Exactness to God’s Commands

Understand why it’s essential to follow God’s orders exactly.

In Exodus 24 – 31, God gave HIS people many commands to help them worship HIM properly. Exactness is absolutely important because it means a lot and affects our relationship with God.

Scope of God’s commands:

1)      Collection of specific offering for the sanctuary

2)      The style of the sanctuary

3)      The ark of the Testimony

4)      The table of the showbread

5)      The gold lampstand

6)      The tabernacle

7)      The altar of burnt offering

8)      The court of the tabernacle

9)      The care of the lampstand

10)  Garments for the priesthood

11)  The breastplate

12)  Other priestly garments

13)  Consecration of Aaron and his sons

14)  The altar of Incense

15)  The ransom money

16)  The Bronze layer

17)  The holy anointing oil

18)  Incense

19)  Artisans for building the tabernacle

20)  The Sabbath law

God’s commands gave specific details on each requirement. Humans have no right to make any change without HIS consent. The specifications have control over the following areas:

1)      Materials

2)      Colors

3)      Measurements

4)      Styles (e.g. two cherubim of gold at the two ends of the mercy seat…)

5)      How to make it (e.g. incense)

6)      Special care and handling (e.g. the burning of the lamp continuously)

7)      Obligatory laws, practices and arrangements (e.g. for the priests and the non-priests)

8)      Quantity (e.g. the amount of the ransom money)

Why God introduces such strict requirements? Man’s faithful executions carry significant meanings and HE wants us to learn important lessons.

Importance to obey God exactly:

1)      Exactness strengthens our belief in the LORD as HE knows what the best is for us.

2)      God’s will comes first. It brings forth unity. We shouldn’t act according to our own will to sin and drift away from God.

3)      We serve and respect God wholeheartedly.

4)      Full accuracy helps us learn to love, obey and trust God entirely.

5)      God will help us stretch our ability for HIS approved projects. For example, HE filled people with spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship.

6)      HIS people would have to cooperate, work together as one.

7)      Exactness ensures us to treat God’s laws and requirements properly, e.g. the priest’s duty, power and responsibilities.

8)      Meticulous care is required as some practices could endow things to become hallowed because the instructions are given by the Almighty LORD. For example, priest’s holy garment, and holy food.

9)      Avoid death penalty. For example, in Exodus 30:20, wash one’s hands and feet with water is a must.

Keep God’s commands precisely is an important education to man. We ought to learn full obedience and loyalty to the LORD, devoting our consistency and persistence to serve God heartily, the only way we can return love to HIM.

Let’s pray to God:

Dear God, help us deny the self and fulfill all the details of Your instructions, obey You faithfully and keep all Your commands without hesitation, carelessness and casualness. Amen.