Exodus 39 , Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals

 
Max Lucado Daily: God Is in the Details - November 11, 2021

Do you think the odds are against you? That even God is against you?

If so, ponder the plight of Haman and the outcome of Mordecai in the book of Esther. God flip-flopped their stories. Haman began the day large and in charge. Mordecai began the day praying in the shadow of a gallows that bore his name. Yet from one moment to the next, Haman was humiliated, and Mordecai was given the keys to the city.

The next time you hear someone say, “The devil is in the details,” correct them. God is in the details. He works in the small moments. The insignificant becomes significant because he is ever orchestrating the day-to-day details of innumerable lives through a millennia of time to do what he has foreordained to do.

Exodus 39

Vestments. Using the blue, purple, and scarlet fabrics, they made the woven vestments for ministering in the Sanctuary. Also they made the sacred vestments for Aaron, as God had commanded Moses.

2-5 Ephod. They made the Ephod using gold and blue, purple, and scarlet fabrics and finely twisted linen. They hammered out gold leaf and sliced it into threads that were then worked into designs in the blue, purple, and scarlet fabric and fine linen. They made shoulder pieces fastened at the two ends. The decorated band was made of the same material—gold, blue, purple, and scarlet material, and of fine twisted linen—and of one piece with it, just as God had commanded Moses.

6-7 They mounted the onyx stones in a setting of filigreed gold and engraved the names of the sons of Israel on them, then fastened them on the shoulder pieces of the Ephod as memorial stones for the Israelites, just as God had commanded Moses.

8-10 Breastpiece. They made a Breastpiece designed like the Ephod from gold, blue, purple, and scarlet material, and fine twisted linen. Doubled, the Breastpiece was nine inches square. They mounted four rows of precious gemstones on it.

First row: carnelian, topaz, emerald.

11 Second row: ruby, sapphire, crystal.

12 Third row: jacinth, agate, amethyst.

13-14 Fourth row: beryl, onyx, jasper.

The stones were mounted in a gold filigree. The twelve stones corresponded to the names of the sons of Israel, twelve names engraved as on a seal, one for each of the twelve tribes.

15-21 They made braided chains of pure gold for the Breastpiece, like cords. They made two settings of gold filigree and two rings of gold, put the two rings at the two ends of the Breastpiece, and fastened the two ends of the cords to the two rings at the end of the Breastpiece. Then they fastened the cords to the settings of filigree, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the Ephod in front. Then they made two rings of gold and fastened them to the two ends of the Breastpiece on its inside edge facing the Ephod. They made two more rings of gold and fastened them in the front of the Ephod to the lower part of the two shoulder pieces, near the seam above the decorated band of the Ephod. The Breastpiece was fastened by running a cord of blue through its rings to the rings of the Ephod so that it rested secure on the decorated band of the Ephod and wouldn’t come loose, just as God had commanded Moses.

22-26 Robe. They made the robe for the Ephod entirely of blue. The opening of the robe at the center was like a collar, the edge hemmed so that it wouldn’t tear. On the hem of the robe they made pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet material and fine twisted linen. They also made bells of pure gold and alternated the bells and pomegranates—a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate—all around the hem of the robe that was worn for ministering, just as God had commanded Moses.

27-29 They also made the tunics of fine linen, the work of a weaver, for Aaron and his sons, the turban of fine linen, the linen hats, the linen underwear made of fine twisted linen, and sashes of fine twisted linen, blue, purple, and scarlet material and embroidered, just as God had commanded Moses.

30-31 They made the plate, the sacred crown, of pure gold and engraved on it as on a seal: “Holy to God.” They attached a blue cord to it and fastened it to the turban, just as God had commanded Moses.

32 That completed the work of The Dwelling, the Tent of Meeting. The People of Israel did what God had commanded Moses. They did it all.

