Week 13

Exodus 21; Leviticus 25:39-55, Numbers 35:6-34, Deut 15:12-18 and 19:1-21

Bible and slavery

Exodus can be divided into at least three parts:
1-12 - People in bondage
13-18: Escape to Mount Sinai
19-40: Book of Laws (covenants)

In today's portion, which is read through various passages, we come face to face with the question of slavery. Does Bible endorse slavery? This is a question I have always toiled with for several years. Finally, I seem to find an explanation through Pastor Soper -

It does no endorse slavery, but acknowledges the existence of it. It then helps create laws to limit it's powers. Similarly, bible does not endorse divorce. It acknowledges it.

There are three kinds of laws:
1. Moral laws - provided through the ten commandments in Exodus 20
2. Civil laws - provided in Exodus 21-29
3. Ceremonial laws - given in the last part of exodus and leviticus

Exodus 22-23:9 & Leviticus 18-20
Various laws

Why did God have to repeat these laws several times? Israel just came out of a long period of slavery. God had to repeat the laws to make it clear to the people that these are important and it has to be followed closely. 

Occult activity is strictly probibited - mysticism, horoscopes, numerology etc. The moment you practice in such an activity, you open yourself to demonic activity. 

Why did God emphasize the sexual laws? The land that engulfs the Middle East had so much sexual impurity. God wanted Israel to be pure. Homosexuality was one such area. 
Leviticus 18:25: Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.
When there is so much sexual sins, watch out! The land vomits out its inhabitants.

Leviticus 20: 7 summarizes all laws and the reason for these laws.
"Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God.  Keep my decreesand follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy."

Exodus 23:10-33, Exodus 24, Leviticus 23
Ceremonial laws

God institutes ceremonial laws so Israel can remember the deliverance. Why did he bring the unleavened bread and the yeast into the festivals? 

Jesus died on passover. He saw himself as the passover lamb. Fifty days after resurrection - came the day of pentecost. God did this so that Israel can see how all these festivals are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. 

Exodus 25-27
The tabernacle

The English word "tabernacle" is derived from the Latin tabernāculum meaning "tent" or "hut".

The place where the presence of the Lord will dwell with the people. And the Lord wanted the tabernacle to be made according to his strict and detailed instructions. It is repeated in Exodus 35-38 as the actual tabernacle is being built. Why did Moses repeat the architectural pattern yet again? 

Why? 

God is a Holy God. You can only go into his presence in His terms. 
Cain and Abel offered sacrifices to the Lord. Only Abel's was accepted. Cain went on his own terms, but God did not accept it. 

We enter into troubled waters when we start to worship God on our own terms. Am I at fault? I have worshipped God in my way - in less reverential manner. I should go back to the pattern followed by my grandparents - the way they worshipped God was in absolute fear and respect. 

The Tabernacle has special significance and is intended to point us to Christ. It can be over-interpreted when you start looking at each aspect of the architecture. Do not go down that path. Remember that the dwelling place of God is in us through Christ. 

 

Everything in the tabernacle points to Christ.

The Names of the Tabernacle (from E.F.Willis)
It is called the House of Jehovah (Exodus 23:19; Joshua 6:24; 1 Samuel 3:15); The Temple of Jehovah (1 Samuel 3:3), the Sanctuary (Exodus 25:8; Leviticus 12:4; Leviticus 16:33; Leviticus 19:30;Leviticus 20:3; Leviticus 21:12; Numbers 3:38, etc.); or simply, the Tabernacle (Exodus 25:9; Exodus 26:16; Exodus 27:9, 19, etc.); or Dwelling, i.e., of God. The two most characteristic names, however, are, the Tent or Tabernacle of the Testimony (Numbers 9:15; 17:22, etc.), and the Tent or Tabernacle of Meeting (Exodus 27:21; Exodus 39:32, 40; Exodus 40:7, 34, 35, etc.). The name Tent or Tabernacle of the Testimony had reference to that which was one of the two chief objects of the Tabernacle, viz., to serve as a shrine for "the Testimony" — the two tables of stone on which were engraved the ten words of the Divine Law. The other characteristic name, that of Tabernacle or Tent of Meeting, speaks of the other chief end for which the Tabernacle existed, viz., to be a place of meeting between God and His people (Exodus 25:8, 22; Exodus 29:42-45; Exodus 30:6, 36).

Exodus 28-29

The Priestly order

This passage shows how God institutes the priestly order. It is interesting to note the garments - it embodies God's holiness and also signifies the position of priests as separate from regular people. However, after Jesus Christ entered the world, there are no more priests as described in old testament. We do not have mediators before God anymore. We are all part of the royal priesthood. We could still have pastors who lead us spiritually, but the office of priesthood remains void. This brings into question several issues affecting Eastern churches which still have priestly order. 

I do not find a fault in this, except when the priest really assumes the role of a mediator. That is not biblical. The priest in Eastern churches must be just leaders. It is alright for them to don special garments to signify their office. But when they start assuming the role of a supernatural, mediator before God, be it priests or pastors, that's when one has to be careful. 

Finally, read Exodus 29 last verse. It summarizes all we should know about this passage:
"Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. 46 They will know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am theLord their God."