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

February 16 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 47 Before the movie Shrek, the best known talking donkey was Balaam's donkey.  That's what we're reading about today.   Of course, that's only part of the story between Balak and Balaam.   DAILY READINGS Numbers 22-24 & Psalm 47 DAILY NOTES Numbers 22:2 Apparently, Israel is making a name for itself.  The Moabites are terrified and distressed/irritated by the news of what the Israelites are doing. Numbers 22:5-6 Balaam is, apparentely, a diviner with a good reputation.  Balak is "overcome with fear" and his response is to go to Balaam.  Balak knows that "whomever you bless is blessed, and whomever you curse is cursed." Numbers 22:8 This is the recurring theme for Balaam.  He will only say what  God tells him to say.  That is, there's no money back guarantee.  Even if it doesn't align with what Balak wants, Balaam will only give the words that God gives him. There is no indication why Balaam w...
Post a Comment
Read more

April 3 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 93 After today we'll have finished another book of the Bible.  King David's place in the story of God is winding down. DAILY READINGS 2 Samuel 22-24 & Psalm 93 DAILY NOTES 2 Samuel 22 This is a psalm of praise and thanksgiving.  Psalm 18 is a variation of this psalm. 2 Samuel 23 David's reign (and life) are drawing to a close.  These are some of his last words and speak of men that have served under him.   2 Samuel 24 David wants a census of the people.  Since he later sees it as a sin, we can gather that he had prideful purposes for doing so.   The king repents, but also suffers the judgement of the sin.  Technically, 70,000 of the people he just counted suffered. Afterwards, David builds an altar to God. Psalm 93 God's rule over earth is celebrated.  This is what's called an enthronement psalm.  OTHER OBSERVATIONS There's an interesting observation to consider about 2 Samuel 24:1...
Post a Comment
Read more

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