All posts by John (HFJ Director)

Purposeful / Intentional, Seeking God

Live Each Day in God’s Presence (Exodus 25:23–30)

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Is God’s presence something you think about only during worship and prayer, or does knowing He is with you shape the ordinary parts of your day?

Key Verse

“You shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times.” — Exodus 25:30 (NASB)

Background Context

In Exodus 25:1–9, YHWH began giving Moses instructions for the tabernacle because He desired to dwell among His people. In Exodus 25:10–22, He described the Ark of the Covenant and the mercy seat, where He promised, “There I will meet with you.”

Now in Exodus 25:23–30, YHWH describes another piece of furniture for the sanctuary: a gold-covered table that would hold “the bread of the Presence.” Later instructions explain that twelve loaves were to be placed there regularly before YHWH, representing Israel’s twelve tribes (Leviticus 24:5–9).

The tabernacle was steadily teaching Israel an important reality: the God who rescued them from Egypt intended to dwell in their midst.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Exodus 25:23–30

The Table of Showbread

      23“You shall make a table of acacia wood, two cubits long and one cubit wide and one and a half cubits high. 24“You shall overlay it with pure gold and make a gold border around it. 25“You shall make for it a rim of a handbreadth around it; and you shall make a gold border for the rim around it. 26“You shall make four gold rings for it and put rings on the four corners which are on its four feet. 27“The rings shall be close to the rim as holders for the poles to carry the table. 28“You shall make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, so that with them the table may be carried. 29“You shall make its dishes and its pans and its jars and its bowls with which to pour drink offerings; you shall make them of pure gold. 30“You shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times.

Reflection on Exodus 25:23–30:

Like the ark, the table was to be constructed according to God’s specific instructions. It was made of acacia wood, overlaid with pure gold, and equipped with rings and poles so that it could travel with Israel. Even as God’s people moved through the wilderness, the objects associated with His dwelling were designed to move with them. YHWH was not merely the God they had encountered at Mount Sinai. His presence would remain central as they continued their journey.

Upon this table Israel was commanded to keep “the bread of the Presence” before YHWH continually. Leviticus 24 later explains that twelve loaves were arranged before Him every Sabbath. The bread represented Israel before YHWH and was also part of His provision for the priests who served in the sanctuary. Week after week, this visible reminder remained in God’s dwelling place.

That continual presence is worth noticing. Israel’s relationship with YHWH was not supposed to be occasional. They did not belong to Him only during a festival, sacrifice, or moment of crisis. Their entire community lived before Him continually. The bread remained “before Me at all times.”

We can easily divide our lives differently. We may think consciously about God while reading Scripture, praying, or gathering with other believers, then move into work, family responsibilities, finances, recreation, and ordinary decisions almost as though those portions of life exist separately from Him. Yet Scripture describes a much more comprehensive relationship with God. David wrote, “I have set the LORD continually before me” (Psalm 16:8). Living before God means recognizing that every part of life is lived in His presence.

The bread also naturally reminds us of God’s provision. Israel had already learned this lesson dramatically in the wilderness when YHWH provided manna day after day. Their survival depended upon what He supplied. Later, Yeshua would teach His disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11), reminding us that even the ordinary necessities we easily take for granted ultimately come from our Father.

We should be careful not to make every detail of the tabernacle into a symbolism Scripture itself does not establish. But the larger picture is clear: YHWH wanted His people near Him, and He was the One who sustained them. His presence and His provision were woven into the regular rhythm of Israel’s worship.

That remains a valuable perspective for us. We need God not merely for extraordinary crises but for ordinary Tuesdays. The meal on our table, the strength to work, the wisdom to make decisions, and the opportunities before us are all reasons to depend upon Him and give thanks.

Living in God’s presence means bringing the ordinary parts of life under our awareness of Him—trusting His provision, seeking His direction, and remembering throughout the day that we belong to Him.

Application

  • Practice remembering YHWH’s presence during ordinary activities, not only during prayer, worship, or times of difficulty.
  • Thank God regularly for everyday provision that can easily become taken for granted.
  • Bring your work, relationships, decisions, and responsibilities before God rather than treating them as separate from your faith.
  • Depend upon God daily instead of turning to Him only when your own resources seem insufficient.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You that You desire Your people to live in Your presence. Help me not to confine my awareness of You to worship, prayer, or moments when I desperately need help. Teach me to recognize Your presence throughout the ordinary parts of my day and to remember that everything I have ultimately comes from Your hand. Give me gratitude for Your provision, dependence upon You for what I need, and a heart that seeks to live faithfully before You each day. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Justice / Judgment, Merciful, Obeying God, Seeking God

Meet with God on His Terms Rather than Yours (Exodus 25:10–22)

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Do we approach God on our own terms, or do we trust the way He has provided for sinful people to draw near to Him?

Key Verse

“There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you.” — Exodus 25:22 (NASB)

Background Context

In Exodus 24, Israel formally entered into covenant with YHWH, and Moses went up Mount Sinai to receive further instruction. In Exodus 25:1–9, God called the people to willingly contribute materials for a sanctuary because He desired to dwell among them.

Now in Exodus 25:10–22, YHWH begins describing the tabernacle itself, starting not with the outer structure but with one of its most important objects: the Ark of the Covenant.

