This chapter sets out laws for the people, like how to treat Hebrew servants. You can only have a servant for 6 years because you have to let them go in year 7. But if he wants to continue being your servant, then he'll be your servant for life. Then there are other laws like the punishment for murder, assault, or what to do if someone's animal attacks a person.
Exodus 22 lays down the law for property, like stealing animals. Then there is social responsibility like seducing a virgin, bestiality, sacrificing to other gods, mistreating aliens, taking advantage of a widow or orphan, blaspheming God, holding back offerings, etc.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Exodus 19-20
The Israelites came upon the desert at Sinai. Again, God reminded them of what he had done for them in Egypt. He also repeated
On the third day, they went out to the mountain to meet God. A trumpet sounded, thunder and lightening hit, and the mountain was on fire. Moses went up to the mountain, but everyone else stayed behind.
God gave Moses the Ten Commandments:
1. Have no other gods
2. Do not make idols
3. Do not use the Lord's name in vain
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
God told the Israelites not the make idols out of gold & silver, but instead to make an alter of earth and give burnt offerings.
Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.God then said was going to come to them at the mountain, and warned them to make themselves clean (wash your clothes, abstain from sexual relations).
On the third day, they went out to the mountain to meet God. A trumpet sounded, thunder and lightening hit, and the mountain was on fire. Moses went up to the mountain, but everyone else stayed behind.
God gave Moses the Ten Commandments:
1. Have no other gods
2. Do not make idols
3. Do not use the Lord's name in vain
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
God told the Israelites not the make idols out of gold & silver, but instead to make an alter of earth and give burnt offerings.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Exodus 14-18
Wandering In the Desert
This next section goes into the Egyptian's time wandering in the desert after they have escaped from the Egyptians. There are two major themes here. One, we continue and finish off the theme we have been seeing earlier: God hardening Pharoah's heart and supporting the Israelites. Two: we see the Israelites continually complaining and wishing they were back in Egypt as slaves when times get tough, and the Lord continues to address their concerns.
Finishing Theme 1: Pharoah's last "hardening" of hearts
Pharoah again finds out the Israelites have left and decides to pursue them. He brings his chariots to follow them. The Israelites freak out but Moses assures them to trust in God. Moses parts the Red Sea and the Israelites cross on dry land. Pharoah's army follows, but God messes up their chariots and eventually allows the water to run back, drowning all of them. The Israelites were much awed by this and feared the Lord, putting their trust in Moses.
We see the lyrics to a praise song the Israelites have written about this event: "The horse and its rider he has hurled in to the sea."
However memories are short, and soon, the Isralites begin to complain, over and over again!
Complaint 1: "We are Thirsty!!!!"
The Israelites wander in the desert for three days without water and are thirsty. They complain. Moses cries out to God, and God provides wood, which he throws into a bitter pool of water, making the water drinkable. Here, God set his conditions:
Complaint 2: "We are hungry!"
About 45 days after leaving Egypt, the Isralites head out to the Desert of Sin. There, AGAIN, the Israelites somehow forget how difficult it was to be slaves, and can only remember how they could eat "pots of meat" while in Egypt. They wish to be back there. God told Moses he would rain down manna as food for them, but they were only to collect enough for the day. Some tried to collect more, but it would go bad, filled with maggots. On the 6th day they were supposed to collect double because they were not supposed to work (or go out!!!) on the sabbath. On that day, miraculously the manna did not go bad.
They ate this for forty years!!! (until they reached Canaan)
Complaint 3: We are Thirsty!!!
The Israelites head out from the Desert of Sin to Rephidim, but there was no water there. Again, they demanded to Moses "Give us water to drink!!!" Moses AGAIN pleaded with the Lord, and God gave him a stick, told him to hit a rock, and water would come out.
Soon after, a foreign people, the Amalekites, attached the Israelites!!!! Moses sent Joshua to bring some people to fight. God was with the people, and, as long as Moses held his hands up high, the Israelites would be winning. If he got tired and his hands fell, they would start losing. With help from Aaron and others to prop his hands up high all night, the Israelites were victorious.
A Judicial System is Born!
Moses had previously sent his wife and sons back to be with her father (Jethro) in Midian. One day, Jethro heard about the great things God was doing and decided bring his daughter (Moses' wife Zipporah) and their kids to go visit Moses & the Israelites . They had a wonderful time together, sharing stories. Jethro was thrilled to hear about the wonderful things God had done.
The next day, Moses again sat and listened to disputes among the people, giving out his advice. Jethro thought Moses was nuts, and that this would surely tire him out. He advised Moses to choose a few people to serve as judges. Moses did just that, appointing a few judges, who took care of most of the disputes. Moses would only take care of the difficult, complicated ones.
