Matt's Messages - Exiting Exodus

“Exiting Exodus”
August 21, 2005
Exodus 35:1-40:38

I invite you to turn in your Bibles with me to the Book of Exodus, chapter 35. The Book of Exodus, chapter 35. You can find Exodus 35 beginning on Pew Bible Page #89.

The title of today’s message is: “Exiting Exodus.”

And that’s because we are done. We are on our “way out” of this book. Today’s sermon is the 26th message this year on the book of Exodus, and we are going to finish the book this morning. Exiting Exodus.

And as we exit Exodus, I think it’s important for us to draw some big-picture observations about what the book of Exodus says about the Main Character of the book of Exodus.

By the way, who is the main character of the book of Exodus?

Is it Moses the great mediator between God and Israel?
Is it Aaron the “great” high priest?
Is it Pharaoh the evil ruler of Egypt?
Is it the people of Israel, so wise and powerful?

You know that it is not. The main character of the book of Exodus is YHWH, the LORD–the God of Exodus.

And as we exit Exodus, I want to point out 4 things about the person of God that Exodus has revealed to us these last 8 months.

Let’s pray and then I’ll tell you number one.

[prayer]

#1. THE GOD OF EXODUS IS A MIGHTY, MIGHTY SAVIOR!

When we think back over the last 34 chapters, what stands out for you? What are the “defining moments” of the book of Exodus?

Well, it all begins with the bleak story of Israel’s oppression in Egypt. They are in slavery to Pharaoh. And Pharaoh is concerned about their growth as a people. So, he decides to exterminate the Jews by killing their baby sons!

But a rescuer is rescued!

Moses is saved from death and brought up in (ironically) Pharaoh’s own household.

And then the rescuer is rescued again!

Moses flees to Midian where he is in training in desert life.

And then the rescuer is raised up at the Burning Bush to go back and say to Pharaoh, “the LORD says, ‘Let my people go so that they can worship me.’”

And Pharaoh said? No!

And God said, “Oh yes, I will.”

Pharaoh said, “I don’t know YHWH.”

And God said, “You will when I am done!”

And the Rescuer (capital R), rolls up His sleeves and saves His people from Egypt.
With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm!

10 Creational Warfare Plagues.

Water to Blood in the Nile and Throughout the Land.
Frogs from the Nile, Covering Everything.
Gnats Everywhere.
Flies Ruining the Land.
Pestilence on the Livestock
Boils on Everyone
Hail Bombing That Decimated Egypt.
A Locust Swarm That Took Everything That Was Left.
Darkness That You Could Feel.
And the 10th Plague: The Death of the Firstborn. But Israel was Passed-Over.

The God of Exodus is a Mighty, Mighty Savior!

And then Pharaoh said, “Please go! Please go!”

And Israel left Egypt laden with sliver and gold and plunder without fighting even one battle for themselves.

But then Pharaoh changed his mind. And he chased Israel and pinned them to the Red Sea.

And then what happened?

Red Sea Rescue!

The waters parted and the people crossed over on dry ground! Then a divine tsunami wiped out Pharaoh and his entire army. And Israel celebrated with the Song of Moses and Miriam on the other side: YHWH is a warrior! YHWH is His name! The horse and its rider, He has cast into the sea!

The God of Exodus is a Mighty, Mighty Savior!

And then it looked bleak again! Bitter water, no water, no food, attacks from the Amalekites. Will they make it to Sinai?

The God of Exodus is a Mighty, Mighty Savior!

Sweet water, manna and quail, water from the rock, and victory over the Amalekites.

God brings them all the way to Himself at Mount Sinai.

The God of Exodus is a Mighty, Mighty Savior!

And that’s why He begins the 10 Commandments like this, “I am YHWH your God who brought you out of the Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”

And He lays down the law. And He gives His people a covenant. And He promises to be their God. And He provides blueprints a tabernacle–a home among His people. And He provides instructions on establishing a priesthood–a way of connecting Israel with God and covering over their sin with sacrifices.

The God of Exodus is a Mighty, Mighty Savior!

And then, they sinned with a great sin! They chose to worship a golden calf instead of YHWH and broke their covenant with Him.

But because of the mediator He had supplied and because He is a “YHWH, YHWH the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin” He graciously forgave them and renewed the covenant.

