QT 5/28/2026 Heb 1:1–4, The New Covenant's superiority is based on Jesus' superiority

Hebrews 1:1–4 (ESV) —

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

 

NOTE: This is a great book to study after Exodus (probably even better after Deuteronomy). The aim of this book is to prove that the Old Covenant is superseded by the New Covenant (Marcus Dods). Much is devoted to the superiority of Jesus to anyone in the Old Testament. The writer starts out by acknowledging God spoke to his people and the prophets in many different ways and at many different times. There is no doubting the Old Covenant truths. But now, God speaks to us, literally directly, through his Son. He is the heir of all and the creator of all. He is God's glory and the EXACT imprint of his nature. He holds the universe together with his power. He sits at the right hand of the Father. He was victorious over sin. He is far superior to any angel. His name is more excellent than any.

 

Really, he is our God. And what he says defines all reality. He is the son, he is wisdom, and he is our High Priest. Consequently, he replaces the Old Covenant, because the law said nothing about our Priest coming from the tribe of Judah. Also, in the Old Covenant, the King could not do what the Priests do, as some Kings found out. It was against the law to be king and priest. So, the law is void and is replaced by a new law, the Law of Christ, also called the Law of Grace.

 

Galatians 6:2 (ESV) — Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:21 (ESV) — To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

1 John 3:23 (ESV) — And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

 

It is a new law but it is also a far better law, one that actually saves us.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I believe that the Old Covenant is null and void, or do I think righteousness or God's good graces are gained through OT law practices?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you that Jesus paid it all. I am loved always and at all times because of my savior Jesus. And nothing can separate me from the love of God. I am secure in his love and favor, and very undeserving.

 

QT 5/27/2026 Exo 40:34–38, The rebirth of the cloud within us

Exodus 40:33b–38 (ESV) —

… So Moses finished the work.

34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 36 Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.

 

NOTE: I like how Stewart (2006) describes the cloud, "a visible presence—indicating symbol of an invisible God." The cloud on the mount "came down" (Exo 33:9) and now it stood over and in the tabernacle. Moses had spoken with God on a trembling mountain, and then in a small tent of meeting outside of camp, and now (in the story) God speaks to Moses within the tabernacle in the middle of and in sight of all the tribes.

 

The beauty of the gospel is that God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, resides in each believer who has put their faith in Jesus Christ for the payment for their sins. The cloud lives in us now and in fact seals us until the day of glorification, when we will receive new bodies and our heavenly inheritance. The OT law was in imperfect way of representing God's presence to the people. First, our sin separated us from God. The blood of sheep and goats could never take away our sin, but was only a temporary covering. A perfect Lamb of God, a redeemer, who had no sin of his own, was required. He, the Son of God, Jesus, voluntarily died in our place, to open the door to the real altar and temple in the Heavenlies. Jesus led the captives out of paradise and into the presence of God. We also await with them the redemption of our bodies and our new home. Exodus reminds us of our greater need, true forgiveness and true salvation.

 

PONDER:

1. Have we experienced the new birth that happens to those who have asked Jesus to be their savior? The bible describes it -- 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray that people around the world might experience the true rebirth that comes with accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord. It is not about a religion, it is about a relationship.

QT 5/26/2026 Exo 40:16–33, Meeting with God

Exodus 40:16–33 (ESV) —

16 This Moses did; according to all that the Lord commanded him, so he did. 17 In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected. 18 Moses erected the tabernacle. He laid its bases, and set up its frames, and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars. 19 And he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent over it, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 20 He took the testimony and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark and set the mercy seat above on the ark. 21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 22 He put the table in the tent of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil, 23 and arranged the bread on it before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 24 He put the lampstand in the tent of meeting, opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle, 25 and set up the lamps before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 26 He put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the veil, 27 and burned fragrant incense on it, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 28 He put in place the screen for the door of the tabernacle. 29 And he set the altar of burnt offering at the entrance of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 30 He set the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it for washing, 31 with which Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet. 32 When they went into the tent of meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed, as the Lord commanded Moses. 33 And he erected the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work.

