Cost of Living - Day 20
Day 20 - Friday, February 2
Read Exodus 25
Highlight
Do you remember the game where you try to guess the picture or logo based on a really zoomed in pixel shot? All that you see is red and white pixels, then zoom out a bit more and it is just more red and white pixels. Finally the whole logo is revealed and it's the Chick-fil-A logo. You think to yourself “I should have known.” But you would have never guessed that from the first few pixels of red and white. It could have been anything. You need to step back and see the whole thing for it to make sense.
Exodus 25 is a bit like the first red and white pixel photo. It reads as blueprints for the Israelite nation to build the tabernacle, ark, table and lampstand. If it was just the book of Exodus and not the whole Bible, you would read it and move right past. But this is a small part of the bigger story.
The details given to create the tabernacle and all that goes inside is important and very specific. Tim Chester book Exodus For You - he points out multiple “echoes of Eden” that are found in chapter 25 and on. There are a few I want to point to. The first that Chester shows are the materials used, “the tabernacle begins with gold and ends with onyx” similar to the Garden where in Genesis 2:12 describes the land, “The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.” Another echo is that of the lampstand. It is designed to look like a tree full of bloom and burning permanently. It is to provide life and light, similar to the tree of life in the garden. Most importantly, the tabernacle is where God dwells. He was with Adam and Eve in the garden, and He will be in the tabernacle in the midst of camp with His people.
The tabernacle appears often throughout Israel's history and in the Bible. It eventually is built to be “Soloman’s temple,” where the Lord dwells in the Most Holy Place. And eventually leading to Jesus. The author of Hebrews goes to great length in chapter 9 to show the history of the tabernacle and the fulfillment of Jesus being the true and lasting tabernacle.
By itself, Exodus 25 reads like a list of blueprint on how to build a tent. Those few colored pixels that do not make sense, until zoomed out and the whole picture is revealed.
Reflection & Prayer
For this reading plan we will be using a tool to guide our study of Scripture that’s called the S.O.A.P. Method. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. We recommend you use a journal with this method and write out your thoughts on each of these areas for each day of reading. It doesn’t have to be long-winded and you don’t need a fancy journal. But for anyone that has not journaled before, the benefit is that it often helps us focus and avoid distractions during prayer and Bible study.
S.O.A.P. Method
Scripture - Pick a verse or two that stood out to you and write it in your journal. Be looking for a “Holy Spirit Highlight.” What did you read and think “I needed to hear that” or felt like it was written just for you?
Observation - Now write some observations about the verse(s) or passage. What is this passage or verse saying? About God? About people? How is Jesus revealed in these verses?
Application - Now write a few sentences on how this passage applies to your life. Is there truth about God that you are to believe? A promise to receive? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of something you need to do or stop doing in light of God’s truth?
Prayer - Now write out a prayer to God in response to this Scripture. This is a way to turn God’s Word to you back to Him. Be honest and express your heart to Him. God always listens and He delights in your prayers. (Psalm 34:15; Proverbs 15:8)
Read Exodus 25
Highlight
Do you remember the game where you try to guess the picture or logo based on a really zoomed in pixel shot? All that you see is red and white pixels, then zoom out a bit more and it is just more red and white pixels. Finally the whole logo is revealed and it's the Chick-fil-A logo. You think to yourself “I should have known.” But you would have never guessed that from the first few pixels of red and white. It could have been anything. You need to step back and see the whole thing for it to make sense.
Exodus 25 is a bit like the first red and white pixel photo. It reads as blueprints for the Israelite nation to build the tabernacle, ark, table and lampstand. If it was just the book of Exodus and not the whole Bible, you would read it and move right past. But this is a small part of the bigger story.
The details given to create the tabernacle and all that goes inside is important and very specific. Tim Chester book Exodus For You - he points out multiple “echoes of Eden” that are found in chapter 25 and on. There are a few I want to point to. The first that Chester shows are the materials used, “the tabernacle begins with gold and ends with onyx” similar to the Garden where in Genesis 2:12 describes the land, “The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.” Another echo is that of the lampstand. It is designed to look like a tree full of bloom and burning permanently. It is to provide life and light, similar to the tree of life in the garden. Most importantly, the tabernacle is where God dwells. He was with Adam and Eve in the garden, and He will be in the tabernacle in the midst of camp with His people.
The tabernacle appears often throughout Israel's history and in the Bible. It eventually is built to be “Soloman’s temple,” where the Lord dwells in the Most Holy Place. And eventually leading to Jesus. The author of Hebrews goes to great length in chapter 9 to show the history of the tabernacle and the fulfillment of Jesus being the true and lasting tabernacle.
By itself, Exodus 25 reads like a list of blueprint on how to build a tent. Those few colored pixels that do not make sense, until zoomed out and the whole picture is revealed.
Reflection & Prayer
For this reading plan we will be using a tool to guide our study of Scripture that’s called the S.O.A.P. Method. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. We recommend you use a journal with this method and write out your thoughts on each of these areas for each day of reading. It doesn’t have to be long-winded and you don’t need a fancy journal. But for anyone that has not journaled before, the benefit is that it often helps us focus and avoid distractions during prayer and Bible study.
S.O.A.P. Method
Scripture - Pick a verse or two that stood out to you and write it in your journal. Be looking for a “Holy Spirit Highlight.” What did you read and think “I needed to hear that” or felt like it was written just for you?
Observation - Now write some observations about the verse(s) or passage. What is this passage or verse saying? About God? About people? How is Jesus revealed in these verses?
Application - Now write a few sentences on how this passage applies to your life. Is there truth about God that you are to believe? A promise to receive? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of something you need to do or stop doing in light of God’s truth?
Prayer - Now write out a prayer to God in response to this Scripture. This is a way to turn God’s Word to you back to Him. Be honest and express your heart to Him. God always listens and He delights in your prayers. (Psalm 34:15; Proverbs 15:8)
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