Austin Chinese Church

How do you respond when you receive incredible mercy? Do you know how much you need it? Or is mercy only for other “sinners”? Coming home involves recognizing that we need mercy and that we have mercy.

After the episode with the golden calf, Moses pleads with God not to send Israel forward without His presence. Chapter 33 reminds us that God’s presence is what sets His people apart and gives them courage for the journey ahead. Because true security ultimately comes from God’s presence, not His provisions.

Exodus 32 tells the sobering story of Israel trading the glory of the living God for the glitter of a golden calf. What looked impressive on the outside was empty on the inside: beautiful, shiny, and worthless. In their impatience and fear, God’s people built a substitute god that could never save them. We may not melt down jewelry today, but our hearts are still tempted to chase golden idols of success, security, and self. This passage calls us to recognize the false gods we fashion and return to the only God who is worthy of our worship, the One who cannot be replaced.

God not only calls His people to serve Him with skill, excellence, and Spirit-filled devotion, but He also commands them to rest in Him with trust and obedience. In Exodus 31 we see the balance of sacred work and sacred rest: Bezalel and Oholiab are filled with the Spirit for service, while the Sabbath is given as a covenant sign of God’s presence. Our lives, too, are meant to reflect this holy rhythm, working unto the Lord with all He provides, and resting in His covenant grace.

Exodus 30 shows that God’s dwelling was to be filled with the fragrance of worship: incense, cleansing, and consecration. In Christ, we are called to be his fragrant dwelling, washed, set apart, and offering lives of devotion to him alone.

In Exodus 29, God instructs Moses about consecrating Aaron and his sons so that they can serve Him as priests, and about different kinds of sacrifices that they are to offer. In return, God promises to dwell amongst His people and be their God. The good news for us today is that Jesus is both the perfect priest and the perfect sacrifice for our sin. Through the cross, Jesus has consecrated us so that we might know Him and make Him known.

When God instructed Moses to clothe Aaron in garments “for glory and for beauty,” he wasn’t making a fashion statement; he was revealing something deeper. In Exodus 28 we’ll explore the sacred meaning behind the high priest’s elaborate attire and what it teaches us about identity, representation, and holiness. Why did God care so much about what the priest wore? And what does it mean for us today to be “clothed in Christ”? Let us discover together how God dresses his people, not to impress others, but to reflect his glory.

In Exodus 27, God continues to provide His people with instructions to build and maintain the Tabernacle. These passages reveal God’s character and show how He made a way for people to be close to Him. It also reminds us of how we, as God’s people, are to shine His light and share His love with the world.

What if the Creator of the universe decided to move in next door? In Exodus 25, God commands his people to build a sanctuary, not because he needs shelter, but because he longs to dwell with them. This isn’t just ancient architecture; it’s a divine invitation. “God’s Moving Day” reminds us that he is not distant or detached. He’s a God who draws near, who sets up camp in the middle of our messy lives, and who desires to be at the center of our worship. From the Ark to the Table to the Lampstand, each detail points to a deeper truth: God is moving toward us. The only question is—will we make room?

Having received God’s commandments and the principles that apply to every facet of life, the Israelites are invited to worship God in the very first public worship service. God rescued them so they could learn to worship Him with everything they are and have. While encountering God can render us speechless, we are unable to fully see God’s glory leaving us to wander from Him. We need someone better than Moses, something better than the Law to fully experience communion with the Lord at his table.