Exodus 20: A Code of Ethics

When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die." Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning."

Nations around the Israelites, who worship many gods, live in constant fear of the unpredictability of their gods. Who could tell what might anger or please them? But now God himself, maker of the universe, is giving the Israelites a binding treaty signed by his own hand. They will always know exactly what God requires and where they stand before him. They now have a basis for trust and security as a nation.

"Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation," God says in Exodus 19: 5-6. He wants a nation like no other, a model society centered on a committment to him. All the Israelites wait in anticipation as Moses climbs a dark, smoky mountain to meet with God. No one present can miss the significance of this meeting, marked by thunder and lightning and a loud blast from a trumpet. The ground itself shakes as in an earthquake.

Out of this meeting on Mount Sinai come ten simple rules, expressing the kind of behavior God wants from his people. It is truly a day of wild hope. If the Israelites obey, they will live free from diseases, their crops will grow bountifully, their women will give birth to many children, their armies will prove victorious- in short, they will enjoy unprecedented national wealth and security.

Life Question: What difference would it make if the Ten Commandments had been worded positively (reading "You shall..." rather than "You shall not..." ? Would it help to clarify anything better?

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How about transforming the 10th one..."Thou shalt not cover your neighbor's goods" into "Thou shalt be content with what you have in life!" This makes this commandment a bit more comprehensible for those of us who are tempted with the silly notion of trying to keep up with the Jones'. Do I really need a bigger house? Nicer car? Designer clothes? More extravagant "toys"...you know, like an electric guitar...(actually, I did REALLY need this little perk in my soon to be 40 year-old life, I think...) Anyways, you can spend your whole life accumulating "stuff", but the old cliche that "you can't take it with you" certainly serves as credence to God's commandment, simple in words yet difficult at times to abide by.

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On a somewhat lighter note, did you ever wonder if Moses was just a bit overwhelmed during his little discourse with God on Mount Sinai? If it were just the 10 Commandments that he had to relay back to Israelites, he probably could have committed those to rote memory. But the next several chapters are filled with laws concerning numerous topics: slaves, violence, property, festivals, appropriate punishments, etc… Can you imagine the look on Moses’ face as he was listening intently on everything that God was instructing him to convey to the Israelites? Too bad he couldn't’t have thrown his all-powerful staff to the ground and instead of having it turn into a snake, it could have transformed into a Palm-Pilot or personal laptop outfitted with Microsoft Word. Just a thought…

Exodus 18: Advice from an In-Law

After Moses had led Israel out of Egypt, his father-in-law Jethro brought Moses' wife and children to join the rest of the Israelites. The old man stayed for a visit and observed Moses at work. And, a newlywed husband can always count one one thing from his father-in-law: advice.

Quickly, Jethro saw that the sheer volume of the work was overwhelming Moses. So he suggested that Moses appoint sub-officials to settle disputers, reserving only the most difficult cases for himself. Moses recognized this good advice and acted on it. Not to mention, Moses apparently liked and respected his father-in-law, and with good reason. Jethro took him in when he was running for his life after killing an Egyptian. And in addition to letting Moses marry his daughter, Jethro gave him a job. These two men lived and worked together for 40 years before God called Moses back to his people.

As a priest of Midian, we don't know exactly how much about the true God Jethro knew before Moses came. Surely, he and Moses talked often of their faith. After the Exodus, when Moses told Jethro how God had liberated the slaves from Pharaoh, Jethro acknowledged Moses' God as greater than all other gods. Even so, Jethro did not accompany the Israelites on their journey to the promised land. He returned to his home, a believer in God but remaining apart from God's chosen people.

Life Question: How difficult can it be to be able to delegate responsibilities in your life. Is it just as easy to say, "I'll just do it myself- that way, I know that it will get done correctly!"

Sadly, I tend to take the latter approach here. I have always been fearful of having others view my attempt at "delegating" as a way for me to simply avoid work/ responsibilities. However, the mark of a true leader is someone who is able to select people whom he/ she trusts and can work collectively together on any given task. Certainly, communication is key. A school's faculty and administration team struggle with this concept weekly...trust me, I know...

Exodus 14: Miracle at the Red Sea

"Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left."

It doesn't take long for Pharaoh and the Egyptians to regret their decision to release the Hebrew slaves. Soon a glittering army of chariots and horsemen is charging after the defenseless Israelites. Nor does it take long for the Israelites to second-guess their decision to leave. At the first sight of Pharaoh's army, they quake in fear and accuse Moses of leading them to certain destruction in the desert...that is until God opens a highway through the sea. Never again would the powerful Egyptian empire rule over the Israelites; God himself, and no one else, is responsible for their liberation.

The pattern of depending on God will continue all through Exodus. When the wilderness wanderers run out of water, God provides. When food supplies fail, God provides. When raiders attack, God provides. The miracle of the Red Sea merely sets the tone for a national history that is, from beginning to end, an active movement of God.

