Perfectly Imperfect Together

In Exodus 30, an incense altar is built so incense can be burned around the clock. Like our prayers, a sweet aroma is raised up to God night and day. A set atonement price is to be paid every year to atone for their sins. The price is set and equal for everyone regardless of income. Jesus paid an equal price for every one of us when He died on the cross for us. He died on the cross so every one of...

In Exodus 29, Aaron and his sons are cleansed, purified, and go through an ordination process to prepare them for entrance into God's presence in the Tabernacle. A visible sign of their sin being transferred out of them is seen in the sacrifices. Their entire lives are dedicated to God. Everything they hear and do and wherever they go will be focused on God. Blood is used in the cleansing. Jesus d...

In Exodus 28, we see the priests are set apart for the Lord as they prepare to approach the presence of God on behalf of the nation. The design of their clothing bears resemblance to the Tabernacle in the material and colors used. Aaron and his sons would bear the weight of the nation on their shoulders and hold the nation close to their hearts as they approached God on their behalf. The clothing...

In Exodus 26 & 27, God gives specific beautiful details on how to build the tent of the Tabernacle where the Ark of the Covenant and God's presence will travel with His people. God wants more than anything to dwell with His people. The Ark is placed behind a second curtain and most of the nation will not always get to see the Ark. God wants His people to have faith and trust knowing that He is...

In Exodus 24 & 25, God's people say "yes" to God and agree with His covenant. They desperately want to obey God. Their allegiance is in the right place but their confidence lies in themselves and their ability rather than God. It will falter time and time again. They need continuous altars after the laws in order to make it. Jesus gave us the ultimate and final altar when He died for us on the...

In Exodus 22 & 23, God lays out some guidelines and rules on how to live with each other and treat each other in society. God's heart and character of justice with compassion are shown in the laws given. God wants a society where people are treated fairly and justice is upheld honestly and truthfully. He wants a society where the marginalized are provided for and never taken advantage of. He d...

In Exodus 21, some civil laws showing how to get along in the context and culture of the time are pointed out. They did not have jails, banks or a money system like we do today. If someone owed another person a debt, they would work for that person to pay that debt. If a thief had to repay a debt to someone, they had to work to pay it back. If people were struggling with poverty, they would offer...

In Exodus 19 & 20, the Israelites are brought into the Mosaic Covenant. It's a bilateral, conditional covenant with "if-then's". It forms a relationship with God and mankind. If they agree to obey God, they will represent God to the world. When Jesus fulfilled the law, He made it possible for all of us to enter His plan and be set apart to represent Him to the world. God then gives us the top...

In Exodus 17 & 18, the Israelites are traveling on through the wilderness and become thirsty. Rather than praying and trusting God who has already shown them miracle after miracle, they grumble and complain yet again. Moses cries out to God and God answers by having Moses strike a rock which causes water to gush out. Just like when the side of Jesus was pierced on the cross and water and blood...

In Exodus 16, God's people are found to be complaining and grumbling yet again. They have quickly forgotten the life they were just saved from and Who it was that saved them. They forget the misery of slavery and the almighty strength of God. God wants to provide for His people and He wants them to trust He will provide. God gives them a double portion on the 6th day so they can have food prepared...

In Exodus 15, God's people have just been rescued from their oppressors in the most miraculous way. They did absolutely no fighting to win this freedom, God did everything. God's rescue is reflected in their song of heartfelt, honest expression as they sing praise to God for their deliverance out of oppression.  When we go out into the world, the song of the cross that delivers us from death'...

In Exodus 13 & 14, the Israelites are called to remember. Remember the mighty power of God and all He did to rescue them. We are called to do the same in our own lives. Remember the past as we head into the future and tell the people in our lives all that God does in our lives. Do not forget we are redeemed and we belong to God. God takes the Israelites on a detour. They have some battles ahea...

In Exodus 12, the first Passover happens. The plague of death is hitting Egypt since they still refuse to repent and turn to God. God rescues His people by having them sacrifice a blemish-free lamb and painting the blood across their doorposts with a hyssop branch. Hyssop is a symbol of cleansing and purification. Jesus was our ultimate and final sacrifice - completely sinless. He was offered vine...