 

NOTE: So everything was finished and set up in the first month (two weeks later is Passover) of the second year of the Exodus. The mystifying fact is the interchange of names, calling it the tent of meeting (verse 22 and 30) and the tabernacle (most of the verses). Earlier I had noted a difference in the tent of meeting and the tabernacle, and I think that was probably while the items of the tabernacle were still being constructed. With the completion of the tabernacle, the tent of meeting that Moses had set up outside the camp, the tent of meeting now becomes the tabernacle. This is where God will manifest his presence and this is where God answers Moses' prayer to go with the Israelites.

 

I have an office in my house. It is upstairs over our garage. In the morning, it becomes my tent of meeting. Now and then I will wear noise cancelling headsets to eliminate the buzz of the computer fan or the room fan. It is pretty quiet in the morning outside. I read the word and just start writing. I'm not always sure where I am going, but as I write (type), the Holy Spirit guides my mind and speaks to my soul. Things I have not thought about, come to mind. I hear God speak through his word to me directly. I think the most important thing about becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ is to have time in the word every day, away from distractions and noise and everything else that competes for attention, and just listen to our Lord speak.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I have a quiet place to read (hear) and commune with God?
2. Do I meet with God daily or is He not that high on your priority list?

 

PRAYER: Father, we always do the things that are most important. When we don't do what we ought, it reveals to us what are real priorities are. Help us to see our real priorities.

QT 5/25/2026 Exodus 40:1–15, The seriousness of anointing

Exodus 40:1–15 (ESV) —

1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “On the first day of the first month you shall erect the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. 3 And you shall put in it the ark of the testimony, and you shall screen the ark with the veil. 4 And you shall bring in the table and arrange it, and you shall bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. 5 And you shall put the golden altar for incense before the ark of the testimony, and set up the screen for the door of the tabernacle. 6 You shall set the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, 7 and place the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. 8 And you shall set up the court all around, and hang up the screen for the gate of the court.

9 “Then you shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and consecrate it and all its furniture, so that it may become holy. 10 You shall also anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and consecrate the altar, so that the altar may become most holy. 11 You shall also anoint the basin and its stand, and consecrate it. 12 Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and shall wash them with water 13 and put on Aaron the holy garments. And you shall anoint him and consecrate him, that he may serve me as priest. 14 You shall bring his sons also and put coats on them, 15 and anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may serve me as priests. And their anointing shall admit them to a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations.”

 

NOTE: Anointing is an interesting concept. It is mostly symbolic, since from a physical point of view is does not do anything. But it is very important spiritually, and especially in God's eyes as he commands it. These are solemn events that are to be taken quite seriously.

 

It used to be, many years ago, that college graduation was a serious and solemn event. Even when I graduated, some decades ago, it was not, at least for many of the students. Technically it did lack some seriousness since we walked onto the stage and received an empty graduation folder / jacket. The actual diploma came by mail many days later.

 

So, how and why should ceremonies be serious? There is a big difference between ordination and some graduations. Both represent significant things, but one is about God's choosing. Anointing has tremendous spiritual implications. God is choosing this man to lead others spiritually. Who is up to such a task? Actually, no one, but if God has chosen you, he will provide what is needed for the task. It is a serious thing to be chosen by God to feed his sheep.

 

PONDER:

1. What has God chosen me to do?
2. Do I take God's calling seriously or half-heartedly?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for what you are doing and the ministry you have called me to. Help me to do it in a way that truly honors you.

QT 5/22/2026 Ex 39:2-7; 42–43, Putting God first

Exodus 39:2–7 (ESV) —

2 He made the ephod of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. 3 And they hammered out gold leaf, and he cut it into threads to work into the blue and purple and the scarlet yarns, and into the fine twined linen, in skilled design. 4 They made for the ephod attaching shoulder pieces, joined to it at its two edges. 5 And the skillfully woven band on it was of one piece with it and made like it, of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

6 They made the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold filigree, and engraved like the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the sons of Israel. 7 And he set them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod to be stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Exodus 39:42–43 (ESV) —

42 According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work. 43 And Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, so had they done it. Then Moses blessed them.

 

NOTE: In Exo 39, the subject goes from third person singular to third person plural repeatedly ("he" then "they" and back), showing that multiple people worked on the garments, but Bezalel did a lot of the special metal work that adorned the garments.

