Tag: Exodus

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

The Significance of Incense in Worship

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Anup Ghag on Unsplash

“Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense” (Exodus 30:1).

“Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the Lord for the generations to come. (Exodus 30:7,8)

Why was the altar of incense and the daily burning of incense such an important part of tabernacle, and later, temple life?

My first experience with incense was at my first pastoral conference in Ashaway, Rhode Island. We gathered for evening prayer in a retreat center chapel. The chaplain for the conference leaned towards high church traditions, and had filled the chapel with thick clouds of incense. It was dense, fragrant, stifling, and intense. That night’s worship was unlike anything I had ever experienced.

Many years later, I was asked to preach at the anniversary of a colleague’s ordination. He also leaned towards high church traditions, and would walk through his church sanctuary leaving a lingering aroma of incense an hour before Sunday worship.

My only other encounter with incense was at the funeral of a good friend’s mother. She was Roman Catholic, and the priest prepared to walk around the casket with incense. To his dismay, there was nothing to light the incense. I watched with interest and amusement as various people did their best to make it happen.

The best explanation of incense may be from a psalm:

“May my prayer be set before you like incense” (Psalm 141:2).

As the smoke of incense rose upward, worshipers would follow the smoke’s upward ascent. Their attention would be focused upward towards the one who is worthy of all honor and praise.

How much of worship is about us? Or me? Plenty. I could use a good reminder that it’s about him, the one, God. He’s the only one worthy of praise.

How could I forget that? When I’m distracted, self-absorbed, and indulgent, the smoke of incense rising up might remind me that it’s about him.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Let’s eat

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Sweetyoga Justine on Unsplash

“From the finest wheat flour make round loaves without yeast, thick loaves without yeast and with olive oil mixed in, and thin loaves without yeast and brushed with olive oil. Put them in a basket and present them along with the bull and the two rams” (Exodus 29:2-3).

This is an excerpt from the instructions for ordaining Aaron and his sons as priests. Along with a sacrificed bull and rams, the ceremony required a few loaves of bread. Sometimes I glide over these details, but this time I realized that this is about a special meal with God. It’s a fellowship meal, just like one we would have for an ordination or installation of a pastor. A lot of negotiations, workshops, conventions, training sessions, anniversaries, and celebrations all include sitting down to eat. This is just like sitting down to eat with the Lord.

As I thought more about it, I realized that the bible begins and ends with food.

“You are free to eat from any tree in the garden” (Genesis 2:16).

“Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” (Revelation 19:9)

There are so many significant meals in the bible.

  • Abram hosts the Lord and two angels in Genesis 18.
  • Joseph ate a meal with his brothers once they were reunited in Egypt.
  • The Lord fed his people with manna and quail in the wilderness.
  • Jesus fed the 5,000 after his teaching, hosted the Passover meal, ate with two disciples on the road to Emmaus and grilled fish on the beach with the disciples after his resurrection.
  • The father hosted a lavish banquet when his prodigal son returned home.

I can’t prove it, but I’ll bet whenever something significant happens in the bible, there’s food involved in some way.

Now that’s good news. I like to cook, bake, and eat. I guess I’m just a kingdom kind of guy!

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

On eagles’ wings

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Rachel McDermott on Unsplash

This time through the bible I paused at Exodus 19:4.

‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.

I wondered, “Where did the metaphor of ‘eagles’ wings’ come from?” What did that mean to the nation of Israel? And what does it mean for us?

Another “eagle wing” reference is found in Isaiah 40:31.

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

The imagery is also expressed in Deuteronomy 32:10-11.

In a desert land he found him,
    in a barren and howling waste.
He shielded him and cared for him;
    he guarded him as the apple of his eye,
like an eagle that stirs up its nest
    and hovers over its young,
that spreads its wings to catch them
    and carries them aloft.

From what I’ve read, the idea of eagles’ wings is an image of secure transport, lifting someone above obstacles and dangers. God displayed his power in various plagues to secure Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. As eagles seem to effortlessly ride updrafts, barely moving their wings, so God carries us through life’s challenges and difficulties. He’s our safety net, as an eagle might catch its young learning to fly.

A few weeks ago, I saw an eagle flying overhead with a fish in its talons. What a great image and reminder that we have a God who picks us up and carries us far above everything that saps our joy to abundant life!

Posted in bible

Finding Worth in God: Rescued and Redeemed

Posted on by William Douthwaite
image from bible.art

Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” (Exodus 19:3-6)

As Moses had encountered God at a burning bush, the nation would now encounter God at the base of a fiery mountain. They were more than a group of people. They were rescued people, brought here to be with God. They were covenant people, in a relationship with God. They were valuable to him, his “treasured possession.” They would function as priests, representing God in the world. They would also be holy, that is, set apart, redeemed, and forgiven.

And you know what’s amazing? They hadn’t done a thing. It was all God. It turns out that if you know him, then you know a whole lot about yourself, too.

That’s important. We seek significance, approval, and appreciation. We compare ourselves with others to feel better about ourselves. We skillfully conceal our shortcomings and failures.

But none of that matters to God. Rather, you do. Rescued by his own son, whose blood seals the covenant, you are valuable enough to die for, are declared righteous through faith, and are his ambassador to the world. He has granted us all those things you and I seek.

That means you can bring to the world all those things you seek. You can show appreciation. You can be grateful. You can speak words that help others feel better about themselves. You can be honest and open, both apologizing and showing grace.

