Exodus – Chapter 37

He made the holy anointing oil also, and the pure fragrant incense, blended as by the perfumer. Exodus 37:29 – Here is the last verse of this chapter, a chapter where we get the detailed description of the pieces that would be placed inside the Tabernacle. We see the Ark, the Table of Presence, the Lampstand, and the Altar of Incense being created. As you read through this chapter it can seem like a repeat of what was already outlined for them just a few chapters back, and you’d be correct. In chapter 25 we see the Lord describe the design for the Ark, and what we get in chapter 37 is pretty much an identical outline of that design. Why then would the Lord have this repeated? Keep in mind who these words were originally written for, the Jewish people. These items described in the chapter would be ones that the vast majority of the congregation would never see in the history of their people. Since these things were inside the Tabernacle, and eventually inside the Temple, only the priests that worked in those places got the opportunity to see for themselves these objects. While never seeing them for themselves, these objects were vitally important to the Jew’s faith life, so God made sure that the description of these objects would be read to His people over and over so they would never forget about what they couldn’t see. Such is the case in our relationship with the Lord. Why do you think the Lord over and over in scripture reveals the details about Himself to us? We see repeated the truths about His love, His grace, that He is slow to anger, and that He is all powerful. Why? So we never forget these realities about the God that we don’t see with our own eyes yet. Find yourself then repeatedly reading over the repeated truths about our God. Being reminded over and over and over that God loves you through scripture is a blessing that God has freely given us the opportunity to enjoy if we take it. Allow the invisible God to reveal Himself to you through His word. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3181

Exodus 37 Daily DEVO 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. Exodus 37:1 – He made the ark. Sounds simple and like a phrase we’d often just fly over as we read the chapter as a whole. But he made the ark. He chose to do what he was told to do by God and he chose to use his gifts for God’s work. As a result people were able to connect and worship with God like never before. All that rested on him actually making the choice to do our not to do what God said. You’re faced with that choice today as well. Will you do what God asked you to do? Will you use your gifts for His work? Will people today be able to connect and worship God better because of you? What will you choose to do with your life today? I pray it will be said of you like it was said of Bezalel, you did what God asked of you. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 831

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. And he overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold around it. Exodus 37:1-2 – In 2 Samuel chapter 6 we see a story of a guy touching the ark of the covenant and dying as a result. Note that the ark being spoken of in our passage is that very same ark. Yet, crazily enough, Bezalel didn’t die. For sure Bezalel had his hands all over and inside the ark when creating it. What does this teach us? It’s not the item that in itself is holy, it’s God who makes it such. Remember, without God’s presence with the ark, it was just a nice, gold box. Keep this in mind as we place value on things inside our faith life. A church building without God is just another building. A pulpit without God is just a wooden or metal stand. A Bible without God is just ink on paper. It’s God who makes things holy, outside of Him their is no holiness to be found. Today what we see God call holy is His followers. So have you treated an item in a church building with complete reverence yet treated a fellow brother or sister in Christ with disregard? Remember God’s heart towards those who treat what He calls holy as common. If there is anything in the church building to be treated with the utmost care and love it’s the church body. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1920