Ex. 23 &24 The Law of Moses prt 2

(2 Chapters – Hang in there be attentive )

Ch.23:1-3

Here we see the Lord addressing man’s tendency to act in the flesh in 3 Areas

A)1^st V1 Gossip – Interesting that this is a sin that our society accepts rather easily – Gossip Mags / Shows / Spiritual gossip – Pray for so & so

B) Serious thing to God – Listed in His law - (Also Epistles)

2^nd V. 2 – getting involved in Riots – don’t follow the crowd in a dispute – Florida – Elian – situation – Riots – Not God’s way

C) How prone we are to PROTEST / Picket – how negligent we are to pray

And realize that so many of the Problems are spiritual at the Core

Devil is behind –ABORTION / PORN /

D)3^RD v.3 Don’t show partiality to a poor man – Opposite of James

We struggle w/ both – in a situation where we have no possibility of gain or benefit – we focus on the UNDER DOG

E) But if gain – James says our tendency is to show partiality toward the rich man – reveals the wickedness in our hearts / God says both are wrong

Now V.4-5 also deal w/ the Fleshly tendencies but as it relates to our Conduct toward our "Enemy" READ v.4,5

A)Neighbors animal wanders away – you see it bring it back -CAT STORY

Went for a drive – horrific odor – pulls into the parking lot of a mall opens the hood – a cat had crawled in to sleep – escape cold – engine warmth

Started the engine the cat got caught in the fan belt – reason for the horrible odor – bag – clean – hood – goes into the mall to wash his hands

Coming out – woman standing next to his car looking right left – grabs the bag – hops in her car – takes off - he is intrigued follows her

She goes several blocks pulls into the parking lot of Starbucks gets out of her car grabs the bag – goes in for some coffee – he follows

She gets her coffee sits down opens the bag – lets out a SCREAM – she falls over in her chair shaking on the floor in shock – hardly breath

Owner calls the paramedics – who come – stretcher – ambulance – that is when the man comes up grabs the bag – says Here miss don’t forget your bag- lays it on her chest

Not exactly the idea here – bring it back to him -

A)Put v.5 Our language – driving down the road and you see your enemy car is broken down – Do you stop ? - Yes

B) Another application for us – You see a person who doesn’t like you – dealing w/ a burden (going thru tough times ) what do you do?

Serves them right – they deserve that ? No you Help them – HOW?

Pray for them

C)Jesus said – Love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you

1) PRAY for them – PRAY BLESSING upon them

D) Sure fire GUARD against bitterness ( Prayer changes things / yes Changes you – Compassion where there was once – Bitterness)

v.6-9 self explanatory

V.9 REPEAT of Ch.22:21-23 Repeat IMPORTANCE TO THE LORD

V.10-13

Here God is instituting the SABBATICAL YEAR

A)Every 7th year work was to cease

B) So the land could rest... The beasts could rest... The servants could rest... So MAN could rest – GOD how important it is for us to Rest

1)When is the last time you really took time to rest – Reflect / day set aside

for the Lord

C) So the Lord institutes here the Sabbath yr. – after 6 yrs give the land a rest / Of course - Man is finally catching up with the wisdom of God

Now we have the agricultural knowledge of letting fields lie fallow so

the soil will not die (More on Sab. Yr. Get to Lev.)

V.14-19
Here we see the establishing of three yearly feast –

A)TWO THINGS TO NOTE about the feast

1.) The feasts deal with COMMEMORATION

They are REMINDERS to the people of things that God has done

C) 2nd They deal with EXPECTATIONS – PICTURES & PROPHECIES

1)There is a PROPHETIC significance in each one of these feasts

Looking to the future

D) So they were a COMMEMORATION of what God HAS done & EXPECTATION of what God is GOING to do

get into all the feast when get to Lev. – speak of Christ/ here mentioned 3 yrly feast

1^st Passover – talked about already

A)April 14th. Commemorating the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt

B)After 430 years of slavery, while Pharaoh was determined to keep them in slavery, God sent Moses to Egypt

1)After 9 plagues came the final plague- The angel of death passed through the land - BLOOD – Cross / Prophecy of Jesus

C)Now in Conjunction w/ the feast of Passover was the feast of Unleavened Bread - ( Not mentioned here )

1) 3 pieces of unleavened bread were placed on top of each other and covered with a white linen napkin

D) The middle piece was broken and hidden/ The children would go through the house looking for the broken middle piece

E)That middle hidden piece was a Picture of JESUS the 2nd person of the trinity... whose body was striped and pierced...

