You have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down

 Joshua 2:1-24

Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.

But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.

I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.

Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 

They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.

Jericho, the city of palm trees,, lies just west of the River Jordan. Joshua's intention was to make his first trust into the center of the land, driving a wedge between north and south. Jericho stood directly in his path, an obvious first target.

Rahab's action in harboring the sies stemmed not from fear, but from the belief that Israel's God is the true God. The storyteller makes no attempt to 'clean up' Tahab's reputation,. The tale is simply told. As Rahab saves the lives of the spies, so she and her family come under God's protection - to find a permanent home among God's people and become part of the great salvation story. Rahab was naturalized, married Salmon, and through her son, Boaz became an ancestress not only of David but of Jesus himself. It is an outstanding example of God's grace.

Rahab's house was built on or into the city wall with a flat roof on which products could be spread out to dry - in this case flax, from which she would spin linen thread. The house of a prostitute was somewhere two men might go with no questions asked: and no doubt a good place to pick up information. The Israelites kept their promise to her.

Why?

Rahab knew the Lord of Israelite is the real God so she took action to save these two spies and make an agreement with them. This is a dangerous decision to her, but she knew it is a chance to be saved. 

Even Rahab was a prostitute but she grasps this good chance so she reverses her life and became the family of the Lord.

Make the right decision at the right time is very important.

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這次的探子不像摩西當時的探子只看物產，外表。這次探子是了解人心。

過紅海及亞摩力王被殺，兩事間隔40年，可見當地的人心很注意以色列人的事。不要被外表現象欺騙。原來40年前就已經預備了，可是人不信，以至浪費40年。很難從神的作為中看見神的心意。

喇合的眼光，她選擇站在耶和華這邊，耶律個王卻選擇和神對抗。神蹟大家都看見，但是不是每個人都有屬靈的眼光。她看清楚誰才是真正的敵人。我們是耶律哥城的王還是喇合。

大災難中又有得救的記號。以色列人出埃及時，門上的羔羊血是避災的記號，現在紅絲帶是平安的記號，今天耶穌是得救的記號。兩名探子以生命保證喇合的全家，今天耶穌是我們生命的保證，要進入屋內才能保證平安 ，要進入神的家庭才有平安。

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How?

My God is The God in heaven above and on the earth below. 

Only be strong and courageous!

 Joshua 1:1-18

Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.

But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest by giving you this land.

Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”

Both books emphasize the importance of keeping faith in God. Obeying God is the key to the people's success under Joshua.

The new leader: Joshua: This account of Joshua's accession is one of the great chapters of the Bible. Moses is dead" but God's purpose for the nation continues. The keynote of this prelude to the conquest is the repeated call to be strong and take heart.

Why?

God orders Joshua to be the leader and ready to cross the Jordan River into the land God has given to them.

Be strong and courageous! for the Lord is with them even there are many difficulties, so they will conquer the enemy and get the promised land. God has prepared the land for us, but we need to fight and struggle to get it. To be a Christian have to do our job, obey the word of the Lord and be strong and courageous.

To serve the Lord and serve the young couple fellowship in the church, I have to be strong and courageous, it is not my job only, I am working with the Lord!

How?

Do my part, obey the word of the Lord, and courageous to serve others in my daily life.

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle

Exodus 39:32-43,40:1-38

The Israelites had done all the work just as the Lord had commanded Moses. Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses blessed them.

Then the Lord said to Moses: “Set up the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, on the first day of the first month. Place the ark of the covenant law in it and shield the ark with the curtain. Bring in the table and set out what belongs on it. Then bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. Place the gold altar of incense in front of the ark of the covenant law and put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle.

“Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the tent of meeting and wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest. Bring his sons and dress them in tunics. Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so they may serve me as priests. Their anointing will be to a priesthood that will continue throughout their generations.” Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded him.

 So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year.

He took the tablets of the covenant law and placed them in the ark, attached the poles to the ark and put the atonement cover over it. Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung the shielding curtain and shielded the ark of the covenant law, as the Lord commanded him.

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.

The craftsmen set to work, the people pour in their gifts, and the Tabernacle, its fittings, and the priests' robes are all completed exactly as God has laid down. 

