November 4 | Exodus 39:32-43

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DAILY READING

Exodus‬ ‭39‬:‭32‬-‭43

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REFLECTION

Restless to Reconciled

by Mary Alice McGinnis

Over the past few weeks, I have been recovering from an injury to my right hand. Since the time of my accident, I have noticed something. It's difficult for me not to feel restless. If I sit or lay down too long, an ache wells up.

I believe we all have a deep spiritual ache. We as humans were created for a deep connection and intimacy with God. But that relationship has been broken, just like my right hand.

Through the study of Exodus, we have seen over and over how God continued to pursue His people who were enslaved, lost, and broken. He rescued them from slavery in Egypt. He provided a way for them through the wilderness of their wandering. He provided a way to dwell among them. That way was through specific instructions given to Moses on how to build the Tabernacle.

The people tried to invent their own ways to God. Remember the golden calf incident? We too often look for our own way to God that is outside His plan.

Yet in today's reading it says,

“So all the work on the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, was completed. The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses.” And “The Israelites had done all the work just as the Lord had commanded Moses. Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses blessed them.”

Inside the Tabernacle, inside the holy of holies, was placed the Ark of the Covenant. On top of the Ark was the mercy seat. The glorious presence of the almighty God overshadowed the Tabernacle, filled the holy of holies, and rested upon the mercy seat.

Hebrews 8:5 says:

“They (the priests) serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: 'See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.'”

How was the Tabernacle a shadow of what is in heaven?

The Temple became the permanent structure of what was the moveable Tabernacle in Exodus. Jesus is the true Temple. He said, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." (John 2:19)

Jesus tells us He is the only true way to intimacy and restored relationship with God.

“I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

(John 14:6)

I found it interesting in today's reading that God used the people to create this Tabernacle. Could God not have just created the Tabernacle on His own? After all, He created the heavens and the earth. He put the Ten Commandments on the tablets of stone. Why use the people to build the Tabernacle?

Remember what Angel Gabriel said when he appeared to Mary?

"The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.

So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35)

God invited Mary to become the Tabernacle/Temple of God. His presence overshadowed her, and what was conceived in her belly was the very Son of God. Becoming God's humble servant, she birthed the Son of God (Immanuel—God with us) into the world. And that Son would pour out His life blood for the redemption of all mankind.

We too are invited to be His humble servants. We too are His temple. We have been given a calling.

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with His Divine presence.

Let's ask Him to use us to draw the world to the One who stands in God's presence to make reconciliation for us. Only in Him will we and all people, find the way, the truth, and the life that our restless hearts long for.

PRAYER

You are truly an amazing God. Though You are holy and perfect, You choose to pursue us. You want an intimate relationship with frail, broken human beings like us. Thank you for providing a way to a restored relationship with You through Jesus. As your temples, fill us with your Holy Spirit. Empower us to be about the business of drawing others into a restored relationship with You.

November 3 | Exodus 34:29-35

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SCRIPTURE

Exodus 34:29-35

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REFLECTION

Is your face shining?

by Kim Starr

Moses has had another mountaintop encounter with God. Unbeknownst to him, his face is radiant and glowing because, as he was meeting with God, he absorbed God’s glory. When the Israelites see him, they are afraid, but Moses calls to them and he shares God’s message with them. After he finishes speaking to the people, he covers his face with a veil.

Moses’ radiant face affirms his authority as God’s representative. His appearance demonstrates the way of life within a covenant relationship with God. God’s glory is the manifestation of God’s character. Moses, by being in the presence of God, reflects God’s glory. We can also reflect God’s glory. When we are in the presence of God, when we commune with God, and when we live our lives in the light of his glory, we cannot help but reflect it! God’s glory is contagious and because of it, we, too, can shine.

Each of us reflects something at every moment of every day. We often reflect our own agendas and ambitions, but if we set these aside, we can reflect the glory of God. That reflection can be seen by those around us and if we bear witness to God, we give glory back to him. Our words and deeds can change people so that they then give glory back to God. It is a full circle: glory emanates from God Himself, is reflected in the lives of His people, changes and transforms those who see it and come to the Lord Jesus, and then returns to the Father as his people offer it back to him. We have been directed to let God’s light shine through our lives and actions so that we make God’s transforming presence known throughout the world. Let’s consciously do that each day and let God’s glory shine.

PRAYER

God, thank you for the privilege of reflecting your glory to others. Your glory is contagious and all who step into its light are changed. Help us to be stewards of your glory so that more and more people come to know you. Help us to walk with you and live our lives in such a way that we shine with the beautiful and life-changing light of your glory. Amen.

NOVEMBER 2 | EXODUS 34:1-13

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DAILY READING

EXODUS 34:1-13

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REFLECTION

Name Your Super Power!

by Kristin Schoeff

What’s your “Super Power”? What is it that makes you unique and special—what sets you apart? Even as young children, we’re always looking for what we do better than the next kid—and parents try to identify these gifts and talents in their children - this “special sauce” - and nurture it.

When Moses asked the Lord to show him his glory in Exodus 33:18, I wonder what he expected to see. A magnificent display of God’s Super Powers—volcanoes, earthquakes and winds shaking the earth? Or perhaps the brilliance and splendor of the heavens filled with countless stars, planets, comets and meteors?

This was the Lord of Heaven and Earth’s chance to reveal his great power and dominance to Moses—to show Moses what was most critical for him to understand about his God.

God’s answer to Moses is the heart of today’s Bible reading. As God had promised Moses he would, in Chapter 34 verse 6 he passed in front of Moses, declaring his name and his goodness. He described to Moses the elements of his character which he most wanted Moses and the people of Israel to know and understand: he is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger and full of love and faithfulness. He shows his love endlessly and even forgives those who are wicked and rebel against him. And yes, he is just and punishes those who are guilty and unrepentant.

How revealing of God’s heart that he chose to express his nature of love and compassion. This is the Glory of the Lord! In God, we recognize power and magnificence, but isn’t the greatest wonder his tender love, and his readiness to forgive and restore us when we turn to him?

He calls us to share in this beauty of character as well. Micah 6:8 says, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” The good news is that, even though we might stumble repeatedly at being just, merciful and humble, God sent the Holy Spirit to walk alongside us and teach us, developing the fruit of the Spirit in us as we yield to his loving correction. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23) Doesn’t that list of qualities sound similar to the attributes the Lord proclaimed to Moses as he revealed his glory?

Think of how the Glory of the Lord is displayed through his people when we demonstrate that kind of Super Power!

PRAYER

What more can we say, Lord? Let it be so! Display your glory in your church as you continue to build your character in us. We pray this fervently in the name of Jesus, Amen.