1)whose body was wrapped in burial linens... and hidden in the tomb

AFTER 3 DAYS WAS FOUND

The 3rd feast was the Feast of First Fruits ( 2^nd one mentioned here)

Took place 3 days after the feast of unleavened bread

A)It would be COMMEMORATION of being brought into a land that was blessed- Delivered FROM Egypt/ Brought thru the wilderness

B)And brought INTO a land flowing with milk and honey

1) In thanksgiving for that they were to take the FIRST fruits and offer it to the Lord

C)But This Feast is in EXPECTATION of the RESURRECTION of Jesus

1) 1Cor. 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

D)Jesus rose on the 3rd day after Passover and became our Sabbath

Hence - We celebrate the 1st day of the week as the Lord's Day

Next was the Feast of Tabernacles or ingathering This is LAST and the most JOYOUS of the feasts

A)COMMEMORATION - They remembered that at one time they were pilgrims going through the wilderness

B)They REMEMBERED that God had carried them through that and provided for them and protected them

1) They made booths of palm branches and camped out for a week

C)They rejoiced over the fact that God saw them thru the wilderness

D)EXPECTATION - This is the ONE feast that we are told with CERTAINTY will be celebrated throughout the millennium

Zech. 14:16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.

WHY are we going to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles throughout the Millennium?

A)To commemorate that we too have been brought through the wilderness experience of this life on earth

B)We are going to have a camp out once a year in Jerusalem

1) We'll rejoice in how God delivered and provided and protected us through our earthly pilgrimage

C) We will talk more about all the feast and their significance when we get to Leviticus – right now that is our Preview

D)Before moving on – note v.15 – When you come don’t appear before the Lord empty handed

1) Key aspect to worship !! - Come ready to give / never out give the Lord

as we give He gives blessing

E) Speaks of HEART PREPERATION Give time / attention / heart /

V.20-30

A)The Angel mentioned here is in Capital letters so that tells us this is referring to Jesus – O.T. appearance

Angel of the Lord or My Angel – whenever in Caps = JESUS

B) Notice the Lord says – He will go before you / to keep you in the way and bring you into the Place that I have prepared for you

C) This is a Beautiful picture of the ministry of our Lord Jesus – who has gone before us & has prepared a place for us

He is the Author - gone before / also the finisher of our faith

The Lord says I have sent my Angel – my messenger before you to drive out the enemies from before you – How do this? V. 28 Hornets

A)I love this – who would have thought of that – HORNETS

B) The Lord says I will drive them out & use means & methods you never would have thought of – Little bugs ( Josh.24;12 Ref to this )

C) So too in our Lives & in our Church the Lord says I am going to Bless you and will use means & methods you never have dreamed of

I am so amazed at how God does things – Can’t put in a Box

D) One fellowship – God works one way – another something completely different – the minute we try to box him or figure him out – TROUBLE

Note v.30 again – How happen – Little by Little

A)Their possessing of the Land is a picture of our growing in the spirit filled life – ( Promised land isn’t heaven – Battles –spirit filled life)

B) They would possess it little by little – one battle at a time !!!!

Is that not the way to spiritual growth - no short cuts – little by little one battle at a time

C) The Lord reveals one area of your life that needs to be dealt w/ - repentance and growth – then another

learn truths and Principles – w/ each one a little of the flesh is dealt w/ we begin to grow

D) Need to be patient and obedient – Drive out the idols / and serve the Lord

V.31-33

A)Note this – make Know Cov. Or treaties – fail w/ the Gibeonites

B) Application for us – make no cov. W/ them or their gods – gods of world

Don’t give place to the devil – foot in the door

As we come to Ex.24 we come to the O.T. counter part to Matt.17

A)Matt.17 Mt. Of Transfiguration – Jesus in aspect of Glory here in Ex. 24 we have another Mt. Of Transfig. –Lord is seen aspect of glory
1 Now He said to Moses, "Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar.

B) Now the Lord gives them this invitation to come & to worship – but note it is from afar

Contrast that w/ the Lord’s invitation to us – COME NEAR - draw near to me & I a will draw near to you ( Dinner invite someone special)

C) VEIL RENT - nearness – The Lord says now we have Boldness to enter in Lord’s word is COME AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN – COME NEAR

1) How often do we keep our distance so to speak w/ the Lord

D) Interesting that they were told to come worship even though it was from afar – there are times I feel AFAR – GOD IS DISTANT

Even though I know positionally He is near – there is ACCESS – I feel like He is distant – or I feel DISTANT

E) But here is the thing we must understand – Worship is not about How I feel but it is about – Who He is – God is worthy of worship

I might feel emotionally out of it – But He is worthy so I worship Him

He is blessed by that – I produce fruit of Praise

V.2-7

Note two times the people respond here – All that the Lord has said we will do – we will be obedient to this

A)This is a mistake – it would have been better for them to say – all that the Lord has said we DESIRE TO DO – but we realize we are unable to do

B) For Lord we know that w/out you we can do nothing – therefore we will depend upon you to help us do these things

This is such a Key in our Christian life – important to understand –

C) There is a type of Christianity & teaching that is very popular today – and it ECHOES the response of the people of Israel

All the Lord says I am going to do !!!

