Do You Remember?

Scripture: Exodus 34:23, "Three times in the year all your men shall appear before the Lord, the Lord God of Israel."

Observation: God was so wise to institute recurring reminders into the daily life of the Israelites.

These three reminders were specifically designed for the men. Men are the ordained leaders of mankind. God has never changed that. He has always elevated the value of women to a greater extent than do all of the surrounding societies (even in our American society, but that is a topic for another journal). They are, after all, made in God's image; they are God's image-bearers. However, men have been given the responsibility of primary leadership. Fortunately, God has not left us to carry that burden alone.

The constant reminders were put in place to bring the men back to God in order for them to recognize their need for aid, grace, mercy and wisdom, and for them to repent, offer sacrifices, and praise God. A nation led by men, who are at all levels of civil and religious life submitted to God, will be successful, secure, and sanctified.

There were three feasts to be observed and attended annually by all men: the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Ingathering. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is also Passover (Easter), the Feast of Weeks is also known as Pentecost, and the Feast of Ingathering, or Sukkot, takes place on the 15th of the Hebrew month Tishri, which usually occurs in late September or early October. Each of these feasts served to remind the nation of the deliverance from Egypt the people had received and the future coming of Messiah and the future and final deliverance from sin when Jesus returns again.

Application:
1. The importance of being reminded of my need for God, of His amazing works, and of His endless love for me cannot be underestimated. Continue daily Bible studies with my family. Continue consistent daily time with God. Meet with the Church to be reminded and to remind others.

2. The importance of men standing up before God and on behalf of their family and society cannot be underestimate. Do not shrink back. Get my confidence from God, and share that confidence with those needing it.

Prayer: Lord, please continue to remind me of my need for you. Please draw me closer to you. It's you that I need. You are in control and I trust your plans for my family and me. I love you. Amen.

Are You the Kid Pleased with the Mud, or Are You the Prince or Princess at the Hand of the King?

Scripture: Exodus 33:17, 18, "So the Lord said to Moses, "[I will go up with you as] you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know You by name." And [Moses] said, "Please, show me Your glory."

Observation:
There really is much to see in this passage (these verses and the surrounding ones as well). The last time through these chapters I wrote about the same passage; only there the Lord was showing me more in the concept of Moses' reaction to seeing the "glory" that he request to see in verse 18. Today I am impressed by the simple act of asking for more from God.

In these verses Moses passes a critical point in his relationship with God. Obviously this isn't a clearly delineated progression, but Moses reaches the point where he is not satisfied with servitude and has pressed in toward son-ship.

I think of my own relationship with my kids. I am extremely proud of them when they seek so diligently to obey. It reveals the state od their heart. I am even more proud (and flattered) when they want to be with me. It reveals the state of my heart. But the pinnacle of our relationship is when they desire to know me. This is the father-child relationship that goes beyond and surpasses outward obedience (that is for servants) and the protection of a presence (that is for stewardship) to the closeness of relationship (that is for a loving father and loving children). That is what Moses had come to desire.

Application:
Such a level of relating is only available with the God of the Bible. It is found nowhere in Native American spirituality. It is absent from Islam and Hinduism. It is lacking in tribal religions and cults. It is lost in the false intelligence of atheism and materialism.

Pursue this. Leave behind the Law, obedience, and simple awareness of God as an end goal. Set my heart to know God, for he has designed the world and the map of all of history that we might reach that destination. As I read through Moses' life it is almost as if we can see that with each passing encounter with God Moses increasingly thirsts for more of God and soon finds that God's endless being is ever satisfying and never exhausted in its glory and wonder.

With what will I be satisfied?

Prayer:
My failure is to settle for less than you. I've so often made an idol out of obedience. Instead of being a side note or just a piece of the journey, I have made it the goal. I've replaced you with it and thereby created an idol with which to satiate my guilt. Damn self-righteousness!

