Not to Be Overlooked

Exodus 37:25 He made the altar of incense of acacia wood. Its length was a cubit, and its breadth was a cubit. It was square, and two cubits was its height. Its horns were of one piece with it. 26 He overlaid it with pure gold, its top and around its sides and its horns. And he made a molding of gold around it, 27 and made two rings of gold on it under its molding, on two opposite sides of it, as holders for the poles with which to carry it. 28 And he made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.

Of all the furnishings in and around the temple, the smallest was this altar of incense.  Yet nothing was of any more importance, except perhaps the Ark of the Covenant. This was the continuous reminder of the need to come into God's presence, and in order to do so, be holy.  It is in a sense a "mini-Ark", with the gold and the rings to transport it, just like the ark.  From the perspective of the priests in Jesus' day, it was the one day of fame when they were to be the one to offer the incense, representing the prayers of God's people.  It was far from insignificant, not to be overlooked.  May we not overlook our need for prayer, nor the little opportunities God sends our way to draw us closer to Him and His plan.  

One Solid Foundation

Exodus 36:20 Then he made the upright frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood. 21 Ten cubits was the length of a frame, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each frame. 22 Each frame had two tenons for fitting together. He did this for all the frames of the tabernacle. 23 The frames for the tabernacle he made thus: twenty frames for the south side. 24 And he made forty bases of silver under the twenty frames, two bases under one frame for its two tenons, and two bases under the next frame for its two tenons. 25 For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty frames 26 and their forty bases of silver, two bases under one frame and two bases under the next frame. 27 For the rear of the tabernacle westward he made six frames. 28 He made two frames for corners of the tabernacle in the rear. 29 And they were separate beneath but joined at the top, at the first ring. He made two of them this way for the two corners. 30 There were eight frames with their bases of silver: sixteen bases, under every frame two bases.

God loves using buildings to picture our relationship with Him. It never has been the building itself as much as the things necessary for a secure fellowship with Him.  In typical detail, the assembly of the temple begins by focusing on how well the foundation and frame were made.  Seeing houses going up all the time near us, I wonder how some will ever stand. So it is with our lives. How important is this solid foundation to us? Will it stand the repeated stresses the tabernacle did: being moved around, facing the elements of life, being in the hands of many people tearing us down and trying to put us together again?

Willing Hearts

 

Exodus 35: 20 Then all the congregation of the people of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. 21 And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord's contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. 22 So they came, both men and women. All who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, all sorts of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the Lord. 23 And every one who possessed blue or purple or scarlet yarns or fine linen or goats' hair or tanned rams' skins or goatskins brought them. 24 Everyone who could make a contribution of silver or bronze brought it as the Lord's contribution. And every one who possessed acacia wood of any use in the work brought it. 25 And every skillful woman spun with her hands, and they all brought what they had spun in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. 26 All the women whose hearts stirred them to use their skill spun the goats' hair. 27 And the leaders brought onyx stones and stones to be set, for the ephod and for the breastpiece, 28 and spices and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense. 29 All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord.

When Moses had given everyone the description of the tabernacle and its furnishings, they left. But they also came back - not everyone, but everyone whose heart stirred him/whose spirit moved him or her/ who were of a willing heart. God does not make anyone be involved in worship; He invites us. Those who are wise/willing/wanted to experience His presence and power thankfully jump at the opportunity. May we respond with such hearts today.

Let's Try This Again...

Exodus 34:21 “Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest. 22 You shall observe the Feast of Weeks, the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the year's end. 23 Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel. 24 For I will cast out nations before you and enlarge your borders; no one shall covet your land, when you go up to appear before the Lord your God three times in the year. 25 “You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with anything leavened, or let the sacrifice of the Feast of the Passover remain until the morning. 26 The best of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring to the house of the Lord your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.”

The golden calf was a traumatic event in the journey from Egypt to the promised land. God had repeatedly provided and promised to be faithful and had offered His covenant with His people. Moses went back to God not only for new tablets, but a renewed hope of covenantal commitment on the part of his people. God made it even more clear that they were to remember He provided, and to avoid all the practices of the false idols around them. The last statement above was one of those very rituals, a barbaric taking of life from the young in pagan worship. In all they did (and we do) the spotlight shines on a faithful, loving God.

