Paradise | Knowable Word

Exodus 32-34: More of Him

February 9, 2018 By Peter Krol

Step Back

When our Bible study focuses intently on each passage, one after another, we may find it difficult to step back and see how they fit together. But we must remember the Bible is a work of literature. It was not written to be scrutinized in bites; it was written to be devoured in gobbles. We should remember to read the Bible as we’d read any other book: moving through it at a reasonable pace and recognizing ongoing themes, climax, resolution, and character development. When we hit milestones in the text, we should take the opportunity to survey where we’ve been and how it fits together.

So, now that we’ve seen the breaking and repairing of Yahweh’s covenant with Israel, it’s a good time to catch our breath. From this point in Exodus, we’ll see the detailed obedience of the people in constructing a tent for Yahweh. But where have we been so far?

Review

Let me list the main points I’ve proposed for each passage in this section:

Exodus 32:1-35: God has a superior solution to our most troubling trouble. He can make a way to bring us back to him.
Exodus 33:1-23: Full atonement = forgiveness + reconciliation.
Exodus 34:1-28: The glory of Yahweh’s new covenant lies in total restoration and a more intimate relationship than ever before.
Exodus 34:29-35: Yahweh’s new and repaired covenant is far more glorious than was the first covenant, before there was any need of repair—but only if it’s here to stay.

In addition, my overview of the whole book led me to this overall main point:

Who is Yahweh, and why should you obey him? He is the God who 1) demolishes the house of slavery (Ex 1-15), 2) prepares to rebuild (Ex 16-18), and 3) builds his house in the midst of his people (Ex 19-40).

The main idea of Act I (Ex 1:1-15:21) was that Yahweh demolishes the house of slavery. He does this in two parts:

He trains up a qualified mediator to deliver (Ex 1:1-7:7).
He delivers his people from their enemies into a frightful joy (Ex 7:8-15:21).

The main idea of Act II (Ex 15:22-18:27) was that Yahweh prepares the house of his people by showing them they need his law to know him.

Now in Act III, Yahweh builds his house in the midst of his people. We’ve already covered two parts:

In Part 1 (Ex 19:1-24:18), God prepares the conditions for a perfect paradise with his people, where they can draw near to him through the blood of a substitute.
In Part 2 (Ex 25:1-31:18), God delivers blueprints for a tent, so he can re-create heaven on earth by living among his people.

Pull It Together

Now what do these things show us about the flow of thought in chapters 32-34? We are in between the tabernacle’s instructions and the tabernacle’s construction. In giving the tabernacle instructions, how does God build his house?

Act I describes God’s deliverance of his people. Act II shows how God prepares them for a covenant relationship with him. Act III now constructs that covenant relationship.
Part 1: Exodus 19-24 opens the gates of paradise by drawing the people close through the blood of a substitute and endowing them with a utopian vision.
Part 2: Exodus 25-31 recreates heaven on earth, proposing a place where God will dwell with his people, through a series of building plans.
Part 3: Exodus 32-34 now shows us what happens when a righteous God tries to live with a sinful people.
- Exodus 32:1-35 shows that sin remains alive and well, even in a redeemed people, but it suggests there still might be a way to make the relationship work.
- Exodus 33:1-23 describes the formula for repair; forgiveness is not enough without reconciliation.
- Exodus 34:1-28 proves it is possible to find such reconciliation and draw closer to Yahweh than ever before.
- Exodus 34:29-35 illustrates the glorious implications of such complete reconciliation, while leaving us wishing it wouldn’t fade but be settled once and for all.

These chapters show us that our relationship with God involves more than a legal transaction, such that he is only obligated to take us back after he redeems us. This relationship with God involves an intimate connection and a deep friendship unlike anything we’ve experienced. And believe it or not, this relationship—after we sinned and rebelled and were brought back—is better than what we had with him at first. Our delight and satisfaction can be no greater than when we get more of him.

Barney Moss (2015), Creative Commons

We can expand our outline of the book a little further:

Act I: Yahweh demolishes the house of slavery (Ex 1-15).

Introduction: Nobody can prevent Yahweh from keeping his promises, but we’re not sure how he’ll do it (Ex 1).

Part 1: Yahweh appoints a mediator and ensures he is fully qualified and trained for the task of deliverance (Ex 2:1-7:7).

Part 2: Yahweh delivers a deserved destruction to his enemies and a frightful joy to his people (Ex 7:8-15:21).

Act II: Yahweh prepares to rebuild by exposing how deeply his people need his law to know him (Ex 16-18).