Life Question: Has God ever parted a "Red Sea" in your life to rescue you from something that would have been harmful?

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As I reflect back on my college years, I think God parted more Red Seas for me than I care to admit. I see so often the kids here at school roam the halls with an air of invinsibilty. Poor choices can take a life so quickly, and it's probably not prudent to fall back on the notion that "it''ll never happen to me!" Yeah, God will be there to guide you through a crisis, but it's just as critical to take the correct route first.

Exodus 12: Independence Day

On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn- both men and animals- and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

God used ten plagues as a form of warfare against the gods of Egypt. Some scholars see in each individual punishment an attack against a specific Egyptian idol. For example, they believe the plague on the Nile River opposed the Egyptian's river god while the plague of darkness attacked the sun-god Ra. Exodus 7-12 depicts in graphic detail ten cataclysmic plagues on Egypt. (infestations of frogs, gnats, flies, boils, hail, locusts, etc...) The Bible does not concern itself with the question of how these natural phenomena occurred; it merely affirms an unprecedented display of God's power. And, this cosmic showdown has one clear goal: to liberate the Hebrew slaves.

The Jewish race trace their cultural birthday back to the 10th plague- the death of every first-born son of Egypt. During one last dark, foreboding night in Egypt, families huddled around the Passover table, their bags packed, and awaited for deliverance. The mark of the lamb's blood on their door frames signaled their salvation. With this last plague, the Pharaoh and all of Egypt became so convinced of God's power that they let thousands of slaves leave- with the wealth of Egypt showered upon them as farewell presents. The Israelites marched out behind Moses toward a desert and a new life.

Life Question: How does your church's celebration of the Eucharist resemble the Jewish Passover?

Years later, Passover would take on an even broader significance. As thousands of Jews were bringing their choice lambs to Jerusalem, one man, Jesus Christ, was selected as the Passover lamb for all humanity. Jesus' last passover meal on earth- the Last Supper- memorialized not only a time of pain and bloodshed, but also a time of freedom and deliverance. It is this event that we celebrate at church when we participate in communion services.

Exodus 3: Who, Me?

The Lord said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey...I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."

The Book of Genesis closed with Jacob's family of 70 moving to Egypt. But in the opening scene of Exodus, 350 years later, hundreds of thousands of their ancestors are seen toiling on Pharaoh's huge construction projects- and not as guests, but slaves. One particularly ruthless Pharaoh ordered the murder of all male Israelite babies, unwittingly setting the stage for one of the great ironies of Biblical history. This very edict intended to destroy the Israelites led to their deliverance.

One has to wonder which Israelites believed in God's promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob from so long ago? Daily these slaves felt the whips of Egyptian taskmasters. As for the vaunted promised land, it lay to the east somewhere, carved up and under the dominion of a dozen different kings.

But, God did not forget his covenant; however, He needed a leader. For that job He selected Moses. God's initial announcement was an encounter that Moses probably never forgot.: a fiery bush, a voice from nowhere, with God introducing Himself by name. "I am...the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." The time for action had arrived, and Moses was God's handpicked choice to lead His people from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the promised land.

Life Question: Like Moses, do you ever wonder if your shortcomings disqualify you for what God wants you to do?

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No doubt with this one...In fact, the more that I plug away with this blog Bible study, the more I second guess myself in terms of my worth in the eyes of God. I know in my heart that God is calling me to guide my kids through life and instill in them solid Christian values, but as I look back on my life and ponder over the numerous personal mishaps that span close to 40 years, at times I'm fearful whether or not I'm up to the task at hand. That said, the comfort in reading these first couple of books of the O.T. is that God repeatedly chose folks who had serious character flaws. But, by placing their faith in Him, they all were able to overcome their shortcomings in life and fulfill His will.

Genesis 45: A Surprising Twist

"Come close to me...I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you."

The old lingering rivalry between Joseph and his brothers comes to a dramatic climax in this chapter. First, a famine forces Joseph's brothers from their homeland to Egypt, a country that, thanks to Joseph, has prepared for the emergency. There, the brothers must deal with Joseph, now a powerful Egyptian official, whom they no longer recognize. Joseph has a choice to make. He can make up with his brothers on the spot, welcoming them with open arms. Or, he can take revenge by ordering their executions.

Joseph feels great emotional strain, though, in terms of forgiveness. He wants to reconcile with his brothers, whom he loves, but to do so is excruciatingly difficult. Beginning a series of elaborate tests, he demands things from his brothers, and even plays tricks on them. For nearly two years he plays these games! Until they admit and accept their guilt, true reconciliation cannot occur.

Finally, the brothers discover the stunning truth: the teenager they sold as a slave and nearly killed is now the 2nd ranking official of Egypt. Joseph holds their fate in his hands. However, Joseph is now ready to forgive and to welcome them all to the haven of Egypt. Reconciliation heals old wounds and brings peace at last to the troubled family of Jacob.