Who Is on the LORD's Side?

Exodus 32:25 And when Moses saw that the people had broken loose (for Aaron had let them break loose, to the derision of their enemies), 26 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the Lord's side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. 27 And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Put your sword on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor.’” 28 And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell. 29 And Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for the service of the Lord, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day.”

This chapter is one of the saddest, yet boldest passages in this book.  Moses was meeting with the Lord to finalize the Covenant with His people. Meanwhile the people were making the golden calf.  It was a dividing point.  After all God had brought them through, were they going to trust and worship Him - the very reason for which He had brought them out of Egypt. Or were they going to do things their own way? In verse 26, Moses draws the line to make them choose. The Levites - from whom He would call priests - were His warriors that day. They stood boldly on God's side.  Will we?

Only One Oil

Exodus 30:25 And you shall make of these a sacred anointing oil blended as by the perfumer; it shall be a holy anointing oil. 26 With it you shall anoint the tent of meeting, the altar of incense, 28 and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils and the basin and its stand. 29 You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy. Whatever touches them will become holy. 30 You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests. 31 And you shall say to the people of Israel, ‘This shall be my holy anointing oil throughout your generations. 

Once everything and everyone was ready for worship in the tabernacle, it was to be anointed with a special oil.  This was not any old oil: It was God-brand oil. Yet, at the same time, it was not a magical oil that turned something "holy."  It was not to be used on or by anything or anyone else, and it was not to be "pirated" and sold under another name. What made it and everything it touched "holy" was that God had instructed it and was obeyed in the details.  When God calls upon us to "be Holy," He tells us how, and it only happens through obedience to Him and help from Him.  What instructions have we ignored? What exceptions have we made? Are we trying to "be holy" some other way?

More than a Wave

Exodus 29:26 “You shall take the breast of the ram of Aaron's ordination and wave it for a wave offering before the Lord, and it shall be your portion. 27 And you shall consecrate the breast of the wave offering that is waved and the thigh of the priests' portion that is contributed from the ram of ordination, from what was Aaron's and his sons'. 28 It shall be for Aaron and his sons as a perpetual due from the people of Israel, for it is a contribution. It shall be a contribution from the people of Israel from their peace offerings, their contribution to the Lord.

Examining the sacrifices and offerings of Israel is a study in itself.  Each offering had a purpose in picturing the relationship of God and His people but also had inferences to the relationship of man to each other.  God made allowance through these offerings for the support of His priesthood. In particular, part of the peace offering was given to the priests for their ordination and service.  These were to be waved before God as a recognition of where they came from - Him, not somebody else. Some scholars say that they were waved horizontally, while others were waved vertically.  The point is that God is watching our waving. It is to be sincere, a mark of dependence upon Him and of things being right between us and others. May our "wave" be sincere.

Close to the Heart

Exodus 28:23 And you shall make for the breastpiece two rings of gold, and put the two rings on the two edges of the breastpiece. 24 And you shall put the two cords of gold in the two rings at the edges of the breastpiece. 25 The two ends of the two cords you shall attach to the two settings of filigree, and so attach it in front to the shoulder pieces of the ephod. 26 You shall make two rings of gold, and put them at the two ends of the breastpiece, on its inside edge next to the ephod. 27 And you shall make two rings of gold, and attach them in front to the lower part of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, at its seam above the skillfully woven band of the ephod. 28 And they shall bind the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, so that it may lie on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, so that the breastpiece shall not come loose from the ephod. 29 So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the Lord.

Like with the tabernacle and its furnishings, God gave specific details to Moses about the garments of the High Priest. The breastpiece, with the twelve gems representing the twelve tribes, had to be rather heavy. It probably was somewhat of a burden to bear. It was also a stunning, "one-of-a-kind" garment. There was no mistaking who the High Priest was. Wearing it could lead to a "look-at-me" pride, but that was not God's intent. Rather, as this passage concludes, the one who wore it was to remember why he had it: to keep God's people in his heart as he remembered them before the Lord.  May God give us loving hearts as we remember His people before Him.

