Category: Exodus-BibleTrekToday
Trek through Exodus
Radiating the Glory of God
Scripture reading for February 16th: Exodus 38-40, Hebrews 1
Hebrews 1:1-4 “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, Whom He appointed the heir of all things, through Whom also He created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the Word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the Name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs.”
The Name of Jesus Christ was given from the Father to Joseph by an angel. This Jesus is the First-born Son of God, and is the exact representation of God the Father and radiates to sinful man God’s awesome glory. No man could look on God in the fullness of His glory and live. But Jesus Christ made God and His glory known! The ark of the covenant, whose pattern Moses received from God was to be where God’s glory would reside in the midst of His people on earth. When the ark was placed in the tabernacle, and covered with the curtain and sacrifices were made exactly as God prescribed, God’s glory filled the Tabernacle and was in the midst of Israel to guide, protect and provide for them on their journey to their promised inheritance. In the same way, when we repent and invite Jesus to reside in us, God’s glory fills us and we reflect that glory to the world on His behalf.
Hebrews 1:8-9 “But of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness beyond Your companions.”
Prayer: Father God, Thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ, the Name above all names and the exact representation of Your glory and the creator and sustainer of earth and all life. Thank You for Your eternal rule in righteousness and the anointing of Jesus Christ and His followers with the oil of gladness. I receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and invite Him to reflect His glory through my life.
Exodus 40:34 “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”
Abundant generosity!
Scripture reading for February 15th: Exodus 35-37, Psalm 26, Philippians 4
Philippians 4:16-20 “Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
A secret to living a life of abundance is willing and cheerful giving to God’s work. It is difficult at first to let go of our money, possessions, or our time. The world has conditioned us to believe that what we have belongs to us and it is the means to secure what we need and want. The Israelites in Moses’ time had been slaves in Egypt. They were given an abundance of silver, gold, and treasures of Egypt under the plan of God to pay them for their work and provide for His work. When asked by Moses to willingly give, the people gave generously from the heart to bless God’s work. They gave so much, that Moses had to restrain them. Paul explained that the church’s giving to God’s work was a fragrant offering and pleasing to God. God loves a cheerful giver, and promises to meet all of our needs in Christ Jesus!
Exodus 36:3-6 “They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing, and said to Moses, “The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.” So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the Sanctuary.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your example of abundant generosity in sending Your Son to live and die for us who are so unworthy and selfish! Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit and for every material blessing that has come from Your hand. Move my heart by the Holy Spirit to give to Your work because I love You and Your ‘house’, the people who believe!
Psalm 26:3, 8 “For Your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in Your faithfulness.” . . . “O Lord, I love the habitation of Your house and the place where Your glory dwells.”
Pressing on to the goal!
Scripture reading for February 14th: Exodus 32-34, Philippians 3
Philippians 3:13-14 “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Inside of each person is a dim knowledge of eternity. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) We are all creations of God who had our existence in God before the creation (Ephesians 1:4). When we are born again through faith in Jesus Christ and study and receive His Word as truth, we begin to understand and long for our true home and the fullness of salvation. The fullness of salvation will include a glorious body, like Christ’s resurrected body. It will not suffer from the effects of sin or pain or sorrow or sickness or disease. There we will behold God face to face in His glory, not needing the light of the sun or moon or stars. This is the goal of our faith that Paul focuses his mind and attention on. Moses had a taste of that transformation spending time in God’s presence. He refused to leave unless God went with him!
Philippians 3:18-21 “For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the down-payment of our salvation, the Holy Spirit living inside of us. Thank You for the ongoing work of transformation here on earth that fits us for eternal life with You. But I long for the fullness of life in Your presence, seeing Your face and worshiping You in Your glory in a glorified body! May I reflect Your glory here on earth to those in darkness.
Exodus 34:29-30 “When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.”
Appropriating Christ’s mind
Scripture reading for February 11th: Exodus 28-31, Philippians 2
Philippians 2:1-7 “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant being born in the likeness of men.”
