Day 2 Exodus 10-13
Day 3 Exodus 14-18
Day 4 Exodus 19-21
Day 5 Exodus 22-24
Day 6 Exodus 25-28
Thoughts and Questions
- This week, we are going to go all the way from Israel's captivity, through the plagues on Egypt, their escape through the Red Sea, forty years of wandering through the desert, the giving of the law, to instructions for constructing the tabernacle. I said it last week and I'll say it again. Watch for God (it's not hard) in everything you read this week. Note how He is ultimately in control of Israel's and Egypt's fates.
- The Israelites during the time of Moses were fortunate enough to see numerous miracles, including the plagues, parting of the Red Sea, being provisioned with manna, etc. Yet, despite seeing these things first hand, they are disobedient and even go to the extreme of worshiping other gods. How can this be? How can they see these things and seemingly forget them overnight? Would you or I be different? Why or why not?
- As you read the Ten Commandments in Chapter 20, do you notice a pattern in their sequence?
- In the desert, God provided manna for the Israelites every day, but they were only allowed to gather a day's worth each time (except prior to the Sabbath). Why do you think God made this rule?
Anyone else have a hard time figuring out how the Egyptian magicians could have replicated the signs (snakes, blood, frogs, etc.) that Moses and Aaron were displaying? No magician is that good. The only thing I can come up with is that God was "helping" the magicians do their tricks. Thoughts?
ReplyDeleteTaken as a whole, the laws of Chapter 22 probably tended to reduce conflict and escalating revenge. The people know the penalties for specific offenses instead of deciding for themselves.
ReplyDeleteExactly, Gary. God had a hand at allowing the Pharaoh's magicians to perform some of the miracles. This took place so Pharaoh's heart would remain hardened.
ReplyDeleteThere is an important sequence to the 10 commandments. Good topic, Gary!!
ReplyDeleteLet's start with the first commandment, “I am the Lord, your God.” A king must first establish his domination, and only then can he begin to declare laws.
I am God “...Who released you from Egypt.” God mentioned this miraculous event as opposed to His creating the world, since the Jewish people at Mt. Sinai would be more affected by something they themselves experienced. And because someone might think that the Creator was a different god...
(2) The second commandment says, “Have no other gods.” The God Who released the Jews from Egypt is the One and Only God. Now, if believing in God is so holy, perhaps it would be good to mention God's name at most important and serious times, like a public trial. And even if someone is giving false testimony, he might think that no one will catch his lie, and the main thing is to sanctify God's holy name before other people. Therefore, God says...
(3) “Do not swear falsely by My name.”
(4) On the topic of sanctifying God's name, comes Shabbat. Jewish tradition calls each day of the week according to Shabbat: “Today is the first day of the Shabbat (week),” and then the second, third, fourth, etc., up until Shabbat, which we sanctify as a holy day. In calling each day according to Shabbat and then sanctifying Shabbat, we are constantly sanctifying God's name, for we are always acknowledging God’s supremacy; after all, He created the entire world in six days and rested on the seventh.
(5) From honoring God with Shabbat, we move on to honoring parents. There are three partners in creating a person: the mother, father, and God. If we honor our parents who created our finite bodies, then God also considers honor to Himself, the Creator of our infinite souls. Also, we see that the first five commandments relate to Godly matters, and the latter five relate to human matters. Therefore, the first five all include God's name within the commandment, whereas the latter five do not. The proof that God includes Himself in honoring parents, is in the fact that His name appears within the commandment.
The second five commandments parallel the first five:
(6) “Do not murder,” relates to belief in God since man is made in God's image. In murder, a person denies belief in the Godly part of a human being.
(7) “Do not commit adultery,” parallels the prohibition of idolatry. These two forbidden acts tended to go hand-in-hand; for both commandments teach us to be faithful—to God, and to our spouse.
(8) “Do not steal (kidnap),” corresponds to not swearing falsely, since a thief or kidnapper would most probably come to lie under oath.
(9) Bearing false witness. If we are careful with our speech, we would of course not come to speak falsely of our fellow man. And man is a creation of God. So falsely accuses a man is falsely accusing God through that human being's soul.
(10) “Do not envy,” corresponds to honoring parents. A person who is filled with jealousy will not grant even his own parents their minimum physical requirements, since he is so guarding of his own possessions and lustful for those of others.
Whaddya think?
The daily manna rule was to keep the Israelites from both hoarding and acting selfish and taking someone else's portion. That's my take.
ReplyDeleteI also think if you believe in your DAILY bread being given by God, you only need enough for one day because the Lord will give you more the next day. It was a test of faith for the Israelites as well.
ReplyDelete