Gold and Goat Hair

Exodus 35:5a NIV

Old Testament: Exodus 35 & 36

Poetry: Psalm 34

New Testament: Acts 1

Gold and goat hair. Silver and sea cow hides. Bronze metal and blue yarn. Onyx stones and olive oil. These all were great offerings to do the work of God. These were just some of the precious, as well as the more common, everyday items that were brought as offerings to create the very first tabernacle.

God had given Moses some very specific plans for what He wanted for His tabernacle including the furnishings and priestly garments. The creative Creator who designed heaven and earth and fashioned all sorts of lands, plants, fish, birds, animals and unique human beings was now showing His flair for architecture (albeit tent-like architecture that would travel well), interior decorating (including specific dimensions, materials and details for the furnishings and surfaces), and even fashion designing (of the stunning priestly wardrobe).

God gave the precise plans – and He also gave His Spirit. God gave His Spirit to fill these craftsmen (Bezalel, Oholiab and other skilled persons) with skill, ability and knowledge so they would know how to create His masterpieces in gold, silver, bronze, stones, wood and “all kinds of artistic craftsmanship” (Exodus 35:33). And the Bible records that God also gave both Bezalel and Oholiab the ability to teach others these skills. What a creative and masterful and wise Spirit of God, which God still gives today! Have you received any of His crafty, skilled Spirit? If so, how are you using it to do His work? Are you able to teach others what God has given you? How can teaching others your skills and abilities further God’s work?

God gave the plans and His Spirit with the skills, it was up to the people to give the resources. ”All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the LORD freewill offerings for all the work the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do.”  (Exodus 35:29) These offerings were not required (as other offerings were), but these were voluntary offerings. ”Everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work.” (Exodus 35:21) And they did give! They donated their gold jewelry to the cause. Those who had acacia wood, bronze, spices and oil gave what they had. The skilled willing women got to work spinning the colorful yarn, linen and goat hair. There was no gift too large and no gift too small. It was all given with a willing heart and would be used for the Lord’s work. They even gave and gave until they were told to stop because they had given more than enough to complete the sanctuary. 

I am not sure your church would find a good use for your donated goat hair today…um, wait, correction, my quick internet search just now revealed several common uses for goat hair including paintbrushes, rugs, carpet, and even Mohair or cashmere (different from rabbit cashmere) to be used in making sweaters or even fine pants for your pastor. So, go ahead keep collecting your goat hair for God, if that is what you have and your willing heart is telling you to give it to Lord’s work. 

And also consider, what do you have, or could you acquire with what you have, to provide for God’s work today. I’m guessing God’s not planning on building a tabernacle in your backyard, but do not doubt He has many, many plans that you can be an exciting part of with your participation and your offerings. What is your church doing that you can be a part of, contributing your time, talents and what you have to a larger extent than ever before? Could the children’s ministry use new crayons or is the kitchen running out of coffee cups? Would a tray of cookies be useful after church or could you help provide a spring cleaning spruce-up? What needs can you provide? Do you have a crafty skill to create a piece of artwork or functional thing of beauty (furniture or banner or blanket) for God’s church or even for His work outside of the church (perhaps a donation for a non-profit organization). Where is God’s work around the world in need of what you have? Sometimes the need is as simple as highlighters, glasses, or flat frisbees. Sometimes it’s Bibles, bikes and fertilizer. Sometimes it’s larger, like a church building – a new tabernacle. What do you have (given to you by God), that He would love to see you use to further His work with one of your neighbors in need – your means of transportation, your coffeepot, you sharing a skill? 

What is your heart moving you to offer to God’s work? Consider both your valuable and precious resources as well as your common and everyday items? What gold and goat hair will you offer to God with a willing heart? 