 

The last two verses caught my attention. Having read the OT more than a dozen times, it is not often that I see the people of Israel being commended for their obedience. Why are they so obedient now or at least in this particular activity? I can't say that the whole exodus experience was a good thing. They rebel with the golden calf, and then again when the spies return from the land. They moan and groan against God ten different times. I think the difference here is two-fold. First, they had a big task, a vision set before them. Second, things were a little boring in the desert. The nearest Walmart was a  hundred miles away (just kidding). Actually, they probably set up souks pretty quickly. Still, they had a focus and they did not have distractions. In essence they made a Lordship decision to put God first.

 

PONDER:

1. Is Jesus first in my life?
2. Does the world distract me from a sincere devotion to God?
3. Am I more interested in comfort than in service to God?

 

PRAYER: Father, I too am prone to live for worldly things or even for a little comfort. Forgive me for my selfishness. Give me grace to serve you first.

QT 5/21/2026 Exo 38:21–31, Spiritual babes have the wrong focus

Exodus 38:21–31 (ESV) —

21 These are the records of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the testimony, as they were recorded at the commandment of Moses, the responsibility of the Levites under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 22 Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the Lord commanded Moses; 23 and with him was Oholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver and designer and embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen.

24 All the gold that was used for the work, in all the construction of the sanctuary, the gold from the offering, was twenty-nine talents and 730 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary. 25 The silver from those of the congregation who were recorded was a hundred talents and 1,775 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary: 26 a beka a head (that is, half a shekel, by the shekel of the sanctuary), for everyone who was listed in the records, from twenty years old and upward, for 603,550 men. 27 The hundred talents of silver were for casting the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil; a hundred bases for the hundred talents, a talent a base. 28 And of the 1,775 shekels he made hooks for the pillars and overlaid their capitals and made fillets for them. 29 The bronze that was offered was seventy talents and 2,400 shekels; 30 with it he made the bases for the entrance of the tent of meeting, the bronze altar and the bronze grating for it and all the utensils of the altar, 31 the bases around the court, and the bases of the gate of the court, all the pegs of the tabernacle, and all the pegs around the court.

 

NOTE: A lot of money (valuable items) were given by the entire community for the work of the temple. The silver was required during the census as a means to also count the men, but the rest was freely given. The whole community was involved. Aaron, Bezalel, and Oholiab represented three different tribes in the leadership of building the tabernacle. And I am sure the craftsmen under them were from even more of the twelve tribes. There is a fascinating degree of unity seen in their building project.

 

I wish more churches had that same degree of unity when facing a project. There is a major argument among churches that the money should be given before the work commences. In looking at this story, it appears the work started before all of the giving was complete. In fact, at some point the people were told to stop giving. So, should a church borrow money or wait upon having the full amount? I think we can be too legalistic to give an answer to that question. My preference would be to have the funds and resources before starting the project. But God has blessed efforts and churches who borrowed as much as those who waited. The more important issue is that people are unified.

 

When people argue about colors, carpeting, and comfort, they reveal that they are mere babes in the Lord. There will be baby Christians in the church -- some of those babies have attended the church for years, even decades. That is discouraging. Those people need to know Jesus deeper and they need to get involved in discipleship training.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I an infant in Christ despite years in the church?
2. Am I more concerned with colors of curtains than I am with where God would have me ministering?
3. Do I really ever think about a place of ministry, or is my focus on my personal comfort?

 

PRAYER: Father, open our eyes to our selfishness. Help us to grow up spiritually. Give us the wisdom to see our failure and to begin a discipline in our spiritual life of meeting with you each day.

QT 5/20/2026 Exo 38:8, Serving God on his terms

Exodus 38:8 (ESV) —

8 He made the basin of bronze and its stand of bronze, from the mirrors of the ministering women who ministered in the entrance of the tent of meeting.

