If you have been in church at all in your life then you have heard someone say to know God and his will for your life you need to read your bible regularly. I’ve heard it, said it and even suggested memorizing parts of scripture. However, the truth is many people rarely open “THE BOOK” to discover the treasures within. The excuses elude to time, schedules, lack of clarity, desire and even the admission people hate to read. All of which are understandable if this were your High School English class or a technical manual for your smartphone. But the Bible is God’s Word curated over centuries detailing His nature, His will, the meaning of life and humanity’s historical interactions with Him. Seriously, the Bible details the hidden keys to the Kingdom. Hence, the reason we are reviewing a new book each week.
This week we move to Exodus.
Moses probably wrote the book around 1400 before Christ entered the world. It’s written to remind the Israelites how God had rescued them for Egyptian oppressions and bondage. The book lays the basis of our understanding of God: his name, attributes, redemption, law and instructions on how we are to worship (or relate to Him).
Just as Genesis details the entering of sin into the world and its tainting of everything. Exodus tells us of God’s willingness to love and protect His chosen people. The book highlights God’s:
Involvement in human history
Concern for the oppressed
Power over nations
Commitment to reaching those He loves
Finally, the book highlights God’s willingness to forgive the shortcomings and failures from those willing to surrender and earnestly place their trust in Him.
Let’s take a look at Exodus 19:3-6.
Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him (talk about involvement) from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, (concern for the oppressed) and how I carried you on eagles’ wings (power of nations and commitment to those he loves) and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant (an all knowing God knew we would fail but he did it anyway), then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
The scriptures proceed to describe our God who establishes a set of guardrails to ensure His people are ready for the larger world and the chaos within. The 10 commandments and their 50 plus stipulations were put in place not to deny His chosen people but to protect them.
What were the 10 commandments? <Invite the kids coming forth to share the 10 commandment hand gestures.> 10 Commandments, Handout is saved in drive
You shall have no other gods before Me.
You shall not make idols.
You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet.
The ten commandments would eventually be expanded by Pharisees and others to try to legislate every interaction. In much the same way, the laws of the United States expand every year from constitutional articles to cover every possible injustice. It’s human nature to document such occurrences and try to enforce a system of right and wrong. However, it rarely works and often it creates a scenario whereby those with good intentions lose sight of the intention.
It’s why Jesus when quizzed by expert of the law, would later reduce the 10 commandments as well as all the amendments back to the original intent:
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matt 22:37-38)
It’s a very simple command to remember. Please note I did not say easy.
As you read Exodus this week, you will see what I mean. You may feel like you’re watching one of those movies where the main character just keeps messing up and you’re just screaming at the TV to not make that bad choice. Exodus provides a number of the scenes and you may wonder why. Why would THE BIBLE, a book about God’s nature and love for us, tell us of God's willingness to rescue us and our ancestors' failures?
Once again, the apostle Paul helps us in his theology treatise to the Romans.
Paul writes in Romans 3:22-25:
There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.
The book of Exodus helps set the stage for why God had to come to earth as Jesus and leave behind His Holy Spirit.
It tells the history of an entire nation so that they can become a blessing to others. However, like a teenager given clothes, food, Mountain Dew, their own room, spending money and a car to use, they forget the simple social contract of why these items are provided and what is expected after receiving them. If you have ever experienced this sense of entitlement from someone, you know what our Lord felt when he watched his chosen people rebel. It is also what he sees when we make decisions based on self-fulfillment, selfishness, pride and ego.
Imagine how God must have felt seeing people convince Aron to make them a golden calf so they can thank the Gods while God is a few steps away on Mount Sinai. They have seen God send plagues, rescue them from Pharoah, be directed to Mount Sinai and experience miracles but in less than the time it took to travel to the Mountain, they start to grumble and murmur against God.
This last point is critical because it helps us understand the amount of unmerited favor and forgiveness God must have when he says to Moses Exodus 19 says:
…if you (they) obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’
Our God keeps his covenant, even when we fall short, because He sees beyond a single moment in time. He sees all of time interwoven and connected. God never is surprised.
This Old Testament book called Exodus provides justification of why Christ had to come, die and rise again. It is also a warning to us that nearly every human is incapable of keeping their promise to God without the power of the Holy Spirit, even when the promise is something so perfect as to love God with all we have and love others as we love ourselves.
A love defined by Jesus' interactions and also Paul’s words in a letter to the church plant in Corinth.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. (1 Cor 13:4-8a)
A calling to be the sent people of God to love shared by Peter in 1 Peter 2:9 in which he reiterates:
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
The earliest promises of God (the covenant) establish the idea of a nation of priests to whom God will reside with so that the rest of the nations (world) will come to know Him. In Jesus this becomes our mantra.
You are today’s chosen people.
You are blessed.
You are His representatives.
You are the one’s sent to be a blessing so others would come into relationship with Him.
His hand is upon you if you are willing to be obedient to the two great commands.
What will you do this week with your blessing and responsibility? (SLIDE PLEASE)
Frankie has a story of what he’s been doing. Paula has a story.
As we come up for communion today, I’d like for us….
Https://communitycenter.life
Creative: https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/exodus-19-40/
References: Quest Bible Overviews