-Marcia Railton

Reflection & APplication

  1. What do you have (or have the means to acquire) that could be used to do the work of the Lord? How is your heart moving you to give offerings to the Lord’s work? 
  2. Pray about it and do it.
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Abounding in Love

*Old Testament: Exodus 33 &34

Poetry: Psalm 33

New Testament: Matthew 28

As a child, I remember making an emergency run to the neighborhood store with my Mom for a box of cereal. It was the night before Valentine’s Day. Our teacher had told us to decorate a cereal box to transform it into our personal Valentine’s Day mail box. Of course, I had forgotten all about this class project until the night before it was due. Everyone in our class would buy a pack of cards. I liked opening my box of cards and reading through each one as I addressed and signed them. I was so excited to drop the cards in the other boxes for my classmates. The class card exchange has been a long-standing tradition and a fun way for kids to express fondness for classmates. Expressing fondness, admiration or appreciation for others is definitely a skill that I want to pass on to the next generation. And more importantly, I want all of us to be able to express our love to God and show the love of God to others. In fact, Jesus taught us that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and the second commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves.(Mark 12:29-31)

The LORD has always shown human beings His love. He created us, cares for us, provides for us, sustains us…His interactions show His love because God is Love. The love that God shows us is perfect love, agape love. You know that perfect love of God: love that is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud. Love that doesn’t dishonor others, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, and doesn’t keep a record of wrongs. This love doesn’t delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. (1 Corinthians 13) You know. That kind of love. The love that never fails.

Moses had many opportunities to experience the LORD’s love through his own life and through the LORD’s interaction with the Hebrew people. But leading this rebellious group had Moses seeking God more than ever. He pleaded for His presence to go with them on their journey and he asked to see God’s glory. God grants his request. Early in the morning, Moses heads up Mount Sinai with the new stone tablets in his hands. We see Moses being rewarded for seeking a close, loving relationship with the LORD. The LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him. He passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.”  (Exodus 34:6 & 7)

Just like Moses, we are so thankful for who the LORD is-abounding in love and maintaining love to thousands. But the LORD also states that He is just. He does not leave the guilty unpunished. That is the part that might scare us. After all, every one of us has sinned and come short of the glory of God. But the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom and it is wise to realize that God is bigger than we are and has our lives in his hands. But as we grow closer to God, we realize that He wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. He truly wants only the best for us. What Jesus called abundant life. Our fear of the Lord should motivate us to repentance and acceptance of His Son.  As 1 John 4:18 states, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” His amazing love for the world was so great that He gave us His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. In love God offers us the opportunity to believe in Jesus and receive eternal life. (John 3:16) So it is time to walk closely with the LORD allowing Him to fill us with His perfect love.

-Rebecca Dauksas

Reflection Questions

  1. How would you describe God’s abounding love? 
  2. How did Moses experience it?
  3. How have you experienced it?
  4. How can you express your love for God today?
  5. How can you show the love of God to others today?
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Homemade Idols

*Old Testament: Exodus 31 & 32

Poetry: Psalm 32

New Testament: Matthew 27

I grew up on a farm and was around cows a lot. Never once did I find qualities to be worshipped in our cows. Sure, sometimes they did something cute or funny, but to lift a calf into idol worship seems ridiculous to me. Yet many ancient cultures worshipped the bull. Apparently, the Hebrew people were aware of this practice, too. So while Moses is receiving the Law of the Lord on the mountain, Aaron is left in charge. The people told him to make them gods who would go before them. And amazingly he does it. He creates the idol from their jewelry. Aaron goes on to build an altar in front of it. He announces that they will have a festival to the Lord with burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. The LORD is writing instructions for Moses of who He is and how they can worship Him, but they decide to create their own idol and practice their own form of worship. Along with these bad decisions, they eat, drink and indulge in revelry.

The golden calf should illustrate the ridiculousness of placing anything or anyone in a position of worship. The LORD is the only One who should be there.

I wonder if we had our modern-day idols put out on public display with altars in front of them, what would we find? Things that represent power, relationships, careers, educational degrees, wealth, fame…What offerings are being given for these idols? Are we offering most of our energy, time, focus or money?

Even good things can become idols when we make someone or something else the highest priority in our lives. Material possessions can be viewed as blessings from the LORD. We can thank Him for them and use them to help others. When we do this, we are using God’s blessings for good, but if we become consumed in our material possessions, they become an obstacle to fully loving and serving the LORD.