When the work is finished, God gives Moses his instructions for setting up and arranging the Tent, and for its consecration. Aaron and his sons are anointed for service.

When all is done, God signifies his satisfaction. The clod, the visible token of God's presence, rests on the Tent, and the place is filled with the dazzling light of God's flory.

For 300 years, until it is replaced by the Temple in Solomon's day. God's Tent will remain the focal center of the nation's worship.

Why?

When Israelites have done everything God told them through Moses, the glory of the Lord shows on the Tent, above the tabernacle.

The fire in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels. When God is with us there will be a blessing and better than everything.

How?

Jesus is the Lord, the Lord is my shepherd and I am his lamp on his pastureland. Go with the Lord and there is no other name in the world except the Lord.

All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the Lord freewill offerings

Exodus 35:1-35 36:7. 38:21-31

For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a day of sabbath rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it is to be put to death. Do not light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”

All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded: 

Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses’ presence, and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments.

All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the Lord freewill offerings for all the work the Lord through Moses had commanded them to do.

Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills.

And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.

These chapters record how the instructions given in chapters 25-31 are carried out o the letter. The craftsmen set to work, the people pour in their gifts, and the Tabernacle, its fittings, and the priests' robes are all completed exactly as God has laid down.

Why?

To build the Terbanacle is not the job of Moses but the work of the whole Israelite. So all the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the Lord freewill offering for all the work the Lord through Moses had commanded them to do.

Bezalel and Oholiab are the chosen ones with the skill and wisdom to do the work of the Terbanacle.

So as a Christian have to devote to the Lord with freewill offering, not only the tenth but also the love to do the work for the Lord.

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 1-3 守安息日，6次吩咐建造藍圖，第七次神曉諭摩西，守安息日。神先工作再安息。人在地上的日子則是先安息，再工作。因為人要先在主裏得到安息，與主有緊密的關係，我們才有力量工作，才可能服事神。神一切工作的目的在為人預備人的安息。我們不是只求神的恩典。我們被拯救是要用真理公義來服事神。

4-19 吩咐百姓來奉獻，來建造。

20-29 聽道的目的是行出來。百姓都甘心樂意奉獻給神，榮耀神，奉獻的人將得到更多的恩典。奉獻是件快樂的事情，能夠奉獻是神的恩典，時候過了，神不一定要接受我們的奉獻。

36:3-7 奉獻到富富有餘。若有人此時才想要奉獻，已經不需要了，因此我們要把握奉獻的機會。若神不給我們機會我們也無法奉獻。所以能夠奉獻是神給我們機會，給我們恩典。

會幕支架銀座的都是贖銀，每個人的贖價都相同。神的工作神會負責，如同教會的建造，即使有餘，也不能多收，浪費，多取些！完全用在聖工上。

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How?

Obey the word of the Lord and follow the instruction of the Holy Spirit guiding me. Make me closer and walk on the way God has shown me.

Three times a year all your men are to appear before the Sovereign Lord, the God of Israel.

 Exodus 34:18-35

Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread. For seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Aviv, for in that month you came out of Egypt.

The first offspring of every womb belongs to me, including all the firstborn males of your livestock, whether from herd or flock. Redeem the firstborn donkey with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem all your firstborn sons.

Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest, you must rest.

Celebrate the Festival of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering at the turn of the year. Three times a year all your men are to appear before the Sovereign Lord, the God of Israel.

Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.

When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. 

Israel's firstborn belong to God, but are bought back from him - there is to be no child-sacrifice as in Canaan. They must not forget the sabbath law in the coming busy seasons of sowing and harvest. The first fruits are to be brought to God since it is he who makes the land fruitful. Israel is not to resort to the Canaanite practice of boiling a kid in its mother's milk to increase fertility.

Moses' ling communion with God shows in his face when he returns to the people he begins to reflect something of God's own glory.

Why?

The most common explanation for this verse is that there was a Canaanite ritual in which a baby goat was boiled in its mother’s milk as a means of sacrifice to a pagan god.

The Lord asked his people, men, have to obey his word three times a year appear before the Lord, even in busy seasons have to set the Lord in the first place.

The first offspring belong to the Lord, it is the same meaning that put the Lord in the first priority for God is the source of our achievements.

