The Bronze Basin

The LORD said to Moses, "You shall also make a basin of bronze, with its stand of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall water in it, with which Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet. When they go into the tent of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn a food offering to the LORD, they shall wash with water, so that they may not die."

Exodus 30:17-20 ESV

We know that it was said in the Scriptures that the Old Testament's practice of worshiping God was merely a shadow of what was to come. As I take a look at how God instructed Moses and the Israelites on their worship to Him, I see how holy is the God I serve. In human terms, we might see a complicated, overly detailed deity. But when the truth is revealed to us, we see the vast gap that divides God and man.

The bronze basin was one of the LORD's instructions to Moses to be built. It would stand between the tent of meeting and the altar. The priests must wash their hands and feet in this basin before going into the tent of meeting, when they come near the altar to minister, and to burn a food offering to the LORD. The LORD said to Moses that they must do this lest they die. What a strict order! Or was it just fitting?

As Christians, we are more free to worship Him in Spirit and truth. He had given us this command in His grace, the reason that we are more privileged than the ancient believers.  Because Jesus is our mediator to His light and glory. The sacrifice was made perfect through Him, thus we need not to offer lambs whenever we come near to God. 

Yet God has not changed. He is the same holy God that the Israelites worshiped in the wilderness. And there could be no more bronze basin to wash our hands and feet, but the blood of Jesus that washed away our sin, will keep us clean in our daily offenses.

Quoting Matthew Henry Commentary on Exodus 30:17-20:

"They must not only wash and be made clean, when first made priests, but must wash and be kept clean, whenever they went to minister. It teaches us daily to attend upon God, daily to renew our repentance for sin, and our looking to the blood of Christ for remission; for in many things we daily offend."

We do not approach the throne of God casually. For His glory shines and no one could withstand it. Let us then draw close to Him in confidence, through humbling down in His grace and mercy, made accessible through Christ.

"But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 

1 John 1:7-9 ESV

Readings: Exodus 29-30, Matthew 21:23-46

Taking God Seriously

I wonder how did Moses feel whenever the Israelites grumble to him. In Chapter 17, his frustrations were expressed when he cried to the LORD "What shall I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me." (Ex 17:1-9). Did the Israelites forget that Moses was just a man who was sent by the LORD to save them from slavery? That he sacrificed his time with his own pleasures to obey God and rescue them?

I went into this point of my Christian life. I was self-centered. Only wanting what I could get. Then wanting even more. "What's in it for me?" I couldn't help but make sure of that. Yet as I see people serving the LORD whose lives are Christ-centered, I begun to look at mine and reflected on what's pleasing to Him. Moses could have just left the Israelites on their own and turn away from God's calling. But this is not about him.  Nor this is about us.

When God called Moses, He told him who He is. He is the God of his father-Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. When Moses took heed to the voice of God, he saw His wonders. His powers rescued the Israelites through him despite his weaknesses. When the LORD willed to save the Israelites from Egypt, He rescued them in the midst of impossible hurdles. He led them in compassion and never left them again.

God reveals Himself to us, not just to know Him, but for us to know the necessity of our obedience to Him. We submit to His sovereignty because we know His authority. We tremble at His throne because we know His justice. We believe in Him because His power is no other. We love Him because He first loved us.

We serve God, not men. Let's not count merits of what we do to people and wait for recognition. We say "yes" to God, thus in Him we have our reward. Let our calling be true in our lives, in every thing at all times.

So how did Moses take Israelites' grumblings? He took God's calling seriously.

"But be sure to fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you." 1Samuel 12:24





Reading: Exodus 17-19

Let's look to God Today and Everyday!

This Day

Audio Adrenaline

It's six A.M
I'm so tired
The alarm sounds
And the new day begins
Before I go
And disturb this peaceful moment
I look to You

[CHORUS:]
I want to say a prayer
Before my feet can hit the ground
Lord I give this day to You

I'm amazed how You forgive me
Yesterday seems so far behind
It's a brand new day
And every day's a new beginning
I look to You

[CHORUS]

Breathe in
Breathe out
Breathe in
And watch the day begin
I wanna watch the day begin

[REPEAT CHORUS]

Please click the link below for the audio of this song:
This Day by Audio Adrenaline

God leads. Do you follow?

The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake,

I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them.

I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.’

You blew with your wind; the sea covered them;

they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

“Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods?

Who is like you, majestic in holiness,

awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

You stretched out your right hand;

the earth swallowed them.

“You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; 
               you have  guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

(Exodus 15:9-13 ESV)

The enemy may strike as if he thought about winning me over God, but I should know my God who delivered me from many situations in life; aside from His great work of my salvation, I don't know what else He couldn't give me. I cannot fathom His steadfast love. I wouldn't understand how great the love of God to His elect! Despite I, sometimes, am like the Israelites that after witnessing the power of God, becomes weak of what is seen in the world. But thanks be to God! He leads me to safe journey in the desert, His providence sustaining me from parching my heart and spiritual hunger through Jesus.

The LORD leads us, yes. And we are obliged to follow. In Christian life, the trials and temptations make the walk daring and difficult; simply because we have now waged war against the forces of darkness. At one point in our lives, we were on their side. But because God chose to unveil the truth to us, we turned from them and from the desires of our flesh. The good news is (if not better than that of salvation), God fights for us! "If God is for us, then who can be against us?"  Nobody! Because nobody can stand against the power of Him who reigns in the heavens and the earth! Moses said the truth when he sang,

"Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?

Who is like you, majestic in holiness,

awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?" Exodus 15:11 ESV

Yielding to His Spirit and trusting in His perfection could be the hardest to do for a man. The thought of humbling ourselves and lifting the One who is all worthy and deserving of honor, brings out the shameless and sinful nature in us. Our haughtiness creates havoc in us, when the revelation of knowing we need a Savior. Yet as we go on struggling with Satan and our own self to persevere in pleasing our Lord, His grace abounds in every situation! The Israelites grumble for their fleshly needs, still God demonstrates His steadfast love to them. And as manna falls from heaven every morning, His mercies are anew everyday. Throughout generations, His compassion is unchanged. Molding us and resurrecting the likeness of Jesus in us.

"In Your unfailing love You will lead

the people you have redeemed.

In Your strength You will guide them

to Your holy dwelling." Exodus 15:13 NIV

Readings: Ex 15,16, Matt 19:1-15