Exodus 21-23   Many of these laws or ordinances are specific judgements for specific circumstances.  Perhaps these were the actual disputes that came before Moses and his appointed judges.  The Lord provided the consequences that were appropriate to each situation.  The ordinances address such things as personal injuries; actions towards others; property rights; etc.  They tell when and what kinds of restitution should be made in specific situations. 

There are also several reminders included in these laws about worshipping or even naming any false god. "He who sacrifices to any god, other than the Lord alone, shall be utterly destroyed." (22:20)  And, "Now concerning everything which I have said to you, be on your guard; and do not mention the name of other gods, nor let them be heard from your mouth." (23:13)

There are several situations where the Lord says that He, Himself will take the necessary action.. 22:22-24 "You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. If you afflict him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will surely hear his cry; and my anger will be kindled and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless."  The second situation involves taking a neighbor's cloak as a pledge but not returning it so he can have cover as he sleeps.. " And it shall come about that when he cries out to Me, I will hear him, for I am gracious." ( 22:26-27)

In chapter 23:10 there is a change in focus, from specific judgements to laws regarding the sabbath and the land.  Then beginning in verse 14 the Lord gives His directions for the national feasts:  The feast of Unleavened Bread; The feast of the Harvest; and the Feast of the Ingathering.  Three times a year all the men would be required to travel to the place of the Lord's choosing to celebrate these important feasts. 

The final section of this chapter deals with the promise of the Lord's direction, protection, and provision as they journeyed  to the promised land. The Lord promised an angel to "guard you along the way and to bring you into the place I have prepared." (v20).  He promised that if they obeyed that  "then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries" (v22).  And He promised, that if they would serve Him.. "He will bless your bread and your water and I will remove sickness from your midst." (v25)  God shared His plan for taking the promised land.. He would drive out the wicked nations; He would fix their boundaries;  He would drive out the inhabitants "little by little" so that the land would not be desolate or overtaken by wild animals. 

Father, I am thankful that You understand every situation that we find ourselves in.. and You have promised to be with us and to hear us when we cry out to You.  We thank You for the promises that we have in Christ Jesus.. as Peter wrote, " For.. He has granted us His precious and magnificent promises in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature.. " ( II Peter 1:4) We ask that You would guide us by Your Holy Spirit,  surround us with Your love and truth, and bless us with Your Presence...   Let the grace and peace found in the knowledge of  God and of Jesus Christ our Lord be multiplied in us today... we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Exodus 20:12-26  The last 6 commandments given to Moses deal with relationships between people.. families, neighbors, communities... nations.  

"Honor your father and your mother..."   Don't murder, commit adultery, steal, lie, or covet what doesn't belong to you.  

All of these things are good and reasonable.. bringing peace and harmony in society.  The Lord starts His focus on the relationships within the family.. the foundation for the rest.  A family where children honor and respect their parents.. where husbands and wives respect and honor their marriage covenants.. this is a family where God is honored and it pleases Him. 

A community that respects and honors others is a place where murder and theft and fraudulent testimonies will not be accepted.  A place where people are grateful for what they have and don't lust after what others have.. is a place of peace and security and rest. 

But.. we know that such ideal places don't exist in our world.. because sin has taken hold of every heart. Oh that the world would receive the redemption that comes through Jesus Christ the Lord.  

The people of Israel listened as the thunder pealed out, the lightning flashed and the fire from heaven caused them to tremble. They didn't want to hear any more.. but the Lord wanted them to hear what He had to say..so that they would have His blessing as they learned to walk in His ways. They needed to have a healthy reverent fear of the Lord. But, they also need to worship Him and Him alone. So do we.. 

Father in heaven, Your commandments are perfect in every way... if only we would keep them all! Thank You that You have given us a Savior that has made a way for us.. to walk in the Spirit and to do all Your good and perfect will in Him.  We are helpless without Your grace, Lord God.  Cause Your name to be found in us.. cover us with Your banner.. fill us with Your Truth and love.  We have died in Christ.. died to sin and died to the law.. but we live in Him alone to do Your good will.  Have Your way in us today we pray. Amen. 

 Exodus 20:1-11   God spoke "all these words"..  These words would be the foundation of  God's covenant with Israel.  Because He is : "the  Lord your God".. the One who delivered the people out of Egypt.. out of slavery.. because He was revealing Himself to them by coming down out of heaven with thunder and lightning and smoke and fire.. these words were vital for them.. as a people of God.. as a nation, set apart as God's own possession. 