 

NOTE: This is the first mention of women ministering at the entrance of the tabernacle. In a not so flattering description, the practice continue for hundreds of years after as seen in 1 Sam 2:22, where Eli's wicked sons abused their authority. What did these women do? The passage says they ministered or helped. Stuart has suggested based on other passages of scripture that they helped the men by:

 

"… utensil cleanup,284 general courtyard cleanup,285 water resupply,286 ancillary food preparation, guiding and assisting other women worshipers,287 washing priests’ clothes,288 and the like

 

284 See, e.g., Lev 6:28.

 

285 Sacrificial animals were not housebroken. Not only so, but many body parts had to be disposed of in the process of preparing and cooking animals. Cf. 29:14; Lev 4:12, 21; 6:11; 8:17; 9:11; 13:46; 16:27. Priests may have done most of the disposal work (note the masculine pronouns in many of the commands), but women may have helped in various ways.

 

286 In most cultures it has primarily been a woman’s job to provide water for a home, and Israelite women probably supplied the water for use in the bronze laver at the tabernacle. Cf. Gen 24:11; Exod 2:16.

 

287 E.g., Lev 12. It is highly unlikely that OT priests would ever have touched women worshipers because of the sense of distance that was maintained between the genders in Bible times and because of the possibility that the woman (or man) worshiper was defiled by undisclosed contact with a dead body and therefore would ruin the priest’s holiness for service. So in those cases where women required being held or led by the hand or the like (because of age or infirmity, e.g.), a trained woman worker at the entrance to the tabernacle would naturally have been the ideal person to handle the task (e.g., Num 5:16–18, 24–25).

 

288 Lev 6:27. Nothing explicitly tells us that women did the washing, and many passages in Leviticus sound in English as if they describe men washing their own clothes (e.g., Lev 17:15), but it would certainly be surprising if men actually did a significant proportion of clothes washing in any ancient culture at any time.

 

Stuart, D. K. (2006). Exodus (Vol. 2, p. 767). Broadman & Holman Publishers.

 

Someone might be critical and say, "ah, women's work, the bible is misogynist." I believe that the women working there never for a moment felt that way but saw it as a honor to serve. Likewise the Levites who were not from the line of Aaron saw their role as an honor even if they could not be a priest.

 

It is our western view that has corrupted us. We overemphasize our freedoms, preferring our individual kingdoms rather than service to God. It is a privilege to serve God. We don't serve God on our terms, we serve on His terms, which means we are accepting of whatever role he has called us.

 

PONDER:

1. How do I serve others or God, on my terms or on their terms? Real service is serving based on the needs of the person I am serving

 

PRAYER: Father, this is a hard concept in our narcistic western society. We have years of brain-washing to overcome. We are an incredibly selfish society and we are blinded by our own sin. Open our eyes to truly see you and serve you on your terms. If we can't say that prayer, then something is wrong in our hearts.

QT 5/19/2026 Exo 37:10–16, Knowing God through a spiritual mean

Exodus 37:10–16 (ESV) —

10 He also made the table of acacia wood. Two cubits was its length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 11 And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made a molding of gold around it. 12 And he made a rim around it a handbreadth wide, and made a molding of gold around the rim. 13 He cast for it four rings of gold and fastened the rings to the four corners at its four legs. 14 Close to the frame were the rings, as holders for the poles to carry the table. 15 He made the poles of acacia wood to carry the table, and overlaid them with gold. 16 And he made the vessels of pure gold that were to be on the table, its plates and dishes for incense, and its bowls and flagons with which to pour drink offerings.

 

NOTE: I guess I always thought the table of shewbread was just a table for the bread, and possibly plates for the bread. But apparently, there are drink offering in bowls and flagons, and dishes with incense. Maybe the real picture is that of a meal, not just bread, to depict the need for spiritual food and spiritual drink. Communion has the bread and the cup of wine. It makes sense that the table of shewbread would look more like communion or even Passover than just a table with twelve loaves.

 

In the new kingdom, similarly there will be a meal to celebrate the Lord's victory. And to the confusion of some, animal sacrifice will also be a part of the millennial kingdom. I'm not sure why, other than the meat is a part of a meal of celebration, as well as emphasizing the seriousness of death, and Gods' holiness.

 

PONDER:

1. Knowing God is a meal, bread and drink, what am I doing to partake of the Lord?

 

PRAYER: Father, I know the bread is your word, but what is the drink in the daily spiritual life. Is it prayer? In the sacrament of communion, it represents Jesus' blood that washed our sin, guilt, and shame away. In that sense, maybe prayer and repentance is the washing that we need spiritually (our drink).