We should ask ourselves, “Does anything or anyone hold a higher priority in my life than the LORD?”  In Colossians 3:5 we are told to “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry”.
So we see here that evil things need to be eliminated from our life before we find that they have become idols.

The Hebrews show us the seriousness of putting idols in the place of the LORD. They made themselves a laughingstock to the other nations and they broke a blood covenant with the LORD. (Ex. 24:7-8) How much better it would have been if Aaron had refused? Even when leadership falters, we should stand for the LORD. Let’s move out any idols and make the LORD the center of our world by loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

-Rebecca Dauksas

Reflection Questions

  1. Does anything or anyone hold a higher priority in your life than the LORD? What or who? 
  2. What offerings are being given for these idols? Are you offering most of your energy, time, focus or money to anything or anyone who is not the LORD God?
  3. What will you do to put God first (either again, or for the first time in your life)? What changes need to be made? What habits need to be broken? What habits need to be started? What will you do today to make it so? 
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The Priests

Old Testament: Exodus 29 & 30

Poetry: Psalm 31

New Testament: Matthew 26

I am struck by the stark contrast of the priests of God in our reading today. In Exodus we are shown the beginning of the priesthood. The LORD sets apart Aaron and his sons. They were called, consecrated and ordained to serve Him. These men were anointed to serve the Lord and their anointing was to be a priesthood that could have continued “throughout their generations.” 

But as we travel forward through the centuries to the time of Christ in Matthew 26, we see the high priest, chief priests and elders scheming to secretly arrest and kill Jesus. They are counting out the 30 pieces of silver to be given to his betrayer. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence to condemn Jesus to death. Rather than leading his people in the observance and the true meaning of Passover the high priest is interrogating Jesus. The high priest commands, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” Jesus replied, “You have said so. But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” This truthful statement is met with the high priest tearing his clothes and pronouncing Jesus as a blasphemer. The leaders declare that he is worthy of death. They even go as far as slapping him, striking him with their fists, mocking him, and spitting in his face. How could these religious leaders fall so far from God? They were prideful of their positions and were so filled with jealousy, and hatred that they could not recognize the Son of God.

But praise God that we know our Lord Jesus is the Son of God and we know that God called him to serve as our High Priest. The book of Hebrews explains, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.”(Hebrews 4:14) As Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice, we should offer our lives to God. We will follow the example of our High Priest, Jesus Christ so we may be known as “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and God’s special possession.”

-Rebecca Dauksas

Reflection Questions

  1. What was the job of the priests, and specifically the high priest? 
  2. How is Jesus the perfect high priest? 
  3. In what ways can you now serve as a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and God’s special possession? 
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Gifts and Abilities for God

Old Testament: Exodus 27 & 28

Poetry: Psalm 30

New Testament: Matthew 25:31-46

God allows His followers to worship Him in so many ways! He blesses us with abilities that can be used for His glory. In our scripture readings today, we see the abilities of the embroiders, jewelers, songwriters, and those who serve and minister to others just to name a few. From skilled hands come the beautiful creations of articles that were used in the tabernacle (Ex. 27&28). Perhaps, some of the Israelites never imagined that they would have a part of creating a place where God would be worshipped. Maybe, someone just learned and developed an ability to dye and spin purple yarn. They were gifted with this talent, but they had no idea that this skill would be used for God.  Yet, God did use this ability for the creation of the Tabernacle. How amazing to be creating a sanctuary for the LORD so He might dwell among them (Ex.25:8).  

From Psalm 30, we are reminded that each of these Psalms or songs are lyrical praises that emerged from the creative minds of song writers (Ps. 30). As the Psalmist declared, “LORD my God, I will praise you forever.” Many of the Psalms’ lyrics we still sing today.  

Lastly our scriptures from Matthew remind us that every believer should use our gifts to serve our brothers or sisters in need. Matthew 25:31-46 illustrates the amazing coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of Man in His glory with all the holy angels. He will finally be recognized as the King when he sits on the throne of His glory. He will then reward those who have served others. Jesus the King will say “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom.”

We see that God is honored when we use our abilities and gifts for Him.