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1.神與以色列人重新立約： 要守節：除酵節，七七節，收藏節(住棚節)。除酵節：紀念我們的得救，七七節，收藏節：紀念神一整年的供應。為了服事神，不要擔心會有人來備取收穫，不用擔心我們會失去工作。守安息日：讓人享受工作的成果，並且單單來親近神，維繫與神的關係，如果說沒有與神親密的關係，豐收也沒有意義了。

2.奉獻一切頭生的，初熟的果子。不可用羊奶來煮羊羔，怎麼原來要讓羊羔生命成長的羊奶來煮。這是何等惡的事情本來神讓人有豐盛怎麼可以做這種糟蹋生命的事。今天人透過耶穌認識到神，別人從看見我們來看見神。讓我們來折反出神的榮耀。

摩西不自誇，在人面前講神的話，一個真正愛主、屬靈的人不會到處去說，我如何愛主，屬靈、當人自以為有能力時就是開始敗亡的時候。我們在人面前，不要誇自己，不要彰顯自己。

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How?

All of these commands lead God's people to remember the Lord is caring their heart be with Him. When we are walking with the Lord, we don't worry anything.

The Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.

Exodus 34:1-17

Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. “Lord,” he said, “if I have found favor in your eyes, then let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance.”

Then the Lord said: “I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the Lord, will do for you. 

Obey what I command you today. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you. Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles. Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

The tablets are engraved afresh in token of God's renewal of the covenant. This particular selection of laws is influenced by Israel's recent idol-worship, also by the coming temptations of the Canaanite religion. 

Why?

The Lord renews his covenant with Moses, God is pleased with Moses for his name and his heart, his mind.

The Lord said who he is. the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin.

The Lord reminds Moses his people obey what the Lord commanded. Then the Lord will drive out all the people before them in the promised land. Do not make treaties with them and do not worship any other god. But Israelites failed to obey this command later.

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33章摩西向神祈求。後來神同意了。原來的約因為拜金牛，這約破壞了，因此約必須重新立定。

第一部份： 立約的預備，準備兩塊石板。這次沒有帶任何人上山。人失去見到神的權柄，連煙雲也無法見到。

神宣告他的屬性： 是有憐憫有恩典的神，不輕易發怒，並有豐盛的慈愛和誠實。認識一個人比記得他的臉更重要。摩西知道以色列人真正需要的是神的同在，屬於神。我們若屬於神，就沒有缺乏。

第二部份：不可隨從別的神，積極的除去他們的偶像，逐出他們否則是害到他們自己。不可和迦南人立約。不可與迦南人通婚。要不惜任何代價除去這些環境因素，我們不能影響罪惡的環境，最後會被環境影響。

人一直在破壞這個約，神卻一直在守約，修復這個約。神是忌邪的神。神極看重我們與祂的關係，如同夫妻關係。多體貼神的心，多為神的國、神的義禱告。

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How?

For the Lord is a jealous God and does not worship any other god. The Lord always will be my first priority in my life.

I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion

Exodus 33:12-23

Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”

Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”

And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

Face to face: Numbers 12:8 adds by way of explanation 'clearly and not on riddles.'

Moses wants to see God as he is, but human beings can witness God only in his passing, can see God only in what he has done.

Why?

If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. This is an honest way to ask the Lord, how to do to please the Lord. 

God has all of the authority, mercy, and compassion to whom God will have. We have not right to ask the Lord.

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耶和華不和以色列人同去了。本處是神和摩西的談話內容。

摩西向神提到3次你的百姓。如果神沒有和百姓就沒有意思了！我們和其他民族不同是因為有神的同在。神的同在比一切恩典更重要。我們沒有什麼地方比別人強。摩西重視神的同在，所以要看到神的榮耀。神的名就是神的屬性、本質。是否看到神的面不重要，重要是看到神的同在。摩西一定要看到神的面，才放心神同在，神按神的方法讓摩西看到神。

神按著摩西的名認識祂，即認識摩西的性格、心中所求的。神以看見神面的方法更好的方式。神宣告祂的名是有恩典、憐憫、信實的。神沒有按照摩西所求的，卻是比摩西求的更好。同樣我們向神求的，有時候神並沒有給我們，因為那對我們不好。神給我們是更好的。我們是神重價買回來的。

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How?