The ark would eventually stand in the Most Holy Place. Inside would be the testimony God gave Moses. Above it was the kapporet, commonly translated mercy seat or atonement cover, overshadowed by two cherubim. It was there that YHWH promised to meet with Moses and speak to His people.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Exodus 25:10-22

Ark of the Covenant

      10“They shall construct an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. 11“You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and you shall make a gold molding around it. 12“You shall cast four gold rings for it and fasten them on its four feet, and two rings shall be on one side of it and two rings on the other side of it. 13“You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 14“You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark with them. 15“The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be removed from it. 16“You shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you.

      17“You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide. 18“You shall make two cherubim of gold, make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat. 19“Make one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at its two ends. 20“The cherubim shall have their wings spread upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings and facing one another; the faces of the cherubim are to be turned toward the mercy seat. 21“You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony which I will give to you. 22“There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel.

Reflection on Exodus 25:10–22:

The detail in God’s instructions is immediately noticeable. The ark was to have specific dimensions, be made from acacia wood, covered with gold, equipped with rings and poles for carrying, and constructed according to the pattern YHWH gave Moses. Even the poles were to remain in their rings. Israel was not being invited to design God’s dwelling place according to whatever seemed meaningful to them. The God who desired to dwell among them also determined how He was to be approached.

Inside the ark, Moses was to place “the testimony which I shall give you.” God’s covenant instruction stood at the center of Israel’s relationship with Him. The God who rescued Israel also taught them how His redeemed people should live. As we have seen throughout Exodus, grace and obedience were never intended to compete with one another. YHWH redeemed Israel first, and the people He redeemed were then called to walk according to His ways.

But above the testimony was something especially significant: the mercy seat. Later, in Leviticus 16, we learn that on the Day of Atonement the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place and sprinkle sacrificial blood on and before this mercy seat. God’s righteous standard had not disappeared, nor was sin simply ignored. Instead, YHWH Himself provided a means of atonement so that sinful people could remain in covenant relationship with a holy God.

This points us toward what God would ultimately accomplish through Yeshua. Hebrews 9 connects the tabernacle, the ark, the mercy seat, and the sacrificial system with Messiah’s greater work. Yeshua did not enter an earthly sanctuary with the blood of another sacrifice; He entered through His own blood, obtaining eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:11–12). What the tabernacle pictured repeatedly, Yeshua accomplished in a far greater and lasting way.

That makes God’s statement in verse 22 particularly beautiful: “There I will meet with you.” The purpose of all these instructions was not simply religious ceremony. YHWH wanted to dwell among His people and communicate with them. Yet because He is holy and humanity is sinful, He provided the way for that relationship to be possible.

There is an important lesson here for us. We sometimes want God on our terms. We want His presence without His holiness, His mercy without repentance, or relationship with Him while retaining the right to decide for ourselves what obedience should look like. Exodus does not allow us to separate these things.

At the same time, we should not miss the tremendous grace in the passage. The holy God did not simply tell sinful people that they could never approach Him. He provided the way for them to come near.

Yeshua later said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). We do not have to invent a path into God’s presence or wonder whether our efforts are good enough to get us there. God Himself has provided the way.

We do not make God accessible by approaching Him however we choose. We draw near because He has graciously shown us how—and ultimately provided that way through Yeshua.

Application

  • Approach YHWH according to what He has revealed in His Word rather than reshaping worship and obedience around personal preference.
  • Take God’s standards seriously while remembering that His mercy does not ignore sin—He has provided atonement for it.
  • Place your confidence in Yeshua rather than your own goodness as the basis for drawing near to God.
  • Remember that God’s desire is relationship: the holy God who tells us how to approach Him is also the God who says, “There I will meet with you.”

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You that although You are perfectly holy, You have provided a way for sinful people to draw near to You. Help me never to treat Your holiness casually or attempt to reshape Your ways according to my preferences. Thank You for the mercy You have shown and for the redemption You have provided through Yeshua. Teach me to walk faithfully according to Your Word and to treasure the extraordinary privilege of knowing You and living in Your presence. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Giving, Humility, Money / Finances / Wealth, Purposeful / Intentional, Submitted / Servant

Give Willingly to What God Is Building (Exodus 25:1–9)

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When God gives you an opportunity to participate in His work, do you see it primarily as something being taken from you—or as a privilege to contribute to what He is doing?

Key Verse

“Tell the sons of Israel to take a contribution for Me; from everyone whose heart moves him you shall take My contribution.” — Exodus 25:2 (NASB)

Background Context

In Exodus 19–23, YHWH brought Israel to Mount Sinai and taught His redeemed people how they were to live. In Exodus 24, Israel formally entered into covenant with Him, and Moses was called farther up the mountain, where he remained in God’s presence for forty days and forty nights.

Now in Exodus 25, YHWH begins revealing what Moses is to receive during that time on the mountain. Chapters 25–31 will contain detailed instructions concerning the tabernacle, its furnishings, the priesthood, and Israel’s worship.

But before God gives Moses the construction details, He explains the purpose: “Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them.” The God who delivered Israel from Egypt desires to dwell in the midst of the people He has redeemed.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Exodus 25:1-9

Offerings for the Sanctuary

      1Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution. 3“This is the contribution which you are to raise from them: gold, silver and bronze, 4blue, purple and scarlet material, fine linen, goat hair, 5rams’ skins dyed red, porpoise skins, acacia wood, 6oil for lighting, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, 7onyx stones and setting stones for the ephod and for the breastpiece. 8“Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. 9“According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall construct it.

Reflection on Exodus 25:1–9:

God begins the instructions for the tabernacle by asking Israel to contribute materials: gold, silver, bronze, fabrics, animal skins, wood, oil, spices, and precious stones. Yet notice whom Moses is instructed to receive these contributions from: “everyone whose heart moves him.” The tabernacle would be built from gifts willingly offered by God’s people.

