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Exodus 16:1-19:25<\/strong><\/span> Today in Exodus chapter 16 we read about Manna and Quail from heaven.\u00a0 \u00a0Verses 29 & 30 were powerful for me today, as God speaks about the Sabbath: \u201c\u201dDo they not realize that I have given them the seventh day, the Sabbath, as a day of rest? That is why I give you twice as much food on the sixth day, so there will be enough for two days. On the Sabbath day you must stay in your places. Do not pick up food from the ground on that day.\u201d So the people rested on the seventh day.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0<\/em>You will probably read on this blog over and over and over again about the Sabbath\u2026\u00a0 I am a huge fan of the concept!\u00a0 And such a poor practitioner of it\u2026\u00a0 I honestly think the Sabbath is one of the most compassionate things God ever created for us.\u00a0 And, don\u2019t get me wrong \u2013 my personal view is not legalistic in the sense of the Sabbath\u2026.\u00a0 But\u2026.\u00a0 personally, I think the Sabbath is just such a blessing of a gift to us.\u00a0 And I think we \u2013 I \u2013 us \u2013 humans \u2013 often do such a bad job of really taking a Sabbath.\u00a0 Really taking 1 day a week to really rest and relax and be with God.\u00a0 Recently I read in our local newspaper about a Hasidic Jewish rapper who came through our town on tour \u2013 yes, seriously, there is a Hasidic Jewish rapper who is getting hugely popular nationally.\u00a0 Anyhow, the article \u2013 in our secular newspaper \u2013 wrote about how this rapper will not perform on Fridays or Saturdays in observance of the Jewish Sabbath Law \u2013 and Hasidic Jews strongly observe most all of the Laws still today (I believe\u2026\u00a0 except for animal sacrifices \u2013 simply because there is not the Temple in Jerusalem today for the sacrifices).\u00a0 Anyhow \u2013 I\u2019m going off on some tangents here \u2013 but, the point is, that when I read about how this guy will not perform shows on the 2 best money-making nights of the week for concerts, because of his observance of the Sabbath \u2013 I dare say his love of God and his appreciation of the Sabbath \u2013 it really struck me.\u00a0 And it really reminded me of how really really bad I am at truly resting and being with God 1 day a week.\u00a0 And I\u2019m not feeling guilty about this per se\u2026\u00a0 but maybe I am feeling convicted\u2026 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 \u00a0Basically \u2013 I am feeling that God is really calling me to slow down and simply rest and be with him 1 day a week.\u00a0 A Sabbath.\u00a0 <\/span> Verse 31 quick comment \u2013 \u201cIn time, the food became known as manna. It was white like coriander seed, and it tasted like honey cakes.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I love that manna means \u201cWhat is it?\u201d!\u00a0 That is awesome\u2026\u00a0 I think you\u2019ll notice throughout our Bible readings this year that names can often be very descriptive of locations, happenings, personalities \u2013 and can even be simple questions like \u201cWhat is it??\u201d Great commentary on Exodus chapter 16 entitled \u201cBoot Camp and \u201cC\u201d Rations\u201d<\/strong> \ud83d\ude42 is online at bible.org <\/span>at this link<\/span>.\u00a0 Below is \u201cThe Gathering of Manna\u201d from 1614 by the Italian painter Guido Reni:<\/span> Today in Exodus chapter 17 we read about the Israelites defeating Amalekites.\u00a0 We are introduced to Joshua in verse 9.\u00a0 Joshua is from the tribe of Ephraim and he has a strong faith in God and loyalty to Moses, along with leadership skills.\u00a0 He will be Moses\u2019 successor who leads the Israelites into Canaan 40 years later. Below is a painting from 1915 by Hungarian artist Adolf Fenyes of \u201cThe Jews Defeating Amalek\u2019s Army\u201d:<\/span> Verse 12 reminded me of how oftentimes we cannot always do things on our own \u2013 we oftentimes need our friends help: \u201cMoses\u2019 arms finally became too tired to hold up the staff any longer. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side, holding up his hands until sunset.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Who are your Aaron and Hur?\u00a0 Who is holding you up your arms when they get tired?\u00a0 And whose arms are you holding up when their arms get tired?<\/span> In Exodus chapter 18 we read about Jethro\u2019s visit of Moses and Jethro\u2019s wise advice to Moses.\u00a0 This chapter has been pointed out to me as something I should take heed of a couple of times over this past year or so\u2026\u00a0 Like Moses in this chapter, I think I have a hard time delegating!\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 \u00a0But, indeed, Jethro\u2019s advice in verses 17 & 18 about how Moses was settling every single case is something I need to reflect upon often: \u201cThis is not good!\u201d his father-in-law exclaimed. \u201cYou\u2019re going to wear yourself out\u2013and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself.\u201d <\/em>How about you?\u00a0 Are there areas of your life where you are doing too much?\u00a0 Where you need to delegate to others?\u00a0 Where you need to \u201clet go and let God\u201d?\u00a0 Are you wearing yourself out?\u00a0 Will you follow Jethro\u2019s advice to Moses? Great advice on how to avoid \u201cburnout\u201d in our lives as based on Exodus chapter 18 titled \u201cThe Tyranny of the Urgent\u201d<\/strong> is online at bible.org <\/span>at this link<\/span>.\u00a0 Below is an image of Moses as the judge of the people\u2019s cases from today\u2019s readings:<\/span> Exodus chapter 19 is a significant chapter because the Israelites arrive at Mt. Sinai!\u00a0 Exodus chapter 19 verse 3 all the way through Exodus chapter 24 verse 18 is what is called by many commentators \u201cThe Sinaitic Covenant.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0You\u2019ll recall that we have already read about the Noahic Covenant in Genesis 9:8-17, the Abrahamic A Covenant in Genesis 15:9-21, and the Abrahamic B Covenant in Genesis 17.\u00a0 Per the NIV Study Bible, this Sinaitic Covenant was \u201cmade with Israel as the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and as the people God has redeemed from bondage from Egypt.\u00a0 This Sinaitic Covenant is a conditional divine pledge to be Israel\u2019s God on the condition of Israel\u2019s total consecration to God as his people who live by his rule and serve his purposes in history.\u201d\u00a0 Tomorrow we read about the Ten Commandments!\u00a0 Welcome to Mt. Sinai! Today in Exodus chapter 19 Mount Sinai plays quite a prominent role in the narrative.\u00a0 Below is an image of Mt. Sinai that I think correlates well with verse 18: \u201cAll Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the LORD had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain shook with a violent earthquake.\u201d<\/em><\/span> Worship Video:<\/strong>\u00a0 Today\u2019s readings in Exodus remind me of Chris Tomlin & Christy Nockels song \u201cGlorious:\u201d<\/span>
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