And I don't want to be happy just by knowing you are with me. If that is the peak of this relationship, then you will be to me no more than a set of armor, a food panty, and a tool shed. No! My soul will be satisfied with nothing less than to know you--to know as much as I can about your wonder, beauty, faithfulness, mercy and on and on eternally. I love you. I feel inadequate and naïve saying that, but what else can I say? I am just a man. You are incomprehensible and yet you have made yourself apprehensible. My intelligence and my words fail me. May I learn to truly treasure you. Amen.

Just Use The Ordinary Stuff and It'll Become An Extraordinary Thing

Scripture: Exodus 20:24-26 "An altar of earth you shall make for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I record My name I will come to you, and I will bless you. And if you make Me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone; for if you use your tool on it, you have profaned it. Nor shall you go up by steps to My altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed on it."

Observation: These things are really about my heart. The emphasis in Exodus has been on the glory and holiness of God. As He was creating a nation for himself, God made it clear that his holiness is such that we must address him and meet with him rightly. Anything less is going to be an offense to his being.

Why not use tools on the stones of the alter? I think because, frankly, any effort on my part to create something that depicts God or that somehow enhances the offering that is brought by beautifying the alter would fall (infinitely) short of displaying God or would be distracting and, like he said, be an occasion for sin.

Building stairs is the same. My "nakedness" is shown by my effort to enhance my offering by unnaturally raising myself to give my offering. Give the offering "down on the ground" where I actually am (spiritually speaking).

Application: God is more honored by my humble repentance and confession of sin than by an empty but pretty presentation (Prov. 20:3; Ps. 51:16, 17). Remember why I am doing things in service to God and in the "living sacrifice" things that I do during my day. Then only will it really be an offering and glory to God.

Prayer: Father, I think I make such efforts to enhance appearances because I so often feel the weight of sin-guilt and my true humbled state. I try to hide it or to make restitution.  But all that is just another offense to you because Jesus has already paid that debt. May I rest in what you have done through Jesus. I love you. Amen.

No "I" in "TEAM"

Scripture: Exodus 17:3 "And the [Israelites] thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, "Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst."

Observation: This is almost verbatim the complaint that the people had against Moses in Chapter 16, verse 3 about the lack of food. The complaint was from the followers against the leader(s).

Application:
1. There is no honoring of God in backbiting and attacking authorities in my life. If God has placed all authorities in their positions (Romans 13), then, even though I need to implore those leaders to be righteous, I should trust and not complain or gossip.

2. The above point is applicable to leaders at all levels, but there is more application to those leaders that are geographically, spiritually, and relationally nearer to me. In those instances, (e.g. work, family, and the church) first I should think, "We are on the same team." Second, those leaders are earnestly trying to follow the Lord, and my present needs and desires are rarely most important. I need to think humbly and, with servant eyes, inquire about what I can do for them.

3. Trust God in all things (Matthew 6). Seek him consistently to walk closer with him and all will be well. Even if not is "all well," to have God is to have everything.

Prayer: Father, your word humbles me every time I read it humbly. I love you and need you to teach me to be like Christ. Holy Spirit, please sanctify this broken man, work in me, and speak to me in all my times of need. Jesus, I'm yours because you have given yourself entirely for me and to me. Who could imagine a God who serves and reigns at the same time?! I love you and need you. Amen.

Missing The Point and Missing The End

Scripture: Exodus 14:12 "Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, 'Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness."

Observation: The Israelites' attitude raise questions for me.

1. What would it take to desire death more than slavery? What would my thoughts on slavery to sin need to include for me to choose death in freedom over life in shackles?

2. The larger story of the Exodus obviously means for the attitudes of the Israelites to be viewed as unfaithful to God and as wrong. What did these people know about God? What did they not know about him that would cause them to doubt his love, care and protection?

3. Faith in God can in large part be defined as trusting God at his word. In this the Exodus generation failed, with few exceptions, and therefore failed to inherit the promised land and the eternal promise of life. Can we possibly call our doubt and complaining against God and our disobedience to his written word and will "faith" and expect to inherit eternal life?

