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If you don't live in the Midwest, you can consider yourself lucky. We have broken records in the Des Moines area regarding total accumulation of snowfall in a season. And for the last few years, we have had dry winters, so my six-year-old son can count on one hand the number of times he's been sledding. It's like all the snow ganged up on us, or something! Despite the weather conditions, Awana was jam-packed on Wednesday night, turning a laid back evening into a free-for-all that could only be tamed by the power of music.
After the pledges to the American and Awana flags and the group prayer, we have our Sparky game time. A Sparky is a child from Kindergarten to second grade, by the way. I am the yellow coach and this week, I was given a group of boys instead of my usual girls. No matter, the yellow team is a dynasty in our club and some different players won't change that. The games this week consisted of running with a soccer ball around the circle and to the middle, where you then roll it to knock over a bowling pin. When it was all done, we had another victory in our W-L column. (not that I'm counting)
Next we have our book time, where the kids (hopefully) recite the Bible verses that they have worked on at home. That is actually a rarity, and a child that comes in saying that they had worked with their parents is a blessing like no other. One-on-one time is just unheard of in these classes, and the level of parental involvement is magnified by how ready they are and how they behave during this time. We help where we can and many of the kids are working on the same sections, so we are able to get a mini-class going at times, with tips and tricks picked up from helping Ben to learn the verses.
Class time has become a real blessing to Tina and me and we wouldn't trade it for the world! The kids are eager to complete sections in their books, even if they didn't work on them at home, so I am honored to help them in their spiritual growth, even if that is a role best left to their parents.
After this time, all of the Sparks go upstairs to have our group time, which is usually music-oriented. Donna, the Awana Commander, brought a DVD that she ordered off a spam that she received from TimeLife. I'll have to talk with her about that later, but her method of finding this DVD isn't what I'm getting to right now. It's the DVD itself. This was a bunch of religious songs with the lyrics at the bottom of the screen, and they weren't at a children's level. No cartoons, no VeggieTales, no silliness. I expected the kids to get restless, but before long, I looked around and saw kids that didn't even attend church singing right along!
If God can use adult songs to reach children, he can use anything! Heck, He's using me, isn't He?
The events of Exodus 14 are for the Old Testament what Jesus Christ is to the New Testament, for God revealed Himself in redemption and salvation. This purpose is seen in verses 4 and 18. Note that God is doing his deeds to gain glory and to show the Egyptians that He alone is the Lord. Perhaps God allows difficulties in our lives to show his glory even now!
The Egyptians had the idea that they had done no wrong. After all, they had just released a nation of slaves. How could they have forgotten the Passover that took the firstborn of each family?
And what about those Israelites? They were recently delivered from generations of slavery and led by God himself with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Then they face the Red Sea as an obstacle to cross if they are to escape the advancing Egyptians and are terrified. This is a lack of faith on a grand scale, but we all show less faith than we ought to, so I have no room to talk.
Today we need excellent leadership like the leadership Israel had in Moses. His response was to stand firm and let God do the fighting. He didn't know how God planned to deliver them, but he had learned to trust God. As God delivered Israel through the Red Sea and then destroyed the Egyptian army, I'm sure the Egyptians were convinced!
But how long did Israel remember Gods redemption?
They say that an army marches on its stomach. I guess that same theory must apply to refugees as well, if "refugees" is a good description for the Israelites. Anyway, God proved to them that when he calls on you to do something, He will provide everything you need. Of course, there were those who decided to keep a little extra, just in case God wouldn't provide for them the following day. If they chanced upon a bakery that day, it would be different, but this was manna from Heaven! Show some faith, people!
OK, we have our food. What can we grumble about now? Can you almost hear the Israelites now? Granted, food and water are two of those things that people kind of need, but needs are God's specialty. And so is the impossible. It's impossible to draw water from a rock. It's even more impossible to draw enough water to take care of the thousands of people and animals. But that's how God handled it. Also note that in the battle, the Israelites were victorious only when Moses had his hands up. This shows God's power, but it also may have been a subtle way to raise Moses' stature among everyone. Complainers could easily have conspired to follow a different leader, you know.
This day's reading ends pretty exciting, don't you think? Something big is coming. God has descended on Mt. Sinai in smoke and flame to speak with the Israelites. That doesn't happen often, you know. I find it difficult not to continue to day 3, but I believe the contents of that reading will need to be digested on it's own.
