JANUARY
28
Exodus 5:22-7:24
Exodus 5:22-23
If you think
about it, Moses was getting a crash course on who God is and how He works. Most
of us have far more information about God than Moses did. We have the entire
record in the Bible of who He is and what He does. And even so, if we had been
in Moses' sandals, we'd have been freaking out worse than he was.
One of the
challenges we have as disciples is telling and showing people from God's Word,
what they are to do, and then listening to them and watching them endure
hardship for their actions. We encourage them from the Word to tell the truth. So,
they don't lie at work and get fired. We tell them to pray, but it seems like
things get worse. We tell them to live for Christ, and they get laughed at by
their spouses or friends. Learning through patience and hardship is not the
exception; it is the rule. This is why many people give up as disciples. Jesus
did not say the way was easy. He said being yoked to Him made it easier. Following
Jesus is the key. His love being poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit is
what gives us hope to endure and persevere.
Moses has over
a million people mad at him and this turn of events is killing him. This was
supposed to lead to an easy victory with no stops in between. In Moses'
thinking, every play would be a touchdown or at least a first down. He never
thought they'd lose yards or get hit at the line of scrimmage.
Moses was
learning, as all true disciples must, that when you are following, there has to
be absolute, strong, patient confidence in the Lord. You never assume you know
the path He will take. You just follow. You learn that God uses all the
malfunctions of men and of happenstance to accomplish His will. You learn that
sometimes the blown play or the "sack" is setting you up for the
touchdown. As the bumper sticker says, "With Christ, the only way to fail
is to quit." And even here, He might let you get to the place of quitting,
to lift you up and renew your heart in a way that makes you stronger in Christ
than you ever would have been if you hadn't been defeated.
Here, Israel
has doubted God and Moses. Pharaoh has grown super arrogant, and Moses has
grown humbler than ever. The stage is set.
Exodus 6
Vs. 1-9 This is
part of the educational process for Moses and the people.
V. 1 Notice
that God says, Now. It seems that
Pharaoh's actions and the peoples' response were a part of God's plan.
Vs. 2-8 Take
time to look through what God says here. This is a great declaration by the
Lord. Notice how often He says I, and
what is attached to it.
V. 3 God is
doing something new and special here that He has never done with any who have
followed Him. This was not to be taken lightly.
God confirmed
the promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, pointed to the land promised, and the
absolute certainty of redeeming the people out of slavery. These promises were
not contingent on their faith but
would have been the content of their
faith in God. Within that coming year God would give them the sacrificial
system to show them the reality of sin and their need for forgiveness, but the
prime object of faith would always be the covenant-keeping God. Salvation would
be through faith in His promises. These people had the account of history, even
as Moses is writing it here, which goes back to the promise of redemption at
the Fall, the saving of Noah and the promise to Abraham. Since they had this
history, the person of faith would understand that the God of the covenant had
a greater plan than just giving a couple million people a homestead.
I say all of
this because the unfolding of the plan of redemption was progressive. They
didn't know about Jesus, but there was Yahweh who chose them and made promises
of redemption. Here and there, there is a hint at the future, for example, the
dying words Jacob spoke to Judah; but it would take faith to see beyond those
vague references to the redemption God was working for all of mankind. What
kind of faith was necessary? Faith focused on Yahweh, who promises and keeps
covenants. With that faith they would sense the scope of God's work. The heart
of flesh would only understand their needs as immediate, and the promises as
nationalistic.
V. 9 I'm sure
Moses was encouraged as he spoke to the people, but this heartbroken people
rejected him and his message. Maybe God gave Moses that strong encouragement to
help him withstand the rejection of this bitter people. For a disciple, God's
encouragement doesn't always signal success, but perhaps rather, that God is
preparing us to endure what's coming. Encouraging thought, huh?
Vs. 10-13 God
is now telling the discouraged Moses what to do in command form. Moses' words
in v. 12 are explained by what happened in v. 9. God charges, commands and
orders Moses and Aaron to "just do it."
Vs. 14-27 This
partial genealogy begins with Reuben in order to show the tribe of Levi in its
proper place in the sons of Jacob. The genealogy of Levi is the only real focus
here and therefore doesn't go beyond Levi. The purpose is to show where Moses
and Aaron came from. This is like a formal introduction, I suppose.
In this list
there is a cast of characters who will have the stage for bad and for good in
the next two books. The greatest of these is Phinehas, who is referred to as a
hero throughout all of Israel's history and is alluded to in the last OT book,
Malachi. Cool dude.
By the way,
this last thought about Phinehas comes from reading the Bible every year and
making little connections year after year until, like doing a puzzle, you
slowly see the picture. For me, this is another thing that makes it fun to read
through the Bible every year.
Vs. 28-29 This
is one of those places where they put the chapter break in the wrong place. In
the original Hebrew and Greek there are no chapter designations or verse
designations. That was all done years later, and the chapter / verse divisions
we have are from Stephen Langton,
the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1220.