Application: I often look at the "bigger" and, in a way, easier visible accomplishments with pride and consider myself faithful to God. In truth, I focus on those things and ignore or gloss over the simple but more necessary commands of daily life like mercy, patience, love, kindness, self-control, self-sacrifice, abstinence from evil, etc. Which does God emphasize? Proverbs 21:3 tells me.

Prayer: I can only ask for mercy and grace. Holy Spirit, transform me to the image of Christ. Make me humble and obedient to you. I love you, God. Amen.

The Scariness of Hope

Scripture: Exodus 12:12, 13 "For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt."

Observation: There's an obvious parallel between the pending judgment on Egypt and the blood on the Hebrew's homes with the future Great White Throne judgment and those that have the blood of the Lamb of God (detailed in Revelation 20:11-15), but I'm not sure that I have the wisdom to draw it out very well.

It may be better to contrast than to compare:
1. At the heavenly judgment, God won't be coming to us to visit wrath on us; we will go to him (Rev. 20:12).

2. At the White Throne judgment I won't be responsible for killing the Lamb that will save me from my just punishment; God has already done that. He did it for His purposes and for our good.

3. I won't be responsible for spreading the blood on the doorpost; God already marked with the Lamb's blood those who will be passed over.

4. The first judgment was limited to the first born; the second will come upon everyone.

5. The earthly Passover brought physical, temporal relief and joy; the heavenly Passover brings spiritual, permanent grace and joy. It will last forever and it will be beyond our imagination.

You see, God really is for us. Many have a difficult time even thinking about the judgment that God enacted in Biblical narratives. The rejections of it I've most often heard have most to do with fairness or justness. By rejecting God for that reason, a person is making a couple assertions: (1) God has a responsibility to respect the person's "right" to understand God's motivations and purposes, and (2) that person claims, at least if it a rationalization for rejection of God, to be judge over God. "God, you better explain yourself to my satisfaction, or I cannot and will not serve you."

But all the while, that person has missed the open hand of God. Because of those assertions, he or she has been blinded to the true points of the narratives: God's grace, God's forgiveness, hope for lasting satisfaction. Choosing to trust in God doesn't require a ton of goodness, or intelligence, or money, or success, or talent, or experience, or work . . . it only requires humility--recognition of one's position before a God that we aren't even equipped to comprehend.

Application:
Be okay with not understanding everything, and be satisfied with understanding that God is for me. I can continue to pursue answers, but I don't need them all now in order to grasp that my sin is insurmountable and at the second judgment, I will be in need of the blood of Jesus on my doorpost.

Place my confidence entirely on the hope that God has promised, namely, heaven. If I chose to get my reward here and now, I will have done so at the sacrifice of any reward there and later. "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it." (Matthew 10:39)  And my priority list reflects my treasure. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21)

Prayer: . . .

He Is On Display

Scripture: Exodus 8:9 "And Moses said to Pharaoh, "Accept the honor of saying when I shall intercede for you, for your servants, and for your people to destroy the frogs from you and from your houses, that they may remain in the river only."

Observation: God did everything that he could have to prove to Pharaoh, and everyone else observing, that he has all power.

He also proved the extent to which people are rebellious and selfish. Pharaoh was given a chance to say, "Take the frogs from my people now!" but instead he tried to test Moses and God by waiting until the next day.

This situation also proved the blindness of the lost. They do not want to see, but they also cannot see the truth of God (1 Cor. 2:13, 14). Everyone had ample evidence to repent and turn to God. Israel should not have needed to leave Egypt. The Egyptians should have become Israelites! They were willing to spend decades building shrine after shrine to the gods that they had imagined or invented, but they refused to surrender themselves to the God who was proving his existence and power before their eyes. No, the Egyptians (some anyway... see 9:19-21) remained in rebellion.

Application: Don't witness to the lost of the greatness of God and the hope that he brings because all will respond. Do it because I have been told to do so and because I don't know who will respond! That is God's decision. Mine is to glorify him
. If I will not glorify him, then what use am I to God now? Do I want to be a demonstration of his wrath or his goodness?