Something big was happening, indeed. Day 3 begins with Ten Commandments. I could go on about any one of these Commandments given to us by God, but I don't want to overload your inbox too badly! Suffice it to say that most of these rules are put there not to restrict us, but to protect us. If you think that adultery commandment is just a spoiler, ask a man who has had no contact with his ex-wife and children for a few years. If the misuse of God's name doesn't seem like such a bad thing, remember the importance of names. Has anybody ever said a variation of your name in a mocking way? How did you feel? I bet God feels the same way, and He's one guy I want to keep happy! All sins are imperfections and God will only accept perfection... or redemption.
I honestly don't feel qualified to write at length about the continuing laws, other than to say that they are a window to God's thinking. Honoring one's parents is pretty high on God's list, so is murder. Much like the Commandments, these are rules meant to protect the Israelites from each other. They set boundaries and a system of reparations when bad things happen, both by accident and on purpose.
Responsibility with property or your own and that of others comes into this day's reading, so does social responsibility. I see compassion for the needy and swift punishment for the wicked. Is it just me, or are these themes missing from today's society?
Chapter 23 points more to the basic expectations God has for how they (us) are to live. It's pretty simple stuff, actually. Be honest. Reject bribery. Do not oppress visitors who are unfamiliar with your land. Don't work yourself to exhaustion, rather give yourself a Sabbath. The three festivals are outlined as well. With these rules, he tells Moses that an angel will lead them and fight their battles for them on their walk to the land promised to them. All he asks is that they destroy all evidence of the evils from the conquered land. Once again, this commandment is made to them as a protection. Of course, they all agreed to it, but when Moses was away for forty days, would they truly keep their promise?
God told Moses to collect offerings to accumulate raw materials for the Tabernacle, Ark of the Covenant, Table and Lampstand, then gave him the instructions on how each is to be built. He wanted everything to be 'just so' and that's fine by me! He is, after all, the God who rescued them from Egypt. The creator of all that we see. A request for a few items from people who know how to use tools is not a big deal at all.
Next came the priestly garments. Once again, this is to be done 'just so' often for the reason of preserving the lives of the priests when they are in God's presence. If I could witness any historical event, this period would be one that would be high on my list of preferred times. Of course, how many stories of the Bible wouldn't be magnificent to behold?
The consecration of the priests was also to be done 'just so' with various types of offerings done to prepare them for their ordination. This ordination was intended to prepare everything so he could dwell among the Israelites and be their God. If I understand this correctly, this must mean that He would have stayed with them in a more apparent fashion than we see today. I could be way off base here, and if I am, speak up. I see the effects of his intervention in my life and the world around me, but I don't hear his voice as Moses did when they conversed thousands of years before. That's what I'm getting at here.
Then God described the Altar of Incense and it's acceptable and unacceptable uses, followed by Atonement Money. I found it interesting that the same amount was to be collected from each person, be they rich or poor. A Washing Basin was planned as was Anointing Oil and Incense.
God mentioned some of the craftsmen he had blessed to carry out these tasks and reminded Moses that despite all of the work to be done, the Sabbath day was to be remembered. God is the one who designed us and he knows that we need a day of rest each week. The Sabbath is a show of His love for us.
After this holy conversation, we return to the bulk of the Israelites. They saw that Moses had been gone for a while and asked Aaron to build them an idol to worship. Of course, God noticed this and told Moses that He'd destroy them and start over with him. Moses had to argue with God not to do this, but to allow them to live and continue the covenant He had made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel).
Wow! Moses had a way of bringing back order! Making the Israelites drink the grindings of their alter was rough, but no less than they deserved. The Levites went through the camp and killed three thousand of the Israelites, and were set aside by God. How they were set aside will be seen in a later day's reading.
Moses showed leadership quality by offering himself in their place to accept the punishment of God. Punishment is for the guilty in His time, though. Moses may be the most blessed man in the history of creation. He spoke to God face to face and God described him as a friend. Wow! Moses was able to convince God to stay with the Israelites, despite their shortcomings and asked to see God with his eyes and God complied. I wonder if this ever freaked Moses out. The King of Kings, Lord of Lords speaking to him almost as an equal. Once again, wow!
Weekly LinkHarvest Christian Fellowship is a church in Riverside, California that has a truly useful website. I'm not in the habit of showcasing church websites other than my own, but I'll make an exception in this case. This site has wonderful spiritual resources for someone of virtually any stage in their walk with God, including the all-important beginning steps. Any church with a website or a church considering one should definitely take a look at this site as an inspiration! It is useful for the church members and is also useful for the web surfer who could just stumble upon it... like me! |
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