That is significant because YHWH certainly did not need Israel’s wealth. Everything ultimately belonged to Him already. In fact, much of what Israel possessed had come from the Egyptians when God brought them out of slavery (Exodus 12:35–36). They were being invited to return a portion of what God had provided and use it for His purposes.

That principle reaches beyond money. God gives us time, abilities, possessions, experience, opportunities, and other resources, and then allows us the privilege of using those things in His work. David later expressed this beautifully when Israel gave toward the future temple: “For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You” (1 Chronicles 29:14).

Giving therefore reveals something about our hearts. If we believe everything we possess belongs entirely to us, giving can feel primarily like losing something. But when we recognize YHWH as our Provider, giving becomes an opportunity to participate in what He is doing.

Paul teaches a similar principle in 2 Corinthians 9:7: “God loves a cheerful giver.” He tells believers to give as they have purposed in their hearts, “not grudgingly or under compulsion.” That does not mean Scripture never commands God’s people to give or support His work. Rather, God is interested in more than the transfer of resources. He cares about the heart from which the gift comes.

But the greatest statement in Exodus 25 is the reason for the offering: “Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them.” The gold and silver were not the real treasure of the tabernacle. God’s presence was.

This continues the story we have been following throughout Exodus. YHWH heard Israel’s cries in Egypt, delivered them through the Passover, brought them through the sea, provided for them in the wilderness, and established covenant with them at Sinai. Now He announces His desire to dwell among them.

The tabernacle was therefore not simply a religious building project. It was part of God’s plan to live in the midst of His people while also teaching them how sinful people could approach a holy God. That is why God tells Moses to build everything “according to all that I am going to show you.” Israel could contribute willingly, but they could not decide for themselves how God’s dwelling place should be constructed. Their generosity still needed to operate within God’s instruction.

There is a helpful balance here for us. God invites us to participate willingly in His work, but we do not define His work according to our preferences. We bring Him what He has entrusted to us, with willing hearts, and seek to use it according to His purposes.

Ultimately, the question is not merely How much am I giving? A better question is: Am I willing to place what God has given me back into His hands for what He wants to build?

Application

  • Recognize your money, abilities, time, and opportunities as resources YHWH has entrusted to you rather than possessions that exist only for your benefit.
  • Give willingly to God’s purposes rather than allowing generosity to become merely an obligation performed reluctantly.
  • Ask God whether there is something He has already placed in your hands that could be used more intentionally for His work.
  • Remember that the greatest treasure is not what we give to God, but the privilege of knowing Him and living in His presence.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for everything You have placed in my hands. Help me remember that what I possess ultimately comes from You. Give me a willing heart that sees generosity not merely as losing something, but as an opportunity to participate in what You are doing. Show me how You want me to use my time, abilities, resources, and opportunities for Your purposes. Most of all, help me value Your presence above anything I could ever possess or give. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Fear / Reverence for God, Purposeful / Intentional, Revelation, Seeking God

Build Your Life Around What Will Last Forever (Revelation 21:9–27)

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What are you investing your life in today—and how much of it will still matter in God’s eternal kingdom?

Key Verse

“I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” — Revelation 21:22 (NASB)

Background Context

John has just seen the first heaven and earth pass away and heard God declare, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Now one of the seven angels invites John to see “the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

John is carried to a great and high mountain, where he sees the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. The city radiates God’s glory and is described with extraordinary dimensions, precious stones, gates of pearl, and streets like transparent gold.

Yet the physical beauty points toward something greater. The defining characteristic of the New Jerusalem is not what the city possesses, but Who is there.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Revelation 21:9–27

      9Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

The New Jerusalem

10And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. 12It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. 13There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west. 14And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

      15The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall. 16The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. 17And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements. 18The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; 20the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. 21And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

      22I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; 26and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; 27and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Reflection on Revelation 21:9–27:

John is told that he will be shown “the bride, the wife of the Lamb,” but what he is shown is the holy city, New Jerusalem. The imagery brings together God’s people and the place where they dwell with Him. Earlier in Revelation, Babylon was pictured as a corrupt woman who represented a rebellious world system. Now the contrast is complete. Babylon has fallen, while the bride belongs faithfully to the Lamb and reflects the glory of God.

The city’s description emphasizes completeness and order. It has twelve gates bearing the names of Israel’s twelve tribes and twelve foundation stones bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The picture connects God’s work through Israel and through the apostles within the unfolding story of redemption. This is not a kingdom created by human achievement. It is the fulfillment of what God has been accomplishing throughout His redemptive plan.

John then describes extraordinary wealth: jasper, gold, pearls, and precious stones. Things people spend their lives pursuing and accumulating are portrayed almost as ordinary construction materials in God’s city. Gold is pavement. A pearl is a gate. What humanity treats as ultimate treasure becomes secondary when compared with the glory of God’s presence.

That should challenge the way we evaluate what is valuable now. Money, possessions, accomplishments, and recognition can all have legitimate places in our lives, but they make terrible foundations for our identity and purpose. If something we spend decades pursuing will one day be little more than pavement, perhaps we should be careful about allowing it to become the center of our lives.

Then John notices something surprising: there is no temple in the city. Throughout Scripture, the tabernacle and later the temple represented God’s dwelling among His people. Access to His presence was carefully regulated because sinful humanity could not casually approach a holy God. But in the New Jerusalem, John says, “the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” There is no separate place people must enter to encounter God because His presence fills everything.

