Readings can be accessed in full by clicking on the links below:
Feb 4: Ex 16-18
Feb 5: Ex 19-21
Feb 6: Ex 22-24
Feb 7: Ex 25-27
Feb 8: Ex 28-29
Feb 9: Ex 30-32
Feb 10: Ex 33-35
To view the schedule: http://www.ewordtoday.com/year/niv1984/c.htm
Well, life has gotten me busy here so I haven't blogged about my reading....but I'm still reading and am thankful to think you all are still out there reading, if not blogging too. I did notice the Lord informed Moses that he would have to speak everything He told him and that Pharoah wouldn't believe him and the reason would be that God would harden Pharoah's heart! It is hard to be faithful in the face of that kind of hardness and realize that ultimately God is the controller of the softening/hardening process - not my words, prayers, acts - though they demonstrate my faith in His wisdom, surely. Considering all that afresh, I bow my heart to You, Lord, and beg again for grace to exhibit unflagging fortitude, kindness, a soft and savory word, that others may taste and see you ARE Good, while You do your work of softening, please. Hoping you all are enjoying the re-emerging sun on our St. Louis landscape of snow - stay warm, in Him!
ReplyDeleteIn the passage today, Exodus 33-35, I love how Moses approaches God. One could think that he is being a little arrogant, but he's not. He is appealing to God's character and God's promises. In vv. 12-13 Moses approaches God with the very words that God had spoken, claiming them to be true. This reflects to me that Moses sees God as one who is faithful and true to keep his promises, to act in conjunction with this word and his character. And that is how God acts - "My presence will go with, and I will give you rest...I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name." This reminds me that when I come to God in prayer, in worship, in his word, I should come holding on to his promises, for he will not act in a way that is contrary to his character - this is a great assurance.
ReplyDeleteThis morning I had to catch up and read Feb 10 and Feb 11.
ReplyDeleteI have a question about Moses' meetings with God in Ex. 33. Verses 7-11 record God and Moses in the tent of meeting speaking "face to face, as a man speaks to his friend" (33:11). Later, when Moses asks to see God's glory, God only reveals his back, protecting Moses from seeing his face, saying "you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live." (33:20) So, what's the difference? Why does God talk to Moses face to face in the tent of meeting, but doesn't allow Moses to see his face on the rock?
A couple of other things stood out today.
In Chapters 35-36, with the contributions for the Tabernacle, much emphasis is given to the willing hearts of the givers. I know for me, it's impossible for me to make my own heart willing to do anything it doesn't want to do. ("The heart wants what the heart wants." Woody Allen) God made these hearts generous and the people responded with super-abundance - Moses had to restrain them from giving (36:6) Wow!
God also gets full credit for the talents the craftsmen brought to the building of the Tabernacle. Exodus speaks of the "craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary..." (36:1) I wondered if these craftsmen actually had practiced these skills in Egypt (maybe they weren't all making bricks), or if they are just discovering they have these abilities. Personally, I think I have already figured out what I am and am not able to do, but if these craftsmen discover that God has gifted them talents in ways they never knew, then maybe someday I will be surprised at what kind of work God calls and equips me to do. Hmmm?
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ReplyDeleteJennifer, good question. I'm going to do a little bit more research, but my initial response is to say that isn't necessarily speaking of Moses seeing God's face. Instead, I think that God was in the midst of the cloud and that by Moses being inside the tent, he was actually protected from seeing God's actual face. Thus, perhaps we need to see "face to face" as being that God was meeting with Moses rather than God revealing his face to Moses. I'll leave it there for now, but will do some more research and let you know what I find.
ReplyDeleteThanks Penny. I looked up the word used for face and see that it has a variety of uses. It is the same word used for "presence" in Exodus 33:14. I guess in the tent the expression "face to face" may mean a close personal encounter. On the rock, I guess for Moses to behold the totality of God's holy presence would be too awesome for a human to bear. I shouldn't be thinking of God's face like my face, knowing that "God is a Spirit and doesn't have a body like men. (Catechism for young children)
ReplyDeleteJennifer - sorry it's been so long to get back to you. I've consulted a few items (and one theologian) and basically came to what you say. That simply saying "face to face" doesn't necessitate Moses seeing God's face but instead seeing the actions of God, the presence of God, etc. A similar statement is made elsewhere in Exodus 24 where it says the Moses, Aaron (and his sons), and the elders "saw the God of Israel." Due to other portions of scripture which tell us to see God is to die, we have to understand this as meaning that they didn't actually see God's face but saw his actions, his presence, etc. I hope this helps.
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