Putting It All Together

Exodus 26:26 “You shall make bars of acacia wood, five for the frames of the one side of the tabernacle, 27 and five bars for the frames of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames of the side of the tabernacle at the rear westward. 28 The middle bar, halfway up the frames, shall run from end to end. 29 You shall overlay the frames with gold and shall make their rings of gold for holders for the bars, and you shall overlay the bars with gold. 30 Then you shall erect the tabernacle according to the plan for it that you were shown on the mountain.

God had given Moses detailed destructions on all the parts and furnishings of the tabernacle.  Now it was time to put all the pieces together.  Many times, as God is working on our lives and the future He has for us, it is hard to imagine what the finished product will look like.  We are fascinated with the intricate details He shows us along the way, but it can be difficult to clearly see what it will be like when they are all put together.  We have materials lying around to build, but nowhere to put the table, the lights. God has the blueprint, the plan to put it all together. He wants us to trust Him with each page and each part. When we do, His tabernacle, His presence with us as His people is truly amazing.

The Table of His Presence

Exodus 25:23 “You shall make a table of acacia wood. Two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 24 You shall overlay it with pure gold and make a molding of gold around it. 25 And you shall make a rim around it a handbreadth wide, and a molding of gold around the rim. 26 And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and fasten the rings to the four corners at its four legs. 27 Close to the frame the rings shall lie, as holders for the poles to carry the table. 28 You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, and the table shall be carried with these. 29 And you shall make its plates and dishes for incense, and its flagons and bowls with which to pour drink offerings; you shall make them of pure gold. 30 And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me regularly.

When God gave directions for the furnishings of His Tabernacle, He went to great detail and expense. It was not to flaunt or show off, but to draw attention to the fact that He was with them and wanted to have fellowship with them - regularly.  Like the Ark of the Covenant, it had rings and poles to be carried wherever God led them. There was also very much a preview of the Lord's table with the drink offerings and bread.  God wants us to meet with Him regularly. Let us not ignore His invitation.

Missed Blessings

Exodus 23:23 “When my angel goes before you and brings you to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, and I blot them out, 24 you shall not bow down to their gods nor serve them, nor do as they do, but you shall utterly overthrow them and break their pillars in pieces. 25 You shall serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you. 26 None shall miscarry or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days. 27 I will send my terror before you and will throw into confusion all the people against whom you shall come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. 28 And I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites from before you. 29 I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you. 30 Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land.

When God led the people out of Egypt and prepared them to enter the promised land, it was almost like Eden all over again - a fresh start without many of the curses of life.  If they would serve Him and not the pagan idols, they would easily be able to take over the land smoothly, settle down comfortably, and raise their families in peace and prosperity. If they would obey.  How many blessings do we still forfeit because we fail to trust, serve, and obey the Lord our God?

Extreme Compassion

 Exodus 22:25 “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. 26 If ever you take your neighbor's cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, 27 for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.

Sometimes we get so caught up in the things of this life and the way things are done in this world that we miss the big picture.  Israel was being called upon to represent God in this world.  So are we.  One of the overwhelming characteristics of God is His compassion.  He cares about those in need. Do we? Do we listen to their cries? He does.  This pledge of the cloak meant something. As God's people our word should mean something.  When Christ talked about the taking of one's tunic, he went on to say we should offer our cloak also. If anything, our compassion should be extreme.

Free to Go, But Wanting to Stay

 Exodus 21:26 “When a man strikes the eye of his slave, male or female, and destroys it, he shall let the slave go free because of his eye. 27 If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, male or female, he shall let the slave go free because of his tooth.

Whenever we see the word "slave," we cringe.  We get the picture of chains, abuse, and arrogance. This chapter gives an altogether different understanding of what things were like in Israel.  Being a slave was something entered into to pay off debts.  There was a limited time period involved (six years), and if the slave wanted to stay, he could ask to do so. Why would he want to? Because he had found a safe, secure and loving household where he felt he was a productive member.  These two verses give a way out if the slave found the household otherwise, being abused by his master.  Any abuse was not to be tolerated. The slave's agreed upon time to serve would be dismissed and he would be free to go.  God's word always is a reflection of His character. In His household He treats all members lovingly and wants them to stay. He does not abuse.  If you are doing your part, you want to stay.

Worship 101

Exodus 20:22 And the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the people of Israel: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have talked with you from heaven. 23 You shall not make gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold. 24 An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it. 26 And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it.’