This connects beautifully with what we have been studying in Exodus. YHWH is about to give Moses detailed instructions for building the tabernacle so that He may dwell among Israel. Revelation shows us where that story ultimately leads. The tabernacle and temple pointed toward something greater: God dwelling permanently and openly among His redeemed people.

The city does not even need the sun or moon for its light because “the glory of God has illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.” The nations walk by that light, and the gates never need to close. Nothing unclean or deceptive enters, and there is no threat requiring the city to protect itself against another Babylon, beast, or enemy.

Yet the passage again ends with an important distinction. Those who enter are “only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” The magnificent city is ultimately the home of people who belong to the Lamb.

Revelation therefore invites us to reconsider what we are building our lives around. The kingdoms, possessions, recognition, and pleasures of this present world will pass away. YHWH’s kingdom will not.

If we know what will last forever, wisdom means investing our lives in what will still matter when everything temporary is gone.

Application

  • Examine what receives most of your time, energy, and attention, and ask whether those priorities reflect what God says will endure.
  • Enjoy material blessings without allowing possessions, wealth, or accomplishments to become the treasure around which you build your life.
  • Make knowing YHWH and following Yeshua your greatest pursuit, because God’s presence is the greatest treasure of the coming kingdom.
  • Live faithfully as someone who belongs to the Lamb rather than adopting the values of the temporary kingdom around you.

Closing Prayer

Father, help me see what is truly valuable from Your perspective. Keep me from building my life around possessions, accomplishments, recognition, or anything else that will eventually pass away. Thank You for the promise that You will dwell forever among Your people and that nothing sinful, painful, or threatening will remain. Help me live faithfully as someone who belongs to the Lamb and invest the life You have given me in things that will matter in Your eternal kingdom. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Holy / Set Apart, Purposeful / Intentional, Revelation

Live Today for the World God Is Making New (Revelation 21:1–8)

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How differently would you live today if you truly believed that everything broken by sin will one day be gone?

Key Verse

“And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also He said, ‘Write, for these words are faithful and true.’” — Revelation 21:5 (NASB)

Background Context

Revelation 20 ended at the Great White Throne, where the dead were judged and death and Hades themselves were thrown into the lake of fire. Now John’s vision turns from final judgment to final restoration.

John sees a new heaven and a new earth. The holy city, new Jerusalem, comes down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride for her husband. Then a loud voice announces something at the heart of God’s plan: God will dwell among His people.

Revelation has shown us persecution, deception, suffering, Babylon’s corruption, the beast’s temporary authority, and Satan’s rebellion. None of those things gets the final word. God does.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Revelation 21

The New Heaven and Earth

      1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

      5And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 6Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. 7“He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. 8“But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Reflection on Revelation 21:1–8:

John begins, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away.” The story Scripture has been telling from Genesis onward is moving toward restoration. Sin brought separation, suffering, and death into God’s creation, but Revelation does not end with God’s people simply escaping what has been ruined. John sees God making things new.

Perhaps the most important promise in this passage is not even the absence of suffering. John hears a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them.” The great hope of Revelation is ultimately God Himself. His people will belong to Him, and He will dwell among them.

That connects beautifully with what we have been seeing in Exodus. YHWH redeemed Israel from Egypt, brought them to Himself at Sinai, and soon will give Moses instructions for the tabernacle so that He can dwell among His people. Revelation shows us where that desire ultimately leads. What was represented through the tabernacle becomes a permanent reality: God dwelling with His redeemed people.

Because He is there, everything that separated humanity from the goodness of His original creation is removed. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain.” Notice how personal the picture is. God does not merely announce that suffering has ended. He is pictured wiping away the tears of His people.

For believers enduring suffering, persecution, grief, sickness, or loss, this is not a promise that present pain is insignificant. Revelation has taken suffering very seriously. Instead, it promises that suffering is temporary. Death feels permanent from our present perspective, but even death has already been thrown into the lake of fire in the previous chapter. What seems permanent to us will not survive God’s restoration.

Then the One seated on the throne declares, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He follows that promise with an assurance: “These words are faithful and true.” Our confidence in this future does not rest on our ability to imagine how God will accomplish it. It rests upon the character of the One who promised it.

Yet Revelation 21:1–8 does not allow this future hope to become merely comforting imagery. The passage ends with a serious contrast between those who inherit these promises and those who persist in rebellion against God. Verse 7 says, “The one who overcomes will inherit these things.” Verse 8 then warns about those characterized by unbelief, immorality, idolatry, deception, and other rebellion against God.

That warning fits what Revelation has emphasized throughout the book. God’s people are called to endure faithfully. They hold to the testimony of Yeshua and remain obedient to God even when the surrounding world pressures them toward compromise. We are not saved because we successfully accumulate enough good deeds to earn the kingdom. Our hope rests in the Lamb. But belonging to the Lamb should change the way we live while we wait for His kingdom.

The future God promises should therefore shape our choices today. If Babylon is passing away, we should not build our lives around its values. If death is temporary, we need not live controlled by its fear. If God will dwell forever among His people, knowing Him should matter more than everything this present world tells us to pursue.

God is making all things new. Our lives today should demonstrate that we belong to the kingdom that is coming.

