Exodus 38

Read Exodus 38 here or at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraphs:

38:1-7 {s} He made the altar of burnt offering / utensils
38:8 {s} He made the laver of bronze and its base
38:9-20 {s} He made the hangings / pillars / sockets / screen of the gate for the outer court
38:21-23 {s} The inventory for the tabernacle / Bezalel made all that YHVH commanded Moses
38:24-39:1 {p} …

Exodus 38 is 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:

At the heart of it, we find 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.

Wrapping around the judgment for sin, is Moses’ intercession and intervention. Two consequences should have come about as a result of Israel’s idolatry: 1) the children of Israel should have been consumed in the wrath of God. They were not.  2) God’s Presence should not have gone up with them. However, He did.

What is Scripture teaching us? These people are not unbelievers and pagans. These are the ones who applied the blood of the Lamb to the doorposts of their houses and were baptized through the Red Sea. These are the ones who said, “All that YHVH has commanded, we will do and be obedient.” Scripture is revealing that following confession and repentance of sin, the grace of God is poured out upon His people, even though they transgressed in breaking His commandments, through the intervention of Messiah (Moses as a type), the Mediator between God and men.

Or another way to say it: The Old Covenant is a covenant of grace under Moses, foreshadowing the New Covenant, a covenant of grace under Messiah. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever! ♥