It is
interesting to see that Moses is still objecting to God using him for this. Once
Moses gets his mojo going, Aaron never speaks for him again.
Exodus 7:1-24
Vs. 1-7 Notice
that God reaffirms what is going to happen. It won't be easy, but they will
win.
Notice the ages
given for Moses and Aaron. Most people wouldn't go back and re-read the story
of Moses, but with his age in mind, you will begin reading next year and see
what he does when he is 40 and you'll read the next sections, understanding
that Moses was prepared by God for 40 years in the wilderness. This will help
you understand Moses and God in a deeper way.
One note of
trivia here is the three-year difference between Aaron and Moses. It gives you
the idea that the policy of having the baby boys killed might have been
instituted between the births of Aaron and Moses.
I don't want to
say much about the hardening of Pharaoh's heart. We've seen that Pharaoh
already had a hard heart without God's help. As you read, make a note in your
Bible when Pharaoh hardens his own heart and when it says God hardens Pharaoh's
heart. There might be a lesson in that. Also, since we know the Lord would
never reject a sincere, seeking heart, I doubt that Pharaoh ever had that. It
might be that there was a time when Pharaoh would have given in through
bitterness and compliance, but not through faith. At the end we'll see this
happen, and in bitterness Pharaoh releases the people; but since it wasn't done
willingly or in faith, Pharaoh "repents" of his decision and goes out
to kill the people. God would not have kept Pharaoh from true faith and
repentance.
Vs. 8-13 The
battle begins.
Note that
Pharaoh's boys were good at magic…tapping into Satan's power. This should blow
your mind, but not scare you. For all the power of the unseen spiritual forces,
God doesn’t draw our attention to them that often, meaning that God thinks we
know enough. If we know they're there and we follow Christ in the Spirit and in
the Word, we'll be OK. The effect was that these signs by his magicians
hardened Pharaoh's heart, even though the magicians had to go out and get new
sticks. God did not harden Pharaoh's heart.
Vs. 14-24 This
is the first official plague. Your observations are better than anything I have
to say. Just a couple of notes. The "ministry" of Moses and Aaron
here is what the "ministry" of the two witnesses in Revelation 11:3
will look like. When they declare a judgment on earth, a seal is broken in
heaven, and all "hell" breaks loose on the hard of heart.
The Nile was
thought to be a god. That Moses and Aaron had power to do this should have
shown something to Pharaoh. But again, the magicians duplicated this plague,
maybe by turning a bowl of water into blood. Who knows? But notice, God didn't
harden Pharaoh's heart. I think the real reason God turned the Nile into blood
was Pharaoh's command (Ex. 1:22) to throw the male Hebrew boys into the Nile.
Again, look at Revelation 16:3-7.
V. 23 Pharaoh
didn't take this to heart, but some of the people did. Pharaoh wasn't the guy
who had to go and fish or find drinkable water. The people were beginning to
suffer for Pharaoh's stubborn heart.
Also, since it
is mentioned later that those plagues didn't affect Goshen, where the
Israelites lived, I assume that some of the delta area of the Nile was also
turned to blood. This wouldn't have been to punish Israel, but to encourage
them by showing them what God was doing down yonder at Casa de Pharaoh.
Matthew 18:23-19:12
Matthew
18:23-35
This story is
an answer to Peter's question from yesterday regarding forgiveness.
For the
disciple, true biblical forgiveness rests in, and is empowered by, our own
forgiveness from God. The ability to forgive others springs from a heart that
has received mercy. It is a heart that is grounded in a biblical/spiritual
perspective of reality. We all are dead; we all are hopeless debtors. This is
the reality of our salvation and the context of the grace given to us on this
planet. It allows a disciple to live an "other worldly" life, full of
understanding of what is happening on earth and in heaven. Why Matthew 5:39-48
seems so unreachable to people is because we are grasping a view of life that
is false. Life on earth is not good. We are all sinners. We are all in trouble.
As disciples we
are commanded to forgive others, based on the forgiveness we have received from
God. Life is complicated. This doesn't say we need to trust others, or accept
their version of reality, or go on vacation with them. Forgiveness in this
context means showing mercy as we've received mercy. It is placing the right to
demand justice or payment in God's hands.
In my
experience, any person and even a disciple, who arrogantly withholds
forgiveness of this kind and cannot do good for an enemy, will not be released
from the penalty and punishment for his own ongoing sins. God takes even
his disciples to task in those areas of failure we walk through on a daily
basis, until we learn to forgive from the heart as He forgives us. This kind of
situation always has more to do with God and us, than some other person and us.
Christ loves us too much, to let us get away with this misunderstanding of His
sacrifice and grace.
Matthew 19:1-12
Vs. 1-9 The
test here involved two different rabbis teaching two very different views of
divorce in Israel. One view was very liberal, allowing for divorce under any
circumstances, and the other view was conservative, saying divorce was only
allowed because of adultery. The attempt was to get Jesus to agree with one or
the other rabbi. Jesus avoided this by summarizing God's intent in marriage and
how God works with the hardness of man's sin in the meantime.
