PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Exodus 19-21
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“You will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:6)
Some parts of this reading are encouraging, like how God chooses Israel (19:4-6).
Some are frightening, like the fear and warnings about meeting God (19:10-25).
Some are complicated, like now the 10 Commandments apply today (20:1-17).
And then there are all the specific laws, some making sense, others alarming (20:22-21:36)
Like turning daughters into slaves, then becoming part of a harem (21:7-11).
This challenges the way we read the Law, as if the laws were God’s forever will.
Mixed in the Law of Moses are laws that do NOT reflect God’s will.
Like divorce laws (Matthew 19:3-9) or ‘eye for eye’ laws (Matthew 5:38-42).
God’s grace and truth are revealed THROUGH the Law, but not every law is God’s truth.
God gave this imperfect law to an imperfect people, to prepare the way for Jesus.
Jesus is the perfect priest and kingdom, and we are His ‘kingdom of priests’ (1 Peter 2:9).
There are good hints and principles buried within the old covenant law.
Yet we are not under the Law of Moses but under the Law of Jesus (1 Corinthians 9:20-21)!
As you read these chapters, stay focused on Jesus: He reveals God’s forever will!
PRAYER
Lord, I find reading the old covenant hard. I like the good verses, but prefer to ignore the harder ones. Help me to see You through the Law, and to follow God’s grace and truth in You!
For some of the laws in the reading, I’m really glad Jesus died for me and I don’t need burnt offerings to pray and peace offerings to praise, for others I’m glad we don’t have slavery anymore, and others still are as true today as they were then.
I’m also reminded I still break laws, no matter how I want to justify them.
I see God’s people being transformed into a nation with laws and standards – the 10 commandments are such a gift – and the other laws as they try to provide justice in typical situations in the life of the Hebrews – to set standards of living that the people are to follow. God is presented as ‘super holy’ and powerful – so that the people would ‘fear’ him – so much so that they look to Moses to be an intermediary – which Jesus is for us today. God is still ultimate Holy – and we are not. Jesus says even our thoughts betray us and we break the law – I know I’m guilty. I need the mediator too – and through Him I can approach the throne of God and find God as Father! I’m grateful for the gift of the HS to help address the details of living rightly for him – instead of all these many laws.
Lord you prefaced the Ten Commandments reminding the Israelites that you are the Lord God who brought them out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. People were afraid because you spoke to them with thunder and lightning trembling of the mountain and with fire and you came to test them so that the fear of God will be with them to keep them from sinning. Yet they/ us kept on sinning until finally You spoke through your Son, the perfect Moses mediating between the Lord God and us your people.
And now Christmas is approaching and this is the celebration of Jesus our Savior when He first came sent by You Father your only begotten Son whom you love and pleases you in everything to be the ultimate sacrifice for the penalty of sin and be the Priest and build your kingdom with us His followers.
May we share the message with those around us that Jesus is at the beginning and center of Christmas and without Christ the season is but me and selfishness
God speaks.
God was speaking to His people then and they were to listen and do.
He still speaks today. Am I listening? Whose way am I walking this day called today?
As I start today I need again to be clothed in His ‘SonShine’ having my footsteps directed in the Way to go – lead by the Spirit.
Have Thine own way Lord
Have Thine own way
Thou art the potter I am the clay
Mold me and make me after Thy will
While I am waiting yielded and still
Have Thine own way Lord
Have Thine own way
Search me and try me Master today
Whiter than snow Lord wash me just now
As in Thy presence humbly I bow