Keep a good relationship with the Lord is obey God's command, there is no other way to be blessed by the Lord.

Moses has the favor from the Lord so he may ask such a special request. 

This special relationship between Moses and the Lord, no one can compare, it is the authority of the Lord and Moses is honest to the Lord so the Lord pleased with Moses.

But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way

Exodus 33:1-11

Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.

Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.’” So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb.

Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

God will not go back on his promise, but Israel has forfeited his presence. And without that, the promised land is nothing. Again Moses pleads for the people at a time of crisis. God's answer encourages him to press a personal plea for a revelation of God in all his splendor.

Why?

The Lord talks with Moses face to face like a friend, this is a special relationship to Moses.

For God has promised his people and will give them the land flowing with milk and honey. But for they are a stiff-necked people so God might destroy them on the way. Actually, those people no one can enter the promised land except for two men.

After this event, Israelites stripped off their ornaments.

Worship the Lord needs our heart and faith, don't need any decoration in our clothes.

Now Israelites stand before their tent and worshiped the Lord at the entrance to their tent. But when the problem comes they still compaining with the Lord.

How?

Trust in the Lord not only when everything is find, but also when we under suffering.

Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book

Exodus 32:15-35

When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain. And he took the calf the people had made and burned it in the fire; then he ground it to powder, scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it.

Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him.

Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’” The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. Then Moses said, “You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day.”

The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.”

So Moses went back to the Lord and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.”

The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin.”

And the Lord struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made.

Death is the penalty for those who break the covenant - but Israel is saved by the selfless prayer of Moses. The broken tablets dramatically proclaim the broken covenant. Such sin cannot go wholly unpunished.

Why?

The broken tablet proclaims the broken covenant between Israelites and the Lord, so whoever has sinned against the Lord will be blot out my God's book. 

The plague comes because of their sin to Israelite, so as the COVID-19 came for people's sin. All of us have to return to the Lord and keep the word of the Lord with pure heart and mind.

Mose is full of love and he is the great leader of Israel, he prayed to the Lord for his people, even asked the Lord to forgive their sin - but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.

How?

We won't worship any idol in the world, but something we might let our job, our work, our favorite electrical item, or some habits become our idol. May the Holy Spirit to remind me to keep the Lord be on the highest in my life.

They are a stiff-necked people

Exodus 32:1-14

When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”

Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods,Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’

I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”

But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’” Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

Only six weeks after making their solemn covenant-pledge with God the people are clamoring for a replica of the old gods of Egypt. They were slave people, still with the minds of slaves, even if God had set them free. And Aaron, God's high priest, not only makes the bull-calf but identifies it with God.

Why?

The people of Israelites were stiff-necked people, for so quickly they forgot the favor of the Lord brought them from Egypt, saved them from slaves to be free, they asked Aaron make a god for them, and Aaron followed their requests.

Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God, as our prayer to the Lord. The key point is Moses prayed in the promise of the Lord, and Moses knows that God is love. So the Lord relented and did not bring the disaster on his people.

All of us are the sinner, for we are easy to fall into the temptation of the sins. When trouble comes we are worrying about our life and rick, we try to do something to survive, but forget the Lord is our savior. 

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40晝夜百姓等不到神的回應又沒有看到摩西，於是自作主張。

1.百姓不安，造金牛另外找方法，另謀出路，在神以外還有備案。用別的取代耶和華。人喜歡找備案。但是在與神之間沒有備案，神的事沒有行不通的，可能不符合我們想要的，如果我們還有備案，神就不是我們的神。神是我們唯一的依靠。

2.人造金牛，不是人想要神，而是人想要自己做主取代神。變成耶和華是誰由我決定，誰是神由我決定的，這個金牛就是耶和華，長什麼樣我決定，頭朝那裏我決定。祭拜只是儀式，主要想要吃喝享樂而已。

3.神不願意承認這是神帶出來的百姓，說是摩西帶出來的。摩西想到神的名不能受虧損。指出這是神的百姓。摩西求神紀念神的應許！人在等不到神的時候，關心的是否只有自己，還是關心神的應許?我們今天在迫切禱告時，背後的動機是否為自己?

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How?

