FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2023

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Friday, March 10, 2023

 

Being God’s Presence Today (Part 1)

 

     “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[b] 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.                                         Deuteronomy 6; 4 – 9 (ESV)

 

    God has long desired for His people to became partners with Him in renewing his relationship with humanity. The Hebrews were part of that plan, but they needed to be trained and shaped into a people who would love (obey) Him with all their heart, soul, and strength. The tabernacle was part of the shaping process. As God lived among His people, an s as they worshiped him through the tabernacle ritual, the tabernacle became God’s lesson in how to create space for Him in every part of their lives.

    Today, followers of Jesus no linger worship God at a tabernacle where there is a dedicated space for Him.  However, it is no less important for us to make space for Him in our lives if we are o be a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that declare the praises of Him wo called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. 1 Peter 2: 9

 

  1. READ: Exodus 32: 7 – 10.  God gave Moses instructions for building the tabernacle and creating a space where he could live among His people. What could prevent God from filling this space?

 

 

  1. READ:  Exodus 32: 35 and 33: 1 – 6.  After God punished the Israelites because they sinned against Him by creating and worshiping the golden calf, what did He say He would do because He was displeased with them?

 

a.     READ:  Exodus 33: 12 – 17.  What did God promise Moses that he would do for His people?

 

b.    READ:  Exodus 40: 34 & 35;  Leviticus 9: 23 & 24.  After the Israelites completed the space in the tabernacle for him to dwell, what did God do?

 

c.     What do these examples reveal to you about God’s commitment to His promises and His willingness to forgive His people?