May 31 - Day 7

As I approach the end of Exodus in today's reading I found myself skimming the reading at first. I've read it before and either the stories are familiar or I wasn't finding them that interesting. I stopped and prayed and returned to my reading by asking God to reveal to me what was He trying to express to me in this reading. And there was a lot!

As Moses went up the mountain to meet with God and he was receiving the instructions for building the tabernacle, they were given in such detail. God had only given Moses the stone tablets with the 10 commandments on them but nothing else was written down. So I wrote in the margin of my Bible, "How in the world does Moses remember all of this?" Then as the reading moved on, we see Moses relaying these instructions to the Israelites. And it is nearly identical to the instructions he received directly from God! Then later in the reading we see the Israelites actually building and constructing the tabernacle and the elements for worship. They adhere to the instructions exactly. I was amazed. Somehow Moses had to remember it and be able to instruct others to accomplish this. I was thinking Moses must be quite the man to remember all of this and manage this level of a project! But then something struck me... From chapter 39 on - at least 16 times a phrase is recorded that says "as the Lord commanded," or "as the Lord commanded Moses." 16 times!! At church Gary (our pastor) always says, if it is repeated... it is important! So I started pondering the significance of this phrase. At first I thought perhaps this is just reiterating that God gave Moses these commands on the mountain. Certainly God did command Moses then. Yet, I think there may be something more. Because after Moses received the instructions but before everything was built, scripture also tells us about Moses going to the Tent of Meeting, about God showing Moses His Glory, and how Moses would literally glow after meeting with God.

Moses had established the Tent of Meeting in Ex 33: 7. "Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away..." Some distance away... Moses knew it was important to withdraw from the chaos and meet with God. It tells us that God would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Wow! So while Moses received the commands on the mountain once, he was also meeting regularly with God. I wonder what they were talking about? If it were me, I'd be asking God lots of questions about all these instructions making sure I got them all OK. Regardless of what they talked about, the principle I draw from this is that God's instructions may be given once, but it takes a consistent routine and a deliberate effort to have regular conversation with Him. In this ongoing dialogue, God will reveal to me what He wants me to do in precise detail. Though the task of building a tabernacle seems daunting when looked at in entirety, it is plausible that Moses was meeting with God on only one detail and one decision at a time. "Now what about that Ephod again? Is that a sapphire or a ruby that is supposed to go there? Oh yea, you said it should be an onyx. Thanks for correcting me..." I can just hear this conversation. Application to my life is this - when I look at the tasks God has laid before me or when I ponder my life's purpose and importance it seems daunting. How can I ever achieve all that He wants me to be? By taking them one decision and one action at a time and regularly meeting with My God on that issue I can expect that He will talk to me too. Yet I have to put Him first and put myself in a position - outside the camp - to hear His voice. I must be outside of my selfishness - outside my concerns - outside the distractions and noise of my daily grind. Where is my tent of meeting? Also, I cannot read His Word once (e.g. meet with Him once on the mountain), and expect that I'll retain it all. Yet the more regularly I consume His Word and the more regularly I ask Him about it, the more I'm giving Him a chance to help me prevent putting rubies in the place of onyx.

Second warning I received is from the Golden Calf incident. There are of course the usual applications from this story and I must admit, I know them but do I apply these warnings regularly? Do I have other gods before God? Am I fashioning an idol out of something I have in my life? These warnings beg that I apply them more, but this is not the new warning I received.

Exodus 32:27 says that after Aaron made his feeble excuse for why he allowed this to happen, Moses called everyone together and asked for those who were "for the Lord" to come to him. He then further asked them to become an instrument of God's judgment and kill brothers, friends and neighbors - presumably those who participated in the Golden Calf folly. 3000 people died as a result! No matter how bad things have been in my life and how much I knew someone else was lost in their sin, I can't imagine what it would be like if God told me I had to kill them because of their rebellion towards Him. Now come with me as I try to apply this to today's world. Not the killing of brothers directly, but the fact that if you have any god before God, He will get even. He is a jealous God. The instruments of His judgement are many and may come from areas we might never suspect. How many people today around our society snub their nose at the very mention of God -- let alone placing Him above all else in their life?? How many people let something or someone else become their god or their idol? God has told us from the beginning that this is not just dangerous ground but deadly ground. I see that as more and more people ignore His warnings, His creation is groaning displaying His judgement on a decaying society. The only hope we have is for those in His protection to call sin by its rightful name and ask those lost in their own Golden Calf Folly to repent. To return to Him and acknowledge Him as God. I certainly don't want to be asked to kill anyone I care about (neighbor, father, son, etc.) but isn't that what I'm doing by allowing them to continue to live in their sin without helping point them to Jesus? Who will I attempt to introduce to Jesus today so they can know God as their God?