Act III: Yahweh builds his house in the midst of his people (Ex 19-40).

Part 1: Yahweh architects a perfect paradise for the community of his people, so he can bring them near through the blood of a substitute (Ex 19-24).

Part 2: Yahweh explains how his people can re-create this paradise on earth (Ex 25-31).

Part 3: Yahweh hands them something more glorious than paradise; he hands them more of himself (Ex 32-34).

Gaze Upon Jesus

Like a shot of dopamine to the brain’s pleasure centers, this section stimulates our deepest joys and leaves us desperate for more. If only it could be so. If only we could see his glory (John 1:14). If only we could be with him forever (John 14:3, 1 Thess 4:17). If only we could have assurance that he will never again move out (Heb 13:5-6). If only we, too, could become partakers in the divine nature (2 Pet 1:3-4). If only we could be not only saved but also reconciled (Rom 5:10-11). If only we could build a place to live with God (Rev 21:2-4), be his people (Rev 21:7), see the light of his face, and worship him alone (Rev 22:1-5)—forever (2 Cor 3:16-18).

Dare I say it may, in fact, be so (Heb 1:1-4)?

Apply

Head: Understand your greatest need is not for more blessing or more forgiveness. What you need is more of the Lord.

Heart: Do you expect anything else to satisfy you?

Ha nds: Seek him. Love him. Abide in his word so you can abide in him (John 8:31-32). Rejoice in what Jesus has made possible. Praise him for his merciful inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you (1 Pet 1:3-4).

Click here to see what I’m doing with this sample Bible study and why I’m doing it.

Exodus 25-31: Re-creating Heaven on Earth

November 3, 2017 By Peter Krol

Step Back

So, now that we’ve heard all the Lord’s detailed instructions for his dwelling place among the Israelites, it’s a good time to catch our breath. From this point in Exodus, we’ll see what happens when a righteous God tries to live among a sinful people. But where have we been so far?

Review

Let me list the main points I’ve proposed for each passage in this section:

Exodus 25:1-40: For God to dwell with his people, mercy must cover the law, bread must be provided, and light must shine.
Exodus 26:1-37: When God dwells with his people, it’s a paradise better than Eden.
Exodus 27:1-19: The mountain where God meets his people—the place where heaven comes to earth—requires a place for sacrifice and has only one entrance.
Exodus 27:20-28:43: For God to dwell with his people, there must be an authorized person to perpetually represent these people before him.
Exodus 29:1-46: The price of a ticket to paradise is approved men in approved garments, eating approved food in an approved place.
Exodus 30:1-38: Yahweh provides every resource required to take his show on the road: purifying both people and priest, so he can be united with them day after day.
Exodus 31:1-18: For God’s new creation dwelling place with his people, the climax comes when the right people join the work and trust in the unique ability of God to get them through.

In addition, my overview of the whole book led me to this overall main point:

Who is Yahweh, and why should you obey him? He is the God who 1) demolishes the house of slavery (Ex 1-15), 2) prepares to rebuild (Ex 16-18), and 3) builds his house in the midst of his people (Ex 19-40).

The main idea of Act I (Ex 1:1-15:21) was that Yahweh demolishes the house of slavery. He does this in two parts:

He trains up a qualified mediator to deliver (Ex 1:1-7:7).
He delivers his people from their enemies into a frightful joy (Ex 7:8-15:21).

The main idea of Act II (Ex 15:22-18:27) was that Yahweh prepares the house of his people by showing them they need his law to know him.

And Part 1 (Ex 19:1-24:18) of this third act shows us God preparing the conditions for a perfect paradise with his people, where they can draw near to him through the blood of a substitute.

Pull It Together

Now what do these things show us about the flow of thought in chapters 25-31? We are in between the making of the covenant and the breaking of it. In giving the tabernacle instructions, how does God build his house?

Act I describes God’s deliverance of his people. Act II shows how God prepares them for a covenant relationship with him. Act III now constructs that covenant relationship.
Part 1: Exodus 19-24 open the gates of paradise by drawing the people close through the blood of a substitute and endowing them with a utopian vision.
Part 2: Exodus 25-31
- Exodus 25:1-27:19 describes a place where God and people can live together, because it’s filled with mercy, life, light, and substitute judgment.
- Exodus 27:20-29:46 promises authorized people who keep the peace between God and people.
- Exodus 30:1-31:18 resources this project in both the short- and long-term.

These chapters are presented in a series of 7 speeches, linking the tabernacle instructions to the creation of the world. I’ll put the clearest connections in bold text.

