Tag: Exodus

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Moses bargains with his life

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“The Lord replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.” Moses responded, “Then show me your glorious presence.” The Lord replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.” Exodus‬ ‭33:17-19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

​I can’t even imagine the intimacy and the amount of years it took for Moses to eventually have this kind of conversation with God! Moses was super straightforward with God without being disrespectful in any way. Just reading “one day Moses said to the Lord…” and “The Lord replied to Moses,” blows my mind! Of course, WE have always been able to tell God anything and everything. We’ve always been able to have that part down. But have I, have you – talked to the Lord? I know people who are really casual in the conversations with God of all creation. And even though I honestly do approach God with the word, “Dad,” I’m never crass or flippant in my conversations.

Here’s the thing with Moses though, God spoke back! I believe the folks around later heard a storm-like thunder, but Moses heard God’s voice.

And in true and beautiful Jewish style, Moses tries to bargain with God constantly – it’s in his DNA to do so. Abraham did it. Jacob did it. Jesus even did it in Gethsemane on his last night before the cross. It gives me chills when God says to Moses, “oh I know you, I know your name.” He knows all about us intimately.

Moses makes this crazy request, “show me your presence.” Now Moses had clearly seen the kinds of things that happen when God’s presence shows up. Bushes burn without being consumed. Terrifying plagues come and go that frightened people and ruined the local economy for days. Huge rivers stopped and made walking trails. Storm clouds hovered and pillars of fire roamed around at night like a nightlight for giants. Moses! Really? His angle was brilliant “If you’re presence isn’t known and seen, then these hard-headed people you asked me to lead won’t believe a word I say. They only listen to me because they’re afraid of you.” What kind of crazy curiosity did this guy have? And, shocker, God didn’t say NO.

God momentarily concealed his holiness to accommodate a personal request. God: “I can’t show you my face or you will turn back into dust, but I’ll hide you behind the rock, pass in front of you call out MY NAME, covering you with my hand.”

God: “then I will remove my hand so you can see my backside as I pass by.” What a moment! Can you even imagine being in the presence of God and having a face to face conversation with him?

One day we will not only talk with God will have a chance to go on a walk with him just like Adam and Eve did back in the beginning. I can’t wait. As for now, we have the Holy Spirit, who is the presence of God with us, beside us and for us. So ask away! Talk with God and tell him what’s on your heart. You could even try making some cool deals with God and see how it goes!

PRAYER:

​Dad,
Wow, what a moment to peek into the life of Moses and see how much you loved him – even with all his faults. I’m pretty sure he had issues with anger and a short temper. Funny enough, he didn’t even feel qualified or had any desire to be a leader. He’s where I get the whole “reluctant leader” model from.

And yet, he and you had some amazing conversations. I am truly looking forward to some long walks and talks in eternity, which is really hard to imagine right now.

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Don’t be like the ancients

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, or worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, “The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.” And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day. Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:6-11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

​Here we have Paul giving us a great example of how a well trained, former Pharisee interprets an ancient passage of scripture from Exodus. I read Exodus and see lessons of Old Testament theology and practical advice for living while looking through the lens of Jesus’ saving grace.

Not so much with Paul. Paul tells the church in Corinth – it’s a WARNING. Paul gives the text the same amount of veracity that Moses gave when he wrote it! I see the Old Testament as a little outdated. Paul sees it as current. My sense of context is therefore dulled by a distorted view of grace when I do this with scripture. Paul’s high TRUTH, high LOVE compels him to admonish (warn & encourage) the modern, metropolitan church filled with a city bursting with immoral opportunity to sin!

Paul starts with our commonality with the ancient wanderers (same baptism, same food and water, same God) and writes, “Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.” Paul – haven’t you read “what’s so amazing about grace?” Don’t you know that God isn’t mad at us and we live in a very long season of mercy? Oh, Paul knows alright. He wrote much, if not most of the theology on the topic of God’s grace. But it’s never an excuse to sin more! And, Paul never throws shade on God’s holiness, wrath or judgment?

Paul tells the Church, don’t be like the ancients in these areas: partying, feasting and drinking, indulging in pagan revelry. Don’t engage in sexual immorality, don’t TEST Christ [mercy], and don’t grumble. Paul suggests that these human behaviors only INCREASE as the end approaches! God’s grace covers my sin, but will never accommodate my sin!

PRAYER:

Dad,
I am thankful for your word. I am thankful for Pastor Paul who’s words still preach about holiness and godliness. I am thankful for your Holy Spirit to lead away from temptation not towards it, who leads me in confession of sin, not denial of it. I am thankful for your mercy. I am also thankful for your wrath – your pure sense of justice for all wrongs, not just the ones I agree with. I am most thankful for your grace that came at the ultimate price of death of the Son who was completely innocent and perfect.

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God wouldn’t travel with them

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“Go up to this land that flows with milk and honey. But I will not travel among you, for you are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I did, I would surely destroy you along the way.” When the people heard these stern words, they went into mourning and stopped wearing their jewelry and fine clothes. For the Lord had told Moses to tell them, “You are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I were to travel with you for even a moment, I would destroy you. Remove your jewelry and fine clothes while I decide what to do with you.” So from the time they left Mount Sinai, the Israelites wore no more jewelry or fine clothes.” Exodus‬ ‭33:3-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

​I’m sorry, but reading this first part reminds me of every long road trip I’ve taken when my children were small. Oh, I wanted to go and I wanted to arrive, but in between… I thought, for sure, one of them was gonna die!

