How God Leads 2

King David, pondering the beauty of God’s creation, exclaimed, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world” ().

Without a word spoken, the glory of God is proclaimed by the heavenly expanses every day. God has also left His glorious imprint on history. As we will see in our study, God has impressed His purpose for our lives through the images and pictures of the Old Testament. Through pictures and symbolism, God tells us more than words alone can express about where He leads us.

The will of God for our lives today is expressed so clearly in the ancient book of Exodus that we could say it is “proclaimed,” “declared,” and “poured forth,” while yet not a word is spoken. If the heavens proclaim God’s voice “into all the earth,” the Old Testament symbolism and typology sound God’s voice “through all the ages.”

Typology

We are reminded in that while Moses was on Mount Sinai, he received not only the law, but also instructions for the building of the tabernacle, the tent in which God would meet His people—”Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: ‘See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.’”

An exact following of God’s pattern would be essential, for the tabernacle is “…a copy and shadow of what is in heaven” (). The physical structure was in image of a spiritual reality; the historical event portrayed eternal truths that God would have us understand. This is not a new or unusual way for God to teach His people. The Old Testament is full of hundreds of types. The word pattern in comes from the Greek word tupos, or “type.” It means an “impression,” a “seal,” or “shadow.” God has left marks all over the Old Testament. There are literally hundreds of types.

Considerjusta few fromthe passages we have studieduntil now. The creation accountis ashad- ow of the new creation. The exodus from Egypt is a picture image of our redemption through Christ Jesus. More specifically, Adam, the first man, was a type of Christ. The ark that Noah built represents our salvation through Jesus. We have already seen how the offering of Isaac was a picture of God offering His son for our sins and the story of Joseph is a foreshadowing of the life of Christ.

Considering only our study thus far, we have seen or passed right over dozens of such types. What unites all of these historical impressions is that New Testament authors substantiate them, and they all point us to the Person and purposes of Jesus our Savior. Through Old Testament symbolism, God shows us that it is His clear, unchangeable will to lead us to Jesus Christ.

The Law

At the close of our last lesson, Moses was receiving the law on Mount Sinai. The word “law,” or Torah is used in a general sense for the whole of the Old Testament. It is used more specifically for the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch.

The same term, the Law, is used with even more focus to describe the instructions received by Moses on Mount Sinai. There were moral guidelines (the Ten Commandments), civil guide- lines (relating to the government and practical functions of the people of God), and ceremonial guidelines (related to religious teaching). All of these teachings were important. All of them were given to (Galatians 3:24 “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.” New American Standard Bible). The moral law shows us our need for a savior. Most of the ceremonial law, including instructions for the design of the tabernacle, shows us the way to the Savior.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.” ( NASB). The moral law shows us our need for a savior. Most of the ceremonial law, including instructions for the design of the tabernacle, shows us the way to the Savior.

The Tabernacle

Moses was given the design for the Tabernacle by God in order to “make a sanctuary for me (God), and I will dwell among them (Israelites). Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you” (, clarification added). Great detail is given on how to build and furnish the Tabernacle (), stressing its utmost importance to God. The Tabernacle was set apart for God to dwell among His people () – the word Tabernacle means “dwelling” or “habitation”. Likewise, we are God’s tabernacle: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”(), The Tabernacle contained the Ten Commandments as a constant reminder that God demands holiness of His people (). It was where atonement for sin occurred through sacrificial offerings (blood of animal sacrifices). This makes the Tabernacle a type of Christ for through His sacrifice and the shedding of His blood, our sins are forgiven (). And finally, the Tabernacle is the foreshadowing of God’s final redemptive act when as the Apostle John wrote, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away… I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God… And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them...’” ().

The High Priest

discusses the ministry of the High Priest, Aaron, and the duties of the priests under him. Elaborate detail is given to the construction of their garments and a priestly breast- plate bejeweled with 12 precious stones. Every detail is a type of Christ. So too, the priests themselves are a type of Christ for they were the ones who could represent the people and stand before God, offering sacrifices as atonement for the people’s sin. “Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being”(). Christ offered up the final sacrifice, “For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (). His blood allows us to enter “the Most Holy Place” and “draw near to God” (.)

Final Thought

Too often, we read much of the Old Testament and get lost in the lettering of the law and the intricate details of things like the building of the Tabernacle and instructions for the priest- hood. Before we decide to sweep these passages aside, we need to understand that all Scripture comes from God (). Furthermore, we need to look to them for the wonderful representations of Christ and all that God has prepared for those who are willing to accept the atonement of this High Priest, so that we too can live forever with and stand before the throne of our God.

Devotion (Personal Study)

1. Read the commentary portion of this study guide. Write down one insight that was especially challenging or encouraging for you.

2. From , which of the Ten Commandments are most important? Why?

Is there logic to God’s ordering of these commands?

Do you seek to apply these commands to your life today?

What is the danger of forgetting the Ten Commandments?

What is the danger of applying the Ten Commandants to our lives without also remembering the grace and mercy of God?

3. Read . God provided guidelines (laws) for His people that included moral, civil, and practical framework for their existence as a new nation. How do these laws demonstrate God’s concern for the details of our lives ()?

4. See . Find at least three commandments and three promises given to the Israelites. How might Mat- thew 28:18-20 provide a New Testament parallel to these Old Testament directives?

5. Why would the commandments and promises of important to the people as they approached the Promised Land?

Is just as important to you and for your life today? Explain.

6. Read . Note verses 9-11. Considering that covenants were often enacted over meals, how does this passage provide striking similarities to the account in ?

Compare, in a sentence or two, the New Covenant we have to- day through Jesus Christ with the Old Covenant created with God on Mount Sinai (). Take this opportunity to thank God for entering into covenant with you.

Discussion (Small Group Study)

7. What insight or question from your personal study or from the sermon this week would you like to discuss and explore further with the group?

8. See . What was to be the heart attitude of those who gave of their means to help construct God’s tabernacle?

What should be our attitude as we give for the work of the Church today ()?

Is this your attitude as you give financially to the work of God?

Why or why not?

9. Read .

a. Why do you think God was exacting about the pattern of the tabernacle (See also )?

b. to 30 describes this pattern. Once the tabernacle was finally constructed, what happened ()? Do you think the pattern given by God was directly linked to the glorious presence of God? If so, how?

10. Notice in Chapter 28 the garments for the priests and in chapter 29 the consecration of the priests. Why do you think God was so exacting about their dress and their service (; )?

In a general sense, who are the “priests” of God today ()?

Does God expect the same kind of perfection from us that He required of the Old Testament priests? Have God’s standards been lowered through time?

11. Turn to , the story of the golden calf. In what ways do we too tend to worship things we can see and touch, rather than God Himself?

What are the “golden calves” in your life?

12. See Moses’ prayer of intercession, . What are the main points made by Moses?

See Moses’ prayer in . What is the attitude of Moses?

What can we learn from these prayers about how to approach God with our own concerns?

Take time to pray for each other, asking that you might grow in the ways of God and become greater intercessors for God.

Digging Deeper (Further Study)

13. Read . What is Moses’ deep and abiding concern?

How does this relate to the main purpose for the tabernacle, which is the main focus of the last half of Exodus?

Is this concern your concern today?

14. Read the words given by God to describe His glory (). Turn these descriptions of God into prayers of thanks and praise.