3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”
This one actually made me chuckle out loud. Then I thought, "good for you, God!" These people seem so skittish, and so forgetful, and easily moved off of the right path.....but just like yesterday, I see a lot of myself in their weakness and actions.
Stay strong in God! Don't let my tiny circumstance influence my perspective on the creator of the universe!
tp
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Exodus 32
When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods[a] who will go before us.
I just find this so hard to wrap my head around. How long was Moses up there? I mean really! I would guess he would have a year or two before the people get anxious, and essentially reprogram themselves. How weak was their faith in the first place? Did they really just wipe God and all they had seen from their memory? And then created something they KNEW couldn't have any real powerl
We people are so weak, its pitiful. My take on this is that I need to stay strong. Even when things appear tough around me. I need to look past my perception and my situation....and remain strong in what I believe.
tp
I just find this so hard to wrap my head around. How long was Moses up there? I mean really! I would guess he would have a year or two before the people get anxious, and essentially reprogram themselves. How weak was their faith in the first place? Did they really just wipe God and all they had seen from their memory? And then created something they KNEW couldn't have any real powerl
We people are so weak, its pitiful. My take on this is that I need to stay strong. Even when things appear tough around me. I need to look past my perception and my situation....and remain strong in what I believe.
tp
Monday, March 25, 2019
Exodus 31
14 “‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people.
I believe, (I'm not sure why....maybe its just what I prefer....hahaha) that this verse pertains to physical labor....which is what most people did in those days. You need a break from it. You can't do it everyday and be healthy. This is one of those rules that is intended to help you out.
Having said that. I think we've taken the Sabbath out of the Sabbath. We have pushed it too far. It has now become a day to rest....and also get caught up on laundry, and finish anything in the yard that I didn't get done on Saturday.
My take from this chapter is as follows:
Work hard to keep the Sabbath as holy. It is a day of rest and recuperation. Spending time with God on that day should be priority number 1.
If the punishment for not following this command is death....it must be pretty serious.
tp
I believe, (I'm not sure why....maybe its just what I prefer....hahaha) that this verse pertains to physical labor....which is what most people did in those days. You need a break from it. You can't do it everyday and be healthy. This is one of those rules that is intended to help you out.
Having said that. I think we've taken the Sabbath out of the Sabbath. We have pushed it too far. It has now become a day to rest....and also get caught up on laundry, and finish anything in the yard that I didn't get done on Saturday.
My take from this chapter is as follows:
Work hard to keep the Sabbath as holy. It is a day of rest and recuperation. Spending time with God on that day should be priority number 1.
If the punishment for not following this command is death....it must be pretty serious.
tp
Friday, March 22, 2019
Exodus 30
https://www.gotquestions.org/acacia-wood.html
Strange take today. I was caught by the first sentence in the chapter....the use of the acacia wood. That seems like a sentence I've read many times. Maybe to the point of, whenever God is telling someone to build something....its always out of acacia wood. I found the link above. It helped me get a little background info. Sounds like that was the wood that was prevalent in that region. But it was also known to be strong and dense...and impervious to insects. Makes sense why it would be the material of choice.
17 Then the Lord said to Moses, 18 “Make a bronze basin, with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. 19 Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. 20 Whenever they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister by presenting a food offering to the Lord, 21 they shall wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.”
This portion of the chapter makes me think of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples at the last supper. The similarity and symbolism are strong.
tp
Strange take today. I was caught by the first sentence in the chapter....the use of the acacia wood. That seems like a sentence I've read many times. Maybe to the point of, whenever God is telling someone to build something....its always out of acacia wood. I found the link above. It helped me get a little background info. Sounds like that was the wood that was prevalent in that region. But it was also known to be strong and dense...and impervious to insects. Makes sense why it would be the material of choice.
17 Then the Lord said to Moses, 18 “Make a bronze basin, with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. 19 Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. 20 Whenever they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister by presenting a food offering to the Lord, 21 they shall wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.”
This portion of the chapter makes me think of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples at the last supper. The similarity and symbolism are strong.
tp
Monday, March 18, 2019
Exodus 29
12 Take some of the bull’s blood and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour out the rest of it at the base of the altar. 13 Then take all the fat on the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, and both kidneys with the fat on them, and burn them on the altar.
38 “This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old. 39 Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight.
This is hard for me to imagine. What a wet, sticky, bloody mess. Sacrificing this much must have looked like something straight out of a horror movie. I usually think of bloody scenes like this being from the dark side....but here it is in black and white. This is what God is commanding them to do.
Make me think about how much I am sacrificing for my relationship with God, on a daily basis. I can tell you its not to this level. Something to keep in mind as move through my day. This is what Christ did for me. He took this need away. But, I need to be more conscious of it.
tp
38 “This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old. 39 Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight.
This is hard for me to imagine. What a wet, sticky, bloody mess. Sacrificing this much must have looked like something straight out of a horror movie. I usually think of bloody scenes like this being from the dark side....but here it is in black and white. This is what God is commanding them to do.
