Wow - Just Wow

He took the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant and placed them inside the Ark. Then he attached the carrying poles to the Ark, and he set the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—on top of it. Then he brought the Ark of the Covenant into the Tabernacle and hung the inner curtain to shield it from view, just as the LORD had commanded him. [Exodus 40.20-21] 

Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. [Matthew 27.50-52]

Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. [Mark 15.37-38] 

By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. [Luke 23.44-45] 

So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. [Hebrews 6.18-20] 

By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. [Hebrews 10.20] 

While it is commonly known that Jesus' Cross experience yielded a torn veil in the Temple, I don't think I have ever considered the full ramification of that event.

When the veil (curtain) was torn, what was on the inside was no longer separated from what was on the outside. What was on the inside? The Ark of the Covenant. And, what was in the Ark of the Covenant? Namely, the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments.

We should understand that the Ark and the Commandments were not "torn" but it was the curtain separating man from the Ten Commandments that was torn. Man was no longer separated from the Ten Commandments (the terms of God's Covenant). Before the tearing of the curtain, and contrary to popular belief, man was separated from the Ten Commandments - Gpd's Covenant - God.

Interestingly enough, everything physically located just outside that curtain, in the Holy Place, while having no uncertain symbolic Godward meanings, were things that only actually aided man... The gold incense altar produced an aroma that man could smell, the lampstand provided light that man could see, and the table held the bread that man could eat. If we can see it, these ways of man in the Holy Place were separated from the ways of God in the Most Holy Place by the curtain. In fact, the ways of man in the Holy Place were only further exemplified outside that room in the courtyard where more manward items and activities occurred (sacrifices, washings, etc.).

It is here that we must understand that all man's ways, whether in the Holy Place, or outside the Holy Place were separated from the ways of God by the curtain. All man's ways and "efforts" were affected when that separating curtain was torn by God. Having established this, we should consider Matthew 6 in light of it:

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. [Matthew 6.24-34]

Even though the separating curtain has been opened, we must choose whether to stay outside the Most Holy Place, performing the necessary tasks that must be performed outside there, or, enter in the Most Holy Place resting entirely from the otherwise necessary ways of man and into the realm of the Kingdom of God that Jesus spoke of.

It is this "tearing of the curtain" that is every person's crisis of faith. Do we stay outside idolatrously tending to the ways and means that tend to ourselves, or, in complete faith, enter in to God's provision for everything? It is here where Jesus' words strike a chord:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

The curtain represents everything necessary for man's sustenance that keeps him from God. It represents every idol of man, and most particularly, the idol of "self."

Just like the High Priest alone could go into the Most Holy Place, so each person must individually decide from himself to enter the Most Holy Place opened up by Jesus. It won't be a group effort - it will be intimately personal. The decision to forsake man's idolatry - even religion and all its religious ways - to the point of forsaking basic self-preservation (the root of idolatry), to enter God's Rest is no small decision. Will we decide to follow Jesus? 

In light of what is discussed here, God's call into the Most Holy Place is no small thing. In fact, Jesus described it like this:

You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. [Matthew 7.13-14]

Again, will we be among the few who decide to follow Jesus? Jesus leads us out of the sensical religious and idolatrous rituals of self-preservation and through the curtain into God's Kingdom of unexplainable, extraordinary, miraculous power where we need to consider nothing for ourselves, but all things are tended to by God.

Wow - just wow.

Father, whether I am completely understanding it or not, I truly believe Your Holy Spirit is making my eyes see things I have never seen before from Your Word. I have decided to follow Jesus. So be it.

What Are You Wearing?

The craftsmen made beautiful sacred garments of blue, purple, and scarlet cloth—clothing for Aaron to wear while ministering in the Holy Place, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. [Exodus 39.1] 

In today's One Year Chronological Bible reading, the Tabernacle is described. It is quite elaborate and expensive. In fact, the priests uniform is perhaps the most elaborate article involved with coming into God's presence.

If God today is indeed the same God that Aaron and the priests came before in painstaking detail, what does this say about how modern believers (now a kingdom of priests) worship God?

Arguably, the Spirit of God lives within believers today. But it is still the same God, right?

And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. [Galatians 3.27]

Jesus is God in the flesh, right? This would be the same God Aaron and the priests took great care to come before.

Is there a disconnect in the modern Church about God's presence? I'm just asking for a friend...

Father, Your presence is priceless. Help us to value Your presence, Your Spirit, and Your Son, accordingly. So be it. 

