Daily Notes & Observations is a 365-part series that follows a chronological daily Bible reading schedule and contains a short article based on something found in the text for each day. This material is also available in paperback.

February 13, 2012

If Anyone Sins Unintentionally (2/13)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Leviticus 1-4.

“Now if anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, and becomes guilty, if his sin which he has committed is made known to him, then he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without defect, for his sin which he has committed. He shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and slay the sin offering at the place of the burnt offering” (Leviticus 4:27-29).

Prior to this, instructions were given regarding sacrifices for unintentional sins committed by the priests (Leviticus 4:3), the whole congregation (Leviticus 4:13), and a leader of the people (Leviticus 4:22). Here instructions were given for one of the common people sinning unintentionally.
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February 12, 2012

Moses Finished the Work (2/12)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Exodus 39-40.

“When they entered the tent of meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. He erected the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the veil for the gateway of the court. Thus Moses finished the work” (Exodus 40:32-33).

When all the work for tabernacle was finished, Moses erected the tabernacle according to the pattern he had received from the Lord (Exodus 40:17-33). He used every piece, leaving nothing out. He did not add anything that the Lord had not commanded. He did not change the layout, dimensions, materials, or any other detail. He followed the pattern (Exodus 40:16) and finished the work (Exodus 40:33).
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February 11, 2012

"The People Are Bringing Much More Than Enough" (2/11)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Exodus 36-38.

Though God specified Bezalel, Oholiab, and other skilled workers to construct the tabernacle, the people would also be able to contribute in the work, but this would be done voluntarily (Exodus 35:21-29).

The people were to be commended in that they did not begin to do this eagerly, then slack off as the newness faded. Instead, they “continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning” (Exodus 36:3). As a result, those who were constructing the tabernacle ended up with a great surplus of supplies.

“And they said to Moses, ‘The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the Lord commanded us to perform.’ So Moses issued a command, and a proclamation was circulated throughout the camp, saying, ‘Let no man or woman any longer perform work for the contributions of the sanctuary.’ Thus the people were restrained from bringing any more” (Exodus 36:5-6).

What a contrast between this and what we see too commonly today!
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February 10, 2012

“During Plowing Time and Harvest You Shall Rest” (2/10)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Exodus 33-35.

Though the Sabbath law had already been given to the Israelites, the Lord provided further instructions regarding the application of the command:

“You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest” (Exodus 34:21).

From the beginning, God has expected man to work hard (Genesis 3:19). The wise man gives this admonition: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Paul tells Christians: “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men” (Colossians 3:23). So this instruction to the Israelites was not advocating slothfulness but that they strictly obey the commandment of God.
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February 9, 2012

“And Out Came This Calf” (2/9)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Exodus 30-32.

When Moses confronted Aaron about the sin of the people regarding the golden calf, Aaron acknowledged the sin but tried to excuse himself from any blame.

“Aaron said, ‘Do not let the anger of my lord burn; you know the people yourself, that they are prone to evil. For they said to me, ‘Make a god for us who will go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’  I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf’” (Exodus 32:22-24).

While Aaron’s defense had some truth in it, he was wrong about the formation of the calf. It did not just happen. He “fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf” (Exodus 32:4).
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February 8, 2012

"I Am the Lord their God" (2/8)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Exodus 28-29.

Amidst the detailed instructions regarding the pattern for the tabernacle, its furnishings, the priests, and the sacrifices, God reminds the people why they were to obey.

“I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God. They shall know that I am the Lord their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the Lord their God” (Exodus 29:45-46).

Why were they to follow the instructions? The instructions came from the Lord their God.
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February 7, 2012

According to the Pattern (2/7)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Exodus 25-27.

“Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall construct it” (Exodus 25:8-9).

God was about to reveal His instructions to the Israelites regarding the construction of the tabernacle and its furnishings. In these instructions, the Lord was very specific about what He expected them to do. He did not explain a vague concept He had for the tabernacle and allow the people to use their creativity to fill in the details. Nor did He permit them to create something that would be more “personal” so that the worshipers would be better able to “connect” to God and the worship “experience.”

God gave His instructions for a reason: He expected the Israelites to follow His instructions.
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