Hello and welcome to today’s exciting Bible study on Exodus 29, Exodus 30, and Exodus 31. In these chapters, we will read and study about consecration of Aaron and his sons, the altar of incense and the holy anointing oil, the chosen artisans and Sabbath day. According to biblical scholars, the events of Exodus 29, Exodus 30, and Exodus 31 occurred around 1446 B.C.
As usual, I encourage you to turn to Exodus 29, Exodus 30, and Exodus 31 in your Bible. Kindly invite the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read and study these chapters with me. I mention this in all the Bible Studies because it is only through the Holy Spirit that we get fresh revelation and knowledge to understand the word of God. No one else can teach you better than the Holy Spirit Himself. I am using the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, just in case you want to know.
Backstory on Exodus 28
In Exodus 28, God provided instructions to Moses for the preparation of the priestly garments. These garments included the Ephod, the breastplate, the turban engraved with the words “Holiness to the Lord,” as well as tunics and sashes. Aaron was designated as the high priest. Also, Aaron’s sons were also appointed to serve as priests before the Lord. God chose Aaron and his entire lineage for the priesthood.
Now, without any further delay, let us study together and learn what Exodus 29,30, and 31 are about, shall we?
Exodus 29, Exodus 30, Exodus 31 Summary
God instructed Moses on how to consecrate Aaron and his sons as priests for the service of the Lord. Moses was to bring a young bull and two rams, all without blemish. The bull was designated as the sin offering, one ram was to be a burnt offering, and the other ram was to serve as the ram of consecration.
The Lord also provided details about the wave offering and the heave offering. Aaron and his sons were to eat the flesh of the ram of consecration along with the bread from the basket placed by the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
Additionally, the Lord instructed Moses regarding the daily offerings. He promised to meet the children of Israel and declared that the tabernacle would be sanctified by His glory. Furthermore, He assured Moses that He Himself would consecrate the tabernacle of meeting, the altar, and Aaron and his sons. Ultimately, He promised to dwell among the Israelites and to be their God.
Altar of incense
The Lord instructed Moses on how to construct the altar of incense. This altar was to be placed in front of the veil that separates the altar from the Ark of the Testimony and its mercy seat, where the Lord would meet with Moses. Aaron was to burn incense on it every morning and at twilight. This was to be a perpetual incense offering before the Lord for all generations. No strange incense, burnt offerings, grain offerings, or drink offerings were to be placed on the altar of incense. Additionally, once a year, Aaron was to make atonement on the horns of the incense altar. This altar is considered the most holy to the Lord.
The ransom money
The Lord provided instructions about the ransom money that the children of Israel were required to give during a census, to prevent a plague from coming over them. Each man, regardless of wealth, who was twenty years old or older, was to contribute half a shekel as atonement money.
The bronze laver
A bronze laver was to be created for Aaron and his sons. They were instructed wash their hands and feet in water from the bronze laver before entering the tabernacle of meeting or approaching the altar to serve. This washing was necessary to avoid death. This practice was to be an eternal statute for Aaron and his descendants. The bronze laver was to be positioned between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar.
The holy anointing oil
The holy anointing oil was to be prepared according to the specific instructions given by the Lord. It was to be used to anoint the tabernacle of meeting, the ark of the Testimony, the table, the lampstand, and all their utensils, including the altar of incense. This holy anointing oil was not to be poured on anyone’s flesh, and nothing similar was to be made for personal use.
Lastly, the Lord instructed Moses on the composition of the incense to be prepared. He made it clear that no man was to create anything like it.
The Lord chose Bezalel from the tribe of Judah, filling him with His Spirit and wisdom for craftsmanship. He was responsible for artistic works in gold, silver, bronze, and precious stones, and was to be assisted by Aholiab from the tribe of Dan and other skilled artisans. Together, they were to create the tabernacle, the Ark of the Testimony, the golden lampstand, the table and their various utensils, the altar of incense and burnt offering, the bronze laver and its base and all the priestly garments.
The Lord also stressed the importance of keeping the Sabbath as a holy day. There were severe consequences for those who profaned it. People were to work for six days and rest on the seventh day. The Sabbath serves as a sign between God and the Israelites, as in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day, He rested and was refreshed.
After communicating all of this to Moses, the Lord gave him two tablets of the Testimony, which were stone tablets written by the finger of God Himself.
Exodus 29, Exodus 30, Exodus 31 Commentary
1. Exodus 29:10-14
The bull represents the sin offering. Aaron and his sons placed their hands on the head of the bull, probably symbolizing the transfer of sins to the animal. The bull served as atonement for their sins.
2. Exodus 29:31-33
The flesh of the ram used for consecration was to be boiled and eaten by Aaron and his sons. They were also instructed to eat the bread that was in the basket. They were to consume these items with which the atonement was made to consecrate and sanctify themselves. This practice is reminiscent of what Jesus asked us to do: “You shall have no part of me until you eat my flesh and drink my blood” (John 6:53). He is our atonement and the bread of life, similar to the bread that was in the basket. When we partake in this, we become priests unto God, ministering to Him with our praises and adoration. Through Jesus Christ, we are consecrated and sanctified.
3. Exodus 29:45
God’s plan was to always dwell among His children to reveal Himself as their Lord.
4. Exodus 30:7-10
The sweet incense signifies praise, worship, and prayer that we offer to God perpetually in a state of thanksgiving. Aaron had to make atonement upon the horns of the altar of incense but thank God for Jesus that our atonement has been made by Jesus. Because of His finished work, we as born-again believers can approach God day and night with our prayers.
