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Weekly Guide：2024-2025 Week 13
March 31, 2024
Week 13 Day 1: To Serve Wholeheartedly ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did the Israelites celebrate and serve when the Tabernacle was set up?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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This chapter documents the events after Exodus 40 where Moses set up the Tabernacle as God commanded, and His glory filled the Tabernacle. Here, the celebration and offering continued for 12 days as response to God’s promises.
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The leaders of the 12 tribes brought 6 covered carts and 12 oxen as offerings. Moses accepted with God’s consent.
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The leaders of the tribes brought the offerings in the order of where they camped. This is the longest chapter besides Psalm 119 in the Old Testament because the same lists of the offerings were repeated 12 times. This shows that God was equally pleased with the offerings from all tribes.
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The chapter ends with Moses went into the tent of meeting and heard God’s voice from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark. This was the first time Moses spoke with God after the Tabernacle was set up.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - The same offerings presented 12 times and recorded 12 times show clearly that the tribes were all accepted by God equally. In God’s eyes, there’s no difference between what others offered and what I offered. Do I see differences between the services of others and mine?
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Fidelity - The Israelites saw the glory of God and presented their offerings. Do I see God’s glory in my life? What can I present to Him as my spiritual offering to His faithfulness?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 13 Day 2: Pure and Clean ⇧ ⇩
Question
How Levites purified and made themselves ceremonially clean before they serve?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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In 8:1-4, God commanded Moses to tell Aaron to light up the 7 golden lamps the first time. God wanted the area in front of the lampstands to be filled with light.
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Verses 8:5-26 records God’s regulations for purifying the Levites. They were sent to the priests to be purified and made offerings. They were to work in the tent of meeting. The Levites were chosen as substitute for all firstborns to serve God and make atonements for the Israelites. Levites were positioned between the Veil and the Israelites, so they don’t have to get near the Holy of the Holies.
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Verses 9:1-14 records the first Passover after the Israelites came out of Egypt.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - In this passage we see God provided a way to celebrate Passover for those who wish to celebrate but unable to follow the regulations because they were unable to keep themselves ceremonially clean. However, those who were able to follow the regulations but chose not to celebrate would be cut off. It is the heart that God values. Do I desire God in my heart?
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Identity - High Priest Aaron lit up the lamps to make light shine in the Holy Place. Jesus Christ is the light of the world, lit up the path for us to walk on. What does it mean to walk in His light in my daily life?
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Fidelity - The Levites must first clean, then atone, and then present their offerings before they can serve. What does this ordering remind me of?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 13 Day 3: Follow the Cloud ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did the Israelites follow God’s lead?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Israelites encamped or moved on as God commanded.
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God gave the Israelites two silver trumpets at the foot of Mount Sinai to signal their movements. The silver trumpets and the cloud presented unified direction to the Israeli people. In the last days, God will also send his angels to sound trumpets to gather His people (Mat. 24:31; Rev. 8-9)
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Israelites started their passage to the promised land from the desert of Sinai a year and a month and 20 days after they have come out of Egypt. A journey that took 38 years to complete is covered in 10:11-22:1.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - The ark of covenant was at the very front leading the way to find a restful place for the Israelites (10:33). During the day, the cloud covered them from the burning sun. It might look like a lot of hard work to follow God but it is always filled with His mercy and protection. Think about the love and care He gave me as well the encouragements this passage gives me.
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Identity - When the cloud lifted, the Israelites set out. When the cloud settled, they stayed. They sometimes would stay at one place for a long while. Sometimes they would move on the next day. When the trumpets sound, they followed. Following God means not following our own desires, no matter what. What am I following today, my own desire or God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 13 Day 4: Protest and Complaint ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did God look after His faithful servant when people complained and talked against Him?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Israelites started their complaints again just three days out of Sinai. This angered God and burned some of them until Moses prayed for them.
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God was angered again when Israelites craved for other food. Moses pleaded to God. God brought up people to help Moses and sent plague to the Israelites to cut off the greedy.
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Aaron and Mariam talked against Moses due to their jealousy. The Lord came down to fault them. Miriam contracted leprosy had to leave camp for 7 days. Aaron atoned and pleaded for Miriam immediately.
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God values His faithful servant. God strengthens him when he is tired, avenges for him when he is wronged.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - Like they were at the foothill of Mount Sinai, the Israelites complained just three days out of Sinai. There are always ups and downs in our spiritual lives. How does the lesson for Israelites help me?
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Community - Aaron atoned and pleaded for Miriam. Moses did so for Aaron and Miriam, too. Am I willing to forgive others? Am I willing to pray for them?
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Integrity - Bible said the rabble craved other foods. Am I a rabble in my spiritual life? Do the medias influence my thoughts? Can I turn to God’s word to block out the bad influences?
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Integrity - It is not a display of lack of faith when Moses was tired and prayed to God. God helped him and avenged for him. Am I being wronged by others? Do not worry, pray and let God be the judge.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 13 Day 5: Of Little Faith ⇧ ⇩
Question
What happened when Israelites had little faith in God and believed the scouts’ bad news?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Scouts were sent out when the Israelites came to the land of Canaan. Israelites believed the exaggerated report from the scouts and were afraid of the people there. They didn’t want to follow Moses, Aaron, Caleb, Joshua and wanted to turn back to Egypt. They rebelled against God.
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God suggested to destroy the contemptuous people. God promised descendants of Moses to become a great nation, they must enter the land. God was merciful as Moses pleaded for them but added that they must pay the price for their disobedience. Thus, no one in that generation except Caleb and Joshua were allowed to enter the promised land.
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Israelites became bitter and went ahead without God’s permission. They were completely defeated as result.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - It can be seen from Moses’s prayers that he knew God’s attributes. And, that his prayers were to glorify God. Can I pray like him?
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Fidelity - Where in the scripture displayed the faith that gave Caleb and Joshua the will to advance into Canaan? What reports from the scouts were requested by Moses? What weren’t? What caused them to report the bad news and oppose to Caleb and Joshua’s strong faith by exaggerating their views? Is there anything I need to change in my service to the Lord?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 13 Day 6: Faithfulness and Blessings ⇧ ⇮
Question
How did God display His faithfulness and blessings after He struck down on the Israelites?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Right after God struck down on the Israelites in chapter 14, He gave Moses the regulations on offerings when they went into the promised land. It can be seen clearly here that God was faithful to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
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Anyone, whether an individual or a community, must atone with offerings when sinned unintentionally then God would forgive. However, anyone, an individual or the community, would be punished when sinned with intention. Both the rebellious Israelites in the prior chapter and the Sabbath breakers in this chapter were intentional sinners.
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Israelite community and the foreigners residing among them all need to worship God, make the same offerings, and receive the same blessings or punishments. God is the God for all people.
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God commanded Israelites to put tassels on their garments to remember God’s commands.
Meditation: My Story
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Integrity - God treats intentional sins different from unintentional ones. God sees the Gentiles the same as the Jews. What do I learn from this truth about God’s sovereignty and attributes? How does it remind me and encourage me?
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Integrity - God put tassels on the Israelites’ garments to remind them His commands and not to follow their own sinful wills. Is there anything I can use to remind myself of God’s word and stay away from the worldly filth?