The first 4 of these commandments established Israel's relationship with the Lord.  This is what He desired for them and from them.. 

To have no other gods. 

 To have no idols. To have no images.  To never worship anyone or anything other than Him. 

They were to hallow His name. They were never to use His name in any other way but in reverence and worship. 

They were to "remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."  The seventh day was to always be observed as a day of rest.. to remember the One who made the "heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them.. They were given this gift of the sabbath.. and they were to "keep" it sacred.. set apart.. "holy". 

Jesus, when asked which commandment was the greatest, said "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.. " ( Matthew 22:37)  To do this is to keep these first 4 commandments presented to the people of Israel at the foot of Mount Sinai.. the mountain of God. F

Father in heaven, fill our hearts with this great love.. let our souls and our minds.. be completely overwhelmed with love for You.  May we never want anyone or anything more than we want You.. to love You and keep Your commandments.  Thank You for Jesus Christ, who is in us and who leads us into the depths of Your love. It is in His holy name we pray. Amen. 

 Exodus 19  It took 3 months of traveling and living in the wilderness before the people of Israel reached Sinai. This is where they camped.. right in front of the mountain of God.  This is where Moses met God and would receive the Law. This is where the people of Israel would come before God as they never had before. 

It is the Lord who calls Moses up to the mountain.  It is here that He makes His covenant with Israel.  "Now, then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. "  The people responded.. " All that the Lord has spoken we will do!"  With this agreement, the Lord instructs Moses to prepare the people for Him to come down from heaven onto the mountain. 

They have 3 days to prepare themselves.. to wash their clothes.. to abstain from marital relations.. to consecrate themselves.. They have 3 days to prepare for something that they couldn't even begin to imagine. Three times the Lord tells Moses to warn the people not to touch the mountain.  The magnitude of this event is far beyond anything that they had experienced.. far beyond anything we have experienced either.. 

The first thing that happens on the third day is that "thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud.." accompanied by a "very loud trumpet".. descends on the mountain.   The people are trembling as Moses leads them out of the camp to the foot of the mountain. 

The mountain was covered with smoke and fire and "the whole mountain quaked violently".  The trumpet got even louder.. and then God spoke..  Moses is called up onto the mountain and the warning is repeated.. no one else can even touch the mountain.. " lest the Lord break out against them."  Then Moses was sent down the mountain again.. this time to bring Aaron up with him... and the people are warned again. 

How do we prepare to meet with God?  Do we wash our clothes? Do we consecrate ourselves in any way? Or do we just walk into church on a Sunday morning with nothing more on our minds then what's for lunch?  Yes, things are different for us now.. on this side of the cross.. but.. should we not be more mindful of the awesomeness of God's Presence?  There is not fire and smoke; no quaking mountains; no loud trumpets.. but God is just as much Present, isn't He?

Father, teach us.. reveal to us.. what we need to learn about coming into Your presence.. on a Sunday morning.. or on any day when we wake up and prepare for the day ahead.  Thank You for being patient with us.  Help us to learn the reverence that we should always have for You.. and may we never take for granted the privilege that we have to come into Your presence... as Your children.  Call us to yourself, Lord,  that we might stand on the holy ground instead of being banished from Your presence. Thank You for Jesus Christ, who has made the way for us to come freely to You.  You have shed Your grace on us.. and we praise and worship You. Amen. 

 Exodus 18  Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, came out to the wilderness, bringing Mose's wife and children back to him.  Apparently Moses had sent them back home rather than take them to Egypt with him.  Jethro was a big help to Moses. After all that had happened and with all the moaning and complaining from the Israelites.. it must have been such an encouragement to have someone who rejoiced over what God had done!  

Jethro also helped Moses by giving him some good advice.. Instead of trying to hear every complaint and grievance between the people.. Jethro suggested that Moses set up others to hear and judge based on the laws and statutes that God would teach him... so that..  ".. they will bear the burden with you.." 

The thing about Moses at this point.. is that he listened to others.. trusted others.. and taught others. It shows his humility and his trust in God's leading.  Those 40 years working for Jethro as a shepherd changed him from being a "prince" in Egypt.  The next 40 years would bring more immense changes as he becomes God's leader for this new nation being birthed in the wilderness.  Only God can do this!