Speech #1: Ex 25:1-30:10 – basic structure, furniture, and priests
Speech #2: Ex 30:11-16 – census ransom to pay for the people’s lives
Speech #3: Ex 30:17-21 – water basin for washing
Speech #4: Ex 30:22-33 – anointing oil to mark off special people and places
Speech #5: Ex 30:34-38 – incense
Speech #6: Ex 31:1-11 – Spirit-filled people to do the work
Speech #7: Ex 31:12-17 – Sabbath rest

In building this tabernacle, the Israelites will recreate the world in God’s image. It represents a fresh start, a new relationship. The closeness with God we’ve always wanted. And it all begins with these extensive words spoken from the mouth of Yahweh.

Jase Hill (2008), Creative Commons

We can flesh out our outline of the book a little further:

Act I: Yahweh demolishes the house of slavery (Ex 1-15).

Introduction: Nobody can prevent Yahweh from keeping his promises, but we’re not sure how he’ll do it (Ex 1).

Part 1: Yahweh appoints a mediator and ensures he is fully qualified and trained for the task of deliverance (Ex 2:1-7:7).

Part 2: Yahweh delivers a deserved destruction to his enemies and a frightful joy to his people (Ex 7:8-15:21).

Act II: Yahweh prepares to rebuild by exposing how deeply his people need his law to know him (Ex 16-18).

Act III: Yahweh builds his house in the midst of his people (Ex 19-40).

Part 1: God architects a perfect paradise for the community of his people, so he can bring them near through the blood of a substitute (Ex 19-24).

Part 2: God explains how his people can re-create this paradise on earth (Ex 25-31).

Gaze Upon Jesus

Of course, the main thing here is not the tabernacle itself, but what it represents. God wants to dwell with his people, and he will surely do it. Therefore Jesus, the Word, “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). “They shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us)” (Matt 1:23). His parting word was “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt 28:20). And we now live, not in a cloth tabernacle in the wilderness, but in the New Jerusalem. “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man” (Rev 21:3).

John’s Gospel is saturated with showing us how Jesus is the full and final tabernacle of Yahweh. I will dedicate next week’s post to tracing this out.

Apply

Head: Don’t glaze over when you hit the detailed architectural stuff in Exodus. Consider how many pieces must fall into place for a righteous God to dwell among his sinful people!

Heart: Do you long for any other paradise, besides drawing near to the Father through Christ?

Ha nds: Be the tabernacle. As an individual, be a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:15-20), with a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith (1 Tim 1:5). As a community of believers, be a special place for God, unlike any other place on earth (2 Cor 6:16-7:1).

Click here to see what I’m doing with this sample Bible study and why I’m doing it.

Exodus 26: A Paradise Better Than Eden

September 15, 2017 By Peter Krol

Moses has already received blueprints for three key pieces of furniture—box, table, and lampstand—but he doesn’t yet know what to do with them. As God delivers the plans for his tabernacle, he now provides an architectural structure and directions for where to place each piece of furniture.

Observation of Exodus 26:1-37

Most repeated words: curtain (24 times) frame (23x), make (22), tabernacle (16), side (13), base (12), one (11), two (11)

The structure is made primarily of curtains and wood frames

Though I often call the entire structure the “tabernacle,” I notice that the word “tabernacle” is reserved here for only the first layer of curtains (Ex 26:1-6).

Ten curtains, made of linen and blue, purple, and red yarn.
Cherubim shapes are embroidered into it.
Sewn together into two sets of 5 curtains.
The two sets are connected by 50 golden clasps put through loops sewn into the edge of each set.
If laid flat, the whole “tabernacle” would be a rectangle, measuring 28 cubits by 40 cubits, with a 40-cubit line of gold clasps across the middle.

The “tabernacle” is covered by a “tent” made of goatskins (Ex 26:7-13).

The formation of this tent is similar to the tabernacle, in that it has a bunch of smaller pieces sewn or clasped together.
Except it has 11 starter pieces instead of 10.
This gives it an extra 2-cubit swath of cloth to tuck over in front (Ex 26:9), and an extra 2-cubit swath to trail off the back (Ex 26:13).
Also, the starter pieces are 2 cubits wider than the tabernacle starter pieces (30 cubits vs. 28 cubits), so they will have an extra cubit on each side to hang over the sides to cover it (Ex 26:13).

The “tent” is covered by two more layers of cloth made from hides (Ex 26:14).

The bones of the structure consist of 48 boards (“frames”), 10 cubits long, held upright by silver bases (Ex 26:15-30).

