Tag: Israel

Moments and Meeting

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 25:1-11, 17-18, 23-24, 31-32; 26:1-2, 7-8; 27:1-2; 29:43-46 (day five)

What a sight it must have been, God’s presence and glory surrounding Mt. Sinai.  (Chapter 24)  Can you imagine the majesty and magnitude the people both saw and felt?  The human tendency is to ask or question, “When is the next big moment”?  “What will God do next to grab my attention or have the wow factor”?

God’s plan for leading and caring for His People included more than grandiose moments, it included regular meeting.

We see it in the faith development of teens:  depending on God’s power and presence only at events like Camp, Retreats, and Freedom Weekends.  But the teens (adults too) that spiritually thrive, are the ones who understand and discover that faith grows deeper and stronger as they daily encounter the dwelling presence of God, rather than a “mountain top” moment here or there.

43 I will meet there with the sons of Israel, and it shall be consecrated by My glory. 44 I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar;  45 I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God. 46 They shall know that I am the Lord their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the Lord their God.

Come up to the Lord

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 24 (day seven) 

“Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and the seventy elders of Israel.”–v 1.

The Bible speaks of “the upward call of God in Jesus Christ”.  Believers are told, in Colossians, “the keep seeking the things above, where Christ is”.  So, what does it mean when God invites us to “come up”?  It means the great mistake in life is to never let it be great.  We stay stuck, either by distraction or anxiety, in insignificant things that will not matter in 2 months, much less 20 years. It means being too busy to pray, too absorbed with self to reflect on God, too lazy to study and let Holy words call us higher.  Eventually, all of us either attempt to pull God into our affairs, or we hear God’s call to “come up” and get involved in His affairs.  It is grace that invites us.  It is faith that answers His command.

God’s Glory

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 24 (day four)  God is initiating a covenant with Israel.  It is a covenant based on all of the words of the Law that He delivered to Moses.  Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and seventy elders of Israel saw the God of Israel.  What an awesome sight!  Yet, He did not stretch out His hand against them.  When Isaiah received his commission (Isaiah 6), he too saw the Lord.  He was afraid for his life.  It pleased God to give these leaders a glimpse of His glory to inspire them to lead.  What will it take for us to lead?  We have the written Word of God…thousands of years of His working to redeem mankind.  We have the Gospel message…Jesus died for our sins and rose from the grave…paying the full price for our sin.  When we obey the Gospel, we have the Holy Spirit, living within us to give us understanding and power.  We may not have seen the Lord physically, but we have seen His hand at work.  Are we going to lead?

Friendship Restored

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 24 (day one)

“Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders went up and saw the God of Israel. . .and they ate and drank.”–v 9, 11.  It was a friendship restored.  Life as God intended.  Committing themselves to the covenant demands (v 3), and having been sprinkled with the blood of an innocent sacrifice, (v 8), the children of Israel entered into a new relationship with God and all of its privileges.  Through their representatives, they heard testimony of the beauty of Heaven.  They heard the report of feeling welcomed, safe and provided for.  Once again, men ate and drank in the very presence of God without fear or shame.  Leaders were invited into the presence of the Most High to hear “great and mighty things”.  The dream, however,  would soon be shattered. By Exodus 32, a golden calf has been made and worshipped. Bitter consequences came.  What do you think?  In Christ, can our friendship and privileges be restored?

Moral, Civil, Ceremonial

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 21:1-2, 7-17, 22-27; 22:21-31; 23:1-12 (day one)

It is an important point.  God gave the people of Israel three different kinds of law.  Moral law–the Ten Commandments.  Written on stone to symbolize their permanence.  For all people, at all times.  Civil law–laws for the national life of Israel.  Not permanent or universal.  See Acts 10-11 as God convinces Peter to set aside  “kosher” law.  Ceremonial law–guidance for the religious life of Israel.  Feasts and fasts and ceremonies.  No longer binding on Christians, but rich in symbolism and instruction.  Fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  Our RE Verse reading this week deals with civil and ceremonial laws.  Are Christians under these?  No!  Is the Moral law still a permanent revelation of God’s will for us (achieved now by the Spirit)?  Yes! “Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of the Law shall pass away, until all is accomplished.”–Jesus (Matthew 5:18)  Followers of Christ benefit from reading and reflecting on the Law.

