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Good morning my friends, today is Saturday August 3 and we’re looking at Exodus 35 together.
May I ask a question? What is the most obvious evidence, to anyone who knows you, that YOU are a follower of Jesus Christ? We’re calling this journey together, “Walking With Jesus”…so, what is the evidence, in each of our lives, that we are in fact doing that…walking everyday with Jesus, just like the disciples did?
Let’s begin today with Exodus 34:29…Moses comes down from his 8th and final meeting with God on Mount Sinai holding the two stone tablets of the 10 Commandments in his hands, and he’s not aware that his face is shining so brightly everyone covers their eyes and backs away. In fact they ask him to wrap a cloth around his face so they can at least look at him without being blinded! And do you notice vs. 29 says “…his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD [YHWY]”.
As we’ve said, this was Moses 8th trip up that mountain, his 3rd time spending 40 days and nights alone with God in the cloud of His Presence. But never before had Moses come down the mountain glowing. Why this time? What happened in chapter 34 that was so unique? Why would God cause Moses to radiate the Glory of God? Why would God choose to have the Holy Spirit so powerfully alive in your life and mine, that we ‘radiate’ or reflect Jesus to our world?
Do you remember Jesus said “I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life“ (John 8:12). Could it be this was part of the reason for Moses’ glowing face? He had spent many days with God’s glory, in God’s Presence. Was he now so spiritually full that he was bringing the spiritual light of that encounter into the darkness of the refugee camp which had made a golden calf idol and worshiped it!
Do you also remember the religious leaders who were trying to stop the ‘Jesus movement’ in Jerusalem and had arrested Peter and John? They concluded this about them, as they questioned them and considered the healing of the cripple: “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13)
So here’s a fair question for us… “how do each of us ‘radiate’, reflect the Presence and Glory of God if we have been spending time with Him? How is it evident that we are ‘walking with Jesus”? Or not??
They asked Moses to cover his face…and then in Exodus 35 Moses began to explain in detail what God had explained to him on the mountain these past 40 days. Do you find it interesting Moses began by explaining Sabbath. One day every week was to be for them, beginning then and for all generations to come, a holy day intended for rest, spiritual refreshment and re-alignment of their lives with God. This would distinguish them from other people on earth and be a weekly sign of their covenant relationship with God.
Next Moses explained why God had allowed them to plunder the Egyptians and take some of the wealth of Egypt with them as they fled… God wanted a Tabernacle built, where HE could dwell among and meet with His people, these runaway slaves! But, do you see something very special in this?
God is not taxing the people. He’s not demanding that everyone bring some of the bounty He gave them as they left Egypt. Moses said “Everyone who is willing is to bring an offering of gold, silver…” (35:4). Did you hear the key phrase… “Everyone who is willing…”?
We’ve all attended fund raising banquets, or received appeals in the mail, or even heard financial appeals from the pulpit…and what do we do? We think about it, we consider the validity of the need that has been expressed, we consider our financial situation, and eventually our feelings get involved and normally we follow our hearts. That’s what Moses was saying here… follow your heart in your response to God’s request. Why?
The “Tent of Meeting” was nothing like the major building projects these slaves had built in Egypt. Not a pyramid, not a palace. This was a tent, with several special artifacts overlaid with gold. But it would be unique in the world, since God would meet with His people there! So do you see what the determining factor was, in who brought offerings and who didn’t? It was a matter of the heart…who was excited about the idea of God coming down off Mount Sinai to dwell among His people and meet with them, and who would prefer God remain at a distance and they’d send Moses to go up the mountain to meet with God from time to time!?
Who wanted to live near God and who preferred God at a distance?
“Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses’ presence and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him, came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting…all who were willing. men and women alike, came with their offerings of gold jewelry of all kinds…” (34:20-22).
Can you see the flow of people first leaving the meeting with Moses and going back to their tents having heard the appeal…and then soon one, then many, coming with things from that which they had carried out of Egypt, willing to have it used to build a Tent for Meeting with God? But look at the scene closely my friends and you’ll see many people standing in the doorways of their tents just watching. Some maybe scowling or shaking their heads! These are they who would prefer that God remain up that mountain, at a safe distance away, and the booty remain close by, in their tents. It was a matter of the heart. . .it always is, isn’t it friends?
Now as you read the rest of Exodus 35, watch for the words “those who were willing”, you’ll see it several more times. You’ll see it relates to those who brought offerings, but also to those women skilled to weave the special yarn and the men skilled in craftsmanship to fabricate all the various components of the Tent as God had designed it. Some brought, some made, but all were moved by willing hearts.
Notice Moses’ announcement that God had selected one man, Bezalel son of Uri, “…and He has filled him with the Spirit of God and with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts -…”. Can you imagine how Mr. Bezalel felt when he heard his name called out and the promise of God’s anointing proclaimed over him?
And then Moses said this very interesting statement “And God has given both him [Bezalel] and Oholiab…the ability to teach others…” (34).
The God given gift of discipleship…teaching someone else what you have learned from God! Remember how Paul wrote it to Timothy “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Tim. 2:2) I call that “4-Gen” discipleship. Can you count the four generations? Paul, Timothy, reliable men whom Timothy will teach, and those who those reliable men will teach! 4 spiritual generations!
Now take a look at your spiritual heritage… who has taught you about Jesus, and who taught them, and who are you teaching, and who will they teach? 4-Gen discipleship! It’s our privilege my friends, each of us who is ‘walking with Jesus’. It’s part of why I write this each day… to help you understand more of God, so you can help others with what you’ve learned. So who are they…the people you are helping know Jesus?
Have you considered that when Jesus was preparing to return back to heaven, this is the ONLY thing He commanded His disciples to do. He didn’t tell them to do miracles, or even build churches, or preach to large crowds… one thing: “As you are going, make disciples of all peoples, teaching them everything I have taught you…” (Matt. 28:20)
And so the people with willing hearts, rolled up their sleeves. First they brought the bounty, then they started the work…building a place, where God’s Presence would ‘dwell among them’. While those with hard hearts watched…probably with a scowl. So what would each of us have done that day my friends? What are we doing today, as we ‘walk with Jesus’?
Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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