Make me think about how much I am sacrificing for my relationship with God, on a daily basis. I can tell you its not to this level. Something to keep in mind as move through my day. This is what Christ did for me. He took this need away. But, I need to be more conscious of it.
tp
Thursday, March 14, 2019
Exodus 27-28
I read through 2 chapter this morning.....slogging past all the ultra detailed descriptions of the altar, the temple, the courtyard, the ephod, the robe.....looking for a tid-bit to grab onto. I didn't really find it. But, a question does rise up in my mind.
Why is this so descriptive? In my tiny understanding of God, he is more concerned with matters of the heart and mind, and less worried about the outward appearance. Yet here, it is ALL about the outward appearance? Why is that? Why does God care that the altar is 5 cubits wide and 5 cubit long? Doesn't he just care that they are sacrificing from their first fruits? And that they are doing so with a glad heart?
more questions than answers today?
tp
Why is this so descriptive? In my tiny understanding of God, he is more concerned with matters of the heart and mind, and less worried about the outward appearance. Yet here, it is ALL about the outward appearance? Why is that? Why does God care that the altar is 5 cubits wide and 5 cubit long? Doesn't he just care that they are sacrificing from their first fruits? And that they are doing so with a glad heart?
more questions than answers today?
tp
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Exodus 26
31 “Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim woven into it by a skilled worker.
This is the description of the curtain that will be torn when Christ dies on the cross. This is setting up that final ending. The separation between God and man. Here we are describing the boundary between the two caused by sin.
tp
This is the description of the curtain that will be torn when Christ dies on the cross. This is setting up that final ending. The separation between God and man. Here we are describing the boundary between the two caused by sin.
tp
Monday, March 11, 2019
Exodus 25
2 “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give.
Always from a glad heart. It seems that God doesn't ever want us to give him something begrudgingly. There is a lot of specific details to the descriptions in this chapter. From the Ark to lampstand. I just watched the Indiana Jones marathon this weekend. So, I can't read this description without seeing the movie prop in my head.
tp
Always from a glad heart. It seems that God doesn't ever want us to give him something begrudgingly. There is a lot of specific details to the descriptions in this chapter. From the Ark to lampstand. I just watched the Indiana Jones marathon this weekend. So, I can't read this description without seeing the movie prop in my head.
tp
Thursday, March 7, 2019
Exodus 24
7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.”
Well it seems like we are in a period of time when the Israelites have learned lessons and are completely obedient to God. When they do things go well for them. I can't even think this morning what's coming next but I'm guessing slip up in obedience start occurring since we humans have short memories.
also was thinking this morning do the Catholic practices of having a priest come between them and talking directly to God come from the teachings like this in the OT where everything goes through Moses?
Praying for energy, peace and clarity on decisions you have to make moving forward at work.
knut
Well it seems like we are in a period of time when the Israelites have learned lessons and are completely obedient to God. When they do things go well for them. I can't even think this morning what's coming next but I'm guessing slip up in obedience start occurring since we humans have short memories.
also was thinking this morning do the Catholic practices of having a priest come between them and talking directly to God come from the teachings like this in the OT where everything goes through Moses?
Praying for energy, peace and clarity on decisions you have to make moving forward at work.
knut
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Exodus 23
19 “Bring the best of the first fruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God.
“Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.
These chapters are difficult for me to find nuggets to apply to my life. Overall I see being obedient to his direction as key.
This one verse also resonates for me in financial giving but also in just giving of myself and time to him. In giving financially he should get my first 10%+ not just what I feel like I have left over. But as I think about giving my best fruits, he should also get my time when I have energy and passion not just Sunday morning or if I have time available in my day.
knut
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Exodus 22
Another chapter of laws, its difficult to pull out a verse to sink your teeth into and learn from. I did note of all the laws sexual immorality and taking advantage of a widow I believe were the only two with a penalty of death.
it seems as though these are people's laws rather than direct instruction from God. Were they divinely inspired or ideas man came up with trying to follow what they believed God would want?
knut
it seems as though these are people's laws rather than direct instruction from God. Were they divinely inspired or ideas man came up with trying to follow what they believed God would want?
knut
Monday, March 4, 2019
Friday, March 1, 2019
Exodus 20
25 If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it.
Seemed like an odd detail to me for God to care about. As I researched it I found that he also gives related instruction in Deuteronomy. Why? I found lots of opinions but the one that made the most sense to me is how that my change the focus. Instead of focus being on God it may become focused on the beauty that the human is able to create, who can build the best looking altar. His instruction even suggests humans will make it unattractive to him--defile it.
26 And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts may be exposed.’
this one just made me laugh, so since you have no underwear your junk may show. what is this about?
Have a great weekend!
Knut
Seemed like an odd detail to me for God to care about. As I researched it I found that he also gives related instruction in Deuteronomy. Why? I found lots of opinions but the one that made the most sense to me is how that my change the focus. Instead of focus being on God it may become focused on the beauty that the human is able to create, who can build the best looking altar. His instruction even suggests humans will make it unattractive to him--defile it.
26 And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts may be exposed.’
this one just made me laugh, so since you have no underwear your junk may show. what is this about?
Have a great weekend!
Knut
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