Application

  • When suffering or loss feels permanent, remember that God has promised a future in which death, mourning, crying, and pain will be gone.
  • Build your life around what will endure rather than the temporary values and rewards of this present world.
  • Resist compromise and remain faithful to Yeshua while you wait for God’s promised restoration.
  • Make knowing and dwelling with God your greatest hope, rather than focusing only on what you hope heaven will provide.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for the promise that You are making all things new. When suffering, loss, or uncertainty overwhelms me, help me remember that these things will not have the final word. Teach me to build my life around Your coming kingdom rather than the temporary things of this world. Help me remain faithful to Yeshua, resist compromise, and live today as someone who belongs to You. Most of all, teach me to long not merely for a world without pain, but for the joy of dwelling forever in Your presence. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Unteachable / Foolish, Wise

Do Your Best, but Leave the Results to God (Ecclesiastes 9:11–18)

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What happens to your faith when you do everything wisely and diligently—and still don’t get the outcome you expected?

Key Verse

“I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all.” — Ecclesiastes 9:11 (NASB)

Background Context

In Ecclesiastes 9:7–10, Solomon encouraged us to receive God’s everyday blessings gratefully and to do whatever work is before us with all our might. Now he guards against an incorrect conclusion: diligent effort does not give us control over the results.

The fastest runner does not always win. The strongest army does not always prevail. The wisest person is not always wealthy or recognized. Life “under the sun” includes unexpected circumstances that human ability cannot completely control.

Yet Solomon does not conclude that wisdom and diligence are worthless. In fact, he finishes the section by showing that wisdom can accomplish what great strength cannot.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Ecclesiastes 9:11-18

    11I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all. 12Moreover, man does not know his time: like fish caught in a treacherous net and birds trapped in a snare, so the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them.

      13Also this I came to see as wisdom under the sun, and it impressed me. 14There was a small city with few men in it and a great king came to it, surrounded it and constructed large siegeworks against it. 15But there was found in it a poor wise man and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. 16So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded. 17The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

Reflection on Ecclesiastes 9:11–18:

Solomon observes something we have probably all experienced: the person who seems most qualified does not always receive the expected outcome. The swift can lose the race, warriors can lose battles, wise people can struggle financially, and talented people can go unnoticed. Skill and preparation certainly matter, but they do not guarantee success.

Solomon explains that “time and chance overtake them all.” He is describing life as we experience it “under the sun,” where circumstances often arrive unexpectedly and beyond our ability to control them. This does not mean YHWH has surrendered His sovereignty to random chance. Rather, from our limited perspective, we cannot predict or control everything that happens simply by making wise decisions.

That distinction can protect us from a dangerous assumption: If I do everything right, everything should work out the way I expect. Scripture never gives us that promise. We should work diligently, make wise decisions, prepare carefully, and obey God—but none of those things gives us control over tomorrow.

Solomon reinforces the point by saying that people do not know their time. Like fish caught unexpectedly in a net or birds in a trap, difficult circumstances can suddenly overtake us. We cannot eliminate every uncertainty from life, no matter how carefully we plan. That should produce humility rather than fear. Our security was never supposed to rest in our ability to predict and control every outcome.

Yet Solomon is not dismissing wisdom. He tells of a small city threatened by a powerful king. A poor wise man delivered the city through his wisdom, accomplishing what strength alone apparently could not. Solomon concludes, “Wisdom is better than strength.” Wisdom matters greatly, even when the person possessing it lacks status, wealth, or influence.

But then comes the painful part: afterward, no one remembered that poor man.

Sometimes you can do something valuable and receive little recognition for it. You can make the wise decision and watch someone else receive the credit. You can faithfully contribute and still be overlooked. Solomon does not pretend that life always rewards people according to their merit.

That gives us an important perspective on the previous section’s command to do our work with all our might. We should pursue excellence, but not because excellence guarantees the outcome we want. We work faithfully because faithfulness is right before God.

Our responsibility is to make wise choices and faithfully use what YHWH has entrusted to us. The results may be greater than we expected, smaller than we hoped, or completely different from what we planned. We may even do something valuable that few people recognize.

Faithfulness means doing our best with what God has placed in our hands while trusting Him with the results we cannot control.

Application

  • Work diligently and make wise decisions without assuming they guarantee the outcome you want.
  • When circumstances disrupt your plans, resist interpreting every unexpected result as evidence that you failed or God abandoned you.
  • Choose faithfulness even when your contribution may receive little recognition from others.
  • Entrust outcomes you cannot control to YHWH while remaining responsible for the choices and work He has placed before you.

Closing Prayer

Father, help me faithfully use the abilities, wisdom, and opportunities You have given me without believing that I can control every outcome. When my plans do not unfold as expected, keep me from becoming discouraged or assuming that faithful effort was wasted. Give me wisdom to make good decisions, diligence to do my work well, and humility to leave the results in Your hands. Help me remain faithful even when others do not notice or recognize what I have done, knowing that You see and know my heart. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Thankfulness

Give God the Credit for the Victory (Psalm 68:11–18)

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When something goes well, are you quick to recognize what God has done—or do you quietly begin taking the credit for yourself?

Key Verse

“The Lord gives the command;
The women who proclaim good news are a great army.” — Psalm 68:11 (NASB)

Background Context

Psalm 68 celebrates YHWH as the victorious King who goes before His people. In the opening verses, David looked back toward Israel’s wilderness journey and described God as the One who scatters His enemies, leads His people, provides for them, and defends the vulnerable.

Verses 11–18 continue the picture of victory. Kings flee, spoils are divided, and God’s chosen mountain becomes the place of His dwelling. David’s emphasis is not on Israel’s military greatness but on YHWH as the One who acts, conquers, and dwells among His people.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Psalm 68:11-18

      11The Lord gives the command;

The women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host:

12“Kings of armies flee, they flee,
And she who remains at home will divide the spoil!”