Jesus Christ was the Exalted Son of God, ruling over the universe He created. In the counsel of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Jesus humbled Himself and took the form of a servant in human flesh, becoming obedient even to death on a cross for the sake of all other human beings under the penalty of death for their sins. Jesus counted us of more value than His own comfort and position. He accomplished our salvation by His own complete obedience to God’s eternal Word in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit. The Father God has gifted each believer with His Holy Spirit, calling us by name out of the darkness of sin and this world. He has given us the mind and heart of His Son to care for His interests–the souls of all men!
Philippians 2:8-10 “And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the Name that is above every name, so that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit and the mind of Jesus Christ! Fill me with the power of the Spirit in wisdom, ability, and knowledge and craftsmanship to do Your work in Your way according to Your instructions. You are building Your Church, a habitation of God by the Spirit. Help me to put Your will and others before my comfort and selfishness.
Exodus 31:1-3 “The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, . .”
Dwell in my midst!
Scripture reading for February 10th: Exodus 25-27, Psalm 90, Philippians 1
Philippians 1: 27-30 “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the Gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.”
Even though Christ has called us to an abundant life here and for eternity, and dwells with us through the Holy Spirit, there is opposition that can cause us to fear. Paul, called of God, was in prison and facing possible death for preaching the Gospel. He wanted to encourage God’s people and wrote to them that even in this trial, those who were holding him had heard the Gospel. His firm stance without fear of death was a sign to those who opposed him of their destruction and of his own salvation. The holy boldness was from God indwelling Paul and it is the same for us. God is calling us to live lives worthy of the Gospel, free from fear and standing firm in our faith and confession. Our simple faithfulness will produce fruit and bring God’s favor and power. Try it! You will be blessed!
Exodus 25:8-9 “And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, an of all its furniture, so you shall make it.”
Prayer: Father God, in response to Your great Gospel, I have opened my life to Your indwelling Presence. Strengthen me today to boldly witness of Christ Jesus and not be hampered by petty fears. Unite me with Your people of old like Moses and Paul who stood firm and prayed for the people of God. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and favor to reach those needing the Good News!
Psalm 90:15-16 “Let Your work be shown to Your servants, and Your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands.”
The ‘bondservant’s heart’
Scripture reading for February 9th: Exodus 22-24, Psalm 109, Ephesians 6
Ephesians 6: 5-9 “Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that He Who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with Him.”
In Exodus 21:4-6, we have the description of a bondservant–one who willingly offers to serve his master for the rest of their lives. Paul, the Apostle, described himself as a ‘bondservant of Christ’ and called the believers who were employed or were slaves to a master or were masters themselves to serve God in the same way. God is the real Master of all believers and our Lord also came to serve gladly and willingly and to offer His life as a ransom for many. God promises to repay us for the good we do as His servants. If we are mistreated, God is watching. He is not partial. He sees our hearts and makes our hearts glad as we serve Him. He blesses His servants and cares for their every need and fulfills His purpose in each person making them fruitful and thriving.
Psalm 109:26-28 “Help me, O Lord my God! Save me according to Your steadfast love! Let them know that this is your hand; You, O Lord, have done it! Let them curse, but You will bless! They arise and are put to shame, but Your servant will be glad.”
Prayer: Father, I commit my life to You as Your bondservant. I willingly serve You in all that I do from a heart shaped by Your Spirit living in me. I trust You for health, strength, and divine protection and provision. I trust You to make me fruitful for Your kingdom and according to Your Word. You will fulfill the number of my days and take me to glory!
Exodus 22:25-26 “You shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you. None shall miscarry or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.”
The blessedness of God’s people!
Scripture reading for February 8th: Exodus 19-21, Psalm 33, Ephesians 5
Ephesians 5:15-21 “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of your time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to the God the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
God’s chosen and called-out people are His “heritage” and “treasured possession”, more valuable than anything else in creation. God owns it all and His Word is His will. Through the Apostle Paul, God calls His people to walk with Him in this world in wisdom and understanding of His will and Word. They are to be filled with His gift of the Holy Spirit and the flow of the Spirit would bring worship, holy respect for God and others, joy and thanksgiving. There would be truly the abundant life here on earth as His Church was being fitted for eternity in God’s presence. The most blessed of all people are those marked with the Holy Spirit and filled with the Spirit! They are blessed with an abundant life and seek to obey God’s voice!
