The Listener’s Bible Commentary

Exodus 35-40

In this section of the Bible book of Exodus, the tabernacle is built and the priestly garments are made. Since the covenant has been renewed, it’s time to build the tabernacle, fashion the priestly garments, and get everything ready for God to move in. 

God gives his Spirit to two men, Bezalel and Oholiab, so that they can lead the project and the people respond with great generosity and dedication. They complete the tabernacle, all its furnishings, and the priestly garments exactly as the Lord had instructed Moses. 

And at the end of the book, God moves from Mount Sinai into the tabernacle. 

In this recording, we consider why so much space is devoted to the plans and construction of the tabernacle and what the theological message is in the context of the whole story of the Bible. 

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Exodus 32-34, pt. 2  

These chapters recount the famous "golden calf" incident, where Israel convince Aaron to set an idol in the form of gold bull and they worship it as their god who led them out of Egypt. In a real, sense this is the fall of Israel. 

What makes it even more tragic and offensive is that they have just entered into their covenant with Yahweh less than 2 months ago and now they have violated that covenant. When Moses throws down and breaks the two tablets of the covenant, that action embodies what Israel has done.

The covenant is broken. 

So now, the threat of God's absence hangs over the camp of Israel. God has said he will not move in among... it's an act of mercy protecting them from his own holiness. 

But Moses intervenes. 

And God relents, agreeing to be with Moses and to go with the people. 

One very important moment in part 2 is when God shows himself to Moses. He passes by and declares, "The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in faithfulness and truth; 7 who keeps faithfulness for thousands, who forgives wrongdoing, violation of His Law, and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, inflicting the punishment of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

This is who God is and how he desires to be known. This is the most quoted passage of the Bible in the Bible. Our understanding of God should start here. 

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Exodus 32-34, pt. 1  

These chapters recount the famous "golden calf" incident, where Israel convince Aaron to set an idol in the form of gold bull and they worship it as their god who led them out of Egypt. In a real, sense this is the fall of Israel. 

What makes it even more tragic and offensive is that they have just entered into their covenant with Yahweh less than 2 months ago and now they have violated that covenant. When Moses throws down and breaks the two tablets of the covenant, that action embodies what Israel has done.

The covenant is broken. 

And God's response is his just anger at their disloyalty.   

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Exodus 28-31  

In Exodus 28-31 God give Moses the instructions for the priests clothing and for their ordination service. Then he gives the plans for the final few items needed for the tabernacle. The section ends with God handing Moses the two tablets containing the words of the Covenant.

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Exodus 25-27  

The main theme of the whole last section of Exodus - chapters 25-40 - is God presence in the midst of the Israelites. And the center of that is a specially designed royal tent where God will come to dwell right in the middle of the camp. We call this tent the Tabernacle. 

In chapters 25-27 God begins giving Moses the blueprints for the Tabernacle. 

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Exodus 24  

Exodus 24 recounts the covenant ratification ceremony between God and Israel. Moses reads the "Book of the Covenant" and the people agree to obey all that God has said. The Moses, Aaron, and representatives of the people partake of a covenant meal in God's presence, and Moses enters God's presence to receive instructions for the Tabernacle so God can move in among the people. 

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Exodus 21-23 

This is sometimes referred to as "The Book of the Covenant" because that is what it is called in Exodus 24:7-8, although that probably also includes Exodus 20. We need to remember that these regulations reflect “God’s ways in Israel’s days” (as one author puts it). These instructions are part of God’s covenant with this particular nation, Israel.

God is accommodating himself to their culture... These are case laws (notice the format of these regulations: “if this… then that”). This is simply acknowledging aspects of ordinary life and offering regulations for it… it’s not commanding these things to be this way. It is regulating life in their culture to bring about order (righteousness) and justice to their world, so that Israel can live as "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Exodus 19:4-6). Many of the regulations is these chapters provide legal wisdom by showing how the 10 commandments apply to specific situations. 

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Special Study: Covenant

In Exodus 19-24, God makes a covenant with Israel. The idea of "covenant" is central to not only the book of Exodus but also the entire Bible. So in this special study we explore the concept of covenant in regards to the Sinai covenant and how it relates to the new covenant in Christ. 

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Exodus 19-20  

These chapters are pivotal in book of Exodus. Israel arrives at Mount Sinai, where God meets with them and enters into a covenant with them. Because of that, these chapters are also pivotal in the history of Israel and the entire Bible. 

God describes their status and vocation in Exodus 19:3-6: 

3 And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “This is what you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. 5 Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”

God also gives Israel the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20 as the foundation of his covenant with them. 

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Exodus 15:22-18:27  

These chapters of Exodus recount Israel's journey from the Red Sea to Mount Sinai. It includes five snapshots from that journey which show Israel's continual unbelief that's acted out in grumbling and complaining and pining to return to Egypt. 

The five snapshots are:

1. Near dehydration - 15:22-27

2. Fear of Starvation - 16:1-36

3. No more water - 17:1-7

4. Fighting Amalek - 17:8-16

5. A Father-in-Law's Advice - 18:1-27  

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