5. Exodus 30:11-16
The ransom money for every adult male over the age of 20 had to be collected during the census to avoid the consequences of a plague. Why was this important? Well, from my research, I have found that in ancient times, when a king or someone in power conducted a census (a count of their possessions), it implied ownership over those counted. Therefore, the Israelites were required to pay half a shekel to signify that they were not owned by the person conducting the census, but belonged to God alone. The biblical half shekel is approximately 8 grams of silver, which I’ve learned is roughly equivalent to 5 US dollars. Later, this half shekel became a temple tax that everyone was required to pay.
There is something noteworthy about this: the people of Israel used the half shekel as atonement, serving as ransom money for themselves. How does this relate to us today? Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price (the ransom) for us with His life and blood. This is the highest spiritual currency ever, which is why we say we have been brought with a price by His blood and now we belong to Him forever.
6. Exodus 30:22-33
The Holy Anointing Oil represents the Holy Spirit. The anointing of God comes through His Spirit, as demonstrated when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him. It was only after this that Jesus began His ministry. Everything He accomplished was done with the anointing of the Holy Spirit of God. This is the true meaning behind the anointing oil we use to bless our homes. The power does not reside in the oil itself; rather, the oil serves as a representation of the Holy Spirit, and the true power lies in your faith.
God instructed Moses that the Holy Anointing Oil must not be replicated in any way. The Holy Spirit cannot be duplicated; He is not merely a bird (the dove). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Living God, the Creator Himself. He accomplishes the Word of God. The Word and the Spirit always work together. This dynamic is evident in Jesus’s ministry, where we see the Word of God (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit working together in harmony all through Jesus’s ministry. And it is the same way now when we use the word of the God.
7. Exodus 31:1-6
The Lord specifically chose Bezalel and Aholiab for artistic works, filling them with His Spirit. It’s important to recognize that God’s Spirit operates not only in prophets, apostles, or evangelists. God is inherently creative and empowers those whom He has called to the creative fields with His Spirit, wisdom, understanding, and skills in their craft. Everyone has a unique role to play in God’s Kingdom. Not everyone is called to be an apostle, prophet, or evangelist. While those roles may seem impressive, being a Spirit-filled artist or businessman is also valuable and impressive!
8. Exodus 31:12-17
The Sabbath day was very important to God, as emphasized throughout the chapters in Exodus. It is designated as a day of rest. God consistently urged His creation to rest completely for their own well-being. He wanted the Israelites to imitate Him in this aspect; just as He created the world in six days and rested on the seventh, He wanted them to work for six days and rest on the seventh day as well.
If we were to follow what God does and says, our lives would be so much more easier and joyful.
Exodus 29,30, and 31 Lessons/ Revelations
What can we learn from Exodus 29, 30, and 31?
1. We don’t belong to any man but we belong to God
No man can buy us. We belong to no man. We don’t need to pay any ransom money like the Israelites did in Exodus 30. As mentioned before, we have already been purchased at the highest price ever, which is the blood of Jesus, and we belong to God. The very truth that God alone is our Creator makes us His. He owns the silver and gold and the cattle on a thousand hills, and He owns us. We didn’t create ourselves; our parents didn’t create us either. They merely provided a conducive environment for our bodies to grow in our mothers’ womb, but we were created by God. Our life comes from God, not from our parents. While our bodies came from our parents, they were also intricately knitted together by God, and our lives are a gift from Him alone!
And when you become a born-again believer, you are choosing to belong to Him.
2. Follow God and His word and be led by His Spirit
It is essential for us as humans to take time to rest. While God talks about the Sabbath rest in Exodus 31, observing the Sabbath day is not an obligation for us as Gentile believers. However, rest is crucial for our well-being. Taking an entire day to just relax is vital for our existence. Moreover, we can find rest every day in the finished work of the Lord Jesus. He proclaimed, “It is finished” on the cross. We don’t need to constantly strive and hustle; it’s perfectly okay and important to rest. We are to follow His instructions and do what He tells us to do to stay in His will because it is all for our good.
3. We don’t need any rituals to meet with God
Aaron and his sons had to adhere to a specific set of rules. They were required to wash themselves with water at the bronze laver (Exodus 30) before meeting with God in the tabernacle. As believers, we understand that we are already cleansed by the word of God, which is Jesus Christ, and made pure by His blood. This means we can approach God through Jesus Christ without needing any additional rituals or rules. His Spirit resides within every born-again believer, making Him accessible to us at all times.
4. We are consecrated and sanctified by the blood of Jesus (atonement)
After Aaron and his sons followed specific rituals, the Lord Himself consecrated and sanctified them and dwelt among them according to Exodus 29. It is the same for us as believers. He has done everything for us; we just need to live in it. When we were reconciled with Him through His Son Jesus Christ, He performed our consecration and sanctification.
All we have to do is believe in Him and in His Son, whom He sent as a ransom for our sins, and accept Him truly as our Lord and Savior. The rest of the work is done by Him alone. That is why we cannot boast; we cannot save ourselves. He is the one who does the saving. What a wonderful, kind, and gracious God we serve, who cares so much about us! He promised to dwell among the Israelites in the tabernacle, and for us as born-again believers, He dwells inside us through His Spirit – The Holy Spirit.
Conclusion
This concludes the bible study on Exodus 29, Exodus 30, and Exodus 31. I hope you enjoyed this free bible study and found it helpful in your Bible study journey. Feel free to share it with your friends and family. Also, share your thoughts and what the Holy Spirit has revealed to you about Exodus 29, Exodus 30, and Exodus 31. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Until next time!