Exodus 19:5-6 “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing counsel that is established forever to guide and bless and warn and correct Your beloved people. Remind me often that I am Your treasured possession and I belong to You. Use me as a priest to intercede for Your people and for the lost of this world who are drunk on its pleasures and the flesh. Fill me afresh today with the Holy Spirit and let psalms and hymns and spiritual songs flow from my heart with thanksgiving.
Psalm 33:11-12 “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen as His heritage!”
Sharing the load!
Scripture reading for February 7th: Exodus 16-18, Ephesians 4
Ephesians 4:11-14 “And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and to the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
Jesus is the Head of the Church, His body. He places each person in the body as He desires to help it function properly. His Body is designed so that each part, when doing what they are called to do faithfully, causes growth to maturity of each part. The Body is protected from false teaching and faulty doctrines and brought into the unity of the Spirit and bond of peace as God works into each one the fullness of His Son. God places certain gifts and gift-people in the Body to facilitate this growth. There are no “big I’s” or “little you’s” but all are equal in the benefits of salvation. As Moses of old was advised to pick out leaders of trustworthiness and integrity, so those leading Christ’s Church must meet God’s standards. His people lead by serving and setting a good example and faithfulness.
Ephesians 4:15-16 “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him Who is the Head, into Christ from Whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
Prayer: Father God, Thank You for designing the Church and building it up in love. Thank You for the gift-people and the gifts You give to build up the Body. Help me to faithfully work in my calling as a pastor/teacher to equip the body for ministry and see it built up into maturity. Help each member of Your body to faithfully bear the burdens of helping others find salvation and grow to the fullness of Christ.
Exodus 18:21-22 “Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide for themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.”
Exceedingly abundantly!
Scripture reading for February 4th: Exodus 13-15, Psalm 114, Ephesians 3
Ephesians 3:14-21 “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith–that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him Who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Paul again breaks into prayer for the Church, God’s chosen vessel to manifest His glory and mercy to the rulers and authorities in heavenly places. Paul humbly bows his knees before the Father God, and asks that the saints would be strengthened with power in their inner man to allow Christ to dwell within them and manifest the fullness of His life and love. God’s amazing love and limitless power are beyond natural human comprehension. Paul admitted that God could do far more than whatever he or we could ask or think. We are limited in our flesh. But through the gift of the Holy Spirit, we can have revelation knowledge and be filled with the fullness of God–beyond what we could knowingly ask for. Our God is amazing and there is none like Him!
Exodus 15:11-12 “Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? You stretched out Your right hand; the earth swallowed them.”
Prayer: Father God, I bow my knees before You, the Holy, Holy, Holy Father Who is Love Himself. I don’t know how to ask for all that I need or what You want me to have. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and reveal to me how to pray and by faith be filled with the fullness of God. I believe that nothing is impossible with You. Do in me exceedingly abundant revelations of Your love and mercy.
Psalm 114:7-8 “Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, Who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of water.”
Brought near by the blood of Christ!
Scripture reading for February 3rd: Exodus 10-12, Ephesians 2
Ephesians 2:11-16 “Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands–remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the common-wealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, Who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.”
Life in this world is bound up by spiritual conflict and hostility between two spiritual forces. The forces of darkness under Satan are out to kill, steal, and destroy the forces of God and those who walk by faith in Him. Paul told the Ephesians, that we were all once living in the darkness of sin and were without God and without hope. But through God’s mercy, He sent Jesus Christ to shed His blood on the cross and make payment for sins, sparing us from the death and judgment on those in darkness under Satan. Christ’s blood reconciles us to God and to other believers–Jew and Gentile, and breaks down the walls of hostility because we are now all made one in Christ Jesus. As the blood of a lamb protected the Israelites, it also brought them closer to God and His presence led them out of the hostility in Egypt.
Exodus 12:12-13 “For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.”
Prayer: Father God, I am thankful for the peace I have in Jesus Christ. I am aware of the spiritual conflict in the world between the forces of Satan and those blinded by him and Your people. I cling by faith to the blood shed by Christ Jesus on my behalf to reconcile me to God and unite me with all believers, Jew and Gentile, in one body–the Church. Have mercy on those caught in hostility of this spiritual conflict.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”