The beginning of this chapter is well-known: The Ten Commandments.  Much less known is this last paragraph.  We recall that the whole reason God gave Moses to tell Pharoah that Israel was leaving Egypt was to Worship. God is about to tell Israel how to worship. It is altogether different from that of the worship of idols, beginning with the altar. It is to be simple, natural, modest - not flashy, high tech, and attended to by temple prostitutes. The focus is not to be on the place as much as the Person we come to worship. He is holy; we are to come humbly.  Worship is mobile: God's people together can do it wherever we are - with Him as the focus. Worship: let's keep it that simple.

I Can't Do This Myself

Exodus 18:24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 26 And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. 27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country.

As we look back at biblical characters like Moses, we see them as bigger than life. It would be easy to imagine they themselves began to see themselves as bigger, with all God did through them.  But we also see each came to a reality check, realizing that they could not do it all by themselves. Moses needed Aaron and Miriam, Joshua and Caleb, and a lot more people to help in doing what God had called them to. We also need to have the wisdom to know when to accept, ask for, and appreciate others input into our lives. Whatever you are doing (and probably at times struggling with), don't be afraid to receive the gift of others. Have the humility to ask for it. Give God thanks for them.

Simply Follow the Instructions

 Exodus 16:22 On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers each. And when all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, 23 he said to them, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.’” 24 So they laid it aside till the morning, as Moses commanded them, and it did not stink, and there were no worms in it. 25 Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. 26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none.” 27 On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they found none. 

We quickly see a pattern developing when they people head into the wilderness to worship God. They complain; God hears their complaints and provides their need and instructions for handling that provision. Two things happen next: some violated the instructions - blatantly disobeying, while others come against another issue and many complain again.  God gives clear and simple instructions. All we need to do is trust and learn to trust Him more. Then, when another need or issue arises, call out in faith to Him, and He WILL direct our paths.  We make things so complicated.

How Quickly We Forget!

Exodus 15:24 And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” 25 And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them, 26 saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.” 27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water.

This chapter opens with the song of Moses after the Lord's deliverance of Israel through the sea, but by the time we get to the end of the chapter the people are already complaining and doubting their great God. We have the same tendency: to forget the great faithfulness of God. God reminded them, and reminds us, of His great promises: He is our Healer. He is not out to poison us. He wants us trust. When we do, He will provide abundantly: twelve springs of water for twelve tribes, and all we need.

Vivid Reminders

 Exodus 14:26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the Lord threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained. 29 But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore

God did exactly what He said he would: He got Pharaoh to beg them to leave and even paid them to do so. But he had a change of heart and sent his army after them, cornering them at the sea.  Having no way out but God's, they were able to walk through the sea safely, then turn and see God get Egypt off their backs once and for all.  Once again, He gave them visual effects - vivid memories - to help them remember their deliverance.  He still does: visual pictures, emotional triggers, even scars, to remind us that without Him we would never be where we are today.  May those reminders move us to trust Him more.

Why Do We Do This?

 

Exodus 12:24 You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever. 25 And when you come to the land that the Lord will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this service. 26 And when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ 27 you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.’” And the people bowed their heads and worshiped.

The series of plagues on Egypt finally reached their climax with the death of the firstborn. But lest we think that they were all about Egypt, we are reminded that they were first of all lessons for God's people of Israel, which were to be passed down.  Their descendants would ask: "Why?"  Much more important than how or when, we need to understand and answer the "Why?" questions the best we can.  Notice that being able to do so drew the people to worship. They were not even out of Egypt yet, but they were learning to worship. They would begin their sacrifice and worship there before they set out on their journey. Life is about learning to worship God as He deserves, wherever we are.

Righter Words Were Never Spoken

Exodus 10:24 Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, “Go, serve the Lord; your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind.” 25 But Moses said, “You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. 26 Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the Lord our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the Lord until we arrive there.” 27 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go. 28 Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me; take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die.” 29 Moses said, “As you say! I will not see your face again.”

Moses really did not know everything. God had laid out the general plan: "Go, tell Pharaoh to let my people go, so they can worship me. He won't let you, but eventually he will beg you to go."  Moses did not know which animals he would need for sacrifice. God had not told him yet. But he did know this was the last time he would see Pharoah. God had used Pharaoh to give a true prophecy. He was tired of Moses and all his bad news. He did not want to hear the truth from him, so God made Pharoah speak the truth himself. If we are faithful and true, eventually the enemy will do the same, and we will be vindicated and set free indeed.