D) Their Christianity is built upon techniques and strategies to help them be Victorious & Successful Christians

Go after tape packages 7 steps to successful Christian Living / 10 steps to a Vibrant MARRIAGE

Two problems w/ that mentality – those who are able to follow the steps & Principles and achieve the "Success" – tempted say Look what I did

A)The Dependency is in the program and not the Lord – Their plan their effort

B) Sports mentality – how do I get better than the next Guy/ By trying Harder –

C) Other tendency is for those who can’t consistently follow the Principles they – LIVE IN CONSTANT – CONDEMNATION !!!!

I guess I am not trying hard enough Not the Answer w/ the Lord – harder we try – more we fail

D) Answer isn’t in trying harder but in SURRENDER /

Some one recently asked me what is the Balance in Sanctification between God’s work and my Response
A)God is the INIATOR – desire

B) Poor in Spirit = Dependency

Then I take a step responding to the Lord’s leading prompting / His word trusting in His power to strengthen me

C) Now some go to the other extreme – All about Grace –

God is going to Move – me - ( avoid exhortations in the Word )

D) The grace of God is going to take care of it !!!! God will move me

Grace = God’s underserved favor / G.R.A.C.E.

E) God puts the desire and then says – Move !!! Take a step respond trusting in His Grace & power to meet your every need in the situation

Sunday – Lousy sermon – Now I could have sat at home said – God move me / or step out believing = God would meet me !!!!

Phil 2:

^{2Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; ¹³for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

14Do all things without complaining and disputing, ¹⁵that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, ¹⁶holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.}

Back to Exodus

V.8 8 And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, "This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words."

I find this interesting that the - picture here of Provision / their saying All the Lord says we will do - Like the Lord says –No you won’t

A)Here is provision – Half the blood sprinkled on the Altar – speaks of Salvation – blood on the cross

B)Half the Blood on them - speaks of Sanctification – Plead blood / Apply

Walking in the reality of the Blood of Christ –

V.9,10

Note it says that they saw God – What does this mean ? Aren’t we told in John 1:18/ 1 Jn. 4:12 No one has seen God at any time ?

A)How did these guys see Him ? two thoughts

1^st is that they saw an aspect of God – they saw Him in part – didn’t

the Lord tell Moses no one could see His face & Live

B) Idea there is not – if you some how sneaked a peak at God – He would kill you

Idea is His Glory & Presence is so RADICAL – so powerful – so Penetrating – that if we got a full glimpse of Him – we would Die

b) WE JUST COULDN’T HANDLE IT !!!

C) So when Moses kept asking Ex.33,34 – God hid Moses in the Cleft of the Rock – allowed his back side -

Doesn’t mean that Moses saw the back of God but not His face – No the idea there is that Moses saw – AFTER GLOW

D) Left Moses glowing for DAYS - So some think that they saw – an aspect of God’s glory – Vision of God

Another explanation – they saw Jesus - whenever read in the O.T. of someone seeing the Lord – seeing Jesus – CHRISTOPHONY

A)EXAMPLE – Isa. 6 – I saw the Lord seated on throne …….

B) Here is what is interesting about that passage – Jn.12 – Jesus makes it clear that the one who Isa. Saw was Him !!! – Turn John 12

^{35So Jesus said to them, "For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. ³⁶"While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light."
These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them. ³⁷But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him. ³⁸This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" ³⁹For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, ⁴⁰"He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them." ⁴¹These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him.

Jesus says Isa. Saw His glory – saw Jesus – ISA. 6

Back to Exodus v.10 – Under His feet was this Beautiful Transparent pavement
A)Ever feel like you are over your head – Know this everything that is over your head is under His feet

B) Peter learned this- saw the waves were over His head – but what was over His head was under JESUS FEET -

He has it covered !!!

^{11Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they saw God, and they ate and drank.}A)Nobles – not speaking nobles by birth they were slaves / noble means rooted ones

B) Pictures for us those rooted in the word & in the Lord

^{2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
^{3 He shall be like a tree Planted ROOTED by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.}}

12Then the LORD said to Moses, "Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them."

BE THERE - Not just physically but / mentally / spiritually

Read v.13-18}