exodus 31 and 32

Read Exodus 31 and 32 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions for our chapters are:

Exo 31:1-11 {p} Bezalel called + equipped filled with the Spirit in all wisdom and understanding to make the tabernacle
Exo 31:12-17 {s} The Sabbath commandment
Exo 31:18-32:6 {p} Aaron and the people make the golden calf
Exo 32:7-14 {p} The sin of Israel + the mediation of Moses + the appeasement of the Lord’s wrath
Exo 32:15-35 {s} Moses and the Levites restrained the sin of the people + the mediation of Moses before the Lord

Exo 31 opens with a strong paragraph, which completes a theme begun in yesterday’s reading:

Exo 30:22-33 {s} The pattern for the holy anointing oil
Exo 30:34-38 {s} The pattern for the holy incense + continual incense in the Holy Place
Exo 31:1-11 {p} Bezalel called + equipped filled with the Spirit in all wisdom and understanding to make the tabernacle

The picture being painted is of Spirit-filled service in doing the work of the ministry. The anointing oil of the Spirit is first. Without it we are working in our own strength (1 Sam 6:13, Luk 4:18, Act 10:38)! But then the heart is the continual incense, which is our prayer rising before God. How can one work if he is praying continually? While the continual incense probably is painting a picture of formal prayer in one’s closet, morning and night, it also might be painting a picture, since once incense is lit, it burns for some time, of non-stop communication between us and God, back and forth, from His presence within us; arising from our hearts and minds, and with the ears of our hearts tuned in to His still small voice throughout the day. When we minister, we are not out there on our own, but the Lord’s Spirit is actively engaged with us, enlightening us, teaching us, guiding us, leading us, and inspiring us in our work and in our service toward others. In this way we truly become His hands and feet in the world.

Exo 30:22-31:11 {s+s+p} Anointing + continual prayer = work of the ministry, filled with the Spirit in all wisdom

The next strong theme is no less astounding:

Exo 31:12-17 {s} The Sabbath commandment
Exo 31:18-32:6 {p} Aaron and the people make the golden calf

Sometimes people tell me our day of rest can be any day we choose, as long as we take a day to rest. But choosing their own day to set aside to the Lord, and not His day, is what Israel did. In Israel’s mind they were not abandoning YHVH for some other god – in their mind, they were still worshiping YHVH, only they put a form of their own choosing on Him in a pattern they were familiar with from Egypt, on a day of their own choosing, not on the feast day of the Lord’s choosing.

So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow is a feast to YHVH.” Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Exo 32:5-6

But YHVH called it idolatry! (Exo 32:7-8). So the strong theme is:

Exo 31:12-32:6 {s+p} Sabbath reminded, however Israel chose a feast day of their own making to worship Him in a form of their own making

This is no light matter. YHVH has set His times (appointed times or feast days) and His Law (commandments defining what is good and evil, clean and unclean, just and corrupt) from the foundation of the earth, and the work of the antichrist is always to change His Times and His Law to something other, often accompanying it with the rationale, Well, we are still resting, so what does it matter?

He shall speak pompous words against the Most High,
Shall persecute the saints of the Most High,
And shall intend to change times and law.
Then the saints shall be given into his hand
For a time and times and half a time. Dan 7:25

Was God really intending to destroy all of Israel and make a new nation of Moses, and but for Moses’ intervention we would have the children of Moses today instead of the children of Israel? NO! I do not have space to go into this here, but see the amazing answer for yourself, which preaches the gospel of grace from Torah!