The Exceptions

Exodus 9:23 Then Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. 24 There was hail and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very heavy hail, such as had never been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25 The hail struck down everything that was in the field in all the land of Egypt, both man and beast. And the hail struck down every plant of the field and broke every tree of the field. 26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel were, was there no hail.

What becomes increasingly apparent in the curses God was bringing on Egypt was the fact that some of them were selective - experienced by everyone "except" Israel, and those close to them.  Obviously, God was presenting the facts to Pharaoh in such a way that he should be able to discern the difference. But when the heart is bent on hardness and arrogance, it takes a lot of convincing.  For any of us who have been a part of God's people, we know what it is to see God's blessing in a special way - not because we are so perfect and wonderful, but because we trust the One who is.  God is exceptional, and when we trust and worship Him, His blessings to us are exceptional too.

Progress in Negotiations?

 

Exodus 8:25 Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.” 26 But Moses said, “It would not be right to do so, for the offerings we shall sacrifice to the Lord our God are an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice offerings abominable to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us? 27 We must go three days' journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God as he tells us.” 28 So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you must not go very far away. Plead for me.” 29 Then Moses said, “Behold, I am going out from you and I will plead with the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow. Only let not Pharaoh cheat again by not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.” 30 So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord. 

They say: "third times a charm," but there was not even any apparent progress with Pharaoh until after the fourth plague sent by God. At that point he finally said: I will let you go... but not very far away. Of course, once again, Pharaoh cheated again, and Moses warned him not to, and did not let Israel go out. Sometimes when we are seeking progress in moving forward, it will seem like we are "getting somewhere", only to be let down again.  Do not lose heart. Take any sign as "progress," stick to the promises of God, to His timing, and to His standards.  He is still working, even on hardened hearts.

A Mixed Bag

Exodus 6:26 These are the Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said: “Bring out the people of Israel from the land of Egypt by their hosts.” 27 It was they who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing out the people of Israel from Egypt, this Moses and this Aaron. 28 On the day when the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, 29 the Lord said to Moses, “I am the Lord; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.” 30 But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips. How will Pharaoh listen to me?”

This chapter contains the genealogy of Aaron and Moses, posted with the reminder to Moses that God was the One at work on Pharaoh's heart.  Moses' question becomes part of his heritage: always asking God how he could be used to turn the heart of Pharaoh around.  It contains a mix of humility and unbelief. Also, on the one hand Moses will also have his brother as his "right hand man," but at times Aaron will be more of a hindrance than a help.  Moses is the most overshadowing character of the Old Testament, and his calling and leadership reminds us that God uses imperfect, even resistant characters to carry out His will. There is indeed hope for us all. 

Forgotten Details

 Exodus 4:21 And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’” 24 At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it and said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” 26 So he let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.

In Exodus we are introduced to the next big character of scripture after Joseph: Moses. After calling him, God tells him to head back to Egypt. He tells him ahead of time about all the signs He will give to Pharoah, including the killing of the firstborn. (If we were reading carefully we would not be surprised later.) Another forgotten detail her is that of circumcision, which had been commanded to Abraham. Since Moses had been raised in Pharoah's house, he had not been circumcised. Zipporah took care of that little detail Moses had forgotten. They were now ready to move forward. How many details do we forget (neglectfully or intentionally) that God has told us?

Always Looking Forward in Hope...

Genesis 50:22 So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father's house. Joseph lived 110 years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph's own. 24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

As we come to the conclusion of the month, this book, and the extensive account of Joseph's life, we are once again impressed with the fact that he was always looking forward. Even on his death, he looked at his heirs with hope, convinced that God would keep the promise He had given to his forefathers: to take them to the Promised Land.  The word "visit" used in verse 24 has a sense of "seeking out to attend to, with the intent to provide what is needed." What a picture of what God promises to His people. That is the same kind of care we can look forward to. Let us continue following Him.