Each board is not merely a plank of lumber, but more like a ladder shape, such that it has two feet (called “tenons” in the ESV) to fit into its two bases.
- Incidentally (and I didn’t realize this on my own, I saw it in the IVP New Bible Dictionary when I needed help visualizing everything), this open shape to the frames would enable someone inside the structure to see the beautiful embroidery of the tabernacle curtains.
The boards are overlaid with gold and placed side-by-side, with 5 gold-covered wooden bars running horizontally across them to hold them together.
There are 20 boards each on the north and south sides. At 1.5 cubits per board, that makes those sides 30 cubits long.
There are 6 boards to make the west side, with two extra boards at the corners for support. This back side will be ~9 cubits long, perhaps adding a little for the corner supports.
So the entrance will be on the east side.

When the “tabernacle” curtains are draped over the wooden frame, the line of golden clasps will go across the ceiling, exactly two-thirds of the way in (20 cubits from the entry way).

A veil is to be woven and embroidered just like the tabernacle curtains, hung on four pillars, and attached to the golden clasps in the ceiling (Ex 26:31-33).

This veil divides the structure into two rooms (Ex 26:33).
The mercy seat covers the box with the testimony in the inner room, the “Most Holy Place” (Ex 26:34)—a room that measures 10 cubits by 10 cubits by ~9+ cubits. It’s pretty much a cube.
In the outer room, the table goes on the north side, and the lampstand goes on the south side (Ex 26:35).

The entrance gets a screen, woven to look like the tabernacle curtains, and hung on 5 gold-covered wood pillars (Ex 26:36-37).

The chapter’s structure:

Curtains
- Tabernacle
- Tent
- Outer two layers
Vertical frames and horizontal bars
Inside veil
Where to place the three furniture pieces
Entryway

Interpretation of Exodus 26

Some possible questions:

Why is this here?
How many of the details have symbolic meaning?

My answers (numbers correspond to the questions):

The obvious answer may not be ultra-satisfying, but we must at least start there: This is here so these people can build a tent of meeting for Yahweh. Before considering any potential symbols or religious meaning, we need to acknowledge the historical character of this text. This was a real thing that real people built in real time, because God told them to. Why are there so many details? So they can actually build the thing. Why must they build the thing? So Yahweh their God can dwell in their midst (Ex 25:8).
That said, we know these things were written to teach both them and us about the Lord who dwells with his people. So what do we learn? I’m not comfortable giving symbolic meaning to every detail—such as the colors of the yarns or the number or length of the boards—because the text itself does not do that. But what the text does do is give clear echoes of what’s gone before. With embroidered cherubim (something like sphinxes?), a tree-shaped lampstand, a place to eat, and a place to meet and speak with Yahweh God (Ex 25:22), they and we think of Eden (Genesis 2-3). And the whole thing is covered with animal skins, just as Yahweh covered his ashamed people in Gen 3:21. This structure provides a return to paradise, a place to meet with God and live with him. But it’s even better than Eden, in that the good gold of Havilah (Gen 2:11-12) has already been brought in to make it all shine.

Train of thought: Weave fabric to cover a frame, all so Eden can shine.

Main point: When God dwells with his people, it’s a paradise better than Eden.

Connection to Christ: The connection remains that Jesus is the full and final Immanuel, God with us. But the angle this chapter takes is that, when Jesus returns what we lost, he multiplies it and makes it even better (Rev 19:6-8, Rev 21:1-4, Mark 10:29-30).

King Coyote (2004), CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

My Application of Exodus 26

Paradise is not sitting alone, sipping lemonade on a beach with a gripping book (this is what I imagine). It is not even for me to go back to the innocence of Eden. What Jesus has given me—the knowledge of God through him—is even better. I need to believe this.

And when I believe it, I won’t be so prone to waste as much time on pathetic attempts to re-create paradise in my image, through obsessions with simple pleasures like video games or movies or social media surfing.

Click here to see what I’m doing with this sample Bible study and why I’m doing it.

Exodus 19-24: A Blood-Tinged Taste of Paradise

August 18, 2017 By Peter Krol

Step Back

So, now that we’ve seen God finally make his covenant with the people of Israel, it’s a good time to catch our breath. From this point in Exodus, we’ll see God working out the implications of that covenant and establishing a home with his people. But where have we been so far?

