FEBRUARY 12
Exodus 34:1-35:9
Exodus 34
Vs. 1-4 I've never fully understood Moses' anger in breaking
the first tablets. Moses' anger gets him in trouble later. But here I find it
sort of funny that God tells Moses to cut two more stone tablets for the next
morning, and Moses just went out and did it. I wouldn't know where to begin. I
suppose today we could run out to Home Depot© and get a couple of patio stones.
Vs. 5-9 Moses asked to see God's glory. Moses sees some of
God, hears God say His name and then repeat His name describing His great love
on those who receive that love, and His wrath on those who reject His love.
This isn't just God declaring some information about Himself; it is God
revealing Himself. He does it in such a way that Moses is strengthened to his
core and assured of God's nature. God is "feasting" Moses on who He
is and why He does what He does. It is like living in a kingdom for years
hearing about the king and observing his decrees and laws and works and only
knowing him on that basis. Now you are invited to live with him, talk to him at
breakfast, informal, fully visible and transparent, like a friend. Your
understanding of everything would become exponentially deeper and wiser. Verses
6 & 7 become a refrain mentioned again and again as to the nature of God.
Along with the name, "I AM," comes the spiritual insight into His
heart.
Notice in the description of God in 6 & 7, how long it
takes to get to punishment. The generational aspect is hard for us to swallow
until we've read the entire Bible and see what God says to Ezekiel and Jeremiah
regarding the sons not being punished for the sins of the fathers. We've
already read Abe's talk with the Lord regarding finding a few who were
righteous in Sodom. No one who sincerely comes to God in repentance is ever
turned away. Everyone who seeks, finds. Yet, there is a kind of sin that
becomes deeply inbred in a culture and within generations. When this sin
becomes "truth" in that family or culture, God acts against it. This
kind of cultural sin gets remembered and visited after God's deep patience
wears out. This is what is going to happen to the land of Canaan in about 38
years.
As Moses experiences this intimacy with God, this
understanding of God's heart, he pleads with God to dwell in the middle of His
people. In fact, the tabernacle will become the center of the camp of Israel.
As disciples, this presence is ours because of the Holy Spirit. If we don't
experience that closeness, it usually means we are keeping other things closer
to us than we are keeping Christ and His mission. Jesus said to His disciples,
"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." As
disciples, we need to let Paul's pursuit of knowing Christ be our model.
Philippians 3:10-15, that
I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings,
becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the
resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already
perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his
own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I
do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I
press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ
Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you
think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
Vs. 10-17 Much of what is written here intensifies the Ten
Commandments and the special position of the people as God's own possession.
Some of this seems to be a restatement from the last time Moses was on the
mountain. What encourages your heart, as a disciple, from this section?
Notice the contrast between v. 10 and vs. 11-17. The
covenant and relationship is with God. They would know others and do business
with others, but God should have their hearts and full devotion. They were on
earth for a purpose. Verse 10 suggests that as they obeyed God, the blessing of
God would draw the attention of all peoples to the possibility of having this
kind of relationship to the creator and only God. Even for us as disciples, it
is easy to have our desires and affections drawn away from God and connected to
other things. Being in the harvest helps keep our vision clear.
Vs. 18-26 These were all the ways that Israel would refresh
their love for the Lord and keep their focus on His love.
Vs. 18-20 This was the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread, reminding them of God's salvation and
redemption.
V. 21 All nations would think they were nuts, but Israel
would enjoy a day of rest reflecting on God's love. And why rest on that one
day? Because their God, the Creator of the universe and mankind, created in six
days and rested on the seventh.
Vs. 22-24 This Feast
of Weeks and firstfruits is Pentecost in May-June (7 weeks after the Feast
of Unleavened Bread) and then the Feast of Tabernacles and ingathering of the
harvest (along with the Day of Atonement) in October. All the males in Israel
had to show up for these three feasts and stay the entire week for each feast. Imagine
how all the nations would think this was crazy. But it would focus the eyes and
hearts of the men on the grace of God, and God promised to protect their homes
and fields while they were away in Jerusalem.
Vs. 25-26 In sacrificing, the people would always remember
the day of the Passover (no leaven). They would remember that God gave them
their food in the firstfruits, and they would remember to resist copying the
rituals of the surrounding nations (goat and the mother's milk).
Vs. 27-28 Moses was up there another 40 days. This time the
people behaved.