Unshaken

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 19:1-12, 16-22 (day four) 

It was a fearsome experience…the children of Israel had never seen anything like it.  The Lord descended on Mt. Sinai with thunder and lightning…smoke and earthquake…trumpet and fire.  The people trembled.  What an awesome display of power!  The writer of Hebrews said, “But you have come to Mount Zion…” (Hebrews 12:18-24)  If you think His warning on earth was fierce, wait until you see His warning from heaven.  You do not want to refuse Him!  (Hebrews 12:25-29)  The earth trembled at Mt. Sinai, but at Mt. Zion, the things that can be shaken will be removed.  The new covenant promises a kingdom that cannot be shaken.  We must serve God with acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.  With gratitude, we serve a holy and omnipotent God!

Preparation

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 19:1-12, 16-22 (day two) 

The Lord also said to Moses,“Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments; and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people”. Exodus 19:10-11

The Lord was on the move and about to establish his law for the nation of Israel, but before he spoke to Moses he commanded that all the people should prepare themselves to hear from him. Preparation for anything like a sports season (Go Cardinals) or an event (wedding, birth, meetings, etc.) helps to minimize surprises and make ready for contingencies. This doesn’t mean things always go to plan, but being ready helps to focus on the event itself. It also helps to bring greater satisfaction. When you are prepared you are able to receive a greater blessing.

How much do we prepare ourselves when we meet each week? What is your expectation for bible study or worship? Spend time consecrating your focus on the Lord and expect to meet him. The blessing will be worth the preparation.

Pastors and Teachers

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 19:1-12, 16-22 (day one) 

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, ‘Go down, warn the people, so that they do not break through to the Lord to gaze, and many of them perish.”–v 21.

“And He gave some as apostles and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers.”—Ephesians 4:11.

One expression of God’s love for the church is to provide leadership.  As Baptist Christ-followers, we believe in the “priesthood of the believer”.  No priest is necessary in order for us to pray.  This does not mean, however, that we do not NEED leaders to teach, strengthen, challenge, correct and warn us.  (One mistake is to make TOO MUCH of leaders.  The other is to make TOO LITTLE.)  Moses is that faithful leader.  He carries the words of God to the people.  Hard words?  Sometimes.  Limits to personal freedom?  Often. “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with great patience and instruction.”—2 Timothy 4:2.

What Is It?

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 15:22-27; 16:1-18 (day four)
Verse 15 – When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was.  And Moses said to them, “It is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat.”  The Israelites knew that God was sending food…they would have meat in the evening and bread in the morning.  When they saw it in the morning though, they did not know what it was.  They didn’t recognize God’s provision.  God later promised them a Messiah…one who would come and save them.  For years they waited and anticipated the arrival of their messiah that would deliver Israel from their oppressors.  A baby was born…maybe He was the one…but He had no army and then He was crucified.  Israel saw the Messiah and said, “What is it?”  They didn’t recognize God’s provision.  How often do we miss God’s provision in our lives simply because it doesn’t look like we expect?

Where are your eyes?

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 14:1-4, 10-31; 15:1-2, 20-21 (day seven)
“As Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel looked up, and behold the Egyptians were marching after them, and became very frightened.”–14:10.

Where are the eyes of your heart focused at this present moment?  On your disappointments or the Lord?  Faith is more than a spiritual technique, but God’s wisdom calls for His people to place our eyes on Him, only Him, always Him.  We call it worship.  Walking on water taught Peter this lesson. (Matthew 14:22-23)  Exodus 14 illustrates the same principle. So long as their eyes were on the Egyptians, they were paralyzed by fear.  When God is large, then our problems are small by comparison. The problem is that our eyes are often focused on the wrong thing or person.  “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling. . .what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.”—Ephesians 1:18-19.