More About The Sabbath

Then Moses called together the whole community of Israel and told them, “These are the instructions the LORD has commanded you to follow. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the LORD. Anyone who works on that day must be put to death. You must not even light a fire in any of your homes on the Sabbath.” [Exodus 35.1-3] 

The Sabbath obviously carries no small weight and importance in God's eyes. But, have we truly understood all that it implies? The article The Penalty For Breaking The Sabbath Is Death provides a good start on understanding the Sabbath, the gravity of which is again confirmed in the subject passage above. However, the "depth" of the Sabbath still seems unexplored...

Bible thumpers the world over have touted, "Context! Context!" But few, if any, give consideration of "context" when considering the Ten Commandments. Should we not however consider the progression of the first three of the "Godward" Ten Commandments that lead up to the 4th Commandment about the Sabbath? Yes, we should.

The 1st Commandment establishes that God is God and there is no other. In light of the 1st Commandment, the 2nd Commandment prohibits idolatry. In continuity, the 3rd Commandment prohibits misuse of God's name by associating it with idols - maintaining clear and unmistakable distinction between God and idols. 

It should come as no surprise then that the 4th Commandment, in keeping with the obvious progression of the first three Commandments, sheds further light on the necessary distinction between God and idols. This distinction highlights the "work" of man in contrast to the "rest" of God. Like the 3rd Commandment already established, man's work should never be confused with God's rest. A distinction must be made. All the while, our understanding of the pivotal 4th Commandment must be congruent with the first three Commandments: 1) God only, 2) no idols, and 3) keep the lines of distinction clear.

It is here we must remain vigilant to understand that man's work is indeed the work of his hands. The importance of this is seen throughout the Bible, but nowhere more clearly than in the Psalms:

Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 115.4-8]

The idols of the nations are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and mouths but cannot breathe. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 135.15-18]

"Shaped by human hands" should not, because it cannot, be distinguished from man's work. It is this work of man's hands that the 4th Commandment, by singling out a day of "rest" in the established context of idolatry, projects God's people to anticipate the Sabbath Rest of Jesus Christ. This Sabbath Rest in Christ stands in distinct contrast to man's six days of work. Before Jesus' Advent, the observance of Sabbath was symbolic. After Jesus arrived, the Sabbath became a full-time reality for those who would believe in Him.

So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. [Colossians 2.16-17]

And, that is why Jesus would be found "guilty" by religious people who through their own works of religion condemned Jesus for "breaking" the Sabbath instead of fulfilling it.

The "day of Sabbath rest" Jesus fulfilled was not just one day per week, but rather, a new era in history: Sabbath Rest every day. This every day Sabbath Rest also explains why Jesus would present such a counter-intuitive faith in God alone in Matthew 6 pointing out that the birds and lilies of the field do not work and yet God takes care of them:

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. [Matthew 6.24-34]

Does this mean God's people are prohibited from work? Not at all! It should be remembered that Jesus' "breaking the Sabbath" had everything to do with the work of eating and doing good on the Sabbath Day.

At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.” Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath? I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple! But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!” [Matthew 12.1-8]

This passage from Matthew reveals the further progression of the Ten Commandments, and particularly the progression from the first three "Godward" Commandments to the pivotal 4th Commandment (Sabbath), and then to the last six manward commandments:

Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.) And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.” [Matthew 12.1-8] 

The Sabbath Rest found in Jesus Christ segues right into how we are to treat others! It is in the "Sabbath Day of Rest in Christ Jesus" that our service to the Kingdom of God is manifest in how we treat others. Our daily bread is promised and provided as we "rest from our six days of work" (forsake idolatry) while bringing others into that same Sabbath Rest of Christ (faith in Christ (God With Us) alone). In light of this, and if we can see it, our work for ourselves (our six days of work) is idolatry. This will sound ridiculous to anyone who does not believe in Jesus ...as will Jesus' demand sound ridiculous:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

There is indeed more depth to the Ten Commandments than we are even capable of understanding. However, Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to begin the process! That process opens our eyes to the reality of Jesus Christ from Creation to present. It is all in the Bible, but we need the Holy Spirit to help us see it.

Father, the implication of the Sabbath upon current society (the Church included), is that very few are living in the Sabbath Rest of Christ but, are instead living in the idolatry of "six days of work." May our eyes be opened as our actions "give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Jesus." So be it.

Damned Jealousy! Right? (Right???)