May 30 - Day 6

Dear God,
You were preparing me for today's reading even as yesterday began. Here in Indiana, we are experiencing some of those "perfect" days of Spring. They came a little later than usual this year and the temperatures are now in the high 70's with the bright blue skies and puffy white clouds. These are the days people write poems about. As I was walking out of my house yesterday morning our dear neighbors were walking past on their early morning walk. I remarked to them how beautiful the day was and then continued on by saying that this was the "perfect day" and I was disgruntled about how it had taken so long for the warm weather to arrive and how much I wasn't looking forward to the really hot sticky days of summer. My dear neighbor responded by saying, "I bet the Good Lord surely gets tired of us." And I knew at the moment I was standing on holy ground and that You had just spoken to me through her.

Today in my reading I'm reminded of how much I'm like the Israelites. Despite the many miracles you revealed yourself through, they continued to grumble. You led them out of captivity and they grumbled. You led them through the Red Sea and drowned the Egyptians. They praised you momentarily but only a few paragraphs below they were grumbling again. Time after time they missed the miracle of your revelation and provision for them because they were so focused on themselves and the way they wanted the world to be. I recognize now that my dear neighbor was just preparing me to identify with how easy it is to praise you when you're giving me what I want, but how slippery it is to start grumbling when your provision doesn't meet my expectations. I miss the miracle of you when I focus on my self.

Secondly I was reminded that you were with them in all circumstances. You provided your pillar of fire and your cloud of covering for them as they wandered through the desert. These served functional physical and spiritual purposes and were a visual reminder that You were the one directing their path. Yet they also came to expect this as an entitlement rather than a blessing. They truly missed you because they thought they deserved You. How often I explain away Your presence in my life rather than celebrating the miracle that it truly is. I can explain away the beauty of the creation because scientifically I understand the chemistry or biology behind it. Yet I miss the miracle that You were the one who created atoms and cells that enabled it all to come to be. Please forgive me.

Throughout this reading you also reaffirmed to me many of your physical qualities.

• You are patient and long suffering. You continued to provide for the Israelites despite their grumblings and lack of respect towards you.
• You are to be feared. Ex 20:20 states that "God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning." Please help me establish a healthy fear of you.
• You are a God of order. You outlined the commandments. You deigned the instructions and rules to maintaining order. You gave elaborate instructions on the construction of the tabernacle, priestly garments, and elements of worship.
• You are a God of provision. You enabled Moses and Aaron to do things that they wouldn't have been able to do on their own. You provided manna and meat for the Israelites. (Actually this reinforced a point I've made in earlier posts about helping me understand between my needs and my wants. Ex 23:25 states, "Worship the Lord your God and his blessing will be on your food and water." It doesn't say your blessing will be my material gain (or my wants...) rather it says it will be on my needs (my food and water.) Help me realize you provide for all my needs.
• You are an omniscient, all powerful God. You are in control of everything. You tell the Israelites in Ex 23:27ff that you will drive out their enemies. However you won't do it all in one year because the land would become desolate and overrun with wild animals. Even though you could smite all evil in the world with a single stroke of your hand, you are perhaps even using this evil for our benefit because without it we wouldn't know your provision in the way we have the opportunity to today.

How I praise you for who you are and what you reveal to me daily. Help me focus on myself a little less so I can see you a little more today and every day after.

May 29 - Day 5

Today's reading really struck a chord with me for some reason. The words were leaping off of the page and piercing my heart. Overall, I was inspired again by realizing we must first know WHOSE we are before we can understand WHAT we are to accomplish.