Vs. 29-35 When Moses returned, the Lord gave Moses a visible
sign or symbol of what happens while standing in the presence of God. Everyone
examined Moses and they were afraid. This continued those 40 years, and Moses
got "re-charged" every time he went into the tent of meeting to speak
with God.
V. 35 Notice that when Moses spoke with the people he wouldn’t
replace the veil until he was done.
So, what do you get from this? There are a couple good
discipleship principles here. None of us "glow" literally, but isn't
there something that happens if we live closely in His presence in the harvest?
There's a story about a pastor who visited someone who used
to be working hard in the harvest, but had become distant and isolated from the
church. After they talked for a while, the conversation died and they both sat
silent in front of the fireplace.
Finally the pastor got up without saying a word, grabbed the
tongs, removed a burning log off the fire and stood it on its end in the
fireplace, but away from the other burning logs. He took his seat and neither
man spoke. As they watched, the log he had removed stopped burning and began
smoldering. The log was almost completely out when the pastor rose again and
placed the log on top of the other burning logs. After a short time, the log
began to burn again.
As the story goes, the pastor rose without saying a word,
showed himself to the door and left. The next Sunday the man was in church.
Exodus 35:1-9
Vs. 1-3 At this point, it is time for God to restate the
covenant He and the people have entered into. The sign of this covenant is the
Sabbath. This restating of the Sabbath might seem hard, but there are two
things that stand out to me. First, God has just shown them incredible mercy
and grace in light of their falling away and idolatry. Second, the Sabbath was
rest, not punishment. It was a time to reflect on their blessings and mission
as a nation, resting in the privilege and provision of an awesome God. I'm
willing to bet that the kindling of fire was ok if it meant keeping warm or
tending to the sick. Since the Sabbath wasn't a day of fasting, meal
preparation was allowed; but if you used the day to get ahead in cooking or
washing, it was wrong.
Vs. 4-9 Now it's time to begin working on the tabernacle,
the center of their worship of God. We'll see how the people respond.
Matthew 27:15-31
Vs. 15-25 Pilate was playing a losing game with the Jews,
thinking he would win at setting Jesus free. The word he received from his wife
only intensified the eerie irrationality the other Gospels say Pilate was
experiencing. Pilate was working frantically to let Jesus go, but caved in to
the Jews when they pulled their trump card. If you put all of the gospels
together, Jesus was actually beaten twice. Pilate had Him beaten before
presenting Him on the balcony, thinking that everyone would
pity Him, and that that humiliation would be enough and he could let Him go.
Notice in vs. 22 and 23 that "all" of the people
were shouting this. The shout was only one word, "Crucify."
The statement in v. 25 is one of the most ironic statements
in the Bible. Wayne Watson has a song called, "The Hunger," where
this statement is seen first, from the guilt of demanding Jesus' blood, to the
cry for salvation that comes from that blood. Interesting song.
That generation of men and women would pay for this. In 70 A.D.
the Romans would destroy Jerusalem and the temple. It is interesting to me that
God is so slow to punish. Many of these same people would hear Peter's message
in about 50 days and be cut to the heart, repent and be baptized in the name of
Jesus. Others would resist the grace of God and be massacred by the Romans in
about 40 years.
Vs. 26-31 This was the pre-crucifixion beating. Just think,
Jesus endured this willingly because He had to go through this to get to the
cross for us.
A disciple is no better than his master. Saved by His blood,
are we willing to pay this price to see the lost saved? The irony here is that
Jesus was selected to die, over a murderer.
Psalm 33:12-22
Read v. 12 and then Exodus 34:10. Cool, huh?
Vs. 13-17 Israel is God’s nation and all the other nations
are distant from Him. These verses seem to say that although Israel is God's
heritage and instrument to reach the other nations, the Lord is still sovereign
over all nations, watching and
directing them as necessary.
Vs. 18 & 19 are great. This is what gives you confidence
as a disciple to live dangerously in the hands of God.
Vs. 20-22 I can imagine this being Moses' prayer from
yesterday, for God's presence and glory and help. Notice again, the waiting on
the Lord. It is as if to say, "Let others do what they will and seek help
where they will. Our souls wait on the Lord."
What a great declaration of confidence in the glory of God.
Proverbs 9:1-6
This is interesting, because this appeal of "lady"
wisdom seems similar to the appeal of the wild adulteress to the simple, young
fool in Proverbs 7:6-27. Apparently there is hope, even for the simple, if he
makes the right decision.
If you’re reading along
and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
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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