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In today's reading—Exodus 30–32—the Altar of Incense is introduced. God gifted certain individuals within the community to make the incense that was to be burned on the altar (Exodus 31:11). This sets the stage for the consequences faced by two individuals that we’ll be reading about in a week's time. Moses wrote in Exodus 30:9,

"You shall not offer unauthorized incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering, and you shall not pour a drink offering on it."

Such a simple command to adhere to, and yet the Old Testament law was given as a lesson for all generations, showing that humanity's inherited sin nature from the fall (Genesis 3) makes it impossible for anyone to meet God's holy standards. God desires a people whose hearts are fully reliant on Him, not those who try to earn His favor through their own efforts. 

The Old Covenant was proof that a paradigm shift was needed—one that would come through Jesus Christ, who ushered in the New Covenant. While God still calls for our obedience, He always desired our hearts more than rigid adherence to the law.

The New Covenant lifted some of the rigid restrictions placed on Israel. One example is the command of the Sabbath given in Exodus 31:12–18. The Jewish people continue to observe the Sabbath today from Friday at sunset until the first three stars appear in the evening sky on Saturday (or about an hour after sunset on a cloudy day). But for Christians, the day of worship shifted to Sunday in 321 AD, when Emperor Constantine designated it in honor of Christ’s resurrection. Paul in Romans 14:5–12 touches on what days we consider holy, and may have been the impetus for Constantines shift. Paul made it clear that the specific day of worship is a matter of personal conviction led by the Holy Spirit. We should never judge someone’s Spirit-led conviction regarding their day of worship. However, we should make gathering a priority because Hebrews 10:25 reminds us not to forsake assembling together for encouragement and spiritual growth.

We get a demonstration of God's desire for a heart that pursues Him more than a people who are all-the-time perfect in the golden calf incident of chapter 32. Moses was on Mount Sinai, receiving the law of God, but he took longer than the Israelites expected. Growing impatient, they demanded that Aaron make them a god—and he did! He crafted the infamous golden calf, and the people worshiped it, crediting it with bringing them out of Egypt. God’s anger burned against the people, but because Moses advocated on their behalf God relented from wiping them out.

An interesting detail in this account is the role of the tribe of Levi. When Moses called for those who would stand with the Lord, the Levites stepped forward. In an act of severe justice, they were commanded to execute judgment on their own people and they killed about 3,000 that day.

Because they sided with the Lord, the Levites were set apart for a special inheritance. Unlike the other tribes, the Levites were never given land as an inheritance—but they received something better: the presence of God Himself. This set them apart as priests, responsible for the Tabernacle and later the Temple. We will talk more about this as we continue through the Old Testament.

Takeaways: God desires obedience from the heart, not just empty rituals—true worship is about loving and following Him rather than merely going through the motions. While sin carries consequences, God's mercy is available through genuine heartfelt confession, as seen when Moses’ prayer changed Israel’s fate, foreshadowing Christ’s role as our advocate before the Father (1 John 2:1–2). Moreover, our greatest inheritance is not material wealth but spiritual intimacy with God, just as the Levites received His presence instead of land—reminding us that our true reward is not earthly success but a deep and abiding relationship with Christ (Psalm 16:5–6). As you reflect on today’s reading, consider: Am I seeking God's heart or just checking religious boxes? Am I trusting His timing, or impatiently taking matters into my own hands? Am I willing to stand on God's side, even when it’s difficult?