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Exodus 31: God told Moses that he has chosen Bezalel
of Judah and have filled him with God's Spirit to be skilled in all kinds of
crafts. Bezalel is to be a gifted craftsman in precious stones, metal,
as well as wood, and Oholiab of Dan is to assist him. All the craftsmen
were given the ability to carry out the work of God as given to Moses.
So God is the one that enhances our talents and deserves the credit.
God commanded Moses to tell the Israelites to always observe the Sabbath as a
sign of their agreement with God for generations and who ever violates it must
be put to death. They are only to work for six days and rest on the
seventh day just like God did during the creation of the world. Moses left
Mount Sinai with two stone tablets of God's testimony that were written on by
God's finger.
Exodus 32: The Israelites approached Aaron to make them gods to worship
and depend on, since Moses had abandoned them (stayed too long on Mount Sinai).
Aaron, brother of Moses and spokesman of God to Pharaoh, told the people to
bring all their gold and he created a golden calf for them to worship as the god
that brought them out of Egypt from slavery. Aaron also built
an altar for the idol and made the people worship it with offerings and
festivity the very next day. Have no faith in people because they
will always disappoint you. God then told Moses to hurry down to see
the evil the people had done and God was going to punish them to make a great
nation out of them. Moses begged God to forgive the people so that the Egyptian
will not mock them by saying that Israel came to the desert to perish, so God
forgave them. Moses broken the two tablets on the ground, destroyed the golden
calf, grounded the calf into powder and mixed it with water, and made the people
drink it. Moses demanded to know who was on God's side and all the Levites came
to him. Moses commanded them to take their sword to cleanse the people and
3,000 were killed. Moses went back up to God to atone for the sin of
Israel, but God told him that he will remove those that sinned from his book and
will punish them at the right time. God commanded Moses to move the people
towards the promised land and an angel will lead them.
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The Political & Spiritual Purpose of the
Holy Land
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Exodus 33:
God told Moses to take the people to the promised land that was flowing with
milk and honey and that an angel will go ahead of them to drive out the
Canaanites & their relatives from the land. God was not going with the
Israelites because they were a disobedient people and God did not want to
destroy them on the way. So God does not know what you or what he
might do next. God is not all knowing; God also goes one step at a time,
but makes decisions and brings it to pass. Also, God is not everywhere.
God is where God wants to be. So God made them put all their
ornament at Mount Horeb (I guess so that they cannot make another golden idol).
Moses judged the people who wanted to hear from God in a tent and a cloud would
come down to settle at the entrance while God spoke to Moses. Moses negotiated
with God to follow them thought their journey in order to show that God had
favor with Moses and that the Israelites were special among humanity.
Moses wanted to see God face (glory), but God said that no one can see his face
and live.
Exodus 34:
God made Moses cut out two stone like the ones he had destroyed, so the God
could re-write his laws again. Moses went up to God and God declared that
he is compassionate and gracious, as well as slow to anger and forgives
abundantly. God does not leave the sins of the guilty unpunished
because he punishes even to the 4th generation. Moses worshipped God for
showing him favor, but wanted God to lead them into the promised land. God made
a covenant with Moses that Moses should abide by all of God's laws and God will
do for Israel what has never been done for any other country. The
Israelites are also not to associate with, make a treaty with, or worship the
gods of the Canaanites because God is a jealous God. Mingling with the
Canaanites or marrying them could lead to the influence of idol worship.
Moses was with God for 40 days without food or water, and his face became so
radiant that he had to wear a veil before the people, but only took the veil off
when in God's presence. |
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