Exodus 28:15-30 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Exodus 28:15-30. Let’s go!
Exodus 28:15-30 (NIV)
15 “Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions–the work of a skilled craftsman. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen.
16 It is to be square–a span long and a span wide–and folded double.
17 Then mount four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row there shall be a ruby, a topaz and a beryl;
18 in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and an emerald;
19 in the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst;
20 in the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper. Mount them in gold filigree settings.
21 There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.
22 “For the breastpiece make braided chains of pure gold, like a rope.
23 Make two gold rings for it and fasten them to two corners of the breastpiece.
24 Fasten the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the breastpiece,
25 and the other ends of the chains to the two settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front.
26 Make two gold rings and attach them to the other two corners of the breastpiece on the inside edge next to the ephod.
27 Make two more gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the seam just above the waistband of the ephod.
28 The rings of the breastpiece are to be tied to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband, so that the breastpiece will not swing out from the ephod.
29 “Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the LORD.
30 Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the LORD. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the LORD.
On verses 15-30: In these verses the LORD describes the breastpiece that the priest would wear. Like the ephod, this square breastpiece was also made of expensive and excellent material: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen (v15). In addition it was bling-ed out with 12 precious stones representing the 12 tribes of Israel (v17-21). It was also decorated with gold chains and gold rings (v22-28).
Finally, what is “the Urim and the Thummim” which were to be put in the breastpiece over Aaron’s heart? The Urim and the Thummim was a “means of making decisions” (v30) in God’s presence.
Back in Moses’ time, when an important decision had to be made and there wasn’t clear guidance from Scripture or from a prophet as to what God wanted the people to do, the priest would bring the question to God directly in prayer. As part of hearing from God, the priest would bring with him two objects called the Urim and the Thummim. The Urim and Thummim were probably two stones, one light-coloured and the other dark-coloured (“Urim” literally means “lights” and Thummim literally means “darks”). The Urim and Thummim were meant to help the priest discern God’s will on a specific question.
It is not clear how the priest would use the Urim and Thummim. Did he throw them like dice? Did he pray and then pull one of them out of his breast pocket, with one of them representing “yes” and the other “no”? We don’t know. All we know is that the Urim and Thummim were tools that priests used to help them discern God’s will when there was no clear written direction from Scripture and no prophet to speak to the matter on God’s behalf.
What can we learn from this? One of the most important skills you can learn as a Christian is to learn to hear God’s voice when making important decisions.
Why is it that we don’t use the Urim and Thummim today as a means for figuring out God’s will? It’s because God has given us something so much better and more personal than the Urim and Thummim. He has given us His Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is there to guide you in your decision-making. He is there to lead you in the way you should go (Psalm 32:8-10). Jesus calls the Holy Spirit our Counselour, the one who will guide you into all truth (John 16:13).
So when you’re deciding what to do about an important question and there isn’t clear direction from the Bible or your spiritual leaders, bring your question to God directly. Ask Him for His guidance, believe He will answer and listen for His voice. Surrender to His leading. Trust that the Holy Spirit will direct you in the way you should go.
When we consult the Holy Spirit, the same principles apply as when the priests used the Urim and Thummim: we bring the question to God, we believe God will answer, and we surrender ourselves to doing His will no matter what that answer might be. It’s because God knows far better than we do what we should do.
May you learn to rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance and hear His voice speaking to you.
Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us a means for making decisions: Your precious Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, thank You for being my Counselour, for Your willingness to lead me and to help me make right decisions. I pray that that every person reading this GAME sharing would be quick to seek Your counsel, experienced in hearing Your voice and courageous in following Your advice. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
