partial choice, but only because they were willing to stand on God’s side and slaughter their near and dear ones who refused to repent and turn from their idolatry, vs 26-29. As Moses intercedes on behalf of the people and pleads with the Lord to go with them, Moses finds favour with the Lord because of His closeness with God, so much so that He is also able to convince God to show him His glory, but this is only done as God hides Moses in the cleft of the Rock, which is a picture of Christ, Exodus 33:7-23.

It is only those who choose to walk in fellowship with the Lord, (which will be characterized by their obedient lifestyle coupled with an intercessory spirit), who will be counted worth to see the glory of God in the face of our Lord Jesus Christ! So, once again God promises to go with them and do amazing miracles on their behalf, vs 10, provided they shun idolatry, kept the Sabbath, celebrate the feasts, redeem the firstborn of their sons and do not mix blood with yeast in their sacrifices, and bring in the first fruits of the soil into the house of the Lord, vs 11-26. God’s calling and gifts are irrevocable, but if we slip into disobedience and refuse to repent, then although we may still operate in our giftings, yet, the manifest presence and glory of God will no longer be seen in our lives, homes and Churches, and so, though we may continue to profess God by our ritualistic lifestyle, yet, the power of the Holy Spirit and manifest presence of God will not be manifested in and through us!

This is what Moses sought after, through repentance and intercession and His face radiated God’s glory, which others who didn’t walk therein could not bear to see, vs 29-35!

Rowena Thomas
Mumbai, India.