Vs. 4-6 are
very clear teachings on marriage. It is a marital union first, and then a
sexual one flesh union. It is between
a man and his wife. Male and female is
the only way to be one flesh in God’s
eyes. Man and wife is the only way to enter this union in a way that is
pleasing to Him. It is how God created us and it is what God wants.
All other
variations are wrong. God is not open to discussion, but will forgive the
variations if people will agree to His way and repent. Sex outside of marriage
is sin. Adultery is sin. Homosexuality is sin. And it is God who says so and He
loves us and will forgive and restore us if there is agreement with Him and if
we repent. He is not going to change this order of creation anymore than He’ll
change the direction of the rotation of the earth because we demand it of Him. He
is the Creator. He knows what is best for us, and yet, He will forgive us.
V. 6 Jesus is
teaching that God never intended people to divorce. God joins together and
means it to be forever. That's a pretty heavy thought. It is a spiritual union
whether we agree with Him or not.
Vs. 7-9 The
Pharisees caught this. Jesus was saying something different than both of the
conflicting views in Israel. Both allowed for divorce. Jesus' answer showed
that God allowed divorce and remarriage because of our unwillingness to listen
to Him, just like Pharaoh. He has built the need for completeness so deeply in
us, as the essence of us, that it is irresistible to us. We may not understand
it and just relegate it to hormones and sexual behavior, but
"oneness" is a very deep spiritual need and will drive us whether we
understand it or not.
In adultery the
"covenant" is broken. This is inevitable in divorce and remarriage.
Somehow, in all of this dysfunctional humanity, God allows for restoration and
forgiveness and order and renewal, but it always has a price. Grace can
overcome the effects.
Vs. 10-12 The
disciples are shocked because marriages back then always had an escape clause,
just like today. To think of marriage being "permanent" was scary to
them.
Jesus says that
for the sake of the kingdom, some people make the decision (and Paul calls it a
gift) to live without marriage for the purpose of serving God. They are figurative,
not literal, eunuchs. I have only met a couple of people in my life who have
this gift. It is the exception, not the rule. It is the grace of God to them,
either for a life-time or for a period of time, as they are totally focused on
serving Christ as a disciple in the harvest, that the need for completion is
satisfied, or held in check, without marriage and oneness. For most of us, a
few hours is all we can stand. That is not the gift. In fact, some of us don’t
understand this “gift” as a “gift.” Sorry, Paul.
Notice that
this teaching is for the one who can receive it. Obviously then not everyone
will "hear" or be able to do this. Of all the things certain groups
have enforced on their clergy, abstinence from marriage has been one of the
most damaging and the most unbiblical. And they've used these verses to enforce
or prove their teaching. In 1 Timothy 4:1-3 Paul says that forbidding marriage
comes from lies and the doctrines of demons. Satan knows we need marriage too,
and saying we shouldn’t do it is a good way to warp us.
Psalm 23
Enjoy!
Vs. 1-3 As a
kid I understood v. 1 to declare how sinful we were. Here was Jesus, such a
great Lord and wouldn't you know it - WE don't WANT Him. Now I finally get it.
Isn't it
interesting that when the Lord leads us, He leads us to stillness and
restoration. We still think complicated and stressful is better.
V. 4 Here it is
again. Even in the harvest, in danger, following the Lord leads to being
comforted by the Lord to maintain a still heart.
Vs. 5-6 Even in
opposition there is joy without indigestion. Of course, David allowed his life
to get busy and out of control and so did Solomon. And they lost that peace of
being led by the Lord. Following the Lord leads us to peace even in the trials
of working in the harvest. We need to remember to simply follow, simply abiding
in Christ and His presence.
Proverbs 5:22-23
These verses
conclude the warnings about sexual adventure and the command to be completely
absorbed in passion for your spouse. Specific to this teaching is a studied
obedience to keep our passions and relationships in control.
But generally
speaking, in all areas, a lack of discipline will always catch us, as
disciples, in the keester. God's warnings and instructions are given for us to
heed and to follow. It means we need to marshal our energy and alertness and do
what He says. That involves some discipline and effort.
Especially
where sin is involved, we need discipline, and we need to allow God to use
events and people and responsibilities to help us as He prunes us to make us
fulfilled and fruitful in the harvest. Read Hebrews 12:1-13 for some motivation
on this point.
If you’re reading along
and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link http://oneyearbibleonline.com/weekly-one-year-readings/?version=47&startmmdd=0101. This
version is set to the ESV but you can reset this to a different version or
different language.
I'm writing these
comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in
growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see
the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples,
meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out
and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal
manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us
more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are
only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of
God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are
designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is
that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a
year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples,
disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a
complete description of this model of being and making disciples you can find
it in my book: Simply Disciples*Making Disciples.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
If you would like a more
descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the
Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is the
commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never
hurts.
I am not endorsing any
particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte
Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with
us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their
own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular
tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to
criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has
written to us, as I understand it. Send comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
If you would like
documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to
print.
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