Prayer: Father, thank you for revealing your great power to me. Teach me to herald it. Make me an ever-speaking witness. Keep me always on mission; the stakes are too high to not be. I love you. Amen.

A Firm Foundation

Scripture: Exodus 4:15-16 "Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do. So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God."

Observation: The parallels between what God says here and what Jesus says in John's account of the gospel is uncanny and definitely not coincidental. The words of Jesus come like this:
1. Jn. 14:10 - "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works."

2. Jn. 14:24b - "...and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me."

3. Jn. 14:26 - "But the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."

4. Jn. 16:13-14 - "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will lead you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak...He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you."

Moses was a mediator between God and the people of Israel (Gal. 3:19-20). He was a picture of the coming work that the Father would do through the Son by the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:25-26; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6).

Application: Trust in the word of God. The inspired Scripture is God's word. The Israelites had to trust that what Aaron said was what the Father had told Moses. Now I must trust that what the apostles wrote is what the Father has given Jesus to speak through the Holy Spirit.

The test of authenticity for the people was whether the things that Moses and Aaron said came to pass. I have seen the Bible's truth and authenticity played out again and again. The Bible, all of it, reflects reality. It is historically accurate and its predictions (prophesies) have come to pass in undeniable ways.

Prayer: Lord, help me to trust your word. Not only to trust it, but to also study it to know what it says. Not only to know it, but also to obey it. Not only to obey it, but also to teach others of its trustworthiness as well. I love You. Amen.

Do We Have The Guts To Lie?

Scripture: Exodus 1:19-20 "And the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are lively and give birth before the midwives come to them.”
 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty. And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them."

Observation: I have never read through Scripture to find all the places that the people of God violated not only man's law but also God's law out of fear of God. This isn't often done, I think; though, I could be wrong. Regardless, God blessed them abundantly because they lied to Pharaoh.

These are the characteristics of the situation:
1. Pharaoh was an unrighteous leader of an oppressive government giving orders to sin.
2. The midwives were ordered to do what they knew God would call evil. (Note: the law had not been given other than His command not to murder in Genesis 9:5-7)
3. The choice to lie in this situation must have been a difficult one considering who they were lying to.
4. (Addition 18Oct14) This is another similarity between Moses and Jesus. Both of their lives were in part protected by individuals lying to the ruler of that area.

Application: God is very serious about righteousness. Clearly some things are sinful based solely on the motivation or intent of the person acting (or not acting). All the times I've said lying is always wrong, I was wrong.

A bigger question here is am I willing to stand against the powers, authorities, and laws that direct me to sin so that the right thing is done. I must be in prayer and in the Bible to have understanding sufficient for proper discrimination when those times come.

I need courage.

Prayer: Lord, help me to have the bravery of these midwives. What an amazing example they are. I want your approval on my heart and actions just as it was on theirs. I love you. Amen.

The Sidekick Doesn't Take The Lead

Scripture: Exodus 40:36-37 "Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up."

Observation: There were times that the cloud (or fire) was "taken up" and the children of Israel followed God. In those times, they went where God led them. I suppose following may have been difficult at times: after man days of travel, over rough terrain, during sickness or injury, or through harsh weather.

But I also see that if God didn't go, they didn't go. For as long as God remained, with or without indication of how long they would be there, the Hebrews remained. The weather may have been perfect for travel. The hearts of the travelers may have been positive and resolute. The sicknesses may have all passes. However, God's timing is perfect and rarely any of our business.

Application: Fear can come hand-in-hand with going where God says. He doesn't bring us into an easy life; he promises the most rewarding one though. If we follow the Lord, he won't lead us to a place that is beyond what he will strengthen us to follow him through (Phil. 4:13). His grace will always be sufficient for us. And I never perceive God to be setting a driving pace looking to maliciously exceed my limits or abilities. God is not some pernicious boss; he is a gracious and all-loving father.

