Author: Beth Duncan

Exodus 27:9 “Make a courtyard for the tabernacle. The south side shall be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains of finely twisted linen….”
Again I am stymied with this chapter, bogged down by the very specific directions given, struggling to connect what I am reading with my walk. Again the commentary helps provide insight that gives me direction. Again I am forced? encouraged? led? to make peace with the fact that I don’t know everything, can’t know everything. It isn’t expected. It wouldn’t be useful in His kingdom work. It’s ok.
Exodus 27:12 “The west end of the courtyard shall be fifty cubits wide and have curtains, with ten posts and ten bases.”
The biggest takeaway for me from this chapter is a sense of gratitude. This chapter focuses much on the courtyard, which, under the old covenant, is where common folk like me had to stop. That’s as close as we could get. But Jesus changed all that. He broke down the barriers separating me from God. Because of His sacrifice, I can walk right to the foot of God’s throne. What a glorious gift.
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….”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the precious gift of Your Son and Your presence. Thank You for the insight I am able to gain through commentary, for the fact that You don’t expect me to know everything, and for the fact that I am beginning to acknowledge and accept my limitations. Thank You for wanting a relationship with Me and for sending Your Son to restore me to You. Draw me closer. Amen.
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.”
Have a blessed day.

Exodus 24:3 When Moses went and told the people all the LORD’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, “Everything the LORD has said we will do.”
The Israelites are coming off of some pretty heady God-moments: the parting of the Red Sea allowed them to escape certain death while crushing their enemies, literally. Manna from heaven assured them of physical sustenance. Without trying to be unkind, to say yes to God in the face of such overwhelming God-support seems like a no-brainer. 
Exodus 24:7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey.”
It is much harder to say yes while slogging through valleys, when God’s provision doesn’t feel like a given. To say yes based on the fact that I know He is loving, even when my circumstances are frightening, to say yes based on His past provision, which seems so distant, to say yes because you know He’s been there time and time again and you have no reason to doubt He’s still with you, even though you can’t feel His presence, that takes faith, perseverance, steadfastness, trust.
Exodus 24:13 Then Moses set out with Joshua at his side, and Moses went up on the mountain of God.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that You are with us always, even when we can’t perceive it. Thank You for the times that You show up so clearly in my life, and thank You that I can trust Your presence and provision even when I’m struggling. You are with me always, and I am eternally grateful. Draw me closer. Amen.
Exodus 24:18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
Have a blessed day.

Exodus 23:30 Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land. (NIV)
I am not a tremendously patient person. Like many, I would be fine with quick changes. But God isn’t just after the end result. He wants us to be transformed into His image in the process, and that requires time and patience, perseverance, endurance, steadfast faithfulness.
Exodus 23:30 Instead, I will force out your enemies little by little and give your nation time to grow strong enough to take over the land. (CEV)
His timing, which can often feel excruciatingly slow as we wait, is accomplishing so much, little by little. He is strengthening and growing us while He is working in our circumstances. 
Exodus 23:20 “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that You are in all things, that You have a plan and a purpose, that You are working in our circumstances little by little, regardless of what our feelings try to tell us. Help us to grow stronger in You, more steadfast and more faithful, as we wait in joyful hope. Draw us closer. Amen.
Exodus 23:23 My angel will go ahead of you….
Have a blessed day.

Exodus 22:27 …When they cry out to Me, I will hear, for I am compassionate. (NIV)
So often, I think, God’s word is used as a weapon, a dividing line, but if God is a loving, merciful, compassionate, gracious God, and I sincerely believe that He is, then His word and my actions should be used to pull people towards Him, not deem them unfit for Him. We are all unfit for Him, but He loves us, fiercely, anyway. In my quest to love God and love others, I try to leave my own prejudices and biases aside and love as He loves.
Exodus 22:27 …When he cries out to Me for help, I will answer him because I am merciful. (GNT)
A dear friend once said to me: Any time we draw a line between “us” and “them,” God is always on the other side. That remark has stuck with me and helped me to be more compassionate and less judgmental. And while I recognize that we need rules, that “anything goes” will certainly NOT go, I am incredibly leery of anything that divides us into “us” and “them.” I don’t think God’s kingdom contains such divisions.
Exodus 22:27 …And it will be that when he cries out to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious. (NKJV)
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for my absolute conviction that You are love and that You call us to love You and love others without judgement. So many people are lost and hurting, Lord. So many people already judge themselves as unworthy of Your love. Help me to shine Your light for all to see, Lord, so that Your people will know how deeply You love them. Draw us closer. Amen.
Exodus 22:27 …and when they call out to Me, I will come to help them. (CEV)
Have a blessed day.

Exodus 21:1 “These are the laws you are to set before them….” (NIV)
For reasons I can’t explain, I really struggle with Exodus 21. Maybe it is the rankling that comes from someone telling me, essentially, that I can’t do something. Maybe it is the free use of terms like “slaves,” though commentary assures me that the concept of a slave then was quite different than my own connotations of the word. It is only when I think of this chapter in the context of my career that I can begin to make peace with it.
Exodus 21:1 “These are the regulations you must present to Israel….” (NLT)
I am a teacher. One of the first things we do each semester in the classroom is to establish rules and expectations. Once everyone knows what’s expected and what’s allowed, we can get about the business of learning. I think that is what is happening in Exodus 21. God is establishing rules and expectations so that, once they know what’s allowed and expected, they can then get about His business.
Exodus 21:1 “These are the rules that you shall set before them….” (ESV)
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this opportunity to dig deeper into Your word. Some chapters baffle me, some chapters frustrate me, some chapters sadden me, but with each new chapter, I feel like I see a bit more of You and I am deeply thankful. Draw me closer. Amen.
Exodus 21:1 “These are the ordinances that you are to set before them….” (BSB)
Have a blessed day.