13When you lie down among the sheepfolds,
You are like the wings of a dove covered with silver,
And its pinions with glistening gold.

14When the Almighty scattered the kings there,
It was snowing in Zalmon.

15A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan;
A mountain of many peaks is the mountain of Bashan.

16Why do you look with envy, O mountains with many peaks,
At the mountain which God has desired for His abode?
Surely the LORD will dwell there forever.

17The chariots of God are myriads, thousands upon thousands;
The Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness.

18You have ascended on high, You have led captive Your captives;
You have received gifts among men,
Even among the rebellious also, that the LORD God may dwell there.

Reflection on Psalm 68:11–18:

David begins this section with an important order: “The Lord gives the command; the women who proclaim good news are a great army.” God acts, and His people announce what He has done. The following verses describe enemy kings fleeing and even those who remained at home sharing in the spoil. The picture emphasizes that victory was not something Israel could boast about as though it had been produced entirely by its own strength.

That distinction matters because we are often tempted to take God’s blessings and gradually rewrite the story so that we become the main character. We may thank God initially, but before long we begin thinking primarily about our wisdom, hard work, planning, talent, or courage. Those things may genuinely have played a part. Scripture does not teach us to be passive or careless. But God’s people should be able to work diligently while still recognizing that our abilities, opportunities, provision, and ultimately the outcome remain dependent upon Him.

David then turns toward the mountains. He describes the mountain of Bashan as majestic and many-peaked, yet asks why those impressive mountains look with envy at “the mountain God has desired as His dwelling.” The contrast is striking. God’s choice is not determined by what appears greatest from a human perspective. A mountain may look more impressive, but what makes God’s chosen place significant is that God chooses to dwell there.

We can easily make the same mistake when evaluating people. We naturally notice talent, influence, wealth, appearance, intelligence, or position. Yet throughout Scripture, YHWH repeatedly accomplishes His purposes through people the world might not consider particularly impressive. Our usefulness to God is not determined by whether we appear greater than everyone around us. What matters is belonging to Him, being available to Him, and faithfully doing what He calls us to do.

David then describes God’s overwhelming power: “The chariots of God are myriads, thousands upon thousands.” Israel’s enemies may have possessed armies and chariots that appeared intimidating, but they were never equal rivals to YHWH. The God who went before Israel in the wilderness remained present among His people.

Verse 18 then declares, “You have ascended on high, You have led captive Your captives; You have received gifts among people.” Paul draws upon this verse in Ephesians 4:8 when describing Messiah’s victory and His giving of gifts to His people. The original psalm celebrates YHWH’s victorious ascent, while Paul shows how this pattern finds a powerful fulfillment in Yeshua: the victorious Messiah ascends and equips His people for His purposes.

That brings the passage back to where it began. God wins the victory, and His people have the privilege of proclaiming and participating in what He has done. We do not need to make ourselves impressive enough to deserve the credit. In fact, when God works through ordinary people, it can make the true source of the victory even clearer.

Our calling is not to make ourselves the hero of the story. It is to faithfully participate in what God is doing and make sure He receives the glory for what He accomplishes.

Application

  • When God brings success or breakthrough, deliberately give Him credit rather than gradually making yourself the center of the story.
  • Use the abilities and opportunities God gives you diligently while remembering that they ultimately came from Him.
  • Do not measure your usefulness to God by how impressive you appear compared with others; focus on being faithful and available to Him.
  • Tell others what God has done, allowing His work in your life to point attention toward Him rather than yourself.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You that victory ultimately belongs to You. Help me work diligently with everything You have entrusted to me without forgetting where my abilities, opportunities, and provision come from. Guard me from taking credit for what You have accomplished, and keep me from measuring myself against people who seem more impressive. Make me faithful and available for whatever You call me to do, and help me proclaim Your goodness so that others see You rather than me. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Guide, Obeying God, Purposeful / Intentional

Wait for God Instead of Rushing Ahead (Exodus 24:12–18)

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When God does not move as quickly as you want, will you continue to wait for Him—or start moving without Him?

Key Verse

“Then Moses entered the midst of the cloud as he went up to the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.” — Exodus 24:18 (NASB)

Background Context

Israel has formally entered into covenant with YHWH. Moses has read the Book of the Covenant to the people, they have committed themselves to obedience, and the covenant has been confirmed with blood.

Now YHWH calls Moses farther up Mount Sinai to receive the stone tablets containing His commandments and instruction.

Moses leaves Aaron and Hur with the elders and ascends with Joshua. The glory of YHWH settles upon Mount Sinai, the cloud covers it, and Moses waits six days before God calls to him on the seventh.

What follows prepares the way for God’s detailed instructions concerning the tabernacle, priesthood, and worship in the chapters ahead.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Exodus 24:12-18

  12Now the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandment which I have written for their instruction.” 13So Moses arose with Joshua his servant, and Moses went up to the mountain of God. 14But to the elders he said, “Wait here for us until we return to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a legal matter, let him approach them.” 15Then Moses went up to the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16The glory of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. 17And to the eyes of the sons of Israel the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountain top. 18Moses entered the midst of the cloud as he went up to the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Reflection on Exodus 24:12–18:

God tells Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and stay there.” Those final words are easy to overlook. Moses knew God had called him, and he knew where he was supposed to go, but knowing God’s direction did not mean everything happened immediately. Moses obeyed, ascended the mountain, and then the cloud covered it for six days. Only on the seventh day did YHWH call to him from the midst of the cloud.

