Skip to main content

January 22 + Daily readings and notes

DAY 22


It's a new day and a new people.  Life as freed people begins in today's readings.  They have much to learn about what it means to be God's people, but God will show them.  God still shows us!

DAILY READINGS

DAILY NOTES

Exodus 16:1
  • Jewish commentary suggests this is when they ran out of the cakes the left Egypt with.
Exodus 16:2
  • Another complaint
Exodus 16:4
  • The bread from heaven, in part, will be a test of the people's obedience.  I bet none of us can guess how that test is going to go.
Exodus 16:7
  • God had heard their cry.  Now, God has heard their complaining.
Exodus 16:8
  • So far, God hadn't said anything about meat.
Exodus 16:12
  • "Then you shall know" is odd if you consider what happened a little over a month prior to this.  How could they not already "know" that God was their God?  
Exodus 16:15
  • When they ask, "What is it?" they literally say "manna."  
Exodus 16:34
  • There's a covenant already?
Exodus 17:2
  • Complaining has turned into quarreling.  The escalation makes Moses fear the people stoning him (Verse 4).
Exodus 17:6
  • How will God be standing there?  We've seen a burning bush and pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire.  Does the cloud rest there?
Exodus 17:8-9
  • Their first battle is initiated by an outside group.  Perhaps their wandering is seen as a threat.
  • We're first introduced to Joshua.  His first task is battle.  
  • Once again, Moses' staff will be a sign of power for the people.  
Exodus 17:11-12
  • How long before they figured Moses was having an influence of the battle?
  • He had told Joshua he would stand on the top of the hill to watch.  So, the stone put under him probably allowed him to rest comfortably in an upright position.  Aaron and Hur take their supportive positions around him.   
  • Their work proves victorious. 
Exodus 18:2
  • Jewish commentary says that when Moses first met Aaron in the wilderness, when Moses was first returning to Egypt (Exodus 4:20, 27), Aaron told him not to allow his family to go to Egypt because it would only add to the number of people who were suffering.
  • Moses doesn't seem to greet his wife and children.  We're only told about him and Jethro.  
Exodus 18:7
  • Moses has great respect for his father-in-law.  Perhaps this is a continuation of the relationship they had before.  Perhaps Moses recognizes that everything that happened in Egypt began with Jethro's blessing.
Exodus 18:11
  • Israel's triumph over Egypt stands as a witness for all people to the power of God.
Exodus 18:17
  • Jethro has the respect of Moses.  Enough that Moses is willing to listen to what he has to say.  Jethro tells Moses that the way he is dealing with the people, taking all the responsibility himself, is "not good."  It is not something he can do alone for long without sacrificing his well being and the well being of the people.
Exodus 18:20
  • If you're a leader in the church, listen up!  Don't just lead people, teach them.  
Psalm 22
  • It is obvious the psalmist is in great distress.  Even so, his song of pain and suffering turns into a song of praise.  
  • The opening words of the psalm are words Jesus used on the cross.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

We recall that the main reason God delivered the Israelites was so that they could be free to worship God.  Now that they have been saved, they begin their journey.  Their first lessons were tests of obedience.  There will surely be other tests to come.  Unfortunately, not everyone listened.

What I find interesting is how the Sabbath in emphasized so early.  You would think that they needed to do what they could to hurry along and get where they needed to be.  That's just like us.  Look at our calendars and what fills our days and you see how much we are hurrying along.

But God's command to rest is one of the first that we learn in our new life.  To be sure, rest is not merely taking a nap, vegging out on the couch.  It's more than that.  Moses first called it "a day of solemn rest."  It is a holy rest.  That's why the people would later reorganize their lives in a way that freed (see what I did there?) them to observe that day.

Free people rest.  God's people are free.  So, God's people understand the importance of keeping, protecting their day of rest.  Moses told the people that God gave them the sabbath.  So, holy resting is a gift from God.  Chores can wait.  Paperwork will always be there.  You can't be the free child of God that God made you if you don't take a day of holy rest.

Stay blessed...john
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

April 6 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 96 We've come a long way from wondering in the desert.  Now, after many battles and years of disarray, God's people are living in peace and the Lord has a house built. DAILY READINGS 1 Kings 8-10 & Psalm 96 DAILY NOTES 1 Kings 8 Solomon brings the ark of God to the temple. The temple is dedicated.  Solomon offers a prayer for the occasion. Solomon blesses the people. 1 Kings 9 The highlight of this chapter is that God appears to Solomon again (in a dream?).  The line of David will continue through Solomon, assuming he follows the way of God.  The people must also follow. 1 Kings 10 The Queen of Sheba visits Solomon to see for herself his wisdom.  She is amazed (breathless).  The two crowns exchange gifts. Some of Solomon's furniture is described as a way to emphasize the grandeur of his reign and the temple.  Notice how "the whole earth" wanted to see Solomon (10:24). OTHER OBSERVATIONS Solomon's prayer at...
Post a Comment
Read more

April 11 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 101 The great prophet Elijah leaves the scene (He'll appear again later.  Do you remember where?).  Elisha takes his place and immediately begins to act as prophet among the people.   DAILY READINGS 2 Kings 1-3 & Psalm 101 DAILY NOTES 2 Kings 1 King Ahaziah is injured and he wants to know if he'll live.  He seeks input from the prophets of Baal-zebub.  Elijah finds out and interrupts Ahaziah's men from going to the prophets.   Notice that Elijah, that hairy man, is divinely protected by the captain and his men.   Ahazia never hears from the prophets.  Elijah speaks directly to him to tell him that he will surely die. 2 Kings 2 Where did the idea of a whirlwind come from?  Did anyone expect that Elijah would be taken "to heaven by a whirlwind"?  Everyone seems to know that today Elijah will be gone. Elisha's command to the band of prophets seems to indicate his sense of loss but also a vigor...
Post a Comment
Read more

March 27 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 86 Ever notice these books don't end with happily ever afters?   Remember that we are reading an entire story of God told over many years.  The individual books help us follow that story, but we do well in remembering it's still one complete story. Today, we're finishing 1 Samuel.  As we read, we'll see how far Saul has fallen.  Ultimately, what God said would happen, happens. DAILY READINGS 1 Samuel 28-31 & Psalm 86 DAILY NOTES 1 Samuel 28 This chapter is devoted entirely to Saul's encounter with a medium. Notice that Saul had previously expelled mediums and wizards.  This could be a sign of his former faithfulness. Saul's fear overwhelmed him.  He is up against a Philistine army he does not think he can defeat. Since Saul could not hear from God, he seeks a medium to "inquire of her."  What did he want to know (from God or the medium)?  He asks Samuel what he should do.  So, is that asking whether to...
Post a Comment
Read more