For a full description of the (Y3) reading plan, see the “About” page.
- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Ex. 28-29
It wasn’t just the Tabernacle and its furnishings for which God gave specific details. He did the same for the priestly garments. Again, I believe this is because the garments tell God’s story of redemption. As Paul said in Galatians 3:27, “for those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.”
God likewise had very specific instructions for how people were to approach Him. There was only one right method of consecration by which God would consider them holy and worthy to enter into His dwelling. This also points to Jesus. He is the one way by which we can come to God. It is He who consecrates us and makes us holy. And it is through Him that we become God’s dwelling.
Ex. 30
A thought just occurred to me concerning David’s census sin. God told Moses in this chapter that when he took a census of the Israelites, each man had to pay a ransom for his life. As far as I can tell, David didn’t do that. The thought that occurred to me is that in counting the people in his own way and of his own accord, David was essentially declaring the people his. It’s not good to claim what belongs to God! Nor is it good, as we saw when David first attempted to move the Ark of the Covenant, to do things our own way.
Another little thought that came to me regarding the census is that a price must be paid for God to count us as one of His. Indeed, it is only because of the great price paid by Jesus on the cross that God will say of us, “This one was born [in Zion]” (Ps. 87:6).