‘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. (Exodus 31:14) Is taking a day off really so important to God that a person should be put to death for violating the command? Apparently so. The real question is: why? The answer is a little complex, but ... [Continue Reading]
Near to the Heart (Exodus 27-29)
Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord. (Exodus 28:30b) As the high priest, Aaron had a great responsibility to the nation of Israel. He was to offer sacrifices on their behalf to God, but he was also to aid in the making of decisions. It's interesting that such an emphasis is placed on the means of ... [Continue Reading]
Giving God Your Best (Exodus 25-26)
'Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim woven into them by a skilled worker.' (Exodus 26:1) We make a mistake when we believe that God doesn't desire our best work. It's interesting that God didn't tell Moses to find any old person to make the tabernacle curtains. The instruction was specific: the ... [Continue Reading]
Look Out For The Donkeys (Exodus 23-24)
If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it. (Exodus 23:5) I haven't seen too many donkeys collapsing under the weight of a heavy load, but the picture is certainly an interesting one. I can't imagine leaving such a donkey by the side of the road even if it did belong to my enemy. But ... [Continue Reading]
The Buck Stops Here (Exodus 19-22)
If, however, the bull has had the habit of goring and the owner has been warned but has not kept it penned up and it kills a man or woman, the bull is to be stoned and its owner also is to be put to death. (Exodus 21:29) You might be tempted to think that President Truman was the first person to take responsibility for his own actions with his famous statement, "The Buck ... [Continue Reading]
Do You Trust Me? (Exodus 16-18)
Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers for each person—and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. (Exodus 16:21-22) As the Israelites were wandering through the wilderness, food became a great issue. After all, there were at least a ... [Continue Reading]
Be Still (Exodus 13-15)
"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14) There are moments when time seems to stand still, aren't there? When the sun slowly descends below the horizon. When a heavy blanket of snow covers a forest of unrelenting pines. When a parent holds a newborn child for the first time. There is an inexplicable mystery in those moments where God's ... [Continue Reading]
The One Who Changes Hearts (Exodus 10-12)
(The Lord made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.) (Exodus 11:3) God is the one who changes hearts. Period. It's remarkable to me that this side note even exists in Exodus. The purpose for Moses including it in the account is clear: the reasons the Egyptians (other ... [Continue Reading]
A Sign From God (Exodus 7-9)
But the Egyptian magicians did the same things by their secret arts, and Pharaoh’s heart became hard; he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said. Instead, he turned and went into his palace, and did not take even this to heart. (Exodus 7:22-23) When I was a kid, I used to pray that God would give me signs for things. I remember once I asked God to ... [Continue Reading]
Life’s Unknown Paths (Exodus 4-6)
Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?” (Exodus 4:1) I have come to the conclusion that God does not reveal the paths that lie ahead of us for the simple reason that we’re not fully capable of welcoming them with open arms. The rational part of my brain likes to examine everything in minutiae, and such ... [Continue Reading]
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