Mighty Blessings from a Mighty God

 

Genesis 49:22 “Joseph is a fruitful bough,
    a fruitful bough by a spring;
    his branches run over the wall.
23 The archers bitterly attacked him,
    shot at him, and harassed him severely,
24 yet his bow remained unmoved;
    his arms were made agile
by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob
    (from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),
25 by the God of your father who will help you,
    by the Almighty who will bless you
    with blessings of heaven above,
blessings of the deep that crouches beneath,
    blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
26 The blessings of your father
    are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents,
    up to the bounties of the everlasting hills.
May they be on the head of Joseph,
    and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers.

The blessing Jacob gave over Joseph and his two sons stands out from that of all his brothers. He was greatly blessed by God, set apart, for enduring through many trials, remaining faithful to God, being used by Him to bring his people safely through their struggles.

Thankful and Taxed; Taxed and Thankful

Genesis 47:23 Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have this day bought you and your land for Pharaoh. Now here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. 24 And at the harvests you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and as food for yourselves and your households, and as food for your little ones.” 25 And they said, “You have saved our lives; may it please my lord, we will be servants to Pharaoh.” 26 So Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt, and it stands to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth; the land of the priests alone did not become Pharaoh's. 27 Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen. And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly. 

Throughout the famine in Egypt, everyone ran out of money and food, and ended up selling their land to Pharoah.  In return, they received food, and a contract to continue to give Pharoah a fifth of their harvests. The land now belonged to Pharoah. This arrangement worked out well for Israel, as God blessed them. Joseph had secured for them a safe place to thrive.  God works things out... even if we have to pay taxes.

Falling and Weeping on the Neck

Genesis 4:26 All the persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt, who were his own descendants, not including Jacob's sons' wives, were sixty-six persons in all. 27 And the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two. All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy. 28 He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. 29 Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. 

There are some phrases in the scripture that stick out to me as so picturesque they are memorable, like here in verse 26.  This is one of several high points of this whole account of restoration between Joseph and his family.  When he finally sees his long-lost father he fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. What a picture of hugging one you love and thought you lost.  We get a similar picture when the prodigal comes home to his father. Whatever the relationship, is it not worth the effort, prayer, hope, and trust to be able to one day "fall on their necks"?

A Good Kind of Numb

Genesis 45:25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. 26 And they told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

Finally, in this chapter Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers in this long, involved account. They go through the whole range of emotions from disbelief to fear to joy.  The same is true in verse 26 above, when they go home to "show and tell" their father what they have experienced.  This gave Jacob a whole new perspective on life.  He was no longer old, hungry, and sad, but renewed with life, purpose, and joy. What at first numbed him - was too good to be true, reinvigorated him to make the journey and join the party.  May we be open to ways God does this in our lives and make every effort to fully embrace them.

Dealing with Our Past

Genesis 44:24 “When we went back to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. 25 And when our father said, ‘Go again, buy us a little food,’ 26 we said, ‘We cannot go down. If our youngest brother goes with us, then we will go down. For we cannot see the man's face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ 27 Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons. 28 One left me, and I said, “Surely he has been torn to pieces,” and I have never seen him since. 29 If you take this one also from me, and harm happens to him, you will bring down my gray hairs in evil to Sheol.’

The account of Joseph and his brothers is one of painstaking details, rehashing the facts over and over. That's what guilt will do to us until everything is out in the open.  It is part of the process of renewal and reconciliation: to dig out and deal with things forthrightly.  It is Judah who speaks here - the same one who stood up and pleaded to not kill Joseph. In Christlike fashion, he steps in and offers to take the place of his younger brother, Benjamin, and be held till the others return with their father, completing the family reunion.  The whole picture is emotionally agonizing, yet necessary. If we want things to really be made right, we need to deal with our past. 

The Prodigal Family Comes Home

 Genesis 43:26 When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present that they had with them and bowed down to him to the ground. 27 And he inquired about their welfare and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” 28 They said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves. 29 And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!” 30 Then Joseph hurried out, for his compassion grew warm for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there. 

The narrative has been building as we see Joseph receiving yet another visit from his brothers.  The emotion becomes so great he cannot contain himself: his father is still alive and well and his younger brother stands before him. The passage goes on to tell how Joseph lavishes hospitality on his brothers (still unknown to them) and how perplexed they were. But It all makes perfect sense in his heart and mind: his family is coming home to him.  What a picture of what Christ will offer us when we come home to Him.