God is good, and God is full of love. Be aware to look on the Lord. Jesus is the only way in my life.

Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded

 Exodus 31:1-18

See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you.

Then the Lord said to Moses,  “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.

The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 

When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the covenant law, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.

When God chooses people for a particular work he also equips them to do it. Verse 3 is one of the earliest references to the 'Spirit of God'. These craftsmen's skills are spiritual gifts for the service of God, and the names of the two go down in history.

The way the sabbath day of rest is kept is an index of the nation's spiritual health. Obedience in this is a test of their obedience to God in other ways too.

Why?

Don't worry about the ability of how to finish the commands of the Lord, the Lord will prepare the needed men and material for us. What we have to do is obey the word of the Lord. We are working with the Lord. The Spirit of God can help us.

Observe the Sabbath is the symbol to express Israelite obey God's command and it is the covenant between Israelites and the Lord.

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神揀選兩人來協助建造會幕。有神的靈充滿是成為領導工人的條件，凡心裡有智慧的，神的靈就充滿他，誰是有智慧的人? 認識耶和華的人。願意順服的人、敬畏神的人。建造會幕不同於一般建造工程。參與教會工作的人，都要有聖靈的充滿。即都有一致的目標來服事神，無論做什麼職務都要被聖靈充滿。

最後提安息日的原因：會幕是神與人會面的地方，只有來到神面前才能有真正的安息！第七天不做工的目的是為了紀念神，是向耶和華守為聖的，親近神，倚靠神。如果還在忙碌，無法體會神的恩典，美好。如果沒有神的運籌為  ，六日的工作怎能有成果。

25-31章:講建造會幕，至聖所。起初的至聖所在伊甸園，神要新的創造，此為預表神的創造，第一次的創造，神用他的話來創造。這裏也是耶和華曉喻摩西說，也是神的話來建造。也是講六次，第七次神說要守安息日，和當初創造世界類似的話。神再次建造至聖所，希望與人重建與人同在的地方，伊甸園。

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How?

Obey the word of the Lord is more important than we to do anything to serve the Lord.

Consider it holy to the Lord

 Exodus 30:17-38;37:29

It will be the sacred anointing oil. Then use it to anoint the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law, the table and all its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. You shall consecrate them so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy.

Whoever makes perfume like it and puts it on anyone other than a priest must be cut off from their people.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha and galbanum—and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred. Grind some of it to powder and place it in front of the ark of the covenant law in the tent of meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you. Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy to the Lord. Whoever makes incense like it to enjoy its fragrance must be cut off from their people.”

Why?

The incense does not the incense-like other religions, it is not for the general people to worship their gods, it is the incense to show the Lord is with his people. It is holy to the Lord. So whoever makes incense like it will be cut off from their people.

Same as the sacred anointing oil is holy, only the priest can use it and used it in the altar and the lamp in the altar.

How?

God is holy so everything that relates to the Lord has to be holy. We need to live in the Holy Christian life.

The Lord mentioned these so detail for He cares every detail thing about what we do

 Exodus 30:1-16; 37:25-28

Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense. Put the altar in front of the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law—before the atonement cover that is over the tablets of the covenant law—where I will meet with you.

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.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the Lord a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them. Each one who crosses over to those already counted is to give a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the Lord. The rich are not to give more than a half shekel and the poor are not to give less when you make the offering to the Lord to atone for your lives. 

Why?

The Lord mentioned these so detail for He cares every detail thing about what we do.

The Altar for burnt incense, the Atonement money, Basin for washing, anointing oil, and incense. The way how to make it was ordered by the Lord. For God is holy, everything before the has to be Holy, and it is separated from the world.

How?

Let us separate from the world for we belong to the Lord, it is no so easy but by the grace of the Lord do our best to be a servant of the Lord.

The consecration: set apart for God's service

Exodus 29:1-46

This is what you are to do to consecrate them, so they may serve me as priests:

It is a sin offering. 

It is a burnt offering to the Lord, a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord.

And take some blood from the altar and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments and on his sons and their garments. Then he and his sons and their garments will be consecrated.

Put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons and have them wave them before the Lord as a wave offering.

Aaron’s sacred garments will belong to his descendants so that they can be anointed and ordained in them. The son who succeeds him as priest and comes to the tent of meeting to minister in the Holy Place is to wear them seven days.