This was first impressed upon me as I read about Moses early days. Exodus 2:11 Moses sees an Egyptian beating a Hebrew and acts in anger to kill the Egyptian. I don't condone the actions that Moses took, but I'm impressed that Moses still felt this much loyalty to the Hebrew people. He was raised as an Egyptian and granted all the benefits of being a kings son. How easily it would have been for him to mentally view himself as an Egyptian. However the small phrase found in verse 11 sticks out to me " . . . one of his own people." He identified with the Hebrews and never lost focus of WHOSE he was first and the privileges he was granted second. This is important to me today as I struggle with what am I supposed to accomplish in this life? Is it what the title on my business card dictates? There is more work there to be done than I can ever accomplish on my own. And if I do accomplish it all, does it even matter? Certainly God has placed me here for a reason but unless I acknowledge that I'm first a Child of God the earthly advantages he's given me mean nothing. I can easily loose my identity in the distractions of this world Lord, help me maintain my focus and my identity in You!

After his calling in the desert through the Burning Bush, Moses returned to Egypt to follow the Lord's calling. Yet here I gain another application of our obedience to the Lord demonstrated through our actions. Moses knew he'd been called to go and he knew it was the Lord who'd called him. Though he'd argued with the Lord about why and what he should say, He still agreed to go. Step one of obedience. However in Exodus 4:24 we see God ready to kill Moses for not having his son's circumcised. What is that all about? I stumbled over this several times. I can't quite understand it, but I think God is revealing that obedience means actions in all areas of his commands. So surely God talked to Moses and told him to Go... but he also talked to all Hebrews through the covenant with Abraham and told them what he expected. Circumcision was the outward sign of their inward attitude. God expects us to obey in all areas of our life. Not just those things that are comfortable for us or convenient for us. Once God saw that Moses was a "bridegroom of blood" the Lord let him alone. I surely feel proud sometimes that I've decided to follow the Lord's calling in my life. However, I also realize that there are times when I've chosen to not obey or not listen to the full commitment God is asking me to make. I've gone with him on the journey outwardly but my inward commitment hasn't resulted in full obedience. Look around us today. How many of us are demonstrating outward obedience without an inward commitment that is piercing to the soul. If we truly were this way, every aspect of our life would be changed and we'd do things not because they were comfortable, but because they were drawing us closer to His Glory.

Exodus 6:9 - God has just reveled his promise to Moses for the Israelites. Moses hastily delivers this to the Israelites himself... but here it states that they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and cruel bondage.
I draw two things here for my life...

1. Unless the people around me have the physical needs met, they will be less likely to hear the Spiritual promises that God is revealing to them every day. AND
2. How often do I not hear God's promises because I perceive my needs not to be met? Bringing me back to the definition of a need versus a want. You supply all my needs. Yet it mostly is my "wants" that I choose to let get in the way of receiving your promises. Forgive me, dear Father.

The plagues are one of our children's favorite Bible stories. They like recite the repeated phrase, "let my people go" as it appears in their Children's Bible. When reading these plagues my tendency has been to focus on the hardening of Pharaoh's heart against God. Yet when I read these again today, I started to realize that yes, God did harden Pharaoh's heart but whose benefit was it for? Certainly ultimately it allowed God to reveal his Glory and power. However I started to reflect on the character each successive plague was developing in Moses. Initially upon receiving God's calling in the desert, he tried to explain why he wasn't the right choice. The God took away all of his excuses why he shouldn't go. Then Moses found himself capable but not confident in his ability to represent the Lord. God had to first reveal signs to Moses (a staff turning into a snake, a perfectly healthy hand turning leprous and then being healed.) Moses had to first believe God was all powerful in his own life. Then with each successive plague, God had to help Moses understand that He could not just harden hearts, but also that he was in control of everything. I can almost see Moses' courage and confidence increasing with each successive plague. He was rediscovering God in a whole new light and recognizing what an awesome privilege it is to serve such a powerful God. And God chose Moses personally to accomplish this task. Surely, I may never be called upon to deliver plagues to others. I may never be called upon to deliver slaves from captivity (at least not literally). However, God had chosen me to serve Him and created unique opportunities for me to help set people free from spiritual bondage. These plagues not only strengthened Moses into a fine leader, but they encourage me as well of what an AWESOME and powerful God I serve today.

