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We belong to God…. (devo reflection)

Exodus 28:36 “Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: holy to the Lord. 

Commentary on verse 36 led me to this gem: “The inscription HOLINESS TO THE LORD indicated that first and foremost the high priest was the servant of God, not man,” which put me in mind of Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other….”

Exodus 28:37 Fasten a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban. 

Unfortunately in this life, it is far too easy to forget whom we serve. Life can be insistent. Bills must be paid. Acceptance is everything. One compromise, then another, quickly and easily leads to one more and one more and one more. It’s a slippery slope when we forget that we belong to God, not man.

Exodus 28:38 It will be on Aaron’s forehead, and he will bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate, whatever their gifts may be. It will be on Aaron’s forehead continually so that they will be acceptable to the Lord.

Precious Savior, I think all of us at some point are guilty of serving man instead of You. Forgive us. Redirect us. Help us to remember that we are Your deeply loved children, set aside by You, that we belong to You alone. Help us act like Your children. Help us, Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 28:39 “Weave the tunic of fine linen and make the turban of fine linen. The sash is to be the work of an embroiderer.

Have a blessed day. 

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The rigid weight of perfection…. (devo reflection)

Exodus 28:31-32 “Make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth, with an opening for the head in its center. There shall be a woven edge like a collar around this opening, so that it will not tear. 

The sound of the bells rather intrigued me this morning, but I was shocked and horrified when I came across this bit of commentary: “By [the sound of the bells, those outside] would know that [the priest’s] offering had been accepted, and that he had not been struck dead.”

Exodus 28:33 Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. 

The Old Testament God and the Old Testament relationships to God are so incredibly different that it is sometimes hard for me to wrap my head around. Even just reading about the stakes for the once-a-year sacrifice makes me anxious. 

Exodus 28:34 The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe. 

Precious Savior, Thank You that Your presence, Your life, Your death and resurrection removes the rigid weight of perfection from my relationship with God. Thank You that You allow me to come to You with all of my flaws and imperfections, that You allow me to lay my burdens at Your feet, that You wrap me in Your peace and love. Thank You. Amen.

Exodus 28:35 Aaron must wear it when he ministers. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the Lord and when he comes out, so that he will not die.

Have a blessed day. 

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The Urim and the Thummin…. (devo reflection)

Exodus 28:27 Make two more gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the seam just above the waistband of the ephod. 

Today’s verses sent me on a bit of a deep dive into Urim and Thummin (v30). Turns out, not much is known about them except that they were a way for the high priest to divine the will of God. They are thought to be two stones, one light and one dark, indicating yes or no. 

Exodus 28:28 The rings of the breastpiece are to be tied to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband, so that the breastpiece will not swing out from the ephod.

One commentary suggested that “The High Priest would ask God a question, reach into the breastplate, and pull out either a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’” and that this method was preferable to relying “on feelings, or outward appearances, or to simply use no discernment at all.”

Exodus 28:29 “Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord. 

Precious Savior, My brief look into Urim and Thummin has me stumped this morning. It feels a bit like asking a Magic 8 Ball a question and shaking it to see what it says. And that does not square with who You are and who You are to me. Help me to make sense of Your word, which is alive and active (Heb 4:12), so that I can understand and draw closer. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 28:30 Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.

Have a blessed day. 

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Connections…. (devo reflections)

Exodus 28:22 “For the breastpiece make braided chains of pure gold, like a rope. 

Today’s verses put me in mind of the Armor of God found in Ephesians 6, except, instead of just listing the pieces of armor, today’s verses talk about how these pieces are fitted together to bring about the protection that they do, which puts me in mind of Paul Harvey’s “The Rest of the Story.” 

Exodus 28:23 Make two gold rings for it and fasten them to two corners of the breastpiece. 

Harvey’s show started with usually well known facts and then dug deeper to get “the rest of the story,” which often was unknown. That analogy feels very relevant here. We know the armor of God. This is a look at the story behind the story, the minute details. It helps us to know more, understand better. It’s not a direct parallel, but both are types of “armor” for God, by God.

Exodus 28:24-25 Fasten the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the breastpiece, and the other ends of the chains to the two settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front. 

Precious Savior, Sometimes I make connections that feel, to me, pretty big. Sometimes I worry whether I’m even making sense. Thank You for the ability to read and study and make connections. Help me, always, to draw closer to You and to shine Your light. Amen.

Exodus 28:26 Make two gold rings and attach them to the other two corners of the breastpiece on the inside edge next to the ephod.

Have a blessed day. 

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Stay curious…. (devo reflection)

Exodus 28:17 Then mount four rows of precious stones on it. The first row shall be carnelian, chrysolite and beryl; 

A quick Google search tells me what I already suspected: Each row and each stone in today’s reading is symbolic. The stones represent the twelve tribes (v21) and the specific stones each have properties that associate with families within the twelve tribes. 

Exodus 28:18-19 the second row shall be turquoise, lapis lazuli and emerald; the third row shall be jacinth, agate and amethyst; 

I suspect I could spend quite a lot of time digging into just these verses, these stones, this symbolism if I wanted, and perhaps I will at some point, but today, I am reminded of Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is alive and active….” There is intention and meaning here, layer upon layer of it for any who wish to plumb the depths.

Exodus 28:20 the fourth row shall be topaz, onyx and jasper. Mount them in gold filigree settings. 

Precious Savior, Again I am reminded to “Stay curious” when it comes to Your word. Even as my eyes glaze over with all the specificity, I know that this detail exists for a reason and that by studying it, I can learn more about and draw closer to You. Thank You that Your word is alive and active and that I can learn more of You through the study of Your word. Amen.

Exodus 28:21 There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

Have a blessed day. 