QT 5/18/2026 Exo 37:1–9, Treating sacred things seriously

Exodus 37:1–9 (ESV) —

1 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half was its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 2 And he overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold around it. 3 And he cast for it four rings of gold for its four feet, two rings on its one side and two rings on its other side. 4 And he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold 5 and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark. 6 And he made a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half was its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. 7 And he made two cherubim of gold. He made them of hammered work on the two ends of the mercy seat, 8 one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat he made the cherubim on its two ends. 9 The cherubim spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat were the faces of the cherubim.

 

NOTE: Bezalel follows the instructions of 25:17-20 virtually verbatim (Stuart, 2006). I did notice (as did Stuart in his commentary), that Moses and Bezalel started on the coverings that made up the surrounding border of the tabernacle as well as the inside structure and roof. The different order of events protected the inside furniture (to include the ark) from weather, and also from becoming a curiosity to the people. In a way, they preserve a view of the holiness of God by keeping the finished products from general view. Ultimately, that is emphasized even more when the High Priest is the only one allowed to see the ark of the covenant, and that once a year. During the travels in the desert, it is also covered by the priests and then carried using the long poles inserted through the rings. Bezalel is probably the only non-Levite to officially view or touch the ark (prior to its consecration).

 

What do we learn? I think the story emphasizes the holiness of God and how the Israelites were beginning to understand his holiness. The golden calf event and the purging afterwards showed the Israelites the seriousness of God toward his holiness and his command to only worship God, and not idols or images.

 

PONDER:

1. How serious are we in our view of God?
2. Do we have a flippant attitude toward the things of God?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for your guidance in a difficult issue the other night and the godly responses from the men. Continue to lead us and teach us from your word.

QT 5/15/2026 Exo 36:8–10, Example of how God uses the whole body

Exodus 36:8–10 (ESV) —

8 And all the craftsmen among the workmen made the tabernacle with ten curtains. They were made of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns, with cherubim skillfully worked. 9 The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains were the same size.

10 He coupled five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he coupled to one another. …

Exodus 38:21–23 (ESV) —

21 These are the records of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the testimony, as they were recorded at the commandment of Moses, the responsibility of the Levites under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 22 Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the Lord commanded Moses; 23 and with him was Oholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver and designer and embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen.

 

NOTE: The pronoun "he" refers to Bezalel, but the "all the craftsmen among the workmen" refer to people in the congregation who volunteered to help. I postulate that Bezalel oversaw much of the work as opposed to doing all the coupling, etc. I think Bezalel probably did some of the intricate work. One of his qualities was his ability to teach. He probably did much of the initial work before passing it off to subordinates. I don't think that violates a literal hermeneutic (verse 10 and on), because the passage is the way most people would express an effort led by mostly one person. Otherwise, he would have had to do absolutely everything and the amount of work is quite extensive. In fact, Exo 38:22-23 seems to confirm my point when it says that Bezalel made all that the Lord commanded Moses, and then adds the fact Oholiab was with him, meaning Oholiab did quite a bit himself. Additionally, why mention that Oholiab was an engraver and a designer and an embroiderer if he did not do some of the fine work as well.

 

My point is that the building of the tabernacle was a team effort, and while one person might seem to get the credit, multiple people were involved. In terms that a Christian might understand, there are parts of the body that are noticed (pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc.) and other parts that are unnoticed (those with gifts of service, gifts of administration, gift of giving, etc.), but the body cannot function if each part does not contribute.

 

PONDER:

1. What is my part in the body of Christ? If you believed in Jesus, you were given a spiritual gift -- what are you doing with it?

 

PRAYER: Father, I know that I have certain gifts and responsibilities in the church. At times, I feel a little overwhelmed in terms of my ability to accomplish all that needs to happen. Give me grace, strength, and perseverance to finish the things that you have given me.

QT 5/14/2026 Exodus 35:30–36:7, We need the whole body

Exodus 35:30–36:7 (ESV) —

30 Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, 32 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, 33 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. 34 And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. 35 He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer.

1 “Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.”

2 And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work. 3 And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, 4 so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing, 5 and said to Moses, “The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.” 6 So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing, 7 for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.