33-41 They presented The Dwelling to Moses, the Tent and all its furnishings:

fastening hooks

frames

crossbars

posts

bases

tenting of tanned ram skins

tenting of dolphin skins

veil of the screen

Chest of The Testimony

with its poles

and Atonement-Cover

Table

with its utensils

and the Bread of the Presence

Lampstand of pure gold

and its lamps all fitted out

and all its utensils

and the oil for the light

Gold Altar

anointing oil

fragrant incense

screen for the entrance to the Tent

Bronze Altar

with its bronze grate

its poles and all its utensils

Washbasin

and its base

hangings for the Courtyard

its posts and bases

screen for the gate of the Courtyard

its cords and its pegs

utensils for ministry in The Dwelling, the Tent of Meeting

woven vestments for ministering in the Sanctuary

sacred vestments for Aaron the priest,

and his sons when serving as priests

42-43 The Israelites completed all the work, just as God had commanded. Moses saw that they had done all the work and done it exactly as God had commanded. Moses blessed them.

Our Daily Bread reading and devotion    
Thursday, November 11, 2021

Today's Scripture
Acts 13:32–39
(NIV)

“We tell you the good news:l What God promised our ancestorsm 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus.n As it is written in the second Psalm:

“ ‘You are my son;

today I have become your father.’b o

34 God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said,

“ ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’c p

35 So it is also stated elsewhere:

“ ‘You will not let your holy one see decay.’d q

36 “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep;r he was buried with his ancestorss and his body decayed. 37 But the one whom God raised from the deadt did not see decay.

38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.u 39 Through him everyone who believesv is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.

Insight

In Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas were on their first missionary journey. When they arrived in Pisidian Antioch, the two missionaries entered the synagogue (v. 14), and there Paul delivered his first recorded message in the book of Acts. Speaking as a reputable Jewish scholar and to a committed Jewish audience, it’s no surprise that he made substantial use of the Old Testament in his presentation of the good news about Jesus. After reciting Israel’s history and showing how it pointed to Jesus, Paul landed on Psalm 2 (see Acts 13:33) to support his argument that Jesus was and is the Son of God. This was strategic because the Jewish people viewed Psalm 2 as a messianic psalm where the Father and the Son speak with one another of fulfilling the promise of David’s “greater son”—Jesus (see Luke 1:31–33)—who would one day rule over the entire world.

Learn more about the book of Acts. By: Bill Crowder

Good News

We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled for us.
Acts 13:32–33

In 1941, as Hitler’s reign was expanding across Europe, novelist John Steinbeck was asked to help with the war effort. He wasn’t asked to fight or visit troops on the frontline, but to instead write a story. The result was The Moon Is Down, a novel about a peaceful land that gets invaded by an evil regime. Printed on underground presses and secretly distributed throughout occupied countries, the novel sent a message: The Allies were coming, and by imitating the novel’s characters, readers could help secure their freedom. Through The Moon Is Down, Steinbeck brought good news to people under Nazi rule—their liberation was near.

Like the characters in Steinbeck’s story, Jews in the first century were an occupied people under brutal Roman rule. But centuries before, God had promised to send an Ally to liberate them and bring peace to the world (Isaiah 11). Joy erupted when that Ally arrived! “We tell you the good news,” Paul said. “What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled for us . . . by raising up Jesus” (Acts 13:32–33). Through Jesus’ resurrection and offer of forgiveness, the world’s restoration had begun (vv. 38–39; Romans 8:21).

Since then, this story has spread throughout the globe, bringing peace and freedom wherever it’s embraced. Jesus has been raised from the dead. Our liberation from sin and evil has begun. In Him we’re free! By:  Sheridan Voysey

Reflect & Pray

Compared to other rulers, how does Jesus bring peace to the world? How can you join Him in this work?

Jesus, my ultimate Ally, I surrender to Your rightful rule.

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Thursday, November 11, 2021
The Supreme Climb

He said, "Take now your son…" —Genesis 22:2

God’s command is, “Take now,” not later. It is incredible how we debate! We know something is right, but we try to find excuses for not doing it immediately. If we are to climb to the height God reveals, it can never be done later— it must be done now. And the sacrifice must be worked through our will before we actually perform it.

“So Abraham rose early in the morning…and went to the place of which God had told him” (Genesis 22:3). Oh, the wonderful simplicity of Abraham! When God spoke, he did not “confer with flesh and blood” (Galatians 1:16). Beware when you want to “confer with flesh and blood” or even your own thoughts, insights, or understandings— anything that is not based on your personal relationship with God. These are all things that compete with and hinder obedience to God.

