Chapter 28 of Exodus starts with the garments the priests are to wear. Chapter 29 deals with the ordaining of priests. The laws continued through to the end of chapter 31, all specific and orderly. No stone appears to be left unturned, in this regard on how to worship God and how the priests are to look.
Chapter 32 starts with the people becoming restless in their wait for Moses to come down from the mountain. They took all of the gold earrings they had, melted them down, and crafted a golden bull-calf to worship. This made God very angry, and was about to destroy everyone had Moses not intervened. In verses 11-13 of chapter 32, Moses reminds God that He made a solemn promise to His people, starting with Abraham, that He would give them as many descendants as stars in the sky. Verse 14 starts with God changing His mind.
Moses then came down from the mountain, carrying the two stone tablets with the Ten Commandments written on them. He saw the golden calf and threw the stone tablets at it, breaking them. He melted the calf. Moses was angry at Aaron--always the people pleaser--for allowing it to happen, allowing the people to get out of control.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Laws, laws, and more laws
Exodus chapter 20, verse 22, through chapter 23 are various laws God set up for the ancient people of Israel.
It's safe to say that the bulk of them are very odd, and specific. But then again, God just rescued them from centuries of slavery into freedom.
I am not going to delve into any of these as they are irrelevant in today's society--as well as irrelevant once His son Jesus came and died for us. But that's for another day.
In chapter 24, we see Moses going up the mountain and coming down with stone tablets, with the various laws written out on them. Then, in chapter 25, God instructed them on how to make what He called the Covenent Box (i.e. the Ark of the Covenent). He was specific on how it was to be constructed, even down to the exact dimensions.
To continue on, chapter 26 is about a sacred Tent for God. Once again, very specific on what it should be made of and the exact dimensions. Then, in chapter 27, a sacred Altar is construted along with an enclosure for the sacred Tent.
It's safe to say that the bulk of them are very odd, and specific. But then again, God just rescued them from centuries of slavery into freedom.
I am not going to delve into any of these as they are irrelevant in today's society--as well as irrelevant once His son Jesus came and died for us. But that's for another day.
In chapter 24, we see Moses going up the mountain and coming down with stone tablets, with the various laws written out on them. Then, in chapter 25, God instructed them on how to make what He called the Covenent Box (i.e. the Ark of the Covenent). He was specific on how it was to be constructed, even down to the exact dimensions.
To continue on, chapter 26 is about a sacred Tent for God. Once again, very specific on what it should be made of and the exact dimensions. Then, in chapter 27, a sacred Altar is construted along with an enclosure for the sacred Tent.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Psalms 7 - God's Justice
Justice is the central theme in Psalms 7
The first two verses (1-2) talk about God being your protector from those who pursue you unjustly.
In verses 3-5, it is stated that if I have done harm to anyone else, let the punishment be swift, and to let my enemies catch me and put an end to my wicked deeds.
The rest of the Psalms, verses 6-17, talk about standing up to my enemies with God as the ultimate judge over all. God is the judge of all mankind, presiding over all of our thoughts and desires. God protects those who obey and worship Him, setting traps for my enemies where they are punished by their own evil.
In the end, God is thanked for His justice, and praises are sung to Him.
The first two verses (1-2) talk about God being your protector from those who pursue you unjustly.
In verses 3-5, it is stated that if I have done harm to anyone else, let the punishment be swift, and to let my enemies catch me and put an end to my wicked deeds.
The rest of the Psalms, verses 6-17, talk about standing up to my enemies with God as the ultimate judge over all. God is the judge of all mankind, presiding over all of our thoughts and desires. God protects those who obey and worship Him, setting traps for my enemies where they are punished by their own evil.
In the end, God is thanked for His justice, and praises are sung to Him.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
The Ten Commandments
In Exodus, chapter 19, Moses gathers the Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai, as commanded by the Lord God. They purified themselves, and a boundary was set around the mountain. If anyone crossed that barrier, they would be immediately put to death.
Starting at verse 16, God appeared before His people like a cloud and His words were like thunder. Everyone trembled with fear.
At chapter 20, verse 3 through 17, God gave out the Ten Commandments. I will refrain from repeating them here, for we all know them.
Starting at verse 16, God appeared before His people like a cloud and His words were like thunder. Everyone trembled with fear.
At chapter 20, verse 3 through 17, God gave out the Ten Commandments. I will refrain from repeating them here, for we all know them.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Even Moses Had To Delegate
In the first half of chapter 17, Exodus, God's people complained about not having water to drink.
Once again, God told Moses to go to Mount Sinai and strike one of the rocks there. He did. Water flowed from the rock. The people were happy.
In the last half of chapter 18, Moses settled the many disputes people brought to him. It was exhausting, and his father-in-law Jethro told him that he did not have to do everything himself. So, after much grumbling, Moses appointed judges to hear disputes from the lesser cases while he saved himself for the larger ones.
Thus came the first sign of delegation.
Once again, God told Moses to go to Mount Sinai and strike one of the rocks there. He did. Water flowed from the rock. The people were happy.
In the last half of chapter 18, Moses settled the many disputes people brought to him. It was exhausting, and his father-in-law Jethro told him that he did not have to do everything himself. So, after much grumbling, Moses appointed judges to hear disputes from the lesser cases while he saved himself for the larger ones.
Thus came the first sign of delegation.
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