It might be even more difficult to stay put until he says, "Go!" There is activity all around me. So many things seems to be good things to engage in. Many other people around me may be receiving great blessing and spiritual growth through some non-church or church
activity. Yet, if the Lord doesn't say to do it, it is not good; at least, not for me and my family.

There is much more that could be said on this topic.

Prayer: Father, the waiting can be hard. The desire to serve you often makes me feel I ought to do something! But you remind me that busyness will come. Help me to remember that in the moments of stillness that you continue to have purpose. Growth is defined by maturing as well as by expansion and movement. Help me not to miss the blessings and confidence found only in patient obedience and consistent pursuit of you. I love you. Amen.

"You Are a Skilled Metal Worker"

Scripture: Exodus 38:22-23 "Bezalel the son of Uri ... made all the Lord had commanded Moses. And with I'm was Aholiab ... an engraver and designer, a weaver ....

Observation: These two men were in charge of the extensive work of constructing the tabernacle following all the detail which God had laid out for Moses. Chapter 39, verses 32 and 43 indicate there were a lot of Israelites on the project.

This is amazing. Here the Israelites are, out in the wilderness, and they have all this stuff, supplies and tools to build and fabricate, and all this skill and ability to complete the task. Where and how did they get this? They had just spent, as a nation, 430 years learning and perfecting these skills as slaves constructing palaces, shrines, homes, and even idols for the Egyptians! They were experts!

The tools they took with them from Egypt. The gold, silver, bronze, and linens were given to them when they left. The Egyptians lost over a million people who likely represented their entire workforce of construction and fabrication experts.

This also speaks about God's sovereignty. He did not simply have foreknowledge (as far back as Abram's sacrifice and accompanying dream in Genesis 15:7-21) that the Israelites would end up in Egypt and be enslaved. God planned it that way. He was preparing them to be the great nation that they became.The trials that they endured were just something that God took advantage of; it was his will and through it he produced a nation through which he could make himself known to all the world as an awesome God.

Application: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose. God will do miracles in my life, glorify himself, and cause his enemies to stumble and fall regardless of, and actually through, my failures, past bondage to sin and all the trials I have endured. Trust in the Lord! He also has my life planned, and the lives of my family planned, to bring him glory. Never quit praising and thanking him for what he is doing even when things look dark and doubt is the only thing I want to express.

Prayer: You are glorious and amazing God. I'm floored that I get to be your child! I will worship you and trust you when the thundering and crashes of life's storms beat against my ship. You turn the storm back on itself! You make your name great! I love you. Amen.

Rags or Riches

Scripture: Exodus 34:9 "Then [Moses] said, 'If now I have found grace in your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray, go among us, even though we are a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as your inheritance.'"

Observation: What an amazing verse. I'm struck by Moses plea. I feel the weight of every word here. Moses said this just after God granted Moses request to see God's glory. Moses' experience with God has fully humbled him. Was Moses the person who has had the closest relationship with God ever?

His response is telling. Moses made still more requests: (1) please go with us, even though we are stubborn and rebellious, (2) forgive us! We desperately need it, and (3) bless us by keeping us as your choice treasure - the thing among all the earth that remains yours forever.

Application:
1. There is nothing more precious than God. Give up everything to be near him and to know him (Phil. 3:7-8).

2. Forgiveness is arguably the greatest need of every person. Doubtless it is the most urgent. Moses' example calls for my humility.

3. Rejoice! I am God's inheritance (Eph. 1:18). Meditate on the impact of that truth. Let it overwhelm me and infuse every part of my thinking.

Prayer: O my God, you are beyond any and all good thing I can know, see, experience, or desire. I want to see your glory and know your way. I need these things. I need you. Revive me God. I cannot but love you! Help to act that love for you. Amen.

Don't Give It Up

Scripture: Exodus 32:4 "And [Aaron] received the gold ... and made a molten calf. Then they said, 'This is your God, O Israel, that brought you out of Egypt.'"

