Day 40 – Exodus 30-32

Talking Points

• God continues to lay out the specific plans for the tabernacle and the worship that will occur there. These plans are very detailed, and all the plans, work, furnishings, etc. are held to the most excellent standard. No corners are cut. Seeing how majestic God is in these details, can you imagine heaven?!
• A census is taken, and a ransom is offered for each son of Israel. The offering is called atonement money. The word “atone” means reparation for wrong, restitution, to redeem, or pay to set even. Once again, God is introducing the need for an atonement made for sin. Over and over, even this distance from the Cross, we see Jesus.
• The Sabbath is to serve as a sign to Israel that the LORD is God. It is a reminder, a testimony to Him. It demonstrates the Israelites’ submission and trust in Him.
• Very quickly, almost crazily so, the Israelites abandon Moses and disobey God. Even Aaron joined in. God tells Moses these people have corrupted themselves. He actually says, “your people” (32:7). I wonder if Moses thinks, “My people?” The seriousness and heaviness of leading God’s people is sure.

Thoughts

I have heard preachers and even entire churches proudly declare, “We don’t talk about sin. That’s not our thing.” So, here’s the question: Can you preach the Gospel and never talk about sin? Can you explain and preach Jesus and not talk about sin? Today, many are trying, and I believe in doing so, they hope they are presenting the glory and goodness of Jesus. But, unfortunately, they are actually robbing Him of His greatest attributes.

In these passages, it says the people had corrupted themselves, having “quickly turned aside from the way which [God] commanded them.” (32:7-8) Look at this word, “corrupted.” It means contaminated, defiled, infected. This is a huge concept. Disobedience doesn’t just mean we get offtrack, mess up, or go another direction. Sin is not just some regrettable choice. No, disobedience means we are corrupted; we are infected, contaminated. Be sure — sin leaves us filthy, defiled. And, God will have no part of it, no part of us. That is the terrible result of sin.

And, then, enter Jesus. The good news of Jesus is that, by way of the Cross, He takes away our sin. He takes away our guilt and shame. In fact, He takes them upon Himself and makes us clean! Our corruption is replaced by His purity! We actually become His perfect righteousness!

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21

Do you see the glory that a sinless Gospel robs from Jesus? It is in seeing sin that we then see how awesome our salvation is. It is in understanding corruption that we can truly praise our Savior. It is in the regret of our sin that His grace and mercy shine! Praise the Lord!