In this episode we continue studying the Book of Exodus. In this episode, God filled Bezaleel and Aholiab and others with His Spirit, to do all manner of workmanship for the building of the tabernacle. They would be stone cutters, carvers of timber, and workers of fine metals. They would also make the priests garments, incense and anointing oil.

These items would be made by the hands of man but all pointed to the tabernacle and furnishings NOT made by the hands of men.

They were also given additional instructions regarding the Sabbath Day. They were told the Sabbath was a sign between them and God. And the penalty for breaking the Sabbath was death.

In numbers chapter 15 verses 32 through 36, we see that a man was killed for breaking the sabbath.

Here’s the text.

Numbers 15:32 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.

Numbers 15:33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.

Numbers 15:34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.

Numbers 15:35 And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.

Numbers 15:36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.

In light of these commandments, and the judgment rendered against the man who gathered sticks;
We can understand why Jewish leaders were so fanatical about the Sabbath.

Yet, Jesus wanted them to relax, they no longer had to be terrorized by the Sabbath because He was Lord of the Sabbath day and had come to bring them rest.

Thayer’s says, lord means, he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding.

Jesus was Lord of the Sabbath and was bringing in a new order, a new way of Sabbath keeping and it was based on grace. Paul tells us about the dispensation of grace in Ephesians chapter 3 verse 2.

Here’s the text:

Ephesians 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward.

So with the coming of Christ a new dispensation began.

Scofield says, A dispensation is a period of time during which man is tested in respect of obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God.

The Cyclopedia says, divine dispensations generally meant those methods or schemes which are devised and pursued by the wisdom and goodness of God, in order to manifest his perfections and will to mankind, for the purpose of their instruction, discipline, reformation, and advancement in rectitude of temper and conduct......

And the writer of Hebrews tells us that divers washings, and carnal ordinances were given, until the time of reformation, that is until the time Jesus the Christ would come.

Here’s the text:

Hebrews 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

A new dispensation began with Christ, a new reformation, a new system that no longer required the Pharisees to perform divers washings, carnal ordinances and strict Sabbath keeping.

Paul once spoke to the church about the Sabbath under the new dispensation, telling them not to let anyone judge them regarding it and other holy days, in Colossians chapter 2 verses 16 and 17.

Here’s the text:

Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

Colossians 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

In this chapter, Moses was also given the two tables of testimony written on stones with the finger of God.

Pharaoh’s magicians mentioned the finger of God in the Old Testament and Jesus mentioned the finger of God in the New Testament.

Jesus said, He cast out devils with the finger of God. Here’s the text:


Luke 11:14 And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.

Luke 11:15 But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.

Luke 11:16 And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.

Luke 11:17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.

Luke 11:18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.

Luke 11:19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.

Luke 11:20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

Luke 11:21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:

Luke 11:22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

Luke 11:23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

The finger of God refers to the power of God and it was by the power of God that Christ cast out devils, and stripped them of their armor.

We note that although they may not have armor, they have wiles, which refers to lies, schemes, craft and trickery.

So Paul told us to put on the whole armor of God in order to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Not only was he stripped of his armor but Jesus said, he has been cast out.

Here's the text:

John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

The hard work has been done, now it is up to us put on the whole armor of God and submit to the author of the New Covenant, who will forgive our sins and write his laws on hearts and mind, so the Lord will be our God and we can be his people, as noted in Hebrews chapter 8 verses 7 through 13.

Hebrews 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

Hebrews 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

Hebrews 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Hebrews 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Hebrews 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.