Tag: tablets of the Testimony

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Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

From Sinai to Savior: Good news of God’s Presence among us (Exodus 30–34; 1Kings 18; 2Corinthians 3)

From Sinai to Savior: Good news of God's Presence among us (Exodus 30-34; 1Kings 18; 2Corinthians 3). Artwork shows Mt. Sinai with dark clouds and lightning at the top and the golden calf at the bottom.

The story of Israel’s partying around the golden calf at Mount Sinai may seem ancient and completely out of touch with modern sensibilities. But the golden calf incident didn’t happen in a vacuum, and Israel’s repeated dalliances with golden calf deities throughout its history before the Babylonian exile weren’t coincidental either.

In this study on the Torah reading כי תשא Ki Tisa (“when you take”; Exodus 30:11–34:35), we delve into the construction of the Tabernacle and golden calf calamity, Moses’ plea for forgiveness, and the theme of repentance.

Moses asked to see God’s glory on Mount Sinai, and God revealed His character to Moses in his lovingkindness and steadfastness. Moses spoke with God face to face as one speaks to a friend. This close bond between Moses and God and the Tabernacle home for God’s Presence that traveled prefigure Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ), Who lived among us as God in the flesh and fully revealed God’s character (John 1:14; Hebrews 1:3).

We also draw upon the accounts of Jonah’s warning to Nineveh, and the Elijah’s stand against the Baal prophets on Mount Carmel. They teach us the importance of faithfulness to God’s commands amid societal pressures to go along with what’s popular or promoted by those in authority. Ultimately, this study underscores the importance of the Tabernacle as teaching spiritual connection and anticipates redemption through the Messiah’s return and the transformation of Jerusalem along with all the world.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

You’re invited to God’s big tent (Exodus 25:1–27:19)

You're invited to God's big tent (Exodus 25-27). A large tent with open sides holds a dining party at night.

The exacting details of Israel’s Tabernacle, God’s embassy on earth, are not recorded in Torah reading תְּרוּמָה Terumah (“contribution,” Exodus 25:1–27:19) just as a feature for Architectural Digest. Rather, they are part of a testimony that God wants to live in the middle of His people.

This is the “big tent” testimony about the Creator through Israel’s history. In the Bible, His house grows from an easily portable tent to Solomon’s “wonder of the world” temple to the final temple that will be so large it covers most of the Middle East.

God wants to accommodate all who want to meet Him. But only those who are “on fire” for God — who are eager for His eternal kingdom — will be there.

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Discussions Torah

Exodus 25:1-27:19: Is your house God-built?

From “The House That Jack Built” to the parable by Yeshua the Mashiakh (Jesus the Christ) of the wise homeowner’s constructing it on a rock (Matt. 7:24–27; Luke 6:47–49), the metaphor of a house representing one’s character and lifestyle is widely employed over eons and continents.

The architectural and interior-design details about Israel’s Tabernacle in Torah reading תרומה Terumah (“contribution,” Exodus 25:1-27:19) may seem like needless and tiresome minutia. But why they deserve close, repeated reflection is they are a “pattern” for what the Heaven-transformed life looks like. That’s the pattern Yeshua, the ultimate Tabernacle from Heaven (John 1:14), lived out, as recorded in the Gospels.

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Discussions Torah

Exodus 30:11–34:35: Learning the Creator’s heart at the golden calf

"The Golden Calf" in the 1890 Holman Bible
"The Golden Calf." The Holy Bible. Illustration. Public domain (U.S.). Philadelphia, Penn.: A.J. Holman & Company, 1890.

Many ask how we can know God. A great picture of the heart of Heaven and the work of Messiah Yeshua is the centerpiece of the Torah reading Ki Tisa (“when you take,” Exodus 30:11-34:35). The reason men count a population is for their own reasons: taxation, war, social engineering, redistribution of wealth, etc. The reason God calls for a count of the people is to build up His tabernacle. Man’s census and man’s laws created bondage and slavery while God’s census and God’s laws give us an outlet for holy service and freedom. This is also why Messiah Yeshua went out of His way to heal people on Shabbat. When Messiah healed people on Shabbat, he gave people freedom. They were now free to fully follow God.

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Discussions Torah

Exodus 34: Moshe gets to know God personally while getting the replacement tablets of the commandments

Richard Agee

Some commentators believe God was angry at Moses for breaking those tablets with the 10 Commandments, but I don’t believe so. When Moses broke the tablets, Moses was simply acknowledging the fact that the people had already broken the covenant that just 40 days earlier they had promised to uphold when they said, “What you say, we will do.” So it was appropriate for Moses to break those tablets. But it was also appropriate that the tablets had to be remade.

Moses had a friendship with God that His contemporaries did not have. Paul says that thanks to Yeshua, we can approach God without a veil.

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Discussions Torah

Exodus 34 — God reveals Himself to Moshe in a special way during second 40 days on the Mountain

The Book of Exodus records that the phrase “God spoke to Moshe…” occurs 150-plus times each in the TaNak (Torah, Prophets and Writings). God spoke to Moshe (Moses) more than any other person recorded in the entire Tanak. This gives us a small glimpse of how highly God esteemed Moshe and how Yeshua’s followers should hold Moshe in more high esteem than they do. When Moshe came back down the second time, he was changed forever.

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Discussions Torah

Exodus 32-33 — two tablets of the Testimony and the golden calf

This is a very heavy section of scripture. God tells Moses about the people’s rebellion and calls on Moses to check on the people. God tells Moses that he is willing to take very drastic measures to punish the people and promote Moses to an even higher level.