These chapters present a detailed description of the tabernacle plans. I don’t always understand the details and sometimes my eyes blur when I read through chapters like these. Moses, I’m certain, was paying better attention. After all, it was his responsibility to instruct the people on God’s plan.

Three times in these chapters God affirms that He is showing Moses what He wants him to do. The tabernacle plans are specific, but they are not hidden. God did not hide His expectations. He revealed Himself and His will, then He empowered Moses to accomplish His tasks.

God will do the same for me if I will “climb the mountain” and listen for His will. He continually reveals Himself to those who seek Him and trust Him and long for His glory to be exalted.

“Revile” means to treat lightly or to slight while “curse” means, well, curse. This would be an important command to remember at any time, but especially for us during a political season.

It has become routine, even expected, for people to make sport of our elected officials and those seeking office. We take their words out of context, assume they have the worst of intentions, ridicule an;y mistakes, and seek to destroy their reputation and character. Anyone who does not share our vitriol can become suspect.

More than a reflection on our leaders, it is a reflection of our lack of respect for our leaders and our lack of respect for God. We sully His name and doubt His power. We ignore His command and choose our own direction.

None of our political leaders are perfect and some seem short-sighted and may support views with which we disagree, but that does not negate God’s command to respect and not to curse. Let us as the people of God set a new standard of respect for those in authority.

It sounds like the easiest commandment of the Ten Commandments: rest, stop working, remember the importance of this day. Interestingly, it is the longest commandment when considering the explanations that follow it. God wanted to make it clear to us that each week we are to consider the Sabbath day a holy day, set apart from all the rest.

But we work hard to not rest. This day of worship, of celebrating God’s creative power and, later, God’s resurrection power has become another day to be productive and to get a little more accomplished. We act as if it is our day to do whatever we want. It’s a “catch-up” day. It’s a “get a bit more done” day. It’s a “let’s do anything we want except consider God” day.

God gave us this day for His glory and for our blessing. When we obey Him, we celebrate His power and learn to trust in Him. He renews us, restores us, refreshes us. We need this. I need this.

Come aside and worship Him, the King of glory.

Joshua’s army won the battle over Amalek as Moses raised the staff of God into the air. When Moses held his hands high, the battle went for Joshua. But when Moses’ arms grew tired and his hands dropped, the battle went for Amalek. For Joshua and the army of Israel to win the battle, Moses needed Aaron and Hur to hold up his hands.

Everyone leading in any area, family, work, community, or church, needs someone to hold up his or her arms. We all grow tired at times and need others to stand beside us with support. The “I can do it all by myself”‘ mindset sounds strong and independent, but the Bible teaches us in Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

I have to ask myself: Who is my Aaron and my Hur? Who can I count on to hold up my hands when I’m weary?

But I also have to ask: To whom am I Aaron and Hur? Who can count on me to provide support and encouragement when weariness sets in?

Can you imagine the awe the people of Israel experienced as they watched the piled-up waters return to the banks of the Nile River, washing away the Egyptian army along with the terror and dread? Moses led the people in song, celebrating the victory of the Lord.

The people of God often recount His victories in their lives with song, expressing joy and sorrow as the reality of life’s fears are overwhelmed by the power and presence of God. Our best songs are written when the pressures of life are entrusted to the care of Jesus.

It is not enough for me to sing the songs others have written. What songs do I need to write? Where am I trusting God to work in my struggles and fears so that His name is glorified?

God instructed the people of Israel to teach their children about God’s power over the Egyptians, fully revealed in the Passover. Their response to God, as they heard what He prepared to do, was to worship.

Knowing God’s power should bring the same response from me. My children need me to hear me declare the wonders of God and to see me bow in worship to God. It is not enough for me to take them to church so they can learn about Jesus. They need Mom and Dad to have an authentic relationship with God, having experienced the power of the Passover Lamb. It is my task to teach my children that the holy God of the universe has provided the Lamb of God to free us from slavery and bring us to freedom.

Meditate on what God has done. Bow and worship Him. Spread the word.

Pharaoh took an all-too-familiar route in his interaction with God. When circumstances were difficult, Pharaoh promised he would release the people of God to go and worship. But as soon as an improvement came, Pharaoh reneged on his commitments (hardened his heart).

Foxhole religion has a long history. “God, I’m in a bind. If You help me out of this, then I promise to . . .” Then, when we miraculously get out of the impossible problem, we forget our promise and, worse, forget about God. We revert to our self-focused direction in life.

Pharaoh compounded his problems with this tactic in life and so do we. God will not be treated like a genie in a bottle, present only to grant our wishes at our command. No, He is the powerful Creator God of the universe, holy and majestic. At His word we act, not the other way around.

Father, thank you for hearing me when I call out to You. Your compassion for Your creation humbles me. May my life be faithful and obedient before You.

This was not the best moment for Moses. God reveals Himself to Moses in a burning bush, demonstrates His power with three miracles, explains His plan of deliverance for the nation of Israel from slavery in Egypt, and calls Moses to be His point man. Moses responded with rejection.

Wow. I can’t believe he said that to God.

What else would God have to do to make Himself, His power, and His plan known? Maybe God could come down Himself, perform several miracles, and, when He is killed, rise from the dead. Surely everyone would follow God if He did all of that.

Certainly I would never reject God’s invitation to obedience. My own self-doubts and failures from the past would never prevent me living a bold Christian life. Is there any way I would resist and say, “I’m not willing.” Or, “I’m not good enough.” Perhaps, “Get someone else.” Maybe, “It’s too hard.”

Wow. I’ve said all of these things to God.

God, You didn’t give up on Moses.  Thank you for not giving up on me.

These brave women directly opposed the instructions of the king in order to live in obedience to God. Their courageous actions spared the lives of numerous babies and God blessed these women with their own families. Fear of the Lord resulted in obedience in spite of earthly consequences.

Sometimes it seems easier to acquiesce to the requests of others than to stand firm in obedience to God and His unwavering truth. Standing firm may have a negative result for us, such as rejection from friends, shunning by our family, or a loss of income. In the short term, fudging a bit in order to get along with others may be less painful and seems to be the easier path to take.

But when I fear the Lord above all else, then nothing else matters. This does not mean I can be arrogant or flippant with others if they have a different view of life. It means my allegiance to God will be reflected in my words, actions, and attitudes. I will be loyal to Him.

May I live courageously as a result of my fear of the Lord.

Joseph’s brothers had good reason to fear. As young men, they treated Joseph with contempt and eventually sold him into slavery. He spent years in servitude and in prison before God miraculously brought him into power. Now Joseph served Pharaoh as second in command of the entire kingdom. With their father now gone, it would be expected for Joseph to have the motive and means of exacting great revenge.

They should be afraid – except for one thing. It’s the one thing they never understood about Joseph.

Joseph wanted his life to be used for God’s purposes and for God’s glory.

It was God Who gave Joseph the dreams. It was obedience to God that caused Joseph to resist temptation. It was God Who gave interpretation of dreams. It was God who granted Joseph favor with both the jailer and Pharaoh. If God ruled his life, then Joseph had no right to act as God in seeking revenge.

If I can get this right, then the so-called injustices in my life won’t matter much. If my life is surrendered to God for Him to use for His purposes and for His glory, then I can trust God to work out the details however He desires. God will be at work in the hardships, the difficulties, the disappointments as well as the blessings, the benefits, and the celebrations. I don’t need to pretend to be in charge; God rules and reigns.