Chapters 28-31

Exodus 28:30 - Urim and Thummim were early ways to inquire of the Lord. Power to inquire of the Lord was given through Moses to the high priest. There is much debate over exactly how the Urim and Thummin operated. Some say it was two stones with similar markings on both sides representing yes and no. When the stones were cast, if both were yes, that was the Lord's answer. If both were no, then it was no. If it was mixed, no answer was considered as given. There are other theories as well. However, the interesting point is that there was indeed three main ways for people to hear from the Lord: Dreams, prophets, and Urim-Thummim (see 1 Samuel 28:6). The Urim (for short) could be the basis of, what later came into use, the lot. The disciples used the lot to choose the replacement for Judas. However, scholars believe that the lot had failed as a mode of divine communication at that point, because the one they chose by lot was never heard of again in the Scriptures. Most scholars believe that Paul was God's chosen replacement for Judas. Indeed, when the twelve are seen in heaven, it would be hard to imagine Paul not being among their numbers. I do not believe we can trust the lot anymore. There is certainly no Urim to consult either. The Lord has not left us without guidance. Acceptable means of determining the Lord's will are: Dreams, visions, prophetic words (through other people, acknowledged as such or not), and the Holy Spirit speaking into your spirit either in prayer or by applying something in the Scriptures or other sources to your situation.

Exodus 28:33 - Pomegranates are a fruit not native to the land of Israel, but rather imported from the east. There is no clear teaching on why the Lord would include embroidered images of these on the hem of the high priest's robes. Many ancient near-eastern religions make use of the symbol, and it was widely depicted for fertility and vitality. When the shell is breached, there are little seed packets that contain a sweet juice. This juice is used in a variety of dishes and drinks.
It is unlikely that the Lord was making the pomegranate a "sacred" symbol because Solomon used it (in the Song of Songs) as a romantic and sexual imagery of the temples (on the forehead, 4:3 and 6:7). To use a sacred symbol in such a romantic/sexual way would be desecration. Instead, it is more likely that the Lord meant it as a symbol of life. He was not injecting more meaning into the symbol, but rather making use of the meaning already inherent to it.

Exodus 28:35 - Many say that the bells the priest wore were to signal if he was killed by the Lord while ministering. They would hear the ring when he fell to the ground dead, and would then pull him out by a rope tied around his foot. I can find no support for this view in the text nor in the Jewish commentary on the subject. The Israelites have believed no more than what the text indicates: "its [the bells] thinking may be heard when he enters and leaves the holy place before the Lord, that he may not die." The Scripture points to the purpose of these bells not to indicate that he is dead, but to keep him from becoming that way. This is an example of how error is perpetuated. We must guard our scholarship and not take for granted the things we are told. Well-meaning people can lead us astray by a faulty memory, misunderstanding of the text, or hunches that are misguided or un-informed.

Exodus 31:2&6 - The Lord had given Moses an incredible task of making a sanctuary for Himself. Could Moses have done it all himself? Perhaps in 30 years. But when the Lord wants something done, He works to accomplish it. In these two verses, the Lord has called by name the workers to do the craftsmanship. He gave them the skill; then He called them to the work. Some may feel like Moses - that the Lord has given you a task to do that is impossible to do alone. The only problem is, He has not sent Bezalel or Oholiab to help. There are only two possible reasons and both are difficult: (1) The Lord really did not give you the task to do. Rather, it was a fabrication of your mind mingled with desires of your heart. (2) The more difficult alternative is that the Lord wants you to wait and be patient until His timing is right. I was reading recently about an evangelist whom was being equated with Billy Graham. This evangelist said he never presumed to fill Graham's shoes. "It would take 100 people to do the things that Billy Graham has done." This evangelist is correct. Graham could never have accomplished those things unless he had 100 plus committed and skilled co-laborers. This evangelist was wrong too. He presumed that Graham did it all himself, which is emphatically not true. The Lord sent him skilled workers to carry out the vision God had given him. In that way, Graham was a Moses-like figure: Receiving the visions, receiving the workers, and seeing it through to completion.