Sun.’s Devo - The Atonement

Read: Exodus 34:1-35:9: Matthew 27:15-31; Psalm 33:12-22; Proverbs 9:1-6 God showed his compassion and patient love to Moses by calling him back up the mountain to re-chisel the commandments on new tablets. God called out his name as he approached Moses in a cloud - “Yahweh”. He told him he was full of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry, filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. He would continue to love for thousands of generations and he forgives iniquity, rebellion and sin. But, he does not excuse the guilty and lays their sins upon their children for four generations. Moses laid prostrate on the ground begging God to go with them. God promised to go before them and chase out their enemies. He promised to perform miracles that had never been done on the earth to display his power for them. They were not to make covenants with the other nations or they would end up following their ways and worshipping their gods and it would be a trap to them. They were to remember to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread annually. It was the anniversary of their deliverance. They must buy back the first born of animal and sons of theirs from the Lord. If they didn’t want to buy back their first-born donkey, they were to break its neck. A donkey stood for burdens and stubbornness. Breaking its neck was a sign of breaking that stubbornness and curse of labor. The Sabbath was to be kept and the Festival of Harvest and Festival of the Final Harvest was to be kept. Theses were times of harvest which represented times when souls would come into the kingdom. Moses stayed on the mountain for forty days and nights without food or water. When he came down, his face was radiant and the people were afraid to come near to him. Moses told the elders the new things that God had told him then he put a veil on his face whenever he was in public. He collected materials he would need for the Tabernacle from the people who gave it freely. In Matthew, it was the Passover celebration and Pilate had a tradition where he would release a prisoner from jail during this time. He brought out the most notorious in his jail: Barabas and Jesus. They were the two goats - one would be sacrificed and one would go free. Pilate’s wife sent a message to Pilate about a nightmare she had had warning him not to hurt Jesus. Nevertheless, the people chose to crucify Jesus. Pilate washed his hands in front of them and said that he was innocent of their crime. They Jews shouted that they would take responsibility. Jesus was beaten and taken to the Roman headquarters where they put a scarlet robe on him and a reed in his right hand as a scepter. They mocked him and hailed him as the king of the Jews. They spit on him and terrorized him until they were bored. Then they took the robe off and led him to be crucified. Jesus, thank you for everything you went through for us. Thank you for takin all that mocking and pain to carry our sins on you. Thank you for not calling angels to deliver you but finishing your mission. May we finish our mission on earth bringing glory to you.