There is SO MUCH going on here in this conversation with Moses and the people of Israel. And, I never forget – we are just like Israel in so many ways. I don’t know what’s going on here with the whole “fashion show” mentality among the people with their jewelry and fancy clothes. If God hated that he must get a real kick out of all our entertainment shows (Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes & Grammys).

It’s kinda ironically sad that God didn’t want to be seen associating with whatever nonsense the people were into. He was like, “oh, I’m not with them!” It’s pretty strong to say, “if I have to… for even a moment… I’d destroy you.” The people must have been adorned with more than just gold, they were dripping with aires of arrogance. They continued to carry the cultural moniker of “stiff-necked” stubborn people.

Maybe it wasn’t ALL of them, maybe it was just the rich or former royals in the bunch, but it made God angry to be around while they flaunted their sin.

It was an act of mercy for God NOT to travel with them, he literally and physically couldn’t stand the sin and seeing it would mean immediate judgement and justice – no one would survive a trip with God. A regular visit with Moses and a dispatched angel would have to suffice. God was about to lay down some laws, some boundaries to temporarily make it possible to get through ALL OF HISTORY and put up with us until Jesus’ sacrifice and death for sin’s payment once and for all.

PRAYER:

Dad,
I get it. It’s hard to imagine how tolerant your grace and mercy is towards us as humans. It’s hard to grasp how patient you are with our sin. I don’t like my sin either, by the way. I know if the whole scene in the garden were reset and each of us faced the same circumstances we would choose to disobey, and step over the boundaries set to keep us safe and sinless. But you also created us with this drive, this craving of independence, this self will to choose you. And you created us in a war zone, a planet were Satan was thrown down to make his miserable existence. The garden may have been perfect but the earth already had an evil presence just aching to take out his revenge on you. So, yes, I’ve chosen to love you and trust you even when you found me broken in my own sin, unaware that there was a war or that I was at risk of following my own path away from you. However, I also know you’ve chosen me, rescued me and redeemed me. So, I can’t wait to find out what a world without sin even looks like. My imagination can’t even begin to fathom it.

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Gifts for God not a building

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“Then Moses said to the whole community of Israel, “This is what the Lord has commanded: Take a sacred offering for the Lord. Let those with generous hearts present the following gifts to the Lord: gold, silver, and bronze; “Come, all of you who are gifted craftsmen. Construct everything that the Lord has commanded:” Exodus‬ ‭35:4-5, 10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

​I have always been fascinated by this idea of taking care of the tabernacle (later the temple) by giving to the Lord. Moses doesn’t ask for himself, “give to me,” he doesn’t really even ask for the shared space for worship, sacrifice and general meeting place for the people of Israel, “give to the tabernacle” (later the temple). He says, as God commanded him, “give to the Lord.” And they did!

“So the whole community of Israel left Moses and returned to their tents. All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved came and brought their sacred offerings to the Lord.” And, more than the expensive gifts, they brought their skills! “So the people of Israel—every man and woman who was eager to help in the work the Lord had given them through Moses—brought their gifts and gave them freely to the Lord.”

A couple of things to point out that are still true even today.

One, when they (and we) give to God, they weren’t giving to a leader or a building campaign – it was and is considered a gift to God.

I can’t say that every church building campaign or every ask to replenish the food and household items for helps or emergencies is a godly command, but I can say that every gift given should be considered given to God. In other words, it’s not for a church pastor or a building or supply space – it’s a God gift!

Two, people who offer their skills to make, build, repair or just make things look nice (gold and gemstones?) are offered as gifts to God as well.

There is a principle that applies today but we don’t have tabernacles or temples because the Church body is the physical example of Christ and his presence. However, we still gather in a shared space. And, even though I don’t believe the space is holy, I think it does represent a place for holy people or better yet, people becoming holy to gather. And that space needs some tending to. To build it, make it functional and safe, even make it nice and keep it in clean working order.

The call to care for this common gathering space still exists today and when money or craftsmanship, and attention is seen as a GIFT to God and for the purposes of His high calling for the church body, it becomes an honor to give it, work at and even sacrifice for the total good. None of these offerings of time, talent or treasure, as many have said, are for a pastor, a board or even the other members of the church – it’s a dedication to God and to the things of God! I’ve had a long standing beef with buildings because folks behaved as though it – the “physical space” IS the church. If the place is empty, it’s just a building. If it’s full of people, it’s a welcomed and useful place for the church to gather.

Our building is paid for. Many churches are in fairly decent debt that hampers their ability to be generous in mission or community. To be debt free should be a goal and a gift to the gospel mission operating locally and globally.

PRAYER:

Dad,
I absolutely love the church! I can’t imagine where I would be if it hadn’t of been for the body of Christ loving me and discipling me. However, after 40 years of ministry, my challenges are still getting people to view the building we gather in as just that. It’s actually a SHARED home, right? I love it when folks take that kind of ownership over taking care of it, updating it and making it creatively and functionally beautiful. I can’t see us fulfilling EVERY desire of how people care for or upgrade or do home improvement the same as for their own home. I can, however see everyone pitching in for the common good and treating OUR space with dignity – not allowing trash or spills or spoiled foods in the kitchen get the best of us. I am learning to be GRATEFUL for a space that’s paid for and is in relatively good shape. Help us as your church all come to this same understanding?