Finally when Pharaoh did let the people go Exodus 13:18 tells us that the Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle. When I first read this, I thought that that meant that as I'm set free from my sins, I should be ready to fight as well because the world will be against me. I'm sure this is part of the application but not all of it. Because, reading on in Exodus 14 I discovered how the Israelites were "trapped" between the red sea and the approaching Egyptians. They began to grumble an realized that the were in dire straits and were ready to serve the Egyptians all over again. (Did they forget that they were "armed for battle?") Then Moses reassured the people not to be afraid. He wouldn't have been able to say this with confidence unless he knew from previous experience that God was in charge of all things. And He encourages them that "the Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Ex 14:14) When I read this and contrasted it against Ex 13:18 I realized that we are to be armed for battle but sometimes that means our armor is resting in the Lord's provision for us. As I move into unfamiliar territory following where he is leading me, I must be armed with realizing that my Powerful God is TOTALLY in control of my life. He will protect me... I need only to realize that He is fighting the spiritual battle for my soul all around me as I'm still in Him.

Lord, thank you for opening my eyes to your truths. Now my prayer is that they are coming at me so fast that I'm concerned they'll stay in my head or words on this page rather than being acted out in obedience to you. Help me ingrain these applications into my daily actions so I gain the full benefit of your revelation to me.

May 28 - Day 4

Thank you God for allowing me the privilege of reading your Word today. Though it wasn't all in one sitting I was able to complete the reading and gain new and exciting truths from it. The Living Word is coming new to me as I read these familiar passages in light of my current situations and draw linkages between what you said then and what you are speaking directly to me today.

As I read about these Old Testament saints I realize I am strongly envious of their ability to hear you and sense your guiding. I recognize that not everyone I'm reading about understands who you are and what you are saying, but those Fathers of your chosen people remained humble and obedient. Through that humility you taught them and each successive step of obedience helped them gain the courage to trust you more.

Joseph displayed humility when he was asked by Pharaoh to interpret the dreams. Though he had been in prison for many years for a crime he didn't commit, he chose to help rather than to become bitter for the treatment he'd received. Not only that but he remembered his source of gifting. He replied to Pharaoh, "I cannot do it, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires." This serves as a great warning to me. How often do I usurp God's glory by negating the gifting He's bestowed upon me? Daily I have the opportunity to interact and influence people. I asked for such an opportunity and God delivered. Yet, daily I plunge into my routines with my own strength and try to rely on my gifting rather than the SOURCE of my gifting. God has blessed me with tremendous talents and I use them daily. Yet using them is not enough. Using them for His glory and at His prompting enables me not to become depleted or defeated. Lately, I've been feeling defeat. I've not been enlarged and my territory and responsibility is diminished. Help me be more like Joseph and remember not only my gifts but the SOURCE of my gifts as well - that I may again feel your leading and your prompting.

In Genesis 47 during the famine that struck Egypt and the surrounding area I received a warning about helping people in crisis while helping them realize the source of their blessing. Many people were coming to Joseph to purchase grain from the Egyptian storehouse. When their money ran out they begged for more food. Joseph told them that he would sell the grain to them in exchange for their livestock. When the livestock ran out, Joseph told them he would sell them the grain for their land. Then in exchange for seeds Joseph contracted the people to return 1/5 of their crop to Pharaoh. How easy it would have been for Joseph to give the people exactly what they asked for? They wanted a handout. He could have simply provided them with the grain out of mercy. It seems almost cruel, but Joseph made them pay for the handout despite their dire circumstances. Yet he did it in a way that helped them maintain their dignity AND caused the to continually recognize the source of the blessing. I as God's child must realize the SOURCE of a blessing as well as the blessing itself. If I do not, the blessing becomes an entitlement and soon my pride creeps back in. Look at our world around us today. How many people have forgotten the SOURCE of our blessings. The government provides us with many benefits as citizens. God provides us with many benefits as citizens of Earth. Yet on both accounts we are guilty of usurping the glory intended by these blessings because we fail to acknowledge the source and view them as an entitlement. Who am I that I should be called both a citizen of this great nation as well as a child of God? Help me always acknowledge YOU as the SOURCE of my blessings.

