Skip to main content

January 28 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 28

If you thought Adam and Eve messed up a good thing, wait until you finish reading today.

There's a lot going on in these 3 chapters of Exodus.  Moses is going up and down the mountain of God.  Aaron is making idols.  The people are worshiping other gods.  3,000 people die.  God doesn't even want to be with the people anymore.

Oh, those stiff-necked people.  I'm glad we don't ever act like them.

DAILY READINGS

Exodus 32-34 & Psalm 28

DAILY NOTES

Exodus 32:1
  • We were told that Moses was on the mountain 40 days and nights, but the people were not told how long he would be there.
  • Their first response to the delay is to give worship/offering to something else other than God.
Exodus 32:4-5
  • Jewish commentary suggests that Aaron is trying to stall the people.  The call for "tomorrow" is in hopes Moses might return before they follow through with what they want to do.
  • The people immediately give credit/glory to the molded calf for their deliverance.
Exodus 32:7
  • God does not claim the people. Nor does he take credit for delivering them from Egypt.  
Exodus 32:10
  • Did God expect Moses to intercede?
Exodus 32:15
  • Did you ever notice that the 10 Commandments were written on both sides?  Some people consider it a mere copy of the 10 words.  Others view it is a divine mystery and/or miracle.
Exodus 32:22
  • "Bent of evil"  That phrase makes me think of the line from that great Wesleyan hymn Love Divine, All Loves Excelling: Take away our bent for sinning
Exodus 32:25-29
  • We are expected to envision a wild day of dancing, laughing and carousing.  The reveling mentioned early even carries a sexual connotation.
Exodus 32:32
  • Moses steps up for the people again.
Exodus 33:3-4
  • God decides not to go with the people.  The people receive this as harsh words/bad news or evil words.  
  • Consequently, the mourn once they recognize the consequence of their actions.
Exodus 33:15
  • Moses pleads on behalf of the people again.  The presence of God must go with the people.  The presence of God will distinguish the Israelites from everyone else.  
Exodus 33:17-23
  • Moses has already prayed boldly for the people.  Now, he presents a request for himself.  He wants to see the glory of God.  
Exodus 34:1
  • God is prepared to reestablish the covenant.
Exodus 34:9
  • Moses again intercedes for the people.
Exodus 34:29-35
  • Moses is changed from his experience with God
Psalm 28
  • The psalmists prayed for help and sang a song of thanksgiving once he received it.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

Please do not miss Moses' grand role in these encounters.  Talk about chutzpah!  Moses has no problem bargaining with God.  He has no qualms about letting God know his plans are faulty.  Several times Moses trades personal gain for what is best for the people.  He sticks out his neck for his stiff-necked people.

You want to be a church leader?  Learn about Moses.  Are you willing to pray for the people of God like he did?  Are you willing to plead with God for them?  Are you willing to be so bold in what you ask God for?  It's no wonder Moses is considered the greatest prophet.

Of course, Moses isn't presented as a perfect person.  We're able to see the many emotions he carries.  Scripture doesn't hold back in showing us who he really is.  That's good for us.  We need to know that somebody like him, perhaps somebody like you, too, can lead the people of God.

Where have all the Moseses gone?

Stay blessed...john
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

March 31 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 90 David's family situation continues to spiral.  In today's reading, David's family is torn apart by rape.  As a consequence, David's son sets his eyes on his father's throne. DAILY READINGS 2 Samuel 13-15 & Psalm 90 DAILY NOTES 1 Samuel 13:1-14 Amnon was David's first born son (3:2).  That may shed light as to why David seems to deal with him so easily (Verse 21).  Although he does kind of the same thing later with Absalom. Tamar is Absalom's full sister, half sister to Amnon.  Amnon is lovesick with her.  He devises a plan, with the help of a friend, to have her enter his chamber (bedroom).   Since she was a virgin, she didn't go out and about.  She remained in her house, perhaps protected.   Tamar knows what will become of her if Amnon goes through with his wishes; she will be left aside, unable to marry (see Verse 20).  She seems willing to have become married to Amnon, but his lust clouds h...
Post a Comment
Read more

January 27 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 27 We'll be reading about atonement today.  T oday's video helps make sense of that biblical theme. DAILY READINGS Exodus 30-31 & Psalm 27 DAILY NOTES Exodus 30:6 Everything has its place.   Exodus 30:10 Once a year would be Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). Exodus 12-15 The Lord's offering is required of everyone equally (of the appropriate age).  Strangely enough, there is a designation of rich and poor.  Everyone has just come from Egypt.  How has that distinction arisen?   Exodus 31:13 It's interesting to compare how the idea of sabbath here relates to previous mentions of it.   Exodus 31:18 Moses had written the words down.  Now, with merely his finger, God has provided the tablets for all to remember the covenant that has been made.   Psalm 27 Have you ever prayed and prayed and prayed for something?  The psalmist seems to know the feeling.  His final adm...
Post a Comment
Read more

June 19 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 170 DAILY READINGS Jeremiah 7-9 & Psalm 15 DAILY NOTES Jeremiah 7 Notice the emphasis of God's house having God's name.  It belongs to God, but the people, through their unrighteous actions, have made it theirs.  God's house has been turned into a "den of robbers" (vs. 11).  Remember when Jesus said that (Matthew 21:13)? According to Jesus, what was the Temple supposed to be called? Remember when the people tried to use the ark of the covenant as a weapon against the Philistines (1 Samuel 4)?  That was at Shiloh.  Jeremiah brings that event to our minds again as a sign (vs. 14).  God says that human sacrifice was not his command, nor did it come to his mind.  You'll have to do some wrestling with the story of Abraham almost sacrificing Isaac (Genesis 22). Jeremiah 8 Jeremiah (God) says to unearth the kings' bones and lay them before the sun and moon and all the other gods they served and worshiped.  Ouch. Even animals ...
Post a Comment
Read more