 

NOTE: In the New Covenant (through Jesus' blood), the Holy Spirit also gives gifts (1 Cor 12:4-11). The Holy Spirit is given upon belief in Jesus.

 

Ephesians 1:13–14 (ESV) — 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Acts 2:38 (ESV) — And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 

Not so in the Old Covenant. The Holy Spirit was not given to all. It was not a promise (at least until the Messiah came). It did give gifts apparently, and a few are listed here: skill, intelligence, knowledge, craftsmanship, design, metal work, stone work, wood work, teaching, and other crafts. One can develop these gifts through hard work, apprenticeship, and training. And in fact, God calls other craftsmen to the job, but Bezalel (and Oholiab) were given special gifts for the work of building their worship center.

 

The people also responded, above and beyond the call in their giving.

 

While some had special gifts, they still needed others to do the work for God. Rarely does anyone do something on their own. God just doesn't work that way. The body of Christ is required, not lone rangers. Others have to be a part of the ministry or it will fail.

 

PONDER:

1. What ministry am I a part of and /or supporting?
2. Am I trying to do a ministry on my own?

 

PRAYER: Father, many people are involved in the ministry I lead to make disciples. But I need to do more to create a leadership group. I can't lead on my own, I need to involve others in the body. I pray for leading on who to involve and invite to such a ministry. Lead me and guide me.

QT 5/13/2026 Exo 35:1-29, In harmony

Exodus 35:4–10 (ESV) —

4 Moses said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “This is the thing that the Lord has commanded. 5 Take from among you a contribution to the Lord. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the Lord’s contribution: gold, silver, and bronze; 6 blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; goats’ hair, 7 tanned rams’ skins, and goatskins; acacia wood, 8 oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, 9 and onyx stones and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece.

10 “Let every skillful craftsman among you come and make all that the Lord has commanded:

…

Exodus 35:20–29 (ESV) —

20 Then all the congregation of the people of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. 21 And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord’s contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. 22 So they came, both men and women. All who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, all sorts of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the Lord. 23 And every one who possessed blue or purple or scarlet yarns or fine linen or goats’ hair or tanned rams’ skins or goatskins brought them. 24 Everyone who could make a contribution of silver or bronze brought it as the Lord’s contribution. And every one who possessed acacia wood of any use in the work brought it. 25 And every skillful woman spun with her hands, and they all brought what they had spun in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. 26 All the women whose hearts stirred them to use their skill spun the goats’ hair. 27 And the leaders brought onyx stones and stones to be set, for the ephod and for the breastpiece, 28 and spices and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense. 29 All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord.

 

NOTE: It is so exciting when the body comes together for a building project. No one is complaining about the colors or the use of gold (bronze would be cheaper). No one is trying to exert their influence on the design. They are all one in spirit. I would like to say that this is common in Christian churches, but in my experience it is not. That does not make the church non-Christian, but it does reflect spiritual immaturity and a not-so-small group that are not Christians actually, but just religious. They are controlled by their desires. They are selfish and mean-spirited. Ultimately, it does mean that there needs to be an over-commitment to communication. People have to be heard (a lot) and given a chance to speak their minds, and sometimes even vote. Without such actions, the project does not move along. I wish we could be like the Israelis at this point in their history.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I a supporter or detractor when it comes to major efforts to improve the buildings by the leadership?
2. Do I pray or do I write numerous memos to communicate my desires?

 

PRAYER: Father, it is exciting to see the heart of the people at this point. As our church moves forward on some planned projects, I pray for a unity of spirit. I pray that you would quiet the voices of those whose only aim is to be right and to disrupt.

QT 5/12/2026 Exo 34:29–35, Life transformed by God's presence

Exodus 34:29–35 (ESV) —

29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. 30 Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. 32 Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. 33 And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.

34 Whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, 35 the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

 

NOTE: For now, Moses is meeting with the Lord, face-to-face, in the tent of meeting outside the camp. Some commentators have suggested that later, he will meeting in the completed tabernacle, so my earlier comments should be taken with a grain of salt. For now, the effect of meeting with God, face-to-face, is to cause Moses' face to glow or shine forth light. Two things to point out:

 

1) I'm not sure what "face-to-face" means in this context. God is spirit and so he would not have a face. Additionally, God said that a person would die if he saw God's face. In Exo 33:11, God defines the phrase, "face-to-face" as how a man speaks to his friend. Did he see God's face? No, God is spirit. Did he talk to God like a person talks to a friend face-to-face? Yes. Another possibility is that he could have met with the second person of the deity, the preincarnate Christ, but we don't know.