That kind of waiting can be difficult for us. We are often more comfortable when obedience produces immediate movement or visible results. We want the answer, the opportunity, the resolution, or at least the next instruction. When nothing seems to happen, we can begin wondering whether we should do something ourselves to move things along. Yet Moses did not need to manufacture the next step. God had told him to come and stay, so remaining where God had placed him was itself an act of obedience.

There is also an important contrast developing in the story. Moses will remain on the mountain for forty days and forty nights, while Israel below eventually becomes impatient. Their unwillingness to wait contributes to the disastrous decision to make the golden calf in Exodus 32. Moses waited for YHWH to reveal the next step, while Israel decided that Moses—and perhaps God—was taking too long and created its own solution. Impatience can tempt us to do something similar. We may know what God has said, but when His way seems too slow, we begin looking for another path.

This does not mean that every delay in life is specifically God telling us to do nothing, nor should we use “waiting on God” as an excuse to avoid responsibilities He has already made clear. Moses could wait because he had obeyed the instruction he had received. Biblical waiting is not inactivity when God has told us to act; it is faithfulness to what He has already said while trusting Him for what He has not yet revealed.

From Israel’s perspective below, the mountain was covered by a cloud. Yet within that cloud, YHWH was preparing to give Moses detailed instructions that would shape Israel’s worship and reveal how a holy God would dwell among His people. They could not see what God was doing, but that did not mean nothing was happening. The same can be true in our lives. We should be careful not to interpret a lack of visible progress as evidence that God is absent or inactive.

The appearance of YHWH’s glory also reminds us whom Moses was waiting upon. To Israel, “the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountain top.” Moses was not casually waiting for advice from a distant God. He had been invited into the presence of the holy YHWH. As Exodus moves toward the tabernacle, this combination will become increasingly important: God is holy and must be approached as He directs, yet this same holy God desires to dwell among His people and provides the way for them to draw near.

There will be times when God clearly calls us to act, and we should act. But there will also be times when we have faithfully done what He has shown us and simply do not know the next step. In those moments, we do not need to create our own path merely because waiting has become uncomfortable. If God has not yet shown us the next step, faithfulness means continuing to obey what He has already shown us while trusting Him with what comes next.

Application

  • Continue faithfully doing what God has already made clear while you wait for direction about what comes next.
  • Resist the temptation to create your own solution simply because God’s timing seems slower than you would prefer.
  • Do not assume that a lack of visible progress means God is absent or inactive.
  • Ask whether you are truly waiting on God or avoiding something He has already told you to do.

Closing Prayer

Father, help me trust You when Your timing is different from mine. When I have obeyed what You have shown me but cannot yet see the next step, give me patience to remain faithful rather than rushing ahead. Guard me from creating my own solutions simply because waiting has become uncomfortable. At the same time, keep me from using waiting as an excuse when You have already made clear what I should do. Help me trust that You are at work even when I cannot yet see what You are doing, and give me wisdom to move when You call me forward. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

Fear / Reverence for God, Guide, Obeying God, Submitted / Servant

Don’t Just Hear God’s Word—Commit to Live It (Exodus 24:1–11)

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Is your response to God’s Word simply to agree that it is true, or are you committed to actually living according to what He says?

Key Verse

“Then he took the book of the covenant and read it as the people listened; and they said, ‘All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!'” — Exodus 24:7 (NASB)

Background Context

Exodus 24 brings the covenant at Mount Sinai to a significant moment of confirmation. YHWH had already redeemed Israel from slavery before bringing them to Sinai. He then revealed the Ten Commandments and continued explaining how His people were to live.

Now Moses writes down “all the words of the LORD.” He reads the Book of the Covenant to the people, and Israel publicly agrees to obey what God has spoken.

The covenant is then confirmed with blood, followed by a remarkable meal in God’s presence. Redemption had brought Israel not merely out of Egypt, but into covenant relationship with YHWH.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Exodus 24:1–11

People Affirm Their Covenant with God

      1Then He said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel, and you shall worship at a distance. 2“Moses alone, however, shall come near to the LORD, but they shall not come near, nor shall the people come up with him.”

      3Then Moses came and recounted to the people all the words of the LORD and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words which the LORD has spoken we will do!” 4Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Then he arose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. 5He sent young men of the sons of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD. 6Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!” 8So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

      9Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. 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.

Reflection on Exodus 24:1–11:

Twice in this passage Israel makes a strong declaration.

First they say, “All the words which the LORD has spoken we will do!” Later, after Moses reads the Book of the Covenant aloud, they respond again: “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!”

Notice the progression.

They heard God’s Word and then committed themselves to do what He said.

Scripture consistently challenges us not to separate those two things. James later writes, “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves” (James 1:22).

It is possible to study Scripture, agree with Scripture, discuss Scripture, and even defend Scripture while resisting what it tells us to do. God’s Word was never intended merely to increase our knowledge. It should shape how we actually live.

But we should also remember the order of events in Exodus.

Israel did not obey God in order to persuade Him to rescue them from Egypt. He rescued them first. He delivered them from slavery, brought them to Himself, and then taught them how His redeemed people should live.

That pattern matters.

Obedience is not the price we pay to purchase redemption. It is the faithful response of people who have been redeemed.

Then Moses confirms the covenant with blood. Half is sprinkled on the altar, and the other half on the people as Moses declares, “Behold the blood of the covenant.”