And here we are standing with Israel at the base of Mount Sinai and we have to agree:

The God of Exodus is a Mighty, Mighty Savior!

And He still is today. Amen?

One of the key reasons that God saved Israel in this mighty, mighty way was to give us a pattern, a picture, a key to understanding what Jesus did on the Cross.

Jesus is the New Moses who leads His people out of bondage to sin and self and Satan.

Jesus is the Rescuer of Rescuers!

He is a mighty, mighty Savior! And He deserves our faith.

If you are not yet a Christian this morning, I invite you right now to put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ. He is the embodiment of the saving power of the God of Exodus.

He is a mighty, mighty Savior and He can rescue you from yourself, your sin, and Satan’s grip today.

Put yourself in His hands. And see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today (Ex 14:13).

If you are already a Christian, rejoice and sing every day to the One who rescued you from yourself, your sin, and Satan.

He is a mighty, mighty Savior and greatly to be praised!

Last week, Moses came down from the mountain, and his face was glowing. He had seen the aftereffects of the glory of God and been changed by it.

Now, we get to chapter 35. God has renewed the covenant. And it’s time to actually put it into effect.

That’s why chapter 35 begins with the sign of the covenant–the Sabbath. V.1

“Moses assembled the whole Israelite community and said to them, ‘These are the things the LORD has commanded you to do: For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it must be put to death. Do not light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.’”

The covenant is now in effect. The sign of the covenant stands. No work on the Sabbath. God works for us. We trust in Him.

And now, we gather the resources to build the tabernacle. V.4

“Moses said to the whole Israelite community, ‘This is what the LORD has commanded: From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering of gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the LORD has commanded: the tabernacle with its tent and its covering, clasps, frames, crossbars, posts and bases; the ark with its poles and the atonement cover and the curtain that shields it; the table with its poles and all its articles and the bread of the Presence; the lampstand that is for light with its accessories, lamps and oil for the light; the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; the curtain for the doorway at the entrance to the tabernacle; the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its poles and all its utensils; the bronze basin with its stand; the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard; the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard, and their ropes; the woven garments worn for ministering in the sanctuary–both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests.”

What’s all that? It’s time to actually build the tabernacle and establish the priesthood.

Everything that we read about back in Exodus 25 through 31 is now going to be actually collected and built. [Slap up overhead.]

I’m not going to explain all of it again or read all of the next few chapters. They are almost word for word a repetition of Exodus 25 through 31 in a little bit of a different order with a few extra details thrown in. If you want to know what it all means, ask me, and I’ll explain things to you or you could go back and read or listen to the messages I gave in July on the blueprints.

But just because I’m not reading all of these repeated verses doesn’t mean they aren’t important.

In fact, because they are repeated, it shows just how important they are!

Why are they repeated? Why is that important?

Because the God of Exodus is a mighty, mighty Savior!

This is a second chance. This is what was supposed to have been done in Exodus chapter 32 when they were having their golden-calf party.

They should be toast strewn about around the base of the mountain.

But God has been gracious. And they are now doing what they should have done already.

And they do it up right this time! V.20

“Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses' presence, and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments. All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD. Everyone who had blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen, or goat hair, ram skins dyed red or hides of sea cows brought them. Those presenting an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to the LORD, and everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the work brought it. Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun–blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen. And all the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goat hair. The leaders brought onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. They also brought spices and olive oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense. All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the LORD freewill offerings for all the work the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do. Then Moses said to the Israelites, ‘See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts–to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship. And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others [The best of the of the best!.] He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers–all of them master craftsmen and designers. [Chapter 36] So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the LORD has commanded.’ Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work and said to Moses, ‘The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done.’ Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: ‘No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.’ And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.” Stop there.

Stop giving! That’s enough! That’s a great problem to have, isn’t it?

The people gave of themselves in thanksgiving for the mighty, mighty rescue that they had received.

And they showed the second thing about the God of Exodus:

#2. THE GOD OF EXODUS IS A WORTHY, WORTHY TREASURE.

Israel understood at this point in their story that God was worth this kind of sacrificial giving. He is the pearl of great price. Sell everything to get Him.

The God of Exodus Is a Worthy, Worthy Treasure.

