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Holy, Loving Father; help us to understand your Kingdom more as we share our thoughts regarding the word you have given us today. Shed the scales from our eyes and help us to see your will anew.
Response to Exodus 32:1-33:23
Personally, I struggled with today's reading. I again sensed a difficulty with the timeline and felt prone to controversy as I thought there were some conflicting statements. Perhaps you can set me straight, or perhaps you shared my experience.
Exodus 32 begins towards the end of the 40 days Moses has been on the mountain. On February 4, we read in Exodus 24:7 that Moses read the covenant to the Israelites and then went up the mountain for 40 days. I was led to understand that this covenant would have been the 10 commandments and the laws that were listed in Exodus 20-23 which did not mention the tabernacle, priests clothing, or sacrifices. However, in Exodus 32:6, it says they offered burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings before eating and drinking and indulging in revelry. Either there is a separation in the timeline here, or these sacrifices had their base in earlier customs - and the 40 days on the mountain between God and Moses just defined the required practice.
Whatever the case, Moses sensed God's anger regarding this lewd behavior. Taken by itself, this is a difficult passage as we consider our premise of a God of Love as opposed to a God of wrath. I must consider several options:
1. As Moses is the writer, his anger is magnified in the writings and not necessarily representative of God.
2. As a society becomes obstinate and rebellious against the divine plan, God can wipe it out and start over. (see Jeremiah 18:5-11) this happened routinely throughout scripture to unrepentant nations.
3. This in no way constitutes all the possibilities, I will leave you to add your thoughts.
After pleading for the peoples lives and God's ultimate reputation, Moses expresses his own anger. He breaks the stone tablets which had the dictation of the 10 commandments in God's own handwriting. He grinds the metalic calf and makes the people drink it. He sends the Levites (note of all the tribes, this would have been Moses closest in relation)out to with swords swinging, and 3000 of the people fall.
I also find it interesting writing in that Aaron's story of the miraculous calf coming out of the fire is treated so matter of factly. I had to question the emotion of the writer - whether he was mocking Aaron who was to be High Priest. As the author is believed to be Moses, this certainly is a strange writing. Yet, true to form, the people God makes Holy are nothing but sinners in themselves.
Now, as we move on into Exodus 33, God speaks again of sending the angel ahead of the people and removing his presence. The people and Moses think this would be a bad idea, and so, God stays. Exodus 33:11 says that The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Yet, then in Exodus 33:20 and 23 God tells even Moses that no one shall see His face and live. This has always bothered me; not only because it says God spoke to Moses face to face within the same chapter, but because we are told that God presented himself to Abraham (Genesis 17:1, Genesis 18:1), and Jacob (Genesis 33:30).
Perhaps the answer to some of these questions lies in the fact that our earliest records are from the Septuagint translators. Many of the old documents from which today's Bible is written were compilations of greater or larger works, the originals having been lost. I cannot help but believe that not only the original author's understanding and interpretations of the events are revealed, but also the attitudes and ideologies of the interpretators. The fact remains that there is a defining line of the will of God throughout scripture - and that "All scripture is inspired of God, and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." (II Timothy 3:16 RSV). I have not found any translation which uses the word "infallible", yet this is the consistent verse used in that theological doctrine. I think we as readers would be in error not to question when our brains threw up red flags.
Two favorite verses for me were; Exodus 33:14 "The Lord replied, 'My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest,'" and Exodus 33:19 "And the Lord said, 'I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.'"
I felt the phrase I quoted in Exodus 33:19 seemed out of context - unless it referred to "I will proclaim my name". A Hebrew scholar may be able to help us out here. Paul also quoted this phrase from Exodus 33:19 in his letter to the Romans in Romans 9:15. He added in Romans 9:16-19; "So, it depends not upon man's will or exertion, but upon God's mercy. For the scripture says to Pharaoh, 'I have raised you up for the very purpose of showing my power in you, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.' So then he has mercy upon whomever he wills, and he hardens the heart of whomever he wills. You may say to me then, 'Why does He still find fault? For who can resist his will?'"
As Paul states in verse20 "who are you, a man to answer back to God?" What do we truly know of His plan. Would you be surprised to find that God had even saved those who's hearts were hardened as they had also served his ultimate purpose as a part of scripture offering inspiration, and profitable for reproof, correction, and training in righteousness? Could even the disjointedness of scripture in some places be a piece to the ultimate puzzle leading us to His ultimate purpose of peace on earth, good will toward men?
Response to Matthew 26:69-27:14
Did you notice the repentance of two sinners in today's passage? Most Christians I know love to relate themselves to Peter. Here was a rough fisherman. After a poor night with James and John and other fishermen, they witnessed an obvious miracle by Jesus. Perhaps after a night of bad jokes, oaths, and cursing, Peter presented himself to Jesus on his kness following the miracle saying "leave me, for I am a sinful man" (Luke 5:8). Now in fear in the courtyard, Peter returns to those same oaths, cursing, and denial. He is still a sinner, even though he has been one of Jesus closest disciples. He leaves, weeping bitterly and we all feel sorry for Him.
However, in Matthew 27:3, just a few verses later, Judas is heartbroken as he realizes his actions will lead to Jesus death. It seems obvious to me he had not forseen this outcome. The RSV even claims in Matthew 27:3 that "he repented." It is understandable that the Disciples were appalled at Judas judgment and wondered whether he had become possessed. But how is it that Christians today still stand in judgment on this man? I hear theologians attempting to separate one sin from the other. Yet, isn't our judgment in itself a sin of setting oneself up as God? We should all follow the action of Judas and Peter of repenting of our sin. God will have mercy upon whom He will have mercy and compassion upon whom He will have compassion. Who are we to ask why!
Again, it is good to take a critical look at the Bible noting bits and pieces of original text or discrepancies. Matthew refers to Jeremiah in Matthew 27:9 regarding the thirty silver coins. However, the 30 silver coins were mentoned in Zechariah 11:12 and 13 whereas 17 shekels were mentioned by Jeremiah in Jeremiah 32:9 and a similar story was portrayed in Jeremiah 19:1-13. Although various explanations have been presented for this discrepancy, it could have been changed in 2000 years. But it wasn't. Personally, that helps me to believe these words were actually written by the men generations have claimed wrote them attesting to what they saw and understood. Whether we believe their stories or not is our choice.
Meanwhile, Jesus stands waiting as we question whether He is King. Where is your heart? Hosannah? or Crucify?
Response to Psalm 33:1-11
Tonight I watched the movie "Fireproof" again. This movie was about so much more than salvation. It showed a couple how to love each other; Apply a tender heart, Forgive each other, Serve, Live purely. This Psalm says in verse 4 "For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does." This song speaks of the Creator's understanding of His creation. Nations and peoples are powerless if their purposes are against His will. Thus, there is great power in understanding the design of the creator!
Psalm 33:11 says "The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations." What do you feel those plans are? What sort of actions regarding your fellow man feel right? Hatred or kindness? Judgment or serving? Fighting or Peace? Holding a grudge or forgiveness?
Add some options, this could be fun!
Response to Proverbs 8:33-36
In my life, I have yet to find someone who loves death!
Isaiah 55:6 says Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let hem return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Today's Proverb is similar: "Listen...do not ignore...Blessed is the man who listens...watching...waiting...whoever finds me finds life and receives favor...But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death."
Choose Life - enjoy!
Rick
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