Observation:
1. Aaron must have been aware of the fact that God had already established Aaron and his descendants as priests.
2. The people all knew it as well which is why they came to him for guidance three verses earlier.
3. Idols are what these people knew because they grew up in Egypt. They asked for an idol specifically.
4. Aaron surrendered the high call of holiness, service, and blessing that God had placed on him, which was to be used for God's glory, and used it for Satan's service and glory instead.

Application: I have been given a very high calling as a father, leader, priest, minister of the word of reconciliation, and husband.
1. Ask God to show me all the idols that I worshipped before I gave my life to God that I am still holding onto.
2. Don't sacrifice my future and the hearts and futures of my family on the alter of easy pleasure and present desires. No one has ever accomplished anything great for God walking down hill. He hasn't set me in a raft and told me to float downstream with the current. I, like every other Christian, am supposed to "attain" for most of life.
3. Set my mind on things above. These gifts from the world are empty and actually come with personalized shackles.
4. Feel the weight of the responsibility and importance of God's charge to fulfill my calling. Let it spurn me to action. My family is in need of protection, guidance, motivation, encouragement, comfort, and an example. Let me be that and not another.

Prayer: Father, thank you for accepting me. I am surely broken in so may ways. I'm needy for what only you can provide. If I don't have you, then I won't have anything. Please teach and guide me. Please open my eyes to your kingdom and work. I love you. Amen.

Is He Wholly Holy To Me?

Scripture: 

Exodus 28:42 "... when [Aaron and his sons] come into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come  near the alter to minister in the holy place, that they do not incur iniquity (or guilt) and die... "

Exodus 29:1 "And this is what you shall do to them to hallow them for ministering to Me as priests...."

Observation: The emphasis on God's holiness throughout the O.T. is unmistakeable. God made it clear that we are unqualified to be near him. The only reason given for this prohibition is God's holiness. Am I even able to grasp God's holiness? I almost want to say "that level of holiness", but I suppose there aren't levels of holiness, and aside from actually encountering God, I suppose I'll never understand exactly how high, how supreme, how pure, how unattainable, how excellent, how inhuman, and how flawless holiness actually is.

Application: I must define holiness, which is the foundation of all relationships to him, by its revelation in Scripture. The more that I pursue a clearer grasp of holiness, the more all other aspects of my existence and salvation will become valuable and precious. I miss the importance of holiness because Jesus' sacrifice has shielded me from much of the O.T. law, but that also leaves me constantly in danger of trampling his grace, scorning his mercy, and belittling his holiness. If I malign these, I also scorn my savior, who is the express image of the Father.

Prayer: I am pretty speechless this morning. Forgive me. I am full of evil. You are so beyond me. May I see you and worship you rightly. You deserve my love and full devotion. Amen.

I've Found a Fortune!

Scripture: Exodus 25:11, 24, 29 "And you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and shall make on it a molding of gold all around." ... "And you shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a molding of gold all around." ... "You shall make its dishes, its pans, its pitchers, and its bowls for pouring. You shall make them of pure gold."

Observation: So much of the tabernacle was made of gold or silver, or was covered in them. When the temple was built later there was gold all over it!

Application: People have rejected Christianity because they are turned off by the idea of having to give money. The first thing that comes to my mind is that there were poor people among the Jews at the time that God spoke these words and yet he still commanded much gold be used.

Answers:
1. Money and riches are the great revealer of the state of my soul. Jesus' words "for where your treasure is, there your heart is" were nothing to sneeze at. At the root of this rejection is materialism. Love God more than money.

2. Interestingly, this has very sharp parallelism with Jesus' response to Judas over the rejection of Mary pouring expensive oil or perfume on Jesus. Jesus called out the greed in Judas' heart and corrected anyone that thought that Jesus was not worth the thousands of dollars worth of oil. Love God more than money.

