Hello again! We are in Exodus, still reading familiar stories, and then we will get into some of God’s laws. As you read these chapters, think about God’s reason for giving those laws, and consider how those laws might fit into our lives today.
As they began to wander, God gave the Israelites manna because they were whining about not having any food. I thought this was pretty foolish of the Israelites; after all, God has just set them free from slavery in Egypt. Were they going to begin whining at the first bit of hard times? But someone reminded me recently that the Israelites still had the mentality of slavery at this moment in their history. They had been slaves for 430 years and had only been free for a few months. So we should cut them a little slack. But only a little. Trivia bit, just for fun: Manna means “What is it?”
In chapter 18, Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, gives Moses some very good advice: “Get help.” This is the beginning of the biblical court system. It is interesting that Jethro speaks to and about God and Moses speaks to and about the Lord. God and the Lord are the same person, but still, the use of the different names is interesting.
Finally, the Israelites come to Mt. Sinai. The Lord gives Moses the Ten Commandments as well as many (MANY) other laws, including instructions for building the Tabernacle and its furnishings. Fortunately, God also gave plans and wisdom to Bezalel and Oholiab, two skilled men who would help Moses in the building of the Tabernacle and all the things that were required for the many sacrifices.
Moses comes down off the mountain to find the Israelites...worshipping a golden calf. “We took off our earrings and threw them in the fire, and the calf jumped out!” Aaron claimed. Riiiiight... Moses broke the two original tablets on which God Himself had written the Ten Commandments; God is so angry (at the Israelites, not at Moses) that he threatens to destroy the people. Moses intercedes--not for the last time--and God relents.
After spending all this time with God, Moses finds that his face literally shines with God’s light. He has to wear a veil--the others cannot bear to look at him, his face is so bright. Now, while I still want to be able to look at people when I talk to them, this is my goal for all of us, that as a result of the time spent with God our very faces look different; that the world can tell, just by looking at us, that we have a special relationship with Him.
Have a great week!
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