What is This That God Has Done to Us?

Genesis 42:26 Then they loaded their donkeys with their grain and departed. 27 And as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder at the lodging place, he saw his money in the mouth of his sack. 28 He said to his brothers, “My money has been put back; here it is in the mouth of my sack!” At this their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?”

God had put Joseph right where he needed to be, for his own good, the survival of his family, and the well-being of multitudes of people. Through him there was grain available for his family to buy. Since they had not seen him mature into manhood, they did recognize him, but he recognized them. What he did for them was seen as too good to be good: gave them the grain with their money back.  He was blessing them and testing them, much like God often does to us.  They saw their good fortune as bad luck. Guilt was heavy upon them though they did not know where it came from.  Such events can and should cause us to search our hearts.  Not only when bad things happen, but good, we should ask: "What is God doing here?"

Learning from the Lean and Ugly.

Genesis 41:25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one. 27 The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine. 28 It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 

Since we last discussed Joseph, his life had gone from bad to worse - from a pit to prison, only to be forgotten.  But in God's plan he was the one and only one present who could do what needed to be done: reveal God's plan to Pharoah. Through his struggles, Joseph had gotten to know God very well, and to know what God was saying and showing. It was clear to him, so he puts it plainly here to Pharoah. As the account proceeds, God had also been preparing Joseph to be a further part of the plan. His time in Potiphar's household and a trusted steward in the prison had trained him in business and administration. It was clear to him what needed to be done. Joseph had had his "lean and ugly" years, so he knew what to do with them. Prepare for them and build on them.  May we learn the same.

She Is More Righteous than I...

Genesis 38:24 About three months later Judah was told, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has been immoral. Moreover, she is pregnant by immorality.” And Judah said, “Bring her out, and let her be burned.” 25 As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law, “By the man to whom these belong, I am pregnant.” And she said, “Please identify whose these are, the signet and the cord and the staff.” 26 Then Judah identified them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not know her again.

After preventing his brother Joseph's murder, the focus turns on Judah. Though he was of greater character than his three older brothers, who had compromised themselves, keeping them from being foremost, Judah shows quickly he was less than perfect. He had withdrawn from his brothers and was living more like the Canaanites.  Having neglected to give his widowed daughter-in-law to his final son in levirate marriage, Judah was enticed by her to father his own descendant, protecting her protection by producing an heir. Judah had to admit his failure, added to the list of his brothers. May we never defend ourselves as otherwise.

When a Wiser Head Prevails...

Genesis 37:25 Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. 26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him.

In the eyes of his brothers, Joseph was a pest and a pain.  Given the chance, many of them wanted to get rid of him for good.  Here they had their chance.  He came far enough away from his daddy that they could come up with a plan. While Joseph sat in the pit without food or water, they sat around the campfire eating and deciding.  Judah remembered Cain and Abel. That did not end well for the surviving brother. The alternative presented itself and Judah found a way to spare his younger brother's life. Maybe not the ultimate solution, but better than murder.  How often (or rarely) do wiser heads prevail in our decisions?

The House of Hope (and horrors)

Genesis 35: 22 Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. 23 The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob's firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. 24 The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 25 The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's servant: Dan and Naphtali. 26 The sons of Zilpah, Leah's servant: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.

This list of verses listing the sons of Jacob are proceeded and followed by the record of the deaths of his wife Rachel (in childbirth) and his father Isaac.  It was a full house which was full of future history. This is the next generation, representing both the hopes and horrors of what might happen in and to their nation. We will get to see who has learned to trust God like Jacob, and who will take things into their own hands. 

Shame at Shechem

 Genesis 34:25 On the third day, when they were sore, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took their swords and came against the city while it felt secure and killed all the males. 26 They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the sword and took Dinah out of Shechem's house and went away. 27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister. 28 They took their flocks and their herds, their donkeys, and whatever was in the city and in the field. 29 All their wealth, all their little ones and their wives, all that was in the houses, they captured and plundered. 30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me stink to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites. My numbers are few, and if they gather themselves against me and attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and my household.”