3. God promised to provide for their needs if they would put him and his commands first. He said two chapters earlier that they would lack nothing (Ex. 23:25-26). Love God more than money.

4. Ultimately, the question to asked is, is God worthy of all my gold? Is his value the highest value of all things? Should my worship of him be of the highest and purest quality? Do I think God is worthy of my best? Do I love God more than money?

When I am willing to give God nothing less than my richest, strongest, purest, and highest praise and worship, then is my understanding of God's worth correct. Then, also, will I be fully and truly satisfied, by that which alone is capable of fully and truly satisfactory in this world. All my good deeds are rubbish compared to his holiness and all my gifts are feeble compared to his glory, yet I will bring my absolute best because that is what he is worth.

Prayer: Change my heart, O God. Let me see you as your are. Let me know and praise your great worth! May I treasure you. May you be my portion and my reward forever! I love you. Amen.

Laws, Laws, Laws - Part I

Scripture: Exodus Chapters 21-24, The Beginning of the Law

Observation: There are few laws in these chapters that don't make much sense to me. By that I mean, I don't understand the "why" of them or I don't get how they are righteous... how do they line up with God's righteous and holy character?

Here they are:
21:7 - A father can sell his daughter as a slave. The verse says more than that, and in actuality, it doesn't prescribe the selling of children; it just provides for protections of them if it does happen.

21:32 - If an ox causes the death of another person's servant, the repayment for the servant was about $200 in today's valuation of silver. In the previous few verses God says the the same animal could cause the death of a son or daughter or any other person and the consequence is death (capital punishment was only commanded in the case where the owner knew that his ox had a history of being violent and aggressive, so the owner's death was punishment for his irresponsible negligence). Why the difference in consequence?

23:19 - "You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk" I don't get this, but it's also not that difficult to obey (for me anyway).

Application: So, that's the totality of the laws that I don't understand in these 4 chapters
. I can't really apply these three, but the rest of them (and there are a bunch) make perfect sense to me. The laws are really just describing how to love God, love people, take responsibility for my actions and inactions, and how to rightly recuperate the loss of other people's property if I bear the responsibility for the losses.

Prayer: Lord, I know that a people need a law in order to survive and to have a peaceful and happy life. Please help me to obey our nation's laws and to love others. And please help me to understand why these three laws meet with Your righteous character and what the application from them is for my life. I love You. Amen.

He Made Me This

Scripture: Exodus 19:5-6 "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel."

Observation: Clearly this is what Peter was referencing in his first epistle, chapter 2, verse 9. There he calls the believers four things: a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own special people.

The only one that really isn't found in these two verses is "a chosen generation". I'll have to be on watch to see from where that one is drawn.

Application:
First, as a believer, I am chosen by God; though some disagree, I believe that truth is very clearly taught in Scripture. In fact, I believe it is not possible to be the other way around.

Second, I am a priest in function; I have been given a ministry to my family and to the world (2 Corinthians 5:19, 20).

I have been made holy through Jesus. Not only that, but God has brought me into a nation of people whom He has made holy. Christianity is about being joined to God's people for God's glory.

As one of His "own special people" (here called God's "treasure"!) I am just plain blessed beyond deserving. Requite the blessing by making God my treasure!

Prayer: What love You have lavished on me! I pray that Your people would recognize the preciousness of 2 Corinthians 4:7 and of the verses in Exodus. Thank You for Your word! I love You. Amen.

That Greener Grass Is Full Of Pesticides

Scripture: Exodus 16:3 "and the people of Israel said to them, 'Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.'"

Observation: The Israelites are making many fatal mistakes here.
1. They're looking back at their enslavement as though it was pleasant, but the truth its that God brought them out of Egypt because of their cries to Him for freedom.
2. The blessings of Egypt were full of the misery of Egypt, and they are longing for it. On the other hand, they are failing to see that the misery that accompanies following God is full of the blessings of God!
3. They're allowing their present circumstances to blind them to the truth of their enslavement.
4. They're blaming the place in which they find themselves on Moses rather than God.
5. They've forgotten the love that Moses showed them in the departure from Egypt and prefer instead to find faults.