 

2) Meeting with God causes a change in our image. One cannot meet regularly with God without life change or else you are not meeting with God.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV) — And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

 

A person who regularly meets with God will see his life change. He will begin to more and more reflect the image of God. If that is not happening, that person is not meeting with God.

 

PONDER:

1. Are you truly meeting with God every day?
2. Are you seeing change in your life?
3. Does your image reflect Jesus or something else?

 

PRAYER: Father, the religious fool themselves. They read a pre-written devotional and think they have met with God. They attend church each week and Wednesday night activities. But their life stinks because they are angry, crabby, opinionated on everything, complaining, and they don't even see it. Help us to see the true image of ourselves. Help us to repent and desire your Holy Spirit to work change.

QT 5/11/2026 Exo 34:21-24, Day of rest and times of worship

Exodus 34:21–24 (ESV) —

21 “Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest. 22 You shall observe the Feast of Weeks, the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the year’s end. 23 Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel. 24 For I will cast out nations before you and enlarge your borders; no one shall covet your land, when you go up to appear before the Lord your God three times in the year.

 

NOTE: Verse 21 caught my attention. It is the command to rest one day a week. Even during the very difficult weeks when it is plowing time or it is harvest time, we are to rest. And not only that, you must make time in your schedule three times during the year to attend one of the feasts (actually, it appears to be a specific feast since all the males are to appear).

 

These are OT laws and for the believer in Jesus Christ, who has born again, we are not under the law. It was nailed to the cross. We are under a new covenant. Still there is much to learn from the OT laws. In this passage, we see the importance of resting one day each week, even during the busiest weeks of the season. Personally, I know that there are busy weeks in the year. I have worked late, and at times over the weekend during these busy weeks. The point is that the Sabbath rest is for our good. Biblically, the Sabbath is Saturday (well actually Friday night through Saturday afternoon) -- it is not Sunday (not that it matters). Saturday is a day of rest, of hobbies, and of time with family. It is the end of the work week. It is a good thing for our souls. It is also good to gather for worship on Sunday morning (although that is not a rule) with the body of Christ. While we are not under the law, there is a great danger in not making it a priority.

 

Hebrews 10:24–25 (ESV) — 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

 

We have a spiritual responsibility to encourage one another in the faith by worshipping corporately. When we fail to make that a priority in our life, we show a self-centered life that does not recognize the importance of others.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I a workaholic or do I take a day off each week to rest? A day like Saturday?
2. Do I believe in the importance of encouraging others by attending corporate worship on Sunday mornings? Or am I self-centered?

 

PRAYER: Father, one of the biggest weakness in the church is the selfishness of supposed believers. Instead of worshipping, that is when they rest from all work. There is a great weakness in the church and it is because we have misplaced priorities. I pray we would be committed to our faith and not to ourselves.

QT 5/8/2026 Exo 33:12-23, How do we see God?

Exodus 33:12–23 (ESV) —

12 Moses said to the Lord, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ 13 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” 14 And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. 16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”

17 And the Lord said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” 18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” 19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” 21 And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, 22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”

 

NOTE: Moses prays /argues that God's presence must go with them. God answers by agreeing that his presence will go with him (Moses). The passage is confusing because God says that he can't go with Israel, because he will destroy the nation because of their sin. But he does agree to go with Moses. Did he agree to go with the people too? I'm not sure. Certainly, prayer can change the perceived direction that God has verbally said. God wants us to pray and will "change" direction according to prayer. The other possibility, is that God gave Moses the Holy Spirit. His Spirit would rest on many others but not all people during the Old Testament times. Just like today, the HS resides in us, even as we walk among a godless and sinful culture.