This next section goes into the Egyptian's time wandering in the desert after they have escaped from the Egyptians. There are two major themes here. One, we continue and finish off the theme we have been seeing earlier: God hardening Pharoah's heart and supporting the Israelites. Two: we see the Israelites continually complaining and wishing they were back in Egypt as slaves when times get tough, and the Lord continues to address their concerns.
Finishing Theme 1: Pharoah's last "hardening" of hearts
Pharoah again finds out the Israelites have left and decides to pursue them. He brings his chariots to follow them. The Israelites freak out but Moses assures them to trust in God. Moses parts the Red Sea and the Israelites cross on dry land. Pharoah's army follows, but God messes up their chariots and eventually allows the water to run back, drowning all of them. The Israelites were much awed by this and feared the Lord, putting their trust in Moses.
We see the lyrics to a praise song the Israelites have written about this event: "The horse and its rider he has hurled in to the sea."
However memories are short, and soon, the Isralites begin to complain, over and over again!
Complaint 1: "We are Thirsty!!!!"
The Israelites wander in the desert for three days without water and are thirsty. They complain. Moses cries out to God, and God provides wood, which he throws into a bitter pool of water, making the water drinkable. Here, God set his conditions:
"If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you."
Complaint 2: "We are hungry!"
About 45 days after leaving Egypt, the Isralites head out to the Desert of Sin. There, AGAIN, the Israelites somehow forget how difficult it was to be slaves, and can only remember how they could eat "pots of meat" while in Egypt. They wish to be back there. God told Moses he would rain down manna as food for them, but they were only to collect enough for the day. Some tried to collect more, but it would go bad, filled with maggots. On the 6th day they were supposed to collect double because they were not supposed to work (or go out!!!) on the sabbath. On that day, miraculously the manna did not go bad.
They ate this for forty years!!! (until they reached Canaan)
Complaint 3: We are Thirsty!!!
The Israelites head out from the Desert of Sin to Rephidim, but there was no water there. Again, they demanded to Moses "Give us water to drink!!!" Moses AGAIN pleaded with the Lord, and God gave him a stick, told him to hit a rock, and water would come out.
Soon after, a foreign people, the Amalekites, attached the Israelites!!!! Moses sent Joshua to bring some people to fight. God was with the people, and, as long as Moses held his hands up high, the Israelites would be winning. If he got tired and his hands fell, they would start losing. With help from Aaron and others to prop his hands up high all night, the Israelites were victorious.
A Judicial System is Born!
Moses had previously sent his wife and sons back to be with her father (Jethro) in Midian. One day, Jethro heard about the great things God was doing and decided bring his daughter (Moses' wife Zipporah) and their kids to go visit Moses & the Israelites . They had a wonderful time together, sharing stories. Jethro was thrilled to hear about the wonderful things God had done.
The next day, Moses again sat and listened to disputes among the people, giving out his advice. Jethro thought Moses was nuts, and that this would surely tire him out. He advised Moses to choose a few people to serve as judges. Moses did just that, appointing a few judges, who took care of most of the disputes. Moses would only take care of the difficult, complicated ones.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Exodus 10-13
Locusts
Pharoah seems a bit more willing to at least let the men go, but that was not enough, and the Lord brought locusts in. Similarly, Pharoah repented, asked Moses to pray on his behalf, which Moses did, and the plague was lifted. But again, like before, Pharoah hardened his heart again.
Darkness
So then God made the land dark for three days. This time Pharoah was willing to even let the women and children go, but then Moses requested livestock as well, and Pharoah said no.
Firstborn
God then gave explicit directions for the last plague. He told Moses that he would kill every firstborn except for those houses that had the blood of a lamb on the doorpost. The Israelites were to slaughter a lamb (year old male goats without defect), eat the meat, eat unlevened bread, and put the blood of the lamb on the doorpost. That would be a sign for the angels to "pass over" that house, thus not killing the firstborn. God also commanded them to celebrate this day for generations as a festival to the Lord - thus the significance of the Jewish Passover holiday today.
That night, at midnight, all the firstborns in Egypt died (except for those who had the blood of the lamb on the door). There was great sadness and wailing. Pharoah could stand it no longer, and told them to leave. After 430 years, finally, the Israelites were free.
The Egyptians gave a bunch of stuff for the Israelites to take on their journey. The Lord proceeded to give the Israelites specific rules about the Passover (foreigner cannot eat of the meat, all Israelites must celebrate it, all males much be circumcised).
The Lord also asked the Israelites to consecrate to Him every firstborn. He said that they should eat unleavened bread for 7 days in observance of Passover.
Crossing the Sea
God led the Israelites on a longer route toward the Red Sea. God guided them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night so they could travel day or night.