The seriousness of covenant is unmistakable. Relationship with a holy God is not casual. Sin and reconciliation carry a cost. This imagery also points us forward to Yeshua, who at the Last Supper spoke of His own blood as “My blood of the covenant” (Matthew 26:28).

Then the passage ends with an extraordinary scene.

Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders ascend the mountain, and Scripture says, “they saw the God of Israel.” Under His feet was something like a pavement of sapphire, “as clear as the sky itself.”

Yet God did not destroy them.

Instead, “they saw God, and they ate and drank.”

The covenant culminates in fellowship.

That helps us see the larger purpose behind everything we have been reading. God did not deliver Israel merely to give them a collection of rules. He was forming a people who belonged to Him and could live in relationship with Him.

The commandments showed them how a redeemed people should walk with a holy God.

The same should shape how we approach God’s Word today. We should not ask merely, What does this passage say? We should also ask:

What has God shown me that I now need to live out?

Because hearing God’s Word is only the beginning. Faithfulness means allowing what He says to change how we live.

Application

  • When you read Scripture, ask not only what it means but what God is calling you to do differently because of it.
  • Remember that obedience is a response to God’s redemption and grace, not a way of earning them.
  • Take your commitment to God seriously rather than treating obedience as optional whenever His instruction becomes inconvenient.
  • Remember that God’s goal is not merely rule-keeping but a redeemed people living faithfully in relationship with Him.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for redeeming me and inviting me into relationship with You. Help me not to be satisfied merely with hearing, studying, or agreeing with Your Word. Show me where I need to put what You have taught me into practice. May my obedience flow from love and gratitude for what You have already done for me. Teach me to take Your Word seriously and to live faithfully as someone who belongs to You. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Knowing, Faithful, Guide, Obeying God

Follow Where God Leads Without Compromise (Exodus 23:20–33)

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Are you asking God to lead you forward while still holding onto things He has told you to leave behind?

Key Verse

“But you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water; and I will remove sickness from your midst.” — Exodus 23:25 (NASB)

Background Context

Beginning in Exodus 20, YHWH spoke the Ten Commandments and then continued with detailed instructions showing Israel how His standards applied to worship, justice, relationships, property, work, rest, and care for others.

Now, as this section draws to a close, God turns Israel’s attention toward what lies ahead.

He promises to send His messenger before them, protect them on their journey, and bring them to the place He has prepared. But God’s promises come with repeated instructions to listen, obey, worship Him alone, and reject the gods of the nations they will encounter.

Israel was being prepared not merely to enter the Promised Land, but to live there faithfully as YHWH’s people.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Reflection on Exodus 23:20–33:

God begins with an extraordinary promise:

“Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.”

Israel did not know everything that waited ahead. There would be enemies, battles, uncertainty, and challenges they could not overcome by their own strength.

But God was already going before them.

That is an encouraging pattern throughout Scripture. God often calls His people forward without showing them every detail of the journey. Our confidence cannot come from knowing exactly what will happen. It comes from knowing who is leading us.

Yet immediately after promising His presence and protection, YHWH says, “Be attentive to him and obey his voice.”

God’s guidance was not an invitation for Israel to choose its own path while expecting Him to bless it. They were expected to listen and follow.

The same principle remains important for us. Sometimes we want God’s direction primarily because we want Him to lead us toward the outcome we have already chosen. Biblical faith asks something different: Where is God leading, and am I willing to follow?

YHWH then gives Israel a serious warning about the people they will encounter:

“You shall not worship their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their deeds.”

Israel’s greatest danger in the land would not ultimately be military weakness. It would be spiritual compromise.

God even warns them not to make covenants with the nations or their gods because “it will be a snare to you.” What initially appeared harmless could gradually draw their allegiance away from YHWH.

Scripture repeatedly shows that this warning was justified. Israel would later struggle precisely because they failed to remove the influences God warned them about. Compromise that seemed manageable eventually became idolatry.

There is wisdom here for us as well.

We sometimes ask, How close can I get to something sinful without actually sinning? God teaches us to ask a better question: Will this draw me toward Him or become a snare that gradually pulls me away?

The passage also contains an interesting detail about how God would give Israel the land:

“I will not drive them out before you in a single year… Little by little I will drive them out from before you.”

God promised victory, but He did not promise instant results.

There was purpose in the delay. If the land became empty too quickly, it would become desolate and wild animals would multiply. God would enlarge Israel’s territory gradually as they became able to possess it.

Sometimes “little by little” is God’s wisdom, not God’s absence.

We may become discouraged when something God is doing takes longer than we expected. But we cannot see everything He sees. Immediate fulfillment is not always the best fulfillment.

Israel’s responsibility was to keep following, keep obeying, reject compromise, and trust YHWH with the pace.

That remains a powerful pattern for us:

Follow where God leads. Obey what He says. Refuse what pulls you away from Him. And don’t mistake gradual progress for God’s failure to act.

Application

  • Follow God’s direction rather than asking Him merely to bless the direction you have already chosen.
  • Identify compromises or influences in your life that could gradually become a spiritual snare, and be willing to remove them.
  • When God’s work seems to be happening “little by little,” trust that His timing may accomplish purposes you cannot yet see.
  • Remember that God’s promises never make obedience irrelevant; continue listening to Him as you move forward.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You that You go before Your people and know what lies ahead long before we do. Help me listen carefully to Your voice and follow where You lead rather than simply asking You to bless my own plans. Give me discernment to recognize compromises that could become snares and courage to remove anything that draws my heart away from You. When progress seems slower than I would choose, help me trust Your wisdom and continue faithfully following You, little by little, wherever You lead. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.