Application: What conviction is this verse! How often I do these things!

I look back on my enslavement to sin and think, "How pleasant!" Ugh!

I'm tempted to long for old relationships when Canid and I fight or are distant and I falsely imagine their greatness.

When I face failures I think to myself, "Why couldn't I have taken that other path? It would have been full of God's blessings!", but I fail to recognize that it is God that brought me away from there and brought me to this current place. (Proverbs 16:9)

And I blame others for my circumstances, forgoing thanks to them for all that they've done for me in love and instead I rub their noses in (what I think are) their mistakes.

Oh, what a wretched man I am. Why would God save me? Bah! This calls me to serious humility. Thank God for rescuing me. Thank God for giving me a true life with true purpose. Bless others for what great benefits I have received from them. Take responsibility for my failures. Give God the praise for my successes. Bless God for where He has guided me and hope in His plans for my future.

Prayer: You are so patient with me. And good to me. And gracious and merciful. And You've blessed me so. You've saved me from a awesome past into a wonderful present and a glorious future. Please teach me humility and kindness! I am desperate. I love You. Amen.

Time To Throw Down!

Scripture: Exodus 14:4 "'Then I will harden Pharaoh's heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord.'" And they did so.

Observation: I find it incredible that someone can read the Exodus narrative and not see that God is the cause of Pharaoh's hard heart. If I believe that the OT is God's word, as Jesus said it is (Matthew 5:17-18, 22:29, 22:31-32; Mark 7:13; John 10:35) then God has
attributed Pharaoh's hard heart to Himself REPEATEDLY in the last 14 chapters... in some chapters, multiple times!

Again the real problem with this is not whether or not God can control us, but how He does it and how we simultaneously have a free will.

But that is not what caught my attention most here. God said that He will "gain honor" over Pharaoh. Honor before who? It seems the answer is the Egyptians (in the verse) but also before the Hebrews. But didn't God already do that with the plagues? Yes, but this will be different. How? With the plagues, the Egyptians learned that God has power over nature, false god's and over life and death. But here God will show Himself to be the Warrior of His people.

Application: God is the ultimate. In my life He has power over every enemy, every threat, every fear. Today this truth gets applied to my inability to lead my family how I desire, and to my fear about the Back-to-School run failing, and to my career's future. But I must remember that Godfights the  enemies that get between me and the future that He has planned for me - not the future that I have worked out.

Prayer: Father, oh, how You are trustworthy. Oh, how I am settled knowing You are my God! I will fall in behind my Warrior and trust You. Help me to remember to tell You about my worries and concerns. I don't want to miss how to fight for me! I love You. Amen.

Don't Be Blinded

Scripture: Exodus 10:16-17 "Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste, and said, 'I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you. Now therefore, please forgive my sin only this once, and entreat the Lord your God, that He may take away from me this death only.' "

Observation:
1. Pharaoh referred to God as "the LORD your God" twice.
2. Pharaoh demonstrated human sorrow verses godly sorrow here.
3. Pharaoh has abandoned his rejection that the signs are from God, but he has increased his intentional and direct rebellion against God. Or rather maybe his rebellion is just no longer veiled.

Application: I fall prey to the same deceitful sin that Pharaoh was ruled by (Hebrews 3:12, 13). Rebellion is in the heart of all people because of the sinful nature that has been passed to us by Adam. Humility is called for. Repent of pride. In prayer ask God for awareness of pride. Pharaoh couldn't see past his pride-based hate for God. It blinded him. It will blind me to my own sin, faults, and offenses toward others.

Prayer: Lord, please open my eyes to my pride. You knew the pride in Pharaoh was predictable. Mine is not different and yet You are changing me to mirror the likeness of Jesus thru the Holy Spirit living in me (2 Corinthians 3:18). Please continue to change me. I love Your patience with me. I love Your continued faithful toward me. I love You. Amen.