Abraham did not choose what the sacrifice would be. Always guard against self-chosen service for God. Self-sacrifice may be a disease that impairs your service. If God has made your cup sweet, drink it with grace; or even if He has made it bitter, drink it in communion with Him. If the providential will of God means a hard and difficult time for you, go through it. But never decide the place of your own martyrdom, as if to say, “I will only go to there, but no farther.” God chose the test for Abraham, and Abraham neither delayed nor protested, but steadily obeyed. If you are not living in touch with God, it is easy to blame Him or pass judgment on Him. You must go through the trial before you have any right to pronounce a verdict, because by going through the trial you learn to know God better. God is working in us to reach His highest goals until His purpose and our purpose become one.

Wisdom From Oswald Chambers

To those who have had no agony Jesus says, “I have nothing for you; stand on your own feet, square your own shoulders. I have come for the man who knows he has a bigger handful than he can cope with, who knows there are forces he cannot touch; I will do everything for him if he will let Me. Only let a man grant he needs it, and I will do it for him.”
The Shadow of an Agony

Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 50; Hebrews 8

A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Thursday, November 11, 2021

The Knife and The Nail - #9089

Tony was one of the best-liked teachers in our local school - at least he had our kid's vote. As he and I were working together on a project at our house, I was really surprised to learn about his background. I never would have guessed it. See, he grew up in a very tough neighborhood in our area. It was sharply divided into these ethnic pockets. Well, actually, into ethnic gangs. And Tony, by his own admission, was a fighter. Most of the guys in his neighborhood were. And then, five of his good friends died violently in two months time - five friends in two months; one of them his very best friend. Two of his friends are now serving prison terms - two of the survivors that is.

I said, "Tony, what happened to you? How did you ever make it out so well? How did you ever get out of all that? You've grown up to be a very positive adult. How did it happen?" His answer left a stunned silence in the room. And in a sense, his answer is like an answer of mine.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Knife and The Nails."

Our word for today from the Word of God comes from the book of 1 Peter 2, and I'm going to read verse 24. Then I'll tell you what Tony said. Speaking of Jesus Christ it says, "He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness." Okay, I'll tell you about my teacher friend, Tony. I said, "Tony, after all that gang violence you grew up around, what made the difference?" He said, "Ron, it was another gang fight. My best friend was stabbed to death that night." And then I saw something I had never seen. His eyes filled with tears. He said, "Ron, the knife that got my best friend was intended for me. My friend took my knife and that changed the whole course of my life."

At that point, my eyes filled with tears. And I said, "Tony, maybe you can understand why I try to live my life for Jesus Christ. It's for the same reason. He took my knife; except He's the Son of God." That's what 1 Peter 2:24 said, "He bore my sins in His body on the tree." That death that Jesus died on the cross wasn't His; it was mine, it was yours, it was our bill to pay for our sins. He didn't have any to pay for. The penalty for all the sin and all of my self-centered days of my life is death - being cut off from God. But Jesus said, "Punish Me instead." He took more than my knife and your knife. He took all our hell.

You probably didn't have to turn on the radio today or read something to know that Jesus died, or that He died on the cross. You probably knew that. You may even know that Jesus died on the cross for people's sins. But you may have never gone to the cross in your heart and spoken the two words that make all the difference between heaven and hell and life and death. The two words: "for me." "It's my knife, it's my punishment, it's my sins. You're doing this for me, aren't you Jesus?" And the day you do that, the wall between you and God is gone forever, and you have peace at last. And you want to give up the sin that killed Him. You want to live for what He loves. And you know that He can do these things. He can change your life, because He didn't stay dead. He blew the doors off His grave and walked out of His grave under His own power. And He stands ready to walk into your life today at your invitation.

If you tell Him today, "Jesus, I'm Yours," you'll belong to Him forever. All because you realized today that what happened on that cross was a divine transaction offered by God and His love for you to erase your sin from His book forever. This could be your day today for that to all happen. I've tried to lay out as simply as I could on our website how to be sure you have this relationship. Just take a little time and go visit ANewStory.com.

In a very deep, eternal sense, God's Son took your knife. How can you say no to Him? Go to that cross and say the two words that make all the difference forever, "For me." "For me."