Notes from House For My Name

There are many stories in the bible that show us that idols have no power and make the worshiper unclean. 

Exodus stories tell about God rescuing His people. Jacob's story is an exodus story. He goes to live with his uncle Laban, is treated poorly and leaves wealthier then he was before. Abram goes to Egypt because their is no food. Pharoah takes his wife captive. Abram leaves Egypt with great wealth.

A King Who Knows not Joseph:
- Israels life becomes bitter in Egypt. Pharoah makes their labor rigorous and trys to kill their male children. At this point we see a need for a deliverer. Moses will be the deliverer. The beautiful baby boy is put in a "basket" or "ark." Moses is a new Noah. Noah comes out from the ark to enter a new creation. Moses will bring Israel out of Egypt and into a new world. 

The marriage supper of Yahweh- God's covenant with Israel on Mt Sinia is like a wedding. God makes a covenant with His people. He reminds them of his faithfulness to them and promises that He will provide for them and bless them if they obey and honor Him. Moses officiates by bringing God's laws to the people. They hear and promise to obey, they enter into covenant with The Lord. This covenant has blessings and curses. 

The laws of Exodus are based on God's rescue of his people. He delivers his people from slavery and wants His people to go and do likewise. They are not to forget that they where once slaves. He also gives them Sabbath rest. The whole time they where in Egypt, they where not able to rest. God wants them to rest every week and to give that rest to others. 

The tabernacle is the fulfillment of the Tower of Babel. The tabernacle is a "gate to God." At the end of exodus we see that Israel is a huge nation and that God's promise to Abraham is fulfilled. 

At the begining of the book Israel is enslaved to a wicked king who forces them to build him a house. At the end, The Lord takes His throne in the house that Israel has built for Him.

The House of The Lord: The Tabernacle is a house. It is God's house. The Tabernacle is broken into three zones. Each zone (room) has its own furniture and function. 

Courtyard: The courtyard has the bronze alter and the bronze laver. All animal sacrifices are burned on the alter and the blood of most sacrifices is poured on it. The lavar is filled with water and set between the alter and the tent. Priests wash hands and feet in this water every time they enter the Holy Place. This is where the people of God worship. They are only allowed in the courtyard but are not allowed to touch the alter.

Holy Place- The Holy Place has 3 pieces of furniture-
A table, a lampstand, and the alter of incense.
Table- the table made of wood and overlaid with gold. 12 loaves of bread (the bread of presence), are on the table and replaced every Sabbath.
Lampstand- made of pure gold and looks like and almond tree.
Alter of incense- this pure gold and is on the west side in front of the veil that separates the holy place from the Most Holy Place. 
The priests minister here. They have daily duties in the Holy Place. One is keeping the incense burning.

Holy of Holies- contains one piece of furniture, a wood box overlaid with gold inside and out. the cover of the ark is solid gold with Cherubim stretching over the top. This room is God's throne room. The High Priest can enter here only once a year on the Day of Atonement.

The tabernacle is a sanctuary which means holy place. Places become Holy when God visits them in His glory. The Tabernacle is also like Mt Sinai. Mt Sinai is broken into three zones like the tabernacle. The people of Israel may approach the base but cannot touch the Mountain. The elders are allowed to go up halfway. And only Moses is allowed to go to the top of the mountain. 

Bread of God:
Once Israel builds the Lords house, Israel begins serving HIm in His house. Worship means "service in the Lords house." Israel worships God mainly through animals, by killing them and burning them on the alter. This kind of worship is often called "sacrifice." In the Bible "sacrifice" is an offering that is followed by a meal. 

Drawing near to God is dangerous. But God tells Israel in Leviticus that there is a safe way to come to his house. 
There are 5 basic steps to animal sacrifices. There are 4 animal sacrifices.

5 basic steps:
1) Substitution- The worshiper lays his hands on the animals head. Laying hands on something is a way of setting it apart for a particular job or office. The animal is acting as his substitute. 
2)Animal is killed- the worshipers slaughters the animal in place of himself.
3) Blood is sprinkled- the blood is visible proof that death has atoned for sin. It is because of this that the worshiper can come into the presence of God. This reminds us of Passover. 
4)Animal is burned- The animal is burned on the bronze alter in the courtyard and is a sweet smelling aroma to God. God "eats" this meal.
5)Fellowship meal- the offering ends in a meal. The Priest and the worshiper sit down and eat the meal. This is a sign of friendship with the worshiper and God and renews the covenant. 

4 animal sacrifices:
1) Ascension offering (whole burnt offering)- only Yahweh eats this meal. This offering highlights the burning of the animal. 
2) Peace offering- the meal is highlighted in this animal sacrifice. This is the only sacrifice that the worshiper eats. When they bible mentions sacrifice this is usually they one mentioned. Yahweh, the worshiper, the Priest and the priesthood partake of this sacrifice.
3)"Sin," or "purification offering"- this offering highlights the sprinkinling of blood and involves different sprinkling rituals depending on the one bringing the offering.
4)Reparation offering- this offering is unique. Becoming holy is dangerous because it has responsibilities. When an individual becomes holy on accident by touching something holy, this sacrifice "de-sanctifies" and returns the person to a common status.