The furnishings for the Tabernacle remind us of God’s worth, His value, His desirability. In chapter 38, there is a count of all of the materials that it took to build the tabernacle.

There is over one ton of gold in the tabernacle and its furnishings.
Two and half tons of bronze.
Four tons of silver to make the thing!

Is God worth that? And so much more!

The God of Exodus Is a Worthy, Worthy Treasure.

He, in and of Himself, is so precious!

We need to worship Him.

My Sunday School Class has been studying the book, Don’t Waste Your Life!

It is a waste of your life to give your life for a lesser cause or person that the Lord.

But it is not a waste of your life to give your life or even give up your life for the Lord Jesus. Because He is a worthy, worthy treasure.

Later this year, I hope to have a movie-night here at church where we watch a DVD of the life of the “Auca Five” Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, and their friends.

They were five missionaries who were killed by the Waorani tribe in Equador in the 1960's.

Jim Elliot is famous for saying, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”


The Lord Jesus is worthy of giving up everything to gain Him.

What are you worshiping? What compels you to give like Israel did?

The God of Exodus–revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ–is a worthy, worthy treasure.

#3. THE GOD OF EXODUS IS A HOLY, HOLY, HOLY GOD.

We’ve seen that again and again in the book of Exodus, haven’t we?

And it’s very clear in the structure of the Tabernacle. [overhead up again]

In chapter 36, they begin to actually build it. Verses 8 through 38 talk about making the tent with the curtains and the frames and the crossbars, and everything. It’s just like God said to Moses in the blueprints. And it highlights the holiness of God.

In chapter 37, Bezalel makes the ark of the covenant (verses 1-9), the Table of the Presence (verses 10-16), the Lampstand (verses 17-24), the Altar of Incense (verses 25-29). In chapter 38, they make the Altar of Burnt Offering (the Bronze Altar, verses 1-7), the Basin for Washing (verse 8), and the courtyard and the outer curtains and entrance (verses 9-20). And verses 21-31 say how much it all cost.

I would read these all of these verses to you if I had time, and I would point out again and again how this structure communicates the holiness of God.

No one enters the courtyard without a sacrifice. You are presented with an altar of burn offerings right at the door. Come no further unless you are atoned for. Then you must wash. You must be cleansed.

And no one enters the actual Tent unless they are a priest. And no one enters the Most Holy Place (a perfect cube) except the High Priest and him only once a year with blood and incense to put on the Atonement Cover under the Cherubim.

And the materials used as you get closer and closer to the Most Holy Place are more and more precious–signifying more and more holiness.

And no priest enters into the Holy Place or Most Holy Place without the Garments that communicate His Holiness and Israel’s representation before Him.

Chapter 39 says that they made all of those pieces of clothing for Aaron and his sons.

The ephod, the waistband, the onyx stones, the breastpiece with its 12 stones, the pomegranates and bells, the tunics, the sash, the turban (verses 1-29).

And in chapter 39, verse 30, “They made the plate, the sacred diadem, out of pure gold and engraved on it, like an inscription on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD. Then they fastened a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban, as the LORD commanded Moses. So all the work on the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, was completed. The Israelites did everything just as the LORD commanded Moses.”

“Holy to the LORD” because the LORD is holy, holy, holy.

The God of Exodus is a holy, holy, holy God.

What do we do about that?

Again, we tremble in joy that we are saved from His holy wrath.

And we work by faith at trying to be holy ourselves.

We do that by trusting obedience.

If I had time to read chapter 39 to you, I would point out the refrain (seven times!) in verses 1, 5, 7, 21, 26, 29, and 32.

“As the LORD commanded Moses.”

That’s obedience. Doing what the Lord commands as He commands it.

We can get awfully slack with our obedience.

We obey the commands of God that we feel like obeying.

But that is actually disobedience. And a holy, holy, holy God deserves our complete obedience–not half-way.

“As the LORD commanded Moses.”

The God of Exodus is a holy, holy, holy God.