The Bible does not hold back on sharing the sad stories of God's people. Jacob had finally learned to trust and have others trust him, when this takes place. These men's sister had been taken by force and mistreated by the men of Shechem and they wanted revenge.  The took it out not just on the offender or the men, but the whole city.  They destroyed the trust Jacob was trying to build.  Justice needs to be upheld, but how often do we go too far, thereby destroy the trust a watching world has in our words and our character?  How many problems do we cause for ourselves and our God?

Stop Struggling and Let God Bless You

Genesis 32:24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.”

Jacob's life had been a constant struggle: with his brother, his father, his father-in-law and wives, and God. All along the way, God had been promising to bless Him, but Jacob always had to do it His own way. The reality is that in this struggling match God really won.  God was not leaving Him in the morning; He and His blessing would remain. Jacob needed to stop struggling and trust Him. So do we.

How Slowly We Learn to Trust.

Genesis 30:25 And Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsmen pitched tents in the hill country of Gilead. 26 And Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have tricked me and driven away my daughters like captives of the sword? 27 Why did you flee secretly and trick me, and did not tell me, so that I might have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre? 28 And why did you not permit me to kiss my sons and my daughters farewell? Now you have done foolishly. 29 It is in my power to do you harm. But the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’

Jacob had experienced God's blessings and protection over and over, yet he decided to take action that was less than above-board.  Both men had tricked one another, but Jacob had the longest track record: since birth he had trusted in trickery more than in God. It had also rubbed off on Jacob's wife Rachel, who had unknown to Jacob, stuffed away some family idols and heirlooms.  Whom could they trust? Whom do you not trust - even after all these years? Has part of that mistrust been due to your actions?

Overtime Benefits

 Genesis 30:25 As soon as Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own home and country. 26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, that I may go, for you know the service that I have given you.” 27 But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight, I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you. 

When Jacob had served Laban seven more years for Rachel, after being tricked into marrying Leah (see yesterday's post), Laban kept finding ways to keep Joseph around. Not willing to say so at the time, Laban realized that he was being blessed through Joseph. There was something about Joseph's birth which prompted Jacob to finally leave.  Of course, he was in no hurry to go back where his brother Esau was, fearing that bitterness had settled in and his elder brother would envy his success.  It probably was a key time for Rachel as well, not that she had proved to her family she could bear a son, she could now leave with no shame. Joseph was more than due overtime pay. Sometimes God keeps us places and we wonder why so long. He has His plans and purposes. Besides preparing us for greater things, He is preparing special blessings to take along with us.

The Trickster is Tricked

 

Genesis 29:25 And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” 26 Laban said, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.” 28 Jacob did so and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 

We have been following along in the historical record how God brought about His people Israel, working out His plan for man.  We have seen Jacob the heel-grabber take his elder brother's blessing by deception, but now the shoe is on the other heal. Verse 26 sticks out like a slap in the face: the younger does not marry before the firstborn.  Jacob has been beaten by his own game.  Some call this karma, but it is more "learning a lesson the hard way."  If we think we are in total control of our lives (and others around us) we are sadly mistaken.  Stop trying to play every angle to get your way.  Seek God's way first, and He will work things out for your good.

Has It Come to This?

 Genesis 27:26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near and kiss me, my son.” 27 So he came near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him and said,
“See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed!
28 May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine.
29 Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”
30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 

We saw the other day how Jacob was born holding on to the heal of his older brother - always trying to keep up with him. Here we find him making that final tug to pull him back and get ahead at the finish line. The problem was, God had already promised the things Jacob (and his mother) connived to get. God promises and provides. He doesn't need us to cheat to receive what He says He will give. Do we trust Him enough to wait for His time and His way? 

Back to Beersheba

 Genesis 26:26 When Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army, 27 Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?” 28 They said, “We see plainly that the Lord has been with you. So we said, let there be a sworn pact between us, between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you, 29 that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.” 30 So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31 In the morning they rose early and exchanged oaths. And Isaac sent them on their way, and they departed from him in peace. 32 That same day Isaac's servants came and told him about the well that they had dug and said to him, “We have found water.” 33 He called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.

We could also have called this passage "Like father, like son."  Abraham had faced a similar situation years before, have those who had harassed him do a 180 and want to have a covenant between them. Here they came to see God was blessing Isaac and they wanted him (and Him) on their side. Isaac was the perfect host, and during the celebration the covenant was made. Word also came that the water they needed was found. It was a true celebration.