Exodus

Exodus 39: God blesses work under His word

Begin in prayer

Before Moses examines the finished sanctuary work, let us ask God to make His word our measure. Pray that we will rest in Christ’s obedience and answer His grace with faithful service.

For Yahweh takes pleasure in his people. He crowns the humble with salvation.

Psalm 149:4

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Teach us to value faithful obedience over our own approval. Show us Jesus, whose perfect righteousness is the only ground of a sinner’s acceptance. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The workers make Aaron’s holy garments, weaving fine gold wires into the ephod. Onyx shoulder stones and twelve breastplate stones bear the names of Israel’s tribes. They complete the blue robe, its bells and pomegranates, the linen garments and the gold plate declaring holiness to the LORD. The whole tabernacle work is finished according to God’s command. The people bring Moses the tent, its coverings, furnishings, utensils and priestly garments. Moses examines the work, sees that it follows the LORD’s command and blesses them.

As you read Exodus 39, look for the answers:

• Whose names are engraved on the breastplate stones? (verse 14)
• What repeated words describe how the work was done? (verses 1, 5, 7 and 21)
• What does Moses do after examining the finished work? (verse 43)

Reflect together

Key truth

God blesses the worship work His people complete according to His command.

The last work centers on the garments of the priest who will represent Israel before God. Gold is beaten into plates and cut into wires, joining skilled metalwork to weaving in the ephod. The named stones on its shoulders and breastplate keep the tribes before the reader as the priest’s charge. Bells, pomegranates, linen garments and the holy gold plate complete the dress God prescribed. The repeated statement that the work follows His command explains why the detailed making matters. The people bring the finished tent, furnishings and garments to Moses for examination. Moses sees that they have done what the LORD commanded and blesses them. Their obedience prepares the dwelling, while the next chapter must still record God’s own glorious presence. The faithful service points beyond itself to Christ’s perfect obedience, through which His people receive a blessing their imperfect work cannot earn.

How does Exodus 39 show us that God blesses the worship work His people complete according to His command?

The holy garments prepare a priest to represent Israel.

The names are engraved on stones for the shoulders and breastplate. Gold threads, bells and linen follow the pattern already given. The priestly garments serve God’s appointed way of approach, leading toward Christ the perfect representative.

God’s command is the measure of the finished work.

The report repeats that the workers did as the LORD commanded Moses. The people bring all the completed pieces for his examination. Their care honors the God whose presence they await.

Moses blesses the people after seeing their obedience.

He sees that the work follows God’s instruction and gives his blessing. This is the proper answer to their faithful service. Christ’s perfect obedience supplies the lasting righteousness and blessing that sinners cannot earn for themselves.

Memorise

According to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work.

Exodus 39:42

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what part of my obedience am I using as a reason to avoid Christ?

Moses sees the finished work and finds that “they had done it as Yahweh had commanded.” Then he blesses the people. Faithful service is good, and God’s own word supplies its measure.

Our obedience has never been free from sin, so it cannot make us righteous before Him. Jesus obeyed without failure and bore the guilt of His people as He died at the cross. He rose from the dead with their salvation complete. His work is enough to give them a righteous standing that their own efforts could never achieve.

Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. The repentant who rely on His righteousness receive forgiveness and God’s favor. Then serve Him with the care His word deserves. Your work is an answer to grace, and your hope rests in the perfect Savior who has already obeyed for His people.

Parent's note

Tell your children that obedience matters, while Jesus' perfect obedience, death and resurrection alone secure a sinner’s acceptance before God. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for faithful work under His command and the blessing He gives, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love.

John 15:10

Lord, thank You for giving a word by which our work may be judged. Forgive our pride in imperfect obedience. Please turn us to trust the righteousness of Jesus. Make our family careful in what You command and thankful for the grace that comes before our service. Amen.