-Rebecca Dauksas

Reflection & Application

Have you thought about your abilities? Perhaps you have giftedness in certain areas?  Pray about opportunities to share your gifts and abilities with your friends, family and serving in your church.

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What Have You Done with It?

Old Testament: Exodus 25 & 26

Poetry: Psalm 30

New Testament: Matthew 25:14-30

Have you ever been given a huge gift of money, equal to say, 20, 40 or even 100 years of wages? I am going to guess your answer, like mine is “No!” So instead I will ask, what would you do if you were given a huge gift of money like that? Houses, cars, boats, RV’s, college, investments, and even some donations. I can dream up a few things and I am sure you can, too. 

But what would you do if you were entrusted with a huge amount of money worth 20, 40 or 100 years of wages? It’s a totally different question. The money isn’t yours. But you are responsible for it. The owner has put it in your care (whether you wanted it or not). And he is going to be returning (sometime) to see what you have done with it. 

You have some options. You could totally screw up and spend it all as yours and have nothing for the master when he returns. But that would be totally unwise because of what the master would do when he returns. You could hide it under your mattress and just keep it safe so you can return it when the master comes. This option is ruled by fear: fear of losing, fear of the master, fear of things not turning out right, fear of trying. Only trouble is, the master has a few different words for the fearful afraid servant who hid his alloted resources: wicked, lazy and worthless. Well, that’s not really the only trouble because the LARGER trouble is what becomes of that fearful, afraid, wicked, worthless and lazy servant: the master orders him to be  thrown, “into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 25:30). His eternal destination is decided because he was too afraid to try to use what the master entrusted to him. 

In order to please the master, everyone needs a ministry in which they are putting to work what God has entrusted to him or her. Your ministry doesn’t have to look like your neighbors or pastors or parents. God has given each one of us different resources, bags of gold and talents and spiritual gifts and skill sets. But he didn’t give them to us for us to foolishly squander on ourselves or fearfully hide away. In fact, he didn’t give them to us for us to keep. But he entrusted them to us for us to put them to work for him. He expects us to grow them. And when we do, he welcomes us to come share in his happiness and even gives us more. 

Which words will you hear from the master? It depends on what you have done with what he has entrusted to you. 

-Marcia Railton

Reflection Questions

  1. What resources, talents, gifts, skills and passions has God entrusted to you? How are you putting them to work for him? 
  2. Are there times when you have allowed fear to keep you from investing God’s talents He’s given you?
  3. Which words will you hear from the master? 
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Ready for the Day. And Ready for the Night.

Old Testament: Exodus 23 & 24

Poetry: Psalm 29

New Testament: Matthew 25:1-13

Are you ready for the day? Do you have clean clothes to wear, you have your keys, phone and wallet, your homework is done, you have prepared for the meeting or test, and you remembered to brush your teeth before leaving the house. It’s a good feeling to be ready. 

When was the last time you were caught unprepared? You scrambled to put together a clean (maybe matching) outfit because the dirty hamper was overflowing, the teacher gave a pop quiz, visitors found a messy house, you didn’t have the project complete when the boss wanted it, the bill wasn’t paid by the due date, and in the rush to get out the door you forgot to brush your teeth. It’s no fun not being ready. 

In Matthew 25 today we read of the Parable of the Ten Virgins, or Bridesmaids, depending on which version you read. They are all anxiously waiting for the bridegroom’s arrival and they all have a lamp/torch/light with them as it is day now but they don’t know when he might come, so they (seem) prepared to wait even if it grows dark. And it does. 

Jesus tells us five of the virgins (typically referring to purity) were wise and five (still, pure virgins) were foolish. And since they all had their lamps with them and were anxiously awaiting the bridegroom’s (Jesus’) arrival I feel it is safe to say that all ten would call themselves “Christians” or Jesus followers. The five foolish aren’t chasing after the world and doing immoral, evil things. They have their lights and are waiting, right along with the five wise.  I think they are even sitting in the church pew and doing all the right things right along with the wise, all day long.

And then it grows dark. BOTH the wise and foolish get drowsy and even begin to sleep. BOTH are wakened with the great news, “The Bridegroom is coming!” But now we run into trouble. Well – half of them/us do. 