Pharoah seems a bit more willing to at least let the men go, but that was not enough, and the Lord brought locusts in. Similarly, Pharoah repented, asked Moses to pray on his behalf, which Moses did, and the plague was lifted. But again, like before, Pharoah hardened his heart again.
Darkness
So then God made the land dark for three days. This time Pharoah was willing to even let the women and children go, but then Moses requested livestock as well, and Pharoah said no.
Firstborn
God then gave explicit directions for the last plague. He told Moses that he would kill every firstborn except for those houses that had the blood of a lamb on the doorpost. The Israelites were to slaughter a lamb (year old male goats without defect), eat the meat, eat unlevened bread, and put the blood of the lamb on the doorpost. That would be a sign for the angels to "pass over" that house, thus not killing the firstborn. God also commanded them to celebrate this day for generations as a festival to the Lord - thus the significance of the Jewish Passover holiday today.
That night, at midnight, all the firstborns in Egypt died (except for those who had the blood of the lamb on the door). There was great sadness and wailing. Pharoah could stand it no longer, and told them to leave. After 430 years, finally, the Israelites were free.
The Egyptians gave a bunch of stuff for the Israelites to take on their journey. The Lord proceeded to give the Israelites specific rules about the Passover (foreigner cannot eat of the meat, all Israelites must celebrate it, all males much be circumcised).
The Lord also asked the Israelites to consecrate to Him every firstborn. He said that they should eat unleavened bread for 7 days in observance of Passover.
Crossing the Sea
God led the Israelites on a longer route toward the Red Sea. God guided them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night so they could travel day or night.
Exodus 7-9
Moses and Aaron talk to Pharaoh to persuade him to let the Israelites out of the country. God tells them to perform miracles.
The next several events are very repetitive:
Aaron threw down his staff in front of the Pharaoh and it transformed into a snake. But then the Pharaoh called on his magicians who were also able to do it with their secret arts, so the Pharaoh's heart was hard and did not listen to them.
Then Moses and Aaron went and met the Pharaoh by the Nile. He asks him to let his people go, and struck down the Nile river and turned it into blood. The fish in the river died and became undrinkable. However, the magicians were also able it to do this with their secret arts.
Moses asked again to let his people go, and Aaron stretched his hand out to cover the land with frogs. The magicians were also able to do this with their secret arts. The Pharaoh said that if Moses took away the frogs, then he'd let them go, but just as the frogs all died, his heart hardened and would not let the people go.
Same thing happens with gnats, flies, livestock, boils, and hail.
The next several events are very repetitive:
Aaron threw down his staff in front of the Pharaoh and it transformed into a snake. But then the Pharaoh called on his magicians who were also able to do it with their secret arts, so the Pharaoh's heart was hard and did not listen to them.
Then Moses and Aaron went and met the Pharaoh by the Nile. He asks him to let his people go, and struck down the Nile river and turned it into blood. The fish in the river died and became undrinkable. However, the magicians were also able it to do this with their secret arts.
Moses asked again to let his people go, and Aaron stretched his hand out to cover the land with frogs. The magicians were also able to do this with their secret arts. The Pharaoh said that if Moses took away the frogs, then he'd let them go, but just as the frogs all died, his heart hardened and would not let the people go.
Same thing happens with gnats, flies, livestock, boils, and hail.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Exodus 4-6
Moses is scared that no one would believe him or listen to him, so God gave him tons of cool miracles to perform! When Moses threw down his staff, it turned into a snake. He had to pick it up by the tail in order for it to transform into a staff again. Also, when he put his hand in his cloak, his hand would have leprosy all over it. To reverse it, he just had to put his hand back in his cloak again. If they still didn't believe him, he could take the water from the Nile and pour it on the ground, which would turn into blood!
Even though God equipped Moses with all these miracles to perform, he complained that he wasn't a good speaker. God offered to teach him what to say, but he still didn't want to do it and asked if someone else could do it instead. It is interesting here that God got angry, but he actually acquiesced and suggested that Aaron could speak instead. He still pushes Moses to perform the miracles though.
Moses goes back to his father-in-law and asks permission to leave. Then the Lord says to Moses that he will harden the heart of the Pharaoh and won't let the people go. I don't really understand why God hardened the Pharaoh's heart. Any ideas?
Moses then met up with Aaron, and they performed the miracles. The Israelites believed and worshipped God.
In the next section, Moses asked the Pharaoh to let his people go, but he refused. Instead, he made the Israelites work harder and claimed they were lazy. The Israelites were upset with Moses and didn't listen to them, even after he told them that God will bring them back to the promised land. Moses grew discouraged because his own people wouldn't listen to him, and now God wanted him to deliver a message to the Pharaoh.
