Having outlined his ten core instructions - core values, now God shows us how he applies these values himself, beginning with blueprints for altars.
God says altars for offerings to him are to be unadorned, undressed stones or earth. They are not to use precious metals, and they are not to place other god-capturing statues on his altar. And they are not to elevate the altar so no steps.
The essences of these instructions seem primarily to distinguish God-worship with worship of idols in the ancient near east culture. God wants no confusion that they way they relate to him is not like the way other people relate to their gods.
On the surface, Christianity looks like any other world religion - there is a spokesperson, there is a code for living, and there are worship rituals. But in Christianity, the centre is not the code or the ritual. Instead, the centre is a friendship with God first. And it is God himself who helps us live the code and the rituals. Jesus comes as God in person make the point, and he rises from the dead to show that he is not just another human being.
We make the confusion if we want God's benefits more than God himself, if we focus on worship rituals more than we worship God himself, and if we pay more attention to God's code more than we attend to God himself.
Write
Think about your faith story: how well do you keep the distinguish between religious code, rituals and benefits, and relationship with God himself?
Presently, what do you find most challenging about keeping God a person?
Who do you know is confusing aderence to code, rituals and benefits with relationship with God himself?
Pray
What
is God saying to you today? What's Good News to you?
Talk to God about your experience of keeping his code and rituals, and keeping him a person. Thank God for the way he relates to you personally, than just hand you a book of code and rituals to follow.
Pray about your present struggle with keeping God personal. Ask God for the help you need, the reassureance of his presence, and the courage to recover intimacy in your relationship with God.
Pray for the person who is confusing code and rituals with God the person. Pray for the wisdom and opportunity to walk with and support your friend.
Pray for an experience of God's love, grace and mercy in the way he offers himself in friendship to you personally, and not just through the keeping of rules and rituals.