Genesis 50:19 - After the death of Jacob, Joseph's brothers were afraid that he would exact revenge on them for their harmful acts against him. They pleaded for mercy and fell down before him offering to be his slaves. I extracted two learnings from this example. The first is that God's Word always comes true. In Joseph's early life he had a dream that showed him that his brothers would kneel before him. And here it is that the dream has come true. How easily it would have been for Joseph to say "I told you so." And in my humanness, this is probably what I would have said. Instead, I gained a second application... how Joseph chose to respond. Instead of revenge or anger, Joseph recognized His calling and Who had called him. His response was "Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." In challenges or frustrations of this life, I all too often look for how to get even or how to get back at those who've hurt me. I rarely look for the opportunity to bring Glory to God by recognizing WHOSE I am first and WHAT God may have called me to accomplish by allowing me to go through this specific trial or frustration. Lord, Help me apply this to every aspect of my life. . . That I may have eternal eyes to see things in lieu of your plan and not my momentary frustrations.

May 27 - Day 3

I'm finding new rhythm and peace with this rate of consumption of the Word. It overwhelms me at times and I want to stop and ponder it longer than I allow for knowing that there is so much more to come in the daily reading. I find it hard not to jump into a "religious" attitude that as long as I complete my reading, I've had a good conversation with God. I recognize that there is so much more to talk to God about when I'm reading more of His Word.

This discipline is changing me - albeit only on day 3 - but I have less time to do the "non-essential" things of life such as watching TV and wasting time. I also have to be careful to make sure I don't allow this to conflict with quality family time or quiet time with my wife. Relationships with others reflect our relationship with the Lord. My prayer is that none of these suffer in my life.

I highlighted a few things in my reading today that struck me. I'm not sure how to interpret them yet or how they directly apply to my life, but I do trust that God will reveal the applications to me in His time.

1. Gen 28:8 - Esau realized how much his father (Isaac) disliked Canaanite women so he went to Ishmael and married a Canaanite woman named Mahalath. Presumably he did this to spite his father and to "get back at" Isaac for giving his blessing to Jacob instead of Esau. This caused me to reflect - how often to I do things to spite my earthly Father for decisions that he's made intentionally or otherwise. Maybe I don't do them intentionally or with malice intent -but do I truly Honor him in all ways? Additionally, how often do I do things (or don't do things) to spite God my heavenly Father for blessings he's not given me that I feel I deserve? Sometimes I don't pray or I don't read my Bible - because "I don't feel like it." And God still continues to love me and protect me despite my attempts to spite Him. More importantly, He continues to show me His Grace by not truly giving me what I've essentially asked for in my attempts to spite him.
2. Gen 29:31 - "When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb but Rachel was barren." This is difficult for me to interpret. Given our history of infertility it is hard for me to read this and know what you're trying to say. Rachel was loved and she remained barren. Leah was not loved by her earthly husband and therefore she was blessed with having children. But what does this mean for couples facing infertility? Is it that you love them and chose them to be infertile to bring them closer to You? Why do You open some wombs and close others? My prayer in reading this is for all couples in this situation that You will help them see their infertility as a blessing - not a curse- and the reward is a closer relationship with You.
3. Gen 30:25ff - Jacob's flocks increase in number. As a measure of his obedience and faith in the Lord, God blessed Jacob by increasing his flocks. It seemed that no matter how Jacob arranged the breeding program of the flocks or divided the animals to what appeared to be even - God would work it out such that Jacob ended up with more animals than did Laban. I recognize that God's blessings are not all material. And the believer is never promised physical prosperity as a result of faith. But this example again reminds me that God is ALWAYS in control. He will always see to it that the believer is taken care of and has all they need. Lord help me understand the differences between the things I want... and those things I truly need.

