Thursday, September 3, 2009

Exodus Chapters 34-36

34:6ff - The Lord is speaking about the Lord...kinda gives you that impression of plurality like Genesis (Let US make man in OUR image)...for me this is yet another representation of the trinitarian nature of God. Father, Son and Spirit in perfect community and they can speak not of arrogance about themselves, but out of fact. God is simply stating who He is. God saying He is merciful and gracious is like me saying, "I am a husband and father" - it is what it is.

34:12ff- This is a challenge and warning for God-followers. If you have made a covenant with God, you better not be running off to offer yourself to the world. Be very careful that you do not allow your culture or your country to take God's place as what you follow. God treats pagan culture so harshly in the OT because they have already been "whoring" themselves to false gods (That's how my ESV says it)...and God wants to be sure the Israelites do not start selling themselves to fake idols (Look at what happens to them every time they allow that stuff in their culture through the OT!).

34:28 - Here we see some more Christ-like imagery in the life of Moses. Moses was a messianic type figure for the people of Israel. God used Moses to save His people and bring them out of slavery. Here we see Moses fasting for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert with no food and water (Sound familiar?). He is a messianic figure, but he still could not truly save the people...Moses is not the perfect Messiah...we see his flaws throughout the Exodus story. He is just one more part of the puzzle that tells humanity, "We cannot save ourselves!"

34:35 - Here we see one of Moses' flaws. I believe that he veils his face after coming out of the tent, because he does not want the people to see the glory start to fade. He struggles with pride and we will see as we continue on, that his pride will keep him out of the Promised Land. Are there things you hide from people because you don't want them to know you are imperfect? Why? God glory shines through our imperfection. God's strength is evident in the face of our weaknesses.

35:29 - Again and again in this chapter we see that God only wants gifts and service from those who have their heart in it. God does not need our robotic, heartless obedience...God wants us to willingly offer ourselves. God wants what we have to offer when we are moved by the power of His love and mercy.

36:6 - How cool would it be if this was a problem in churches today? Imagine it - David Garison has to get up as church and tell people to stop giving because we have more than enough! That would be cool! The Israelite people finally have connected with God and are finally starting to understand what He has done for them and they offer everything to him. That's how I want to live!!!

3 comments:

Matt said...

I really like how harmonic the israelites become when they are told to build the tabernacle. People of all talents use their gifts toward the Kingdom of God. It's a shame that this kind of community has become rare in the world today.

Brand al Thor said...

True Matty True

Lucie said...

I agree with Matt. Its like what you said in church on sunday, brandon. The people were giving all they had to God, their talents and materials, and money so freely that there was way more than enough supplies and offerings. When I see that kind of giving, it makes me see how I really don't give freely most of the time. At least when it comes to my tithe, I barely give 10% and some weeks I just pretend like God doesn't expect me to give money, because He knows I "need" it for something "important" like gas and chick fil a and movies.