You must worship no other gods, for the LORD, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you. [Exodus 34.14] 

For us to say God is our "everything," means nothing if we are not adamant about living it out.

How does our God, Whose very name is Jealous, view it when we say "God is my Provider" and then take a loan at interest for our need?

How does our God, Whose very name is Jealous, view it when we say "God is my Protector" and then pay for insurance to remediate losses?

How does our God, Whose very name is Jealous, view it when we say "God is my Healer" and then turn to expensive medicine for our health?

How does our God, Whose very name is Jealous, view it when we say "God is my Rest" and then become bound like a rat on a treadmill to the latest and greatest gadgetry and its costly convenience?

We can say, "tomorrow is a festival to the LORD" all we want to, but if that declaration includes (as opposed to "excludes") anything man-made and expensive (like a gold calf) born of our impatience (wanting it now), our words mean nothing to God Whose very name is Jealous.

When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. “Come on,” they said, “make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.” So Aaron said, “Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!” Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf. Then he announced, “Tomorrow will be a festival to the LORD!” The people got up early the next morning to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. After this, they celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry. [Exodus 32.1-6]

Go ahead, argue that God uses debt, insurance, medicine and technology all you want to... But remember, that God's name, God, to Whom you refer, is Jealous. All your excuses and reasoning will surely persuade Him to change His name, right? Check out the definition of "jealous" at merriam-webster.com the ask yourself what "reason" has to do with it...

When God said, "You must not have any other god but me" (Exodus 20.3), He meant it. The 1st Commandment defies inclusion.

When God said, "You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind" (Exodus 20.4), He meant it. In fact, in the context of Exodus 20.4-6, God defends His jealousy. The 2nd Commandment defies inclusion.

When God said, "You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God" (Exodus 20.7), He meant it also. When God, Whose very name is Jealous, is credited for the work of an idol (a man-made, costly solution born of impatience), that is preposterous in His sight. Why? BECAUSE HE IS JEALOUS - HIS NAME IS JEALOUS! The 3rd Commandment also defies inclusion.

God's pattern seen here is NOT inclusion. The name "Jealous" rules out inclusion in any way, shape, form or fashion. It's a "jealous thing."

So, before we condemn jealousy, we need to understand that God's very name is Jealous. Yes, we better rewind and we better re-think. It was in the midst of Israel's "celebration" of God's association with the gold calf (celebrating the LORD's deliverance from Egypt in conjunction with the gold calf) that God made the following conclusion:

Then the LORD said, “I have seen how stubborn and rebellious these people are. Now leave me alone so my fierce anger can blaze against them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make you, Moses, into a great nation.” [Exodus 32.9-10]

Can you say, "Jealous!"? God's very name is Jealous.

Do we dare presume then that debt, insurance, medicine and technology are God's way to meet our needs? We can damn jealousy in popular virtue signaling all we want, but we cannot change God's self-declared name and character.

Until we understand how to comply with God in His name and character, "Jealous," we can never understand, let alone comply with, Jesus' exclusive demand:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Father, I respect and honor Your name, Jealous, and the character it depicts. May I be found fully submitted to Jesus as "God - Jealous - in the flesh," giving up my own way, taking up my cross, and exclusively following Him. So be it.

The Penalty For Breaking The Sabbath Is Death

The LORD then gave these instructions to Moses: “Tell the people of Israel: ‘Be careful to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you from generation to generation. It is given so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy. You must keep the Sabbath day, for it is a holy day for you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; anyone who works on that day will be cut off from the community. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the LORD. Anyone who works on the Sabbath must be put to death. The people of Israel must keep the Sabbath day by observing it from generation to generation. This is a covenant obligation for all time. It is a permanent sign of my covenant with the people of Israel. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day he stopped working and was refreshed.’” [Exodus 31.12-17] 

Any interpretation of the Sabbath that does not include Jesus Christ has missed the point altogether. This goes for every other ritualistic practice described in the Old Testament as well.

So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. [Colossians 2.16-17]

With this understanding, a Christ-follower's obligation to the Sabbath and other rituals of the Old Testament is not removed, but in fact refined in Jesus Christ. It should be understood that the gravity of Exodus 31.12-17 is exponentially increased in the meaning of Colossians 2.16-17. God Himself confirmed this in the context of Exodus 31.12-17: The people of Israel must keep the Sabbath day by observing it from generation to generation. This is a covenant obligation for all time. It is a permanent sign of my covenant with the people of Israel.