May 26 - Day 2

Wow, this is going to take a little while to get into the routine. I attempted to read today's reading all in one sitting early in the morning. I find my mind wandering and I'm reading and re-reading the same words. Yet when I concentrate I discover You're still there ... You never move... You always show up to meet with me.

Today I identify with Lot's wife. (Gen 19) As she left her home as it was burning and sulphur was raining down she looked back and became a pillar of salt. How often do I look back on the stench I've left behind when I know God is calling me to a new purer life. The life that is behind me is safe and comfortable - though it is eroding and dying. But the life that is ahead of me is unknown and scary. I know it is best to follow God.... I just don't want to leave my safety and my stench.

I also am refreshed by reading the passage of Hagar and Ishmael. (Gen 16) It helps me realize how You continue to speak to us daily -- if we listen. This was the passage that helped Nicole and I make our decision to pursue Embryo Adoption for our family. We were reminded that Abraham and Sarah thought they were doing a very good thing by becoming parents of Ishmael and inviting Hagar into their plan. Your plan for Abraham was to wait. Yet you allowed them to pursue their self-will and as a result Ishamel and the rest of his lineage have been in conflict with your people since.

This passage hit us at a time in our life when we were trying to expand our family. We were going to pursue domestic infant adoption for a second time. It was safe, it was comfortable and we knew how to do it all over again. Yet, you were calling us to the unknown. You were telling us that comfort is not the same as peace. You were granting us peace, but we would have to rest in you for the comfort to make it through a process we knew very little about. Thank You dear Father for making your word relevant to our lives even today!

I was also refreshed today by reading about Isaac and Rebekah (Gen 24). When Isaac's servant went back to Abraham's homeland to find Isaac a wife he prayed a specific expectant prayer. He prayed for a girl who would come to offer him a drink and also water his camels. When such a girl came he would know this was who was to become Isaac's wife. It caused me to ask, how often do I pray such specific and expectant prayers. Sure, I pray for healing or for help. But do I really get this specific and pray for the details only I know you can provide. OR when I do pray this specifically, how often do I chalk it up to coincidence rather than your ordained events? Forgive me Father for limiting your ability to work miracles in my life. Help me develop my prayers into arrows that pierce the darkness and allow you to reveal yourself in mighty ways.

Thank You again for meeting with me today. I love you Dear Father and can't wait to record what else it is You will reveal to me in this study. Help me protect the time to meet with you and give me unfathomable concentration as I digest your Word.

May 25 - Day 1

Today I embark on a journey that I'm a bit skeptical about yet intrigued to accomplish. At the urging of our pastor, I decided to enroll in reading the entire Bible in 90 days as part of a congregational challenge. I'm a member of Bible Study Fellowship and as this program concludes for the summer, this challenge fits so well in the summer months when my study tends to slack off.

As I embark on this journey, I'm praying that God will reveal Himself in mighty ways to me and my family as I survey the entire Bible. Though difficult to consume every word and every blessing from the Lord in this time, I trust that He will speak to me about whatever He needs to as I dedicate this time to Him.

I wanted to start this journey with attempting to start a blog as well. Maybe I'll never share this with anyone else, but at least I can catalogue my thoughts and the lessons I've learned from my study so far. Though these reflections I hope to see how God is weaving a thread of truth through my study so I might see Him more clearly.

Already here are some things I've learned or recognized anew:

• Gen 4:6-8 "Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." - When Cain was upset and jealous about his brother, God reminded him that the choice was his. If I do what is right I will be accepted... but sin desires me and I must master it.
• Noah was 500 years old when he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (He was 600 years old when it actually started raining!) - If I ever think I'm too tired or too old to obey God this is the only example I need! Lord, please help me realize I don't need the "rest" I think I deserve. The only rest I need is that which you provide me. What you call me to do you will equip me to finish.

Father, thank you for your sustaining Grace. Thank you for allowing me to spend this time with you surveying your Word and seeking application to my life. Please reveal yourself to me and help me decipher your voice in this noisy world. Help me see you amidst all of the distractions and separate myself from the world long enough to rest in your arms. I praise you for preserving your word for me to read today.