 

Moses also pleads for a greater revelation of God to himself. God puts him a cleft of a rock and passes by, allowing him to see his back. This is all clearly symbolic (in a sense) since God is spirit, but God revealed the same thing to Elijah. In that case (Elijah's), the real presence of God was the still small voice. God is not seen in the noise of mighty things, but is revealed in how his word changes us. Moses technically didn't see much of anything. He just heard his glory pass by, until the end. Idiomatically in Hebrew, to see the back of someone is to see nothing. And the anthropomorphisms are there to describe something that can't be described in any other sense. God does not have a huge hand, but God's "hand" prevented Moses from being blinded / destroyed probably by the amazing glory of the God of the universe. Going back in the discussion, Moses didn't see anything because he couldn't, but he heard God speak, and God's word is where we meet God for real.

 

PONDER:

1. Have we seen God in his word? You really can't unless you spend time daily in it

 

PRAYER: Lord, open our eyes to truth. The enemy has blinded us be denying the clear truths in your word so that we might never see or know you. Please take off the scales, and help people to see the truth. And for believers, may we stop arguing in human arguments but use your word in our discussions with others.

QT 5/7/2026 Exo 33:7-11, Seeking God despite obstacles

Exodus 33:7–11 (ESV) —

7 Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp. 8 Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent. 9 When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. 10 And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. 11 Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.

 

NOTE: I was wrong about a previous comment where I mentioned Moses meeting with God in the tabernacle. It is possible that was always the intent, but after the golden calf incident, part of God's judgment was not to "travel" with the people. And so a meeting place had to be placed outside the camp. All these actions are a reminder of God's holiness and the consequence of sin.

 

I note that the pillar of cloud would descend to the tent of meeting outside the camp when God met with Moses. It could be that the pillar of cloud represented God's presence and it was no longer in the camp but rather above the camp. So, that was also a visual reminder of the seriousness of sin.

 

I can't imagine how much of an impact it was on Joshua, hearing God speak to Moses in the tent. It says he wouldn't leave, which I am sure is a common language hyperbole (He ate and performed other tasks as well, but he dwelt near the presence of God as long as he could).

 

So what do we learn? Actions have consequences (the removal of meeting from in the camp to the outside because of the golden calf), but individuals who are driven by a heart for God can overcome the obstacles to be near God. God is looking for those with a heart after him -- Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, …, Paul.

 

PONDER:

1. What do I seek out of life -- the things of life or the person who created life?

 

PRAYER: Father, I don't want to get caught up in things or luxury. Give me wisdom to see the difference.

QT 5/6/2026 Exo 33:1-6, The result of idolatry

Exodus 33:1–6 (ESV) —

1 The Lord said to Moses, “Depart; go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give it.’ 2 I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 3 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”

4 When the people heard this disastrous word, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments. 5 For the Lord had said to Moses, “Say to the people of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people; if for a single moment I should go up among you, I would consume you. So now take off your ornaments, that I may know what to do with you.’ ” 6 Therefore the people of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments, from Mount Horeb onward.

 

NOTE: Things are not the same. I think we ignore how big a deal the golden calf incident was. Constable highlights two passages (as well as others) to show the before and after difference.

 

Exodus 19:5–6 (ESV) — 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all 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 people of Israel.”

Exodus 32:29 (ESV) — And Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for the service of the Lord, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day.”

 

There were all supposed to be priests, but now God selects a special group of men, Levites, to serve in the tabernacle. In the new covenant, as a result of Jesus' death, that original idea is restored.

 

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV) — But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Revelation 1:6 (ESV) — … and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 

The sin in the desert had changed everything. In the passage in Exodus 33, God says his presence can't travel with them because he would destroy them. That is a confusing thought. God is spirit and he is everywhere. And yet in some unusual way, something about who God is, would be absent from their camp. It was a distance that God created, much like when we sin and our relationship with the Lord is affected until we repent. For the believer, God never leaves us, his Holy Spirit is in us, but the relationship is affected by sin. He seems far away and we can feel it. We know we need to deal with our sin.

 

PONDER:

1. Is there a sin that I need to confess and repent?
2. Does God feel far away at times? Who moved? If you don't meet with God regularly (daily in the word), God will feel far away.

 

PRAYER: Father, I never saw the change that came over Israel as a result of that sin. It is no wonder that Jeroboam son of Nebat's sin was such a stumbling block to the entire nation. Protect us from such stupidity and deception. I pray we would not make gods in our mind and worship them.