First off, it must be conceded that when God says a covenant obligation for all time and a permanent sign, He means a covenant obligation for all time and a permanent sign. God did not misspeak and Jesus did not invalidate God's words in Exodus (or anywhere else for that matter)!

Next, it must be understood then who Israel really is:

The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God. [Galatians 3.7]

But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. [Romans 9.6-8 NKJV] 

And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you. [Galatians 3.29] 

Israel is representative of the body of believers in Jesus Christ. 

The consequences of failure to observe the Sabbath are (as opposed to "were") severe. Failure to enter the "Sabbath rest" of Jesus Christ places a person (any person) under the penalty of death. And, as Adam and Eve were deceived to find out the hard way, "death" includes not only the termination of life, but the entire cursed process of getting there.

God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God. For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said, “In my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest,’” even though this rest has been ready since he made the world. We know it is ready because of the place in the Scriptures where it mentions the seventh day: “On the seventh day God rested from all his work.” [Hebrews 4.1-4]

The Sabbath is not one of seven days to act a certain way. The Sabbath is a day in which to live permanently and perpetually. Believers are not "in Christ" only one day a week! In fact, Jesus very clearly requires one hundred percent commitment:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

What is your own way? It is the six days of work where man exerts time, thought, and energy to take care of himself. It includes every fabrication of man (idol) that assists him in doing so independently of God.

What is your cross? It is remaining "in Christ the Sabbath day of rest" as He, in the compassion of God on earth, taught the Word, announced the Good News about the Kingdom, healed every kind of disease and illness, and hung upon a cross. On our cross, our hands and feet are incapacitated for any work of our own effort. On our cross, we intentionally avoid self-preservation and every idol that offers such. On our cross, we enter the Sabbath rest of Jesus.

Failure to give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Jesus is one and the same as breaking the Sabbath. Death (including every curse to get there) is the penalty. In contrast, in keeping the covenant of the Sabbath, we enter God's refreshing: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day he stopped working and was refreshed.

Father, may I be found resting in Your refreshing every day of my life as I follow Jesus, the Sabbath day of rest. So be it.

We Have An Exact Pattern

Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them. You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you. [Exodus 25.8-9] 

Today's One Year Chronological Bible reading does not offer much in the way of moral teaching. However, it very much gives us a glimpse into the person of God by the intricate details He required for the Tabernacle and its furnishings.

Of course, Jesus would eventually make His Advent to earth and upon His return to heaven, would render Temple (Tabernacle) activities a thing of antiquity. But for the purpose of this article, the focus will be on the design of the Tabernacle and the nature of God for Whom it was built.

The first thing that should be understood about God from the instructions given to Moses for the design and construction of the Tabernacle is the word "exactly": You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you. God did not give Moses 'creative license' in building His dwelling place. God offered no tolerance for deviation from His requirements. The Tabernacle was to be built to God's specifications alone. Even though it was to be a meeting place for God and man, man was required to strictly comply to God and not the other way around  as is evident in the following instruction:

Next make a medallion of pure gold, and engrave it like a seal with these words: HOLY TO THE LORD. [Exodus 28.36]

The next thing that should be considered regarding the Tabernacle accompanying the word "exact" is the word "pattern." While "exact" reveals that God will have it no other way, "pattern" reveals there is indeed "a way."

As the instructions regarding the "form" of God's Tabernacle give way to the instructions for its "function," we will also see that that function is just as critical to God as the form. Mind you, we are talking about God the Father.

Every detail about the Tabernacle, as God's dwelling place, involves man coming to God's 'house.' The pivotal Advent of Jesus Christ changed this to God coming to man's house. God is still God and man is still man, but the form and function of their meeting together was altered greatly. The one thing however that did not change is the requirement upon man for the new form and function to still meet God's exclusive and exact pattern, the most profound of which follows:

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. [John 14.6]

God's exacting nature and character are quite naturally evident in His Son. 

God's nature and character pattern is also seen in His Son:

Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? [John 14.9]

Peter, one of Jesus' disciples, recognized the nature and character pattern of God in Jesus:

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. [Acts 10.38] 

The point of the old form and function of meeting with God is the same as the point of the new form and function of meeting with God: and that is meeting with God. God desires the company of man. 

The most important thing man must understand about the person of God is that God desires man's company. 