Father, whatever changes You want to do in me.. in us, Your people, have Your way.  Take us through the days and weeks and years of our lives.. molding us into the image of Your beloved Son, that we might, like Jesus, please You and bring praise to Your holy Name.  Help us to humbly listen.. learn.. teach.. and even share our burdens under Your direction.  Come and fill us Spirit of God with wisdom and understanding; counsel and strength; knowledge and the fear of the Lord.  In Jesus' name we pray.Amen. 

 Exodus 17:8-16   The Israelites didn't do very well on their "tests" from the Lord.. they complained and grumbled about food... they complained and grumbled about water.. but the Lord provided abundantly for both of these needs.  

And then... a greater challenge came to them.. the Amalekites. 

War.. in the wilderness where they had just experienced a great miracle of water coming from the Rock... were they ready for such a challenge? 

Moses sent Joshua to choose men for an army.  They went out to fight.. but not on their own.  Moses went up on a hill with the staff of God and as long as his arms were raised, the Israelites prevailed. But.. when his arms grew heavy and he lowered them.. the Israelites lost ground.  So, Aaron and Hur took Moses and sat him on a rock and held up his arms until the sun set and Joshua and the army won the battle. 

It took them working together to accomplish what the Lord desired. Sometimes we forget this important truth.. we are not alone in our battles.  The Lord is our Banner too!  Jehovah-Nissi..  The One True God who exists eternally.. is my banner, my flag, my signal.. He is lifted up as a standard over me. 

In our Roman's bible study we were talking about 6:15.. about no longer being "under sin" but being "under grace".  It made me think about being under an umbrella.. covered.. kept safe.. kept under the banner of God's free gift.. His amazing grace.  Isaiah 25:4 gives us another picture.. "For Thou hast been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat." 

Moses and the army of Israel knew the Lord as their defense that day.  But, also the Lord used Aaron and Hur to come alongside Moses to help him hold up his arms.  They were just as vital to the victory as Joshua and the soldiers with him. I'm reminded that there are times when we are the ones in the battle.. and sometimes we are the ones on the hillside.. holding up the weary.  Sometimes we are the weary ones.. who need to be held up!

Whatever we are facing today.. may we know the One who is our Banner.. the One who is our Shelter in the storm.. our refuge from the fierce heat.. our Rock who never fails. 

Father in heaven, keep us in Your perfect peace for we trust in You.  Keep us faithful.. Keep us steadfast.  Keep us in Your righteousness and cover us with Your grace.  In Jesus' name we ask these things. Amen. 

 Exodus 17:1-7  The Lord moved the people of Israel to a place called "Rephidim".  He stopped them there.. in the desert.. where there was no water.   But, instead of believing and trusting the Lord to provide.. they grumble and complained and threatened Moses... like he could do anything about it!

What they did not do.. was ask the Lord.. who was giving them bread to eat.. to also give them water to drink.  Moses was the only one who "cried out to the Lord."  So, Moses was told to go ahead of the people and take his staff and some elders to the rock at Horeb. He was told to "strike the rock" and that the Lord would bring water out of that rock. And... so he did. 

Now, we know that the people really did need that water. God knew it too.  We know that normally water would not come from a rock.  We know there was no way for Moses to know that it would work either.  But, he trusted and obeyed.  Water came.. abundantly poured out for all the people and all their animals.  That's how God works... even when we don't deserve it.  His grace flows out through the Rock.. through the life of our Savior, Christ Jesus.

It's easy to forget the blessings that God has already given to us.. we begin to take them for granted and are no longer thankful.. because a new problem has risen up to take our attention.  O.. may we not forget!  May we learn to trust and obey like Moses did! 

Father in heaven, forgive my worry.. my grumbling and complaining.. for I truly am thankful for the grace that You have shown to me through all of my life!  I have had the privilege of growing up in a family that went to church.. with people who prayed for me and led me to Jesus.  Thank You.  You have made a way for me through many situations where I could not have found a way out.. except by Your loving Hand. Thank You.  You have a plan for my life.. even now.. that I can rest in.. knowing that You will accomplish Your good and perfect will. Thank You! My hope is in the Rock that is Jesus Christ.. from whom all blessings flow.. like water in the desert! Thank You. I love You, Lord. Be glorified in all the earth this day I pray. Amen.