Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 39:8-21 which covers the construction of the breastplate. Here is a link to this Scripture – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+39&version=NASB
I quote the following verses.
“8 He made the breastpiece, the work of a skillful workman, like the workmanship of the ephod: of gold and of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen. 9 It was square; they made the breastpiece folded double, a span long and a span wide when folded double. 10 And they mounted four rows of stones on it. The first row was a row of ruby, topaz, and emerald; 11 and the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire and a diamond; 12 and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; 13 and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They were set in gold filigree settings when they were mounted. 14 The stones were corresponding to the names of the sons of Israel; they were twelve, corresponding to their names, engraved with the engravings of a signet, each with its name for the twelve tribes.” Exodus 39:8-14.
———————-
“4 “Since you are precious in My sight,
Since you are honored and I love you,
I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.
5 “Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
And gather you from the west.
6 “I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring My sons from afar
And My daughters from the ends of the earth,
7 Everyone who is called by My name,
And whom I have created for My glory,
Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.” Isaiah 43:4-7.
I have a “psycho” dog named Rush. Rush is a German Short-Haired Pointer, full of energy. He is 10 months old, still a puppy, still growing, but big enough to cause havoc.
When I open his cage in the morning after he whines to be let out, he backs up to the back of the cage making me reach in to pull him out. As I pull him out, he nips at me.
He does the same thing when outside, and he jumps against our glass sliding door to be let in. As I open the sliding glass door, he backs up just out of my reach and then he runs away from me. The process continues. Finally, he gets close enough where I can reach him, and he nips at me.
When I take him for a walk, he has a harness and I have a harness. It is like trying to hold on to the tale of a tiger who wants to run everywhere at once.
But, on my computer, I have a cute desktop photo of Rush when we brought him home at 8 weeks old. And, rather than getting rid of Rush, that photo gets me through another day.
I think the principle is the same. When the priest presented himself to make sacrifice for the sins of the people of Israel, God would see the breastplate with all the jewels representing the tribes of Israel.
Israel may be “psycho” like Rush, but they are His chosen people and are precious in His sight, and they would be forgiven.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 