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What does God want me to notice here?…. (devo reflection)

Exodus 28:11-12 Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings and fasten them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear the names on his shoulders as a memorial before the Lord. 

I know that I have read these verses in Exodus before, but, apparently, I blocked them. I have no memory of these minute, intricate, exhaustive details for….literally everything. When asked why Exodus goes into quite so much detail, Google AI says, “to emphasize the holiness of God, ensure precise obedience, and establish the Tabernacle as a ‘shadow’ or symbolic representation of heavenly realities and Jesus Christ.”

Exodus 28:13-14 Make gold filigree settings and two braided chains of pure gold, like a rope, and attach the chains to the settings.

I don’t know how much stock I put in AI (it hallucinates), but I can definitely see the symbolism and the holiness of God in these details, but, honestly, I’m ready to fast forward, move right on past all these details. So I continue to ask, “What does God want me to notice here?” in the hopes that I will not miss what’s important.

Exodus 28:15 “Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions—the work of skilled hands. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. 

Precious Savior, It is so easy to gloss over things (especially three chapters and counting of details). Help me to see You, to draw closer to You, even now, even here. Amen.

Exodus 28:16 It is to be square—a span long and a span wide—and folded double.

Have a blessed day. 

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My humanity and God’s grace…. (devo reflection)

Exodus 28:6 “Make the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen—the work of skilled hands. 

This morning has me thinking about my humanity and God’s grace. With the specificity and minute details in Exodus about how things should be created and crafted, it is so very easy to beat myself up when I get things wrong (because I am human and fallible and it happens so very often).  

Exodus 28:7 It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be fastened. 

James 4:6 says, “But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’” But humility is not about beating yourself up for mistakes and missteps, which are an unavoidable part of life. It is about seeing yourself as you are, strengths AND weaknesses, about being open about your flaws and open to both suggestions and grace. I’m not great at that, but I keep trying. 

Exodus 28:8 Its skillfully woven waistband is to be like it—of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen.

Precious Savior, Thank You that You don’t expect me to be perfect and that You lavishly cover me with Your grace. Help me to give myself and others grace upon grace. Always. Amen.

Exodus 28:9-10 “Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel in the order of their birth—six names on one stone and the remaining six on the other.

Have a blessed day. 

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Skill, talent, and wisdom…. (devo reflection)

Exodus 28:1 “Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests. 

Looking at the various translations of verse 3 on biblehub.com, the words skill, talent, and wisdom come up repeatedly. I sincerely believe that God has given all of us skills and talents to use for Him. I think wisdom is learning how to use those skills and talents most effectively to shine His light.  

Exodus 28:2 Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor. 

The older I get, the more I think that, just like our faith, our skills and talents are more than just a “one and done,” meaning that, just like our faith and our relationship with Christ evolves over time as we read, study, and seek Him, I think our skills and talents (OR maybe how we use them to shine His light OR maybe both the skills/talents and the use of them) continue to evolve.

Exodus 28:3 Tell all the skilled workers to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest. 

Precious Savior, A friend encouraged me recently to “Stay curious,” and I think that advice applies well to both my relationship with You AND how I can best use my skills and talents to serve You. Help me never to stop learning, seeking, growing in You. Help me, Jesus. Amen. 

Exodus 28:4-5 These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests. Have them use gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.

Have a blessed day. 

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“The beautiful thing she has done….” (devo reflection)

Exodus 27:18 The courtyard shall be a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide, with curtains of finely twisted linen five cubits high, and with bronze bases. 

I am struck today with the contrast between the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, God was unapproachable in His holiness. Worshippers could come into the courtyard and no further. The temple, with its gold, bronze, and fine linens, was off limits.  

Exodus 27:19 All the other articles used in the service of the tabernacle, whatever their function, including all the tent pegs for it and those for the courtyard, are to be of bronze.

Conversely, Jesus defended the sinful woman who bathed his feet in expensive nard and wiped them dry with her hair. There was no courtyard to contain her. There was no holding back of the finery for the inner sanctum. Though the disciples’ indignation was evident, Jesus defends the woman for “the beautiful thing she has done…” (Matt 26:10).

Exodus 27:20 “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. 

Precious Savior, Thank You both for Your holiness and Your approachability. Thank You that I don’t have to dress up my hurt, my wounds, my confusion, my anger, that You love me and welcome me into Your presence always. Help me never to forget “the beautiful thing” You have done for me. Help me to treat others with that extravagant grace. Amen.

Exodus 27:21 In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.

Have a blessed day. 

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I am not God…. (devo reflection)

Exodus 27:14 Curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on one side of the entrance, with three posts and three bases, 

It seems clear, due to the level of specificity in these directions, that God cares deeply about the tabernacle and wants to convey to Moses and the Israelites exactly what it should look like, down to the smallest detail. And I know, in part, that feeling of caring so deeply about something that I want to describe it perfectly so that others can carry it out in exactly the right way. 

Exodus 27:15 and curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on the other side, with three posts and three bases.

But I am not God. My ways are not His ways. And I know I need to back off of the intensity a bit because whatever it is I’m picturing and describing is not on the same level as God describing the tabernacle to Moses. 

Exodus 27:16 “For the entrance to the courtyard, provide a curtain twenty cubits long, of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen—the work of an embroiderer—with four posts and four bases. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder that I am not You, that my job is to point others to You, to shine Your light, not to get so focused on the tiny little details of something that we all lose sight of the fact that You are in our midst. I am guilty of hyperfocusing, Lord. Forgive me. Guide me. Amen.

Exodus 27:17 All the posts around the courtyard are to have silver bands and hooks, and bronze bases.

Have a blessed day.