And it’s time for the inspection. The construction is done it’s time to see the inspector. V.33

“Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses: the tent and all its furnishings, its clasps, frames, crossbars, posts and bases; the covering of ram skins dyed red, the covering of hides of sea cows and the shielding curtain; the ark of the Testimony with its poles and the atonement cover; the table with all its articles and the bread of the Presence; the pure gold lampstand with its row of lamps and all its accessories, and the oil for the light; the gold altar, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense, and the curtain for the entrance to the tent; the bronze altar with its bronze grating, its poles and all its utensils; the basin with its stand; the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard; the ropes and tent pegs for the courtyard; all the furnishings for the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting; and the woven garments worn for ministering in the sanctuary, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when serving as priests. The Israelites had done all the work just as the LORD had commanded Moses. Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the LORD had commanded. So Moses blessed them.”

Do you want that kind of blessing?

I would love to have said of me, I did just as the LORD had commanded.

Is there something in your life right now where you are dodging obedience?

“Just as the LORD had commanded.”

Do you pass inspection?

The tabernacle did. Now it’s time to put it together. Chapter 40. Exiting Exodus. Verse 1.

“Then the LORD said to Moses: ‘Set up the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, on the first day of the first month. [One year since the Exodus from Egypt.] Place the ark of the Testimony in it and shield the ark with the curtain. Bring in the table and set out what belongs on it. Then bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. [Put it together. Something big’s going to happen!] Place the gold altar of incense in front of the ark of the Testimony and put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle. Place the altar of burnt offering in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting; place the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar and put water in it. Set up the courtyard around it and put the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it and all its furnishings, and it will be holy. Then anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils; consecrate the altar, and it will be most holy. Anoint the basin and its stand and consecrate them. Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest. Bring his sons and dress them in tunics. Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so they may serve me as priests. Their anointing will be to a priesthood that will continue for all generations to come. Moses did everything just as the LORD commanded him.”

What is going to happen? Do you know? Can you feel it? V.17

“So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year. When Moses set up the tabernacle, he put the bases in place, erected the frames, inserted the crossbars and set up the posts. Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering over the tent, as the LORD commanded him. He took the Testimony and placed it in the ark, attached the poles to the ark and put the atonement cover over it. Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung the shielding curtain and shielded the ark of the Testimony, as the LORD commanded him. Moses placed the table in the Tent of Meeting on the north side of the tabernacle outside the curtain and set out the bread on it before the LORD, as the LORD commanded him. He placed the lampstand in the Tent of Meeting opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle and set up the lamps before the LORD, as the LORD commanded him. Moses placed the gold altar in the Tent of Meeting in front of the curtain and burned fragrant incense on it, as the LORD commanded him. Then he put up the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle. He set the altar of burnt offering near the entrance to the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, and offered on it burnt offerings and grain offerings, as the LORD commanded him. He placed the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing, and Moses and Aaron and his sons used it to wash their hands and feet. They washed whenever they entered the Tent of Meeting or approached the altar, as the LORD commanded Moses. Then Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses finished the work.”

What’s going to happen? God is going to move in.

“Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. [How glorious? How holy?] Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out–until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels.”
And we exit Exodus.

They enter into their travels.

God has come to take up residence in the midst of His people!

#4. THE GOD OF EXODUS IS A GLORIOUS, PRESENT, RIGHT-HERE LORD!

God has come to live with His people.

He’s home. It’s a tent. It’s temporary. It’s temporary for everyone. But it’s real.

God is in relationship with His people. He is there in the midst of them.

The glory of God is so amazing! So wonderful and full that Moses can’t enter the tent himself!

And it’s here! Right here. Right among God’s rebellious, stiff-necked people.

God is home with His people.

Absolutely holy, holy, holy. And at the same time near, near, near!

The God of Exodus Is a Glorious, Present, Right-here Lord!

And He still is today.

But even more so. Because of Jesus.

Jesus wasn’t a cloud.

He is flesh and blood like you and me.

And John 1:14 says that He came to tabernacle among us.

And we have seen His glory–the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father, full of Grace and Truth.

And He has given us His Holy Spirit.

So that we are now the Tabernacle of God!

He has taken up residence within each of us who believe!

Isn’t that the most amazing truth?

The mighty, mighty savior God,
The worthy, worthy treasure God,
The holy, holy, holy God,
Has made a home within you and me.

The God of Exodus Is a Glorious, Present, Right-Here Lord!

And wherever we go as we exit Exodus, He goes, too!

May the Lord give us grace to follow Him.