Knowing who I am begins with knowing God. He’s revealed so much about himself to me, and that changes everything.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

The Lord is my strength

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

After safely crossing the Red Sea and watching God decimate the Egyptian chariots and troops, Moses and the Israelites sang, “The Lord is my strength” (Exodus 15:2).

Even before the fall into sin, people were not all-powerful. Only God is omnipotent. We were designed to be connected to his strength. “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (Isaiah 40:29).

Having said that, most of us work on being strong, capable, and independent. I’ve done this my whole life. So have you. With great pride we learn to feed and get dressed by ourselves. We walk, run, and drive anywhere we want to go. If we work at it, we can become stronger and smarter.

There’s nothing wrong with any of that. And there’s nothing wrong with asking God for strength.

But that’s not just what God does. It’s who he is. He is our strength. The strength he gives is meant to bring us closer to him, not enable us to live apart from him.

When Moses asked God, “What’s your name?” God replied, “I am.” He is God. There is no other. Yes, God loves. But he’s more than that. He is love. It’s a dangerous world. But he is a refuge. He is creator, father, provider, light, and life. Along with a whole lot of other things.

Much of daily renewing my mind is remembering who God is. With that in place, I remember who I am. I’m his child, I’m loved, I’m alive, and I’m strong.

Because he is my strength.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Will this be on the test?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu on Unsplash

Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.” (Exodus 16:4-5)

A teacher can’t test on everything that’s in the book. No test will cover everything in the lecture. With that truth in mind, students ask, “Will this be on the test?”

I’ve watched classmates attempt to write down everything spoken in a lecture. I’ve seen highlighter stain every line of a textbook page. How is that helpful? Is everything important? Will everything be on the test?

God tests his people. Will they trust him? Will they follow his instructions? God’s faithful provision is on the test. Did you write that blessing down? Did you highlight that abundance?

Will that moment be on the test?

Whenever you feel like grumbling, it’s a test. Whenever you want to have a heart-to-heart with God, it’s a test. When you desire a come-to-Jesus moment with Jesus, it’s a test.

Is he faithful? Do you trust him? Can you lean on him? Is he dependable?

Those are the test questions. It’s not about what you know about God. It’s not about your performance. It’s not about your potential.

It’s just one question.

Do you trust him?

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Roadtrip

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Carolina Rincon on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 40.

Where do you feel closest to God? It could be a church building. But would that be an empty sanctuary, or one filled with people?

I’ve experienced both. Sometimes it was an early Sunday morning before anyone else arrived for worship. Just me and God. Other times, God was there in a room full of people gathered for worship.

Some feel close to God on a clear, starry night. Or on a path through the woods where there’s little to hear other than their own footsteps.

I’ve felt close to the Creator holding a newborn in my arms. Or sitting next to someone taking their last few breaths on earth.

When Moses set up the tabernacle, “the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34). God was as close as he could get, day and night, living in a tent set up in the center of all the other tents of the nation of Israel.

Can you imagine God living in an RV? He’d be hooked up for the night just like everyone else. All those sacrifices being burnt on the altar? It’s the aroma of meat on his grill wafting through the campground. The lampstands are his camping string lights. You might run into him at the camp store or in the laundry room.

I love picturing God on the road with his people.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Good job!

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

A “through the bible devotion” from Exodus 36-39.

“I bought a table (chair, shelf, credenza, or other piece of furniture). It’s arriving tomorrow.”

I know what that means. It means a box full of furniture parts packed in cardboard and styrofoam that I will be putting together.

I make these moments into a game. I know how most of the boards and hardware fit together. But how quickly can I complete the project?

Bezalel and Oholiab and a team of craftsmen have projects to assemble in Exodus 36-39. Reading these chapters is like watching them assemble tables and altars, curtains and garments, poles and bases, and incense and oil.

When they were finished, we read, “According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work” (Exodus 39:42).

What? They followed God’s instructions? They were obedient? That doesn’t happen very often. Moses even says, “Good job!” (He blessed them for it in verse 43.) I’ll bet he was relieved after the whole golden calf thing a few chapters before.

Do you think you’ll ever get a “Well done, good and faithful servant?” Only by the grace of God.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Wow, that’s bright!

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by asim alnamat on pexels.com

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 34.

In an episode of Friends, Ross decides to whiten his teeth to look his best for a date. But he leaves the whitening substances on for a whole day, and his teeth turn unnaturally white. No matter what color shirt he tries, none of them distract from the brightness of his teeth. Somehow he makes it through dinner without opening his mouth. But when his date turns off the lights, the black lights in the room make his teeth glow insanely white! (Check out the clip here.)

Just like Moses’ face after he’s been speaking with God.

“Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with [God]. So when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to approach him (Exodus 34:29-30). Moses had to put a veil over his face after he had been talking with God, so people could look at him.

We know Moses had a unique relationship with God. “Since that time no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face” (Deuteronomy 34:10). But do you think someone can tell that I’ve spent time with God? I think so.

The prophet Isaiah said, “Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (Isaiah 60:1). When Jesus, the “light of the world” comes, he’s not the only one who shines. Our lives reflect his brightness, in the positive, merciful, and helpful things we do.

Wouldn’t it be something if suddenly a whole lot of people needed sunglasses because God’s people reflected so much of his light?