In Exodus 10 & 11, God shows Pharaoh that he is not God, oppression is wrong, and sin has clear consequences. We cannot compromise with sin. Sin devours all the good things in our lives. Sin leads to darkness, death, separation, oppression, and isolation. God leads to light, freedom, forgiveness, eternal life, community, and unity. God desires us to tether our hearts to God's heart rather than...

In Exodus 9, God brings a plague against the livestock of Egypt. The Egyptians worshiped their livestock yet enslaved people and treated them horribly. God wants His people free from oppression so they can worship Him. God wants us free from sin and oppression in our lives so we can freely worship Him with all our hearts, minds, and souls. God sees that Pharaoh is not going to change his heart reg...

In Exodus 8, God brings forth plagues of frogs, gnats, and flies as direct attacks against their false gods. The magicians mimic the first two plagues but only God has the power to stop the plagues. The magicians were unable to mimic the 3rd plague and even they cried out to Pharaoh saying "This is the finger of God!" - even the magicians get it and realize who God is and that He is present. Phara...

In Exodus 7, Aaron throws down his staff in front of Pharaoh and it turns into a serpent. The magicians then turned their staffs into serpents too but Aaron's staff swallowed up all of theirs. Satan tries to mimic God and tries to trick us into believing false gods and idols in our lives. God is the only true God and is greater than anything. God should remain the greatest thing in every area of o...

In Exodus 5 & 6, Moses talks with Pharaoh letting him know why he was there, Who sent him, and what the mission is - to bring God's people back to Him so they can once again worship Him. Pharaoh refuses to listen to Moses and instead makes the work harder by making totally impossible demands from the Israelites. Pharaoh is similar to Satan and sin and Egypt is like the world we live in. Sin do...

In Exodus 3 & 4, we see a rescue mission being set forth. God wants to rescue His people out of where they are and bring them into where He plans for them to be. God appears to Moses in a burning bush that refuses to be engulfed in the flames. He tells Moses that he is being called to go back to Egypt and rescue God's people from the hands of Pharaoh. God refers back to His covenant yet again....

In Exodus 1 & 2, the 2nd generation of Israelites are multiplying in spite of the fierce oppression they are facing daily. Fear sets into the King of Egypt and orders the midwives to kill any newborn boys. The midwives will not. They fear God more than man and are blessed in their own personal lives because of it. Moses is born and his mom places him in a basket in the river with hopes he'll b...

In Genesis 50, Joseph mourns the loss of his father alongside his brothers. His brothers freak out and think that now that their dad has passed, Joseph will get back at them for what they did to him so many years ago. Even though it has been 17 years since Joseph forgave them, they still don't fully trust his forgiveness. They limit the forgiveness of their brother. Joseph reassures them they are...

In Genesis 49, Jacob gives his final words and blessings to his 12 sons. God's blessing is passing from Jacob to his 12 sons who become the nation of Israel. He speaks to what he sees in them and what is ahead for them and God's plan for the world. He speaks of the coming of Jesus, our Messiah, and declares his trust in God for salvation in the midst of all of this. God's faithfulness is seen in J...

In Genesis 47 & 48, Joseph introduces his family to Pharaoh. He presents them to Pharaoh's throne as if they are outstanding, upright men. Much the same, Jesus presents us to God's throne completely faultless with no condemnation if we believe and accept Jesus as our Savior. The famine is continuing through Egypt and Canaan. They've totally run out of money to buy any more grain from Joseph. H...

In Chapter 45 & 46, Joseph reveals who he is to his brothers. He assures them in full mercy and grace that all is well. There is nothing but forgiveness in Joseph as he speaks with his brothers. There is no anger or vengeance. Forgiveness breaks chains that bind us down and brings forth grace, mercy, love, and unity. He gives God all the glory and recognizes this was God's plan and purpose for...

In Genesis 44, Joseph's brothers are about to leave but there's one problem with that - they have not yet repented. Joseph again presses them by returning the money they paid for the grain back to each of their bags and also puts his cup in Benjamin's bag. He loves his family and wants to make sure they are taken care of. He doesn't want them to pay for their grain. Just like God's grace cannot be...