And so the brother's reconciliation towards the end of the Book of Genesis opens the way for the children of Israel to become one family of 12 tribes. On this foundation God builds his nation, the Israelites (the sons of Jacob). In this sense Joseph's story typifies the story of God and His people. The struggle to root out the sin that began in Genesis 3 does not happen easily. It ultimately demands the death of God's Son. Joseph's story points towards Jesus- a man God sent to save His people, a man who was hated and betrayed by them, just as Joseph was. With both Joseph and Jesus, God's will to save conquers all.

Life Question: Have you ever struggled with the logic of forgiveness? Is there someone in your life whom you have been unable to forgive?

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In terms of human nature, this may be one of the toughest obstacles in life. I have two people in my life whom I have struggled mightily with in terms of reconciliation and forgiveness. It's so easy to thrive on vengeance towards someone who has brought about some sort of trust violation or character attack. But I know in my heart that God is calling me to "get over it" and take Joseph's lead. If Jacob's son can forgive his brothers for tossing him down a cistern and selling him off into slavery...well, I probably should be able to move forward with my life and take the high road when it comes to Christian forgiveness and reconciliation.

Genesis 37: The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

"Here comes that dreamer!" they said to each other. "Come now, let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we'll see what comes of his dreams!"

Genesis tells of several great brotherly rivals: Cain and Abel, Isaac and his half-brother Ishmael, Jacob and Esau. In this story, Joseph's story, 11 brothers conspire against one. However, it's safe to say that Joseph was a bit of a spoiled brat who was definitely the favored by his father, Jacob. He got the fancy clothes and preferential treatment and apparently thought he deserved them. When he had a dream of his brothers bowing down to him, he had the gall to tell them all about it. Thus, begins one of the great Biblical adventure stories of all time.

Deciding to take revenge on their somewhat haughty brother, Jacob's sons plan to murder Joseph. However, at the last moment, they sell him instead to traveling merchants on their way to Egypt. Neither the brothers nor their grieving father, who swallows the wild story of a wild animal attack, ever expect to see Joseph again.

God, however, has other plans. Joseph's strange dreams, which got him into so much trouble at home, prove to be his salvation in the faraway land of Egypt. God's gift of dream interpretation is a ticket to prominence in Egypt, where people revere that ability. Joseph soon finds himself at the top of Pharaoh's government.

Life Question: How does your family tend to handle conflict? Have you ever fought hard with a person close to you and then experienced reconciliation? What process did you go through?

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I certainly don't have any recollections of my siblings tossing me into a cistern when I was younger, but I do know we had our share of altercations- with me being completely blameless, of course. I think that over the years my sisters and I have seen each other through some trying times, but invariably we have all stood by each other and been a source of strength and comfort during family troubles. I've usually shied away from altercation when it comes from my family, and in some ways my silence has not always been beneficial. I think the mark of a mature, sincere Christian is one who can hold an honest meaningful conversation with a loved one, even if it means confronting some tough issues. If your heart is in the right place, good should prevail.

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On a side note, this truly has always been one of my favorite Old Testament stories. Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical is also a real favorite of mine. Just this morning, Josh and I watched it together, and he too became a big fan of the Elvis swinging Pharoah and the rest of the gang.

Genesis 32: The Wrestling Match

Then [the man] said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.”…then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans and have prevailed.”

The name Jacob means “one who supplants or deceives” whereas the name Israel means “one who strives or wrestles with God.” This was not an ordinary man with whom Jacob wrestled; he was either an angel or perhaps God Himself. Why, then, would God even consider wrestling with Jacob, or for that matter, even with one of us?

The answer is because we have a loving and caring God who reaches out to every one of us, over and over again, until we finally come to realize who God is and how much he desires a truly personal relationship with each and every one of us, and- in turn- for us to submit our will to His.

God took the time to personally wrestle with Jacob, so that Jacob would freely submit his will to God, but he stubbornly refused; so, God “struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.” (Gen 32:25) Jacob would forever remember that this encounter with God was real and not a dream. As a result, the character of Jacob is profoundly altered by this experience. From this moment until his death, he is a person of honor and integrity.

Life Question: What things in our daily lives do we find ourselves in a constant wrestling match with?

Outside of the rough-housing that Josh and I usually partake in (much to the chagrin of his mother, I might add...It's so easy for me to quickly judge my kids at school in terms of their effort and work ethic; however, I find myself constantly wrestling with the notion that so many of these kids have so many "adult" issues that they are dealing with and unfortunately, school work does not always take precedence. Just this year, I have a young lady who has been in and out of the hospital for depression- and as a result, her school work has been sporadic at best. It's times like this where I need to step outside the "ring" as the taskmaster/ teacher and really reach out to these kids and try to understand their own struggles in life. I know that God is pulling me this way, but my own weaknesses tend to lead me in another direction.