Review

Let me list the main points I’ve proposed for each passage in this section:

Exodus 19:1-25: The purpose of God’s deliverance is to make something special out of an utterly undeserving people.
Exodus 20:1-21: God makes a treaty with his redeemed people, inspiring them to fear and obey, so they might draw near to him.
The case laws
- Exodus 20:22-21:32: God’s kingdom is different from the world’s kingdoms in that all its citizens have rights, and justice is the cost of living.
- Exodus 21:33-22:15: It is good and God-like to pay restitution for damage done to others’ property.
- Exodus 22:16-31: Social justice is rooted in God’s just character, and it flows from maintaining purity before him.
- Exodus 23:1-19: God’s people diligently employ truth and rest to do good for others.
- Exodus 23:20-33: How you trust God’s angel determines how God treats you.
Exodus 24:1-18: It costs both personal sacrifice and substitutionary death to draw near to God in covenant.

In addition, my overview of the whole book led me to this overall main point:

Who is Yahweh, and why should you obey him? He is the God who 1) demolishes the house of slavery (Ex 1-15), 2) prepares to rebuild (Ex 16-18), and 3) builds his house in the midst of his people (Ex 19-40).

The main idea of Act I (Ex 1:1-15:21) was that Yahweh demolishes the house of slavery. He does this in two parts:

He trains up a qualified mediator to deliver (Ex 1:1-7:7).
He delivers his people from their enemies into a frightful joy (Ex 7:8-15:21).

And the main idea of Act II (Ex 15:22-18:27) was that Yahweh prepares the house of his people by showing them they need his law to know him.

Pull It Together

Now what do these things show us about the flow of thought in chapters 19-24? We are in between the need for the law and the instructions for the tabernacle. In giving the law, how does God begin building his house?

Act I describes God’s deliverance of his people. Act II shows how God prepares them for a covenant relationship with him. Act III now constructs that covenant relationship.
Exodus 19:1-25 tantalizes them with assurance of becoming something special.
Exodus 20:1-21 causes them to have second thoughts.
Exodus 20:22-23:33 defines what it means to be special, unlike the other nations:
- Every member of society has basic rights.
- Property is respected.
- Justice goes together with purity, just like it does in God.
- Truth and rest are not for selfish ends but for the good of others.
- Everything hinges on whether you trust God’s angel.
Exodus 24:1-18 closes the deal by offering them the blood of a substitute and a meal with God.

These chapters show the making of a special people. They’re brought close, but not too close lest they die. They’re informed of Yahweh’s impossible standards. They’re given a picture of a community that reflects God’s glorious, gracious, and generous character. They decide to move forward with this deal, but not without a reminder that something has to die to make it possible. And that those who “see God” can get only as close as the pavement under his majestic feet.

When we read these chapters as a unit, we can’t help but see that obeying the law will never make us righteous before God. Instead, obeying the law is like enjoying a bit of utopia, or biting into a juicy fruit of paradise—but only when covenant blood has been shed to bring us near. Without the blood, the law inspires only dread and defensiveness.

Wasif Malik (2012), Creative Commons

We can flesh out our outline of the book a little further:

Act I: Yahweh demolishes the house of slavery (Ex 1-15).

Introduction: Nobody can prevent Yahweh from keeping his promises, but we’re not sure how he’ll do it (Ex 1).

Part 1: Yahweh appoints a mediator and ensures he is fully qualified and trained for the task of deliverance (Ex 2:1-7:7).

Part 2: Yahweh delivers a deserved destruction to his enemies and a frightful joy to his people (Ex 7:8-15:21).

Act II: Yahweh prepares to rebuild by exposing how deeply his people need his law to know him (Ex 16-18).

Act III: Yahweh builds his house in the midst of his people (Ex 19-40).

Part 1: God architects a perfect paradise for the community of his people, so he can bring them near through the blood of a substitute (Ex 19-24).

Gaze Upon Jesus

Jesus came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Matt 5:17). This is great news, because he then offered his blood of the covenant to cover us and cleanse us forever (Matt 26:28). Through him, we have full access to the Father (Heb 4:14-16). By giving us his Spirit, he’s now working out paradise in the community of his people (Gal 5:13-26).

Apply

Head: Do not expect law, education, wealth, or community service will ever bring paradise on earth. Nothing but the blood of Jesus can do that.

Heart: Do you love God’s law because it enables you to find Christ? Do you want to become more like him? Do you want your church or neighborhood to reflect his character? Or do you just want more stuff, or to be left alone?

Ha nds: Walk by the Spirit, and don’t gratify the desires of your flesh. Let the law show you how to keep in step with the Spirit, not being conceited, neither envying nor provoking (Gal 5:16-26). And keeping in step with the Spirit means most of all that your allegiance is to none but Christ, God’s true angel/messenger (1 John 5:11-12).

Click here to see what I’m doing with this sample Bible study and why I’m doing it.