Week 4: Instituting the Covenant

Instituting the Covenant: Exodus 30-32

Objective: 

• The Altar of Incense

• The Holy Anointing Oil

• The Incense

• The Sabbath Law

• The Gold Calf

Resources:

• Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
• Catena Bible Commentary
• Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)

Reading:

• Exodus 30: 1-10, 22-38
• Exodus 31: 12-18
• Exodus 32: 1-35

Key verse(s):

• "You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you" Exodus 31:14

Comments:

• Chapter 30 shows that God cares about details and organization. Of course, God accepts any kind of donation/sacrifice. But this shows that our God loves order.
• The Holy Oil represented the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. Only kings, prophets, and priests were anointed. This oil mentioned in chapter 30 is equivalent to our Holy Mayroon in the NT.
• God wanted them to keep the Sabbaths for rest. God wanted them to rest from all work and worldly cares, but they took it literally and rested from all kinds of works (even the good works).
• The people show again their unappreciative nature. Once Moses took a little long on the mountain (while receiving the law for them), they built a gold calf to worship!
• We see Moses' great heart toward his people. Even though they didn’t appreciate what God has been doing with them, Moses' interceded for them in front of God (32:11)

Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions

1. Where was the ALTAR OF INCENSE located? 
2. The perpetual Covenant between God and Israel was what? 
3. Why were the Israelites to observe the Sabbath? 
4. Joshua, who accompanied Moses part of the way up Mount Sinai, heard the Israelites shouting and told Moses what?
5. What did Aaron use to make the molded calf? 
6. What was Moses' reaction when he approached the Israelite camp and saw the calf and the dancing? 

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

1. What must Aaron and his sons wash before approaching THE ALTAR?
   A) hands and feet B) hands and face C) hands D) face
2. The ingredients of the ANNOINTING OIL consisted of ___________.
   A) myrrh and olive oil B) cinnamon C) cane and cassia D) all of these 
3. What would happen to the Israelites who did not observe the Sabbath?
   A) Cut off from among the people B) put to death C) family punished D) couldn’t worship in Tabernacle 
4. Who made the golden idol for the Israelites to worship?
   A) Bezalel B) Moses C) Aaron D) Oholiab
5. 2. The idol was in the shape of a ____________.
   A) angel B) eagle C) dove D) calf