While the Tabernacle provided a "picture" of what was to come, Jesus provided "in the flesh" the exact pattern of God so that all who come to Him (in repentance and faith) might enjoy God's company both for now and for eternity.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [John 3.16]

How God enjoys our company then, through Jesus, should come as no surprise as it has everything to do with an exact pattern:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12] 

While many argue this fact regarding its form and function, Jesus (in exact-pattern-fashion as the very Son of God) left little room for debate:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Dear reader, have you submitted to Jesus in this way? Is the exact pattern of Jesus (the exact pattern of God) seen in your life? God wants relationship with you - the Tabernacle is our picture of this fact and Jesus Christ is our reality of it. There is indeed an exact pattern of commitment required though, and that requirement is met in us as we follow Jesus.

Would you pray this prayer with me...

Father in heaven, I see and understand today that You want my company - You want to have relationship with me. I see and understand that following Jesus, on the exclusive and exact-pattern terms He provided, is how I enter that fellowship with You. I want to have relationship with You! I see and understand that to do so I must give up my own way (humble repentance), take up my cross (actionable faith), and follow Jesus' lead. Please make this my reality today. 

If today you prayed the prayer above for the first time in your life, tell others - make it known in the comments to this article - find other believers and spend time with them. Read the Bible as a personal letter from God to you (understanding that its depth will always match and exceed your effort to find it). Live "Jesus" in your world.

Bribery As We Have Never Seen It

Take no bribes, for a bribe makes you ignore something that you clearly see. A bribe makes even a righteous person twist the truth. [Exodus 23.8] 

The thing about a bribe is that it is never "just a bribe." A bribe influences a person to do something he or she is not otherwise inclined or allowed to do.

Watch this...

God, as God, never minced for words declaring His demand for exclusive obedience. Look at the first part of the passage below:

You must serve only the LORD your God. If you do, I will bless you with food and water, and I will protect you from illness. There will be no miscarriages or infertility in your land, and I will give you long, full lives. [Exodus 23.25-26]

By the time in history that Exodus 23.8 had been written, much of the world including Egypt and God's people had clearly seen God perform distinct miracles on behalf of His own people (the plagues upon Egypt, the Red Sea event, water from a rock and quail and manna.). God made unmistakable distinction between His people and the people of Egypt. God's promise, going forward, was that His miracle-laced protection and provision would continue as long as His people served only Him. 

In contrast, God warned that serving other entities (idols) would guarantee God's withdrawal of His miraculous provision and protection (food and water, protection from illness, miscarriages and infertility, and long blessed - full - lives). In fact, prior to Exodus 23.25-26, God had already given the related warning:

Anyone who sacrifices to any god other than the LORD must be destroyed. [Exodus 22.20] 

Let's bring this into the 21st Century. God's promise of God-distinguishing, miraculous blessings has not passed away as some suppose, but is just as valid today as it ever was. Jesus, yes, Jesus - God With Us, said this:

For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ [Matthew 13.15]

Jesus described the bribe God warned about in Exodus 23.8: namely intentionally (hard-heartedly) ignoring what can be clearly seen, and about what God said in Exodus 23.25- 26: that food and water, good health, vitality, and long, full life (healing), were at stake because of  ignoring what can be clearly seen.

Blindness is characteristic of idolatry, ...as is deafness and lifelessness in general. Look back at Matthew 13.15 above, and then consider the following descriptive passages from the Psalms.

Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 115.4-8]

The idols of the nations are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have  mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and mouths but cannot breathe. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 135.15-18]

The Bible clearly reveals God as man's intentional Protector and Provider (in fact, their everything). It is a bribe however that draws people away (distracts them) from God - a bribe that promises everything that God promised, but without the obligation to serve only God. And, in typical bribe fashion, the "bribe" requires ongoing maintenance...

With promises of wealth, protection, health and convenience, idols today bribe people with man-made solutions at the ongoing sacrificial cost of money while willfully ignoring God's miraculous solutions (clearly portrayed and demonstrated in the Bible) at the ongoing sacrificial cost of obedience - the obedience of faith in Jesus Christ. What's worse is that these idols' bribes have lured even God's people to twist the truth (as Exodus 23.8 foretells).

Yes again, this is more real in the 21st Century than ever before. And, for this reason, Jesus' extension of God's promised protection and provision stands:

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. [Matthew 6.24-34]

Also. Jesus' demand of His would-be followers is timeless:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Idolatry is bribery that draws men to willful blindness of God's Word. It is bribery as we have never seen it.

Father, may the truth of Your Word penetrate our blind eyes and make us see. So be it.