Even though God equipped Moses with all these miracles to perform, he complained that he wasn't a good speaker. God offered to teach him what to say, but he still didn't want to do it and asked if someone else could do it instead. It is interesting here that God got angry, but he actually acquiesced and suggested that Aaron could speak instead. He still pushes Moses to perform the miracles though.
Moses goes back to his father-in-law and asks permission to leave. Then the Lord says to Moses that he will harden the heart of the Pharaoh and won't let the people go. I don't really understand why God hardened the Pharaoh's heart. Any ideas?
Moses then met up with Aaron, and they performed the miracles. The Israelites believed and worshipped God.
In the next section, Moses asked the Pharaoh to let his people go, but he refused. Instead, he made the Israelites work harder and claimed they were lazy. The Israelites were upset with Moses and didn't listen to them, even after he told them that God will bring them back to the promised land. Moses grew discouraged because his own people wouldn't listen to him, and now God wanted him to deliver a message to the Pharaoh.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Exodus 1-3
The Next Generation
Joseph's generation died, but the Israelites continued to multiply to the point that the new king of Egypt, who did not know Joseph, got scared that they would become too powerful. He made them slave laborers. He also told the midwives to kill all the male babies. The midwives feared God and refused to do so, telling the king that the Israeli women were "too vigorous" and gave birth before the midwives could arrive.
God blessed the Israelites and the midwives, giving them many offspring. Then Pharoah commanded that all Israeli boy babies be thrown into the Nile.
Moses
One Levite woman had a baby boy and hid him for three months. Finally, when she could no longer hide him, she put him the Nile in a basket while her daughter looked on. Pharoah's daughter happened to find the baby and felt sorry for him. The Levite's daughter asked Pharoah whether she wanted someone to nurse the baby. Finally, the boy's own mother became the servant that nursed the baby. Pharoah's daughter named the baby Moses.
One day, after Moses had grown up, he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave. He killed the Egyptian. The next day, he saw some Hebrews fighting. When he tried to break it up, they asked him whether he was going to kill them too, like he killed the Egyptian. When Pharaoh found out about this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses escaped to Midian. On his way, he rescued some women from shepherds who were trying to drive the women away from the water well. He ended up meeting the father of the women who gave him one of the daughters, Zipporah, as a bride. They had a son.
Meanwhile, Pharoah had a died. However, the Israelites were still groaning under extreme slavery.
Moses was still in Midian when God called Moses through a burning bush. God told Moses that he saw that the Israelites were suffering. He wanted to send Moses to go free the Israelites. He would free the Israelites and bring them to a land "flowing with milk and honey." Moses did not feel qualified and resisted, but God promised that He would be with Moses. He told Moses he would perform all theses signs and strike the Egyptians so they would finally let the Israelites go. The Israelites would also not leave empty-handed. Instead, the Egyptians would give them their jewels, etc.
Joseph's generation died, but the Israelites continued to multiply to the point that the new king of Egypt, who did not know Joseph, got scared that they would become too powerful. He made them slave laborers. He also told the midwives to kill all the male babies. The midwives feared God and refused to do so, telling the king that the Israeli women were "too vigorous" and gave birth before the midwives could arrive.
God blessed the Israelites and the midwives, giving them many offspring. Then Pharoah commanded that all Israeli boy babies be thrown into the Nile.
Moses
One Levite woman had a baby boy and hid him for three months. Finally, when she could no longer hide him, she put him the Nile in a basket while her daughter looked on. Pharoah's daughter happened to find the baby and felt sorry for him. The Levite's daughter asked Pharoah whether she wanted someone to nurse the baby. Finally, the boy's own mother became the servant that nursed the baby. Pharoah's daughter named the baby Moses.
One day, after Moses had grown up, he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave. He killed the Egyptian. The next day, he saw some Hebrews fighting. When he tried to break it up, they asked him whether he was going to kill them too, like he killed the Egyptian. When Pharaoh found out about this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses escaped to Midian. On his way, he rescued some women from shepherds who were trying to drive the women away from the water well. He ended up meeting the father of the women who gave him one of the daughters, Zipporah, as a bride. They had a son.
Meanwhile, Pharoah had a died. However, the Israelites were still groaning under extreme slavery.
Moses was still in Midian when God called Moses through a burning bush. God told Moses that he saw that the Israelites were suffering. He wanted to send Moses to go free the Israelites. He would free the Israelites and bring them to a land "flowing with milk and honey." Moses did not feel qualified and resisted, but God promised that He would be with Moses. He told Moses he would perform all theses signs and strike the Egyptians so they would finally let the Israelites go. The Israelites would also not leave empty-handed. Instead, the Egyptians would give them their jewels, etc.
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