Exodus 24-26

January 25

Exodus 24-26

God gave strict instructions on how the Israelites were to worship. God revealed His holiness through His instructions on the construction of the Tabernacle and its contents, on the way the people were to live and in the way they were to worship. "Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.”" (Exodus 24:7, NIV) The people meant well. There is an old saying that goes; “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Our good intentions are not really all that good. The Israelites had good intentions, they really wanted to obey, but sin was too embedded in their hearts. Moses didn’t even get off the mountain before they were rebelling against God.

Moses, Aaron, Aaron’s sons and seventy elders of Israel got a glimpse of God. Moses went up the mountain and was enveloped by God’s presence in the cloud on the top of the mountain. This would surely cause the Israelites to realize who God is and to worship Him. Surely after this encounter they would not turn away. God even promised to dwell among them if they built a sanctuary for him and gave of their best to Him. God gave a blueprint of the Tabernacle and its contents. But rebellion was still in their hearts. They could not approach God except through the priest and with sacrifices.

The writer of Hebrews tells followers of Jesus; “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16, NIV)

We are invited to approach God with confidence. We can come and present our cares, our concerns, our praises before God’s throne. Jesus shed his blood as the ultimate sacrifice. God wants to give us new hearts as we come to Him. He wants to make us into new creations. If we give Him our old sinful selves, He will give us new life with a new heart, a heart for Him. The blood of Jesus is more powerful than sin. Are you willing to give it all to Him?