QT 4/29/2026 Exo 30:23–38, Greatest recipe ever

Exodus 30:23–38 (ESV) —

23 “Take the finest spices: of liquid myrrh 500 shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, that is, 250, and 250 of aromatic cane, 24 and 500 of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil. 25 And you shall make of these a sacred anointing oil blended as by the perfumer; it shall be a holy anointing oil. 26 With it you shall anoint the tent of meeting and the ark of the testimony, 27 and the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense, 28 and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils and the basin and its stand. 29 You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy. Whatever touches them will become holy. 30 You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests. 31 And you shall say to the people of Israel, ‘This shall be my holy anointing oil throughout your generations. 32 It shall not be poured on the body of an ordinary person, and you shall make no other like it in composition. It is holy, and it shall be holy to you. 33 Whoever compounds any like it or whoever puts any of it on an outsider shall be cut off from his people.’ ”

34 The Lord said to Moses, “Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (of each shall there be an equal part), 35 and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy. 36 You shall beat some of it very small, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where I shall meet with you. It shall be most holy for you. 37 And the incense that you shall make according to its composition, you shall not make for yourselves. It shall be for you holy to the Lord. 38 Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from his people.”

 

NOTE: Once again, I have to admit that I forgot that I had read these passages because I was wondering as we passed the altar of incense if the incense was ever defined. Not only is the recipe for the incense given but also a recipe for the anointing oil. And the mixtures are not to be used for anything else.

 

I would like to smell the mixtures. Any recipe given by God has to be good. Of course, God has given us many such recipes and we don't think to see the value in them. For example:

• Work is good for our soul
• Marriage is best when it is between a man and a woman
• Sex is best when it is in the context of marriage
• Salvation by Jesus' blood on the cross is the only method to obtain eternal life

These are just a few. They are right there out in the open. I should have included the greatest instruction (recipe for life) of them all -- daily meet with God in the word (bible) and prayer. Your life might still be difficult, but the joy and peace is greater than anything the world can offer.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I looking for the perfect recipe for life? -- God, your creator, has already placed it in the bible.

 

PRAYER: Father, we are so foolish, even believers who refuse to develop a habit of daily reading you word. My heart aches for the weakness of that type of faith. Open our eyes to truth. Forgive us of our sin.