This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old. Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight. With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil from pressed olives, and a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering. Sacrifice the other lamb at twilight with the same grain offering and its drink offering as in the morning—a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord.

For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the tent of meeting, before the Lord. There I will meet you and speak to you; there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory.

The consecration: Everything about this elaborate ceremonial points to the 'otherness of God. He will be with his people, but there can be no familiarity. God is to be approached only in the ways he lays down. Sin disqualifies everyone from entering God's presence. The priest s and every item of equipment must be specially set apart for God's service. So Aaron and his sons must be cleansed, robbed and their sins expiated by sacrifice before they may take office. The living God is no impotent image to be worshipped as human beings think fit. God lays down the only terms on which it is possible for him to take up residence with his people.

Why?

All of these ceremonies are to consecrate God's servants, Aaron, and his sons to be priests of the Lord.

For God is holy so everyone to serve the Lord has to be consecrated.

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祭司的就職禮拜

1.亞倫和他子孫的預備：準備祭物，準備潔淨自己，

2.就職典禮的禮拜： 獻贖罪祭，獻燔祭，獻(平安祭、素祭：表示甘心樂意，生活中活出見證，所行的為了敬畏神) 不可帶著罪來服事神！膏油抹在亞倫衣服上：要靠聖靈的管教。沒有燒掉的是給祭司食用：神給服事的人得神的恩典。

3.每日的獻祭：每天都是獻給主的。每天早晚都要獻祭，更新貢物，我們給神的也要常常更新。神更新約，因為人會忘記。神向我們說話，我們要聽主的聲音。

這一切是因為神要住在我們中間，要向我們說話，我們樂意聽主的聲音嗎？願意主與我們同住嗎？

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How?

Set apart from this world to be a good servant of the Lord.

Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: holy to the Lord

 Exodus 28:01-43;39:01-31

Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests. Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor. Tell all the skilled workers to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest. These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests. Have them use gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.

Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions—the work of skilled hands. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. 

Make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth, with an opening for the head in its center. There shall be a woven edge like a collar around this opening, so that it will not tear. Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe. Aaron must wear it when he ministers. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the Lord and when he comes out, so that he will not die.

Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: holy to the Lord. Fasten a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban. It will be on Aaron’s forehead, and he will bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate, whatever their gifts may be. It will be on Aaron’s forehead continually so that they will be acceptable to the Lord.

Make linen undergarments as a covering for the body, reaching from the waist to the thigh. Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the tent of meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die.

If God's Tent is to be a place of beauty and splendor, his priest must also be fittingly robed. His garments are intended 'to give him dignity and honor' - not on his own account, but as befits the One he serves and represents. The precious stones engraved with the names of the twelve tribes point o his other function, as representative of his people, making atonement for their sin.

Why?

God is holy so the priest to serve the Lord has to be dignity to honor the Lord.

Holy to the Lord is our mission in the world. Fear the Lord for God is Holy.

To be a Chrisitan, let the love and righteousness as our clothes before the Lord, obey God's word as our decoration on our robes.

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1.外袍等製作目的是分別為聖。當祭司穿上這些衣服，就是與其他身份不同，從心裏要為神工作。服裝還是可以提醒人。雖然心裏重要，如果心裏敬虔，卻隨便穿，拉蹋的穿著，然後說神看內心，不看外表，這是自以為是的自大。

2.以弗得很像外穿的背心。要記念百姓的需要，把百姓的需要，帶到神面前。另外要擔當百姓的罪，祭司的罪則神來為他們擔當。肩帶上的金石，慎重處理百姓需要，百姓安穩在金石槽中，受到無比的寵愛。

3.胸牌：表示大祭司把百姓的事放在心上，緊緊放在心中。擔任祭司的確實承擔百姓的需要。烏陵求問神。目前已經失傳新約用抽籤方式

4.袍子邊的石榴中間有金鈴鐺，連著大祭司表示大祭司還活著。冠冕表示祭司想的都要歸神使用，完全給神使用。細麻布衣服表示聖潔，穿褲子以免露出下體。

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How?

God is holy so we have to be self-controlled and accustomed to being Christian.