Exodus 37 and 38

Read Exodus 37 and 38 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions for today’s chapters are:

Exo 37:1-9 {p} He made the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat
Exo 37:10-16 {p} He made the table of showbread and its utensils
Exo 37:17-24 {p} He made the lampstand and its utensils
Exo 37:25-29 {s} He made the altar of incense + utensils + anointing oil + incense
Exo 38:1-7 {s} He made the altar of burnt offering + utensils
Exo 38:8 {s} He made the laver of bronze and its base
Exo 38:9-20 {s} He made the hangings + pillars + sockets + screen of the gate for the outer court
Exo 38:21-23 {s} The inventory for the tabernacle + Bezalel made all that the Lord commanded Moses
Exo 38:24-39:1 {p} The gold, silver, bronze for the tabernacle + blue, purple, scarlet thread for garments of ministry

These two chapters are part of a massive chiastic structure which has as its two bookends, the blueprints for the tabernacle given, and the blueprints for the tabernacle followed in its construction:

Now there is a lot that the Scripture is teaching by all the various pairings in this structure. But we find at the heart of it, that separation from YHVH is the consequence for sin. This is exactly the same gospel that was preached from Genesis, at the Fall of Man, and the sin of Cain, and the Flood of Noah.

What is interesting in the Exo 25:1-39:31 Chiastic Structure, though, is that Moses’ intercession and intervention wraps around the judgment for sin. Two consequences should have resulted from their idolatry with the golden calf: 1) The children of Israel should have been consumed in the wrath of God (Exo 32:10). They were not.  2) YHVH’s Presence should not have gone up with them (Exo 33:3). However, He did.

What is Scripture teaching us? The Torah had been given to God’s covenant people. These were not unbelievers and pagans. They applied the blood of the lamb to the doorposts of their houses (Exo 12:7, 22-23), and were baptized through the Red Sea (1 Cor 10:1-2). They said to Moses, All that YHVH has commanded, we will do and be obedient (Exo 24:7). Scripture is revealing the grace of God poured out upon His people, even though they transgressed Torah, through the intervention of Moses, foreshadowing Messiah by Prophetic Type, the Mediator between God and men (1 Tim 2:5)!

Or another way to say it: The Old Covenant is a covenant of grace under Moses. foreshadowing the New Covenant as a covenant of grace under Messiah. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8)! ♥