Five of them didn’t bring oil to keep their lamps burning, their lights are going out, and they haven’t seen the bridegroom yet. They desperately demand to get some oil from the five wise who brought oil with them, but the wise know they don’t have enough oil for both their light and another light. In the final moments the foolish run off scrambling to go buy more oil. And it is in those final moments that the long anticipated arrival of the bridegroom takes place. He finds the five wise waiting with their lights burning bright and he ushers them into the wedding feast. The door is shut and the party begins. 

In the previous chapter Jesus had just warned of the darkness that would proceed his second coming: increased wickedness, love of most growing cold, many deceived by false prophets and false christs, war, famine, earthquakes, and persecution. He warned that during that time of darkness many Jesus followers will fall away. They are the 5 foolish. They are the ones who won’t have enough fuel to keep their light burning through the darkness. They are the ones who will miss the party and be left out in the dark and will hear the Savior say, “I don’t know you.” 

Each person needs to be prepared – and stay prepared – even in the final dark days/moments/hours. Just having a light in the daytime is not enough. Just walking with the wise, right crowd is not enough. It won’t work to get into the Kingdom with a spouse, parent, grandparent, pastor, or friend who is prepared. You need your own light – AND the oil to keep it burning bright all night long if needed. 

Which half will you be a part of? Are you prepared? Are you ready? Do you have your light with you? That’s a good first step! But are you also prepared for the coming darkness that will indeed come before the Savior arrives? Do you have enough fuel to keep your light burning bright until you are ushered into the great wedding feast? Are your ready for the day? Are you ready for the night?

-Marcia Railton

Reflection Questions

  1. First off, are you a Jesus follower, waiting for his return, prepared with a light?
  2. Are you prepared to keep your light burning in the darkness?
  3. What part of the darkness scares you most (wickedness, deception, natural disasters, famine, persecution)? How can you work on strengthening your stand now and preparing for the darkness so you won’t fall away in the darkness? 
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The Beginning of Birth Pains

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Old Testament: Exodus 21 & 22

Poetry: Psalm 28

New Testament: Matthew 24

            I have never had a baby.  Shocker, I know!  As a male member of the human race the act of childbirth has and will forever elude my lived experience.  However, as a father of eleven Fletchers, I have spent many years of my adult life in the company of pregnant women, or more precisely, a pregnant woman.  I was there for all eleven births and I caught most of them (the last one came so quickly that I caught him solo).  All this is to offer to you my credentials that, although never directly experiencing labor, I have been present for enough births to recognize the various stages that women go through in childbirth.  Fun fact, for women who have more than one baby the Braxton Hicks contractions (otherwise known as false labor) can come several weeks or even months before the baby is actually born.  Braxton Hicks contractions are one way that the body prepares itself for labor.  It’s like an athlete doing warm up exercises before the actual event.   Muscles tighten and relax as they practice for the real thing when it comes. 

                Today’s devotion isn’t really about childbirth, it’s about being prepared for the return of Jesus Christ, the end of this present age and the preparation for the age to come, the Kingdom of God.  Matthew 24 is known as the “little apocalypse”.  Apocalypse is another term for Revelation.  In the Bible the book of Revelation is 22 chapters long and goes into a lot of detail about the end of this age and the coming of Jesus.  Matthew 24 is a condensed version, kind of a mini-sermon Jesus preached to his followers shortly before he went to the cross.  (You will run across parallel or “synoptic” passages when we get to Mark 13 and Luke 21).

                Jesus’ purpose here is to prepare his followers to be ready for times of great tribulation or distress that would come immediately prior to his return.  If you’ve ever read or heard a sermon about the apocalypse or the end of the world or Armageddon you probably are aware that Jesus warned that before things get amazingly better- ie. The New Heavens and the New Earth, Christ returning to rule over all the world bringing a final end to all sin and death and setting free the whole earth from the “curse” of death… before things get amazingly better, there will be a time when they become incredibly hard.

                A brief study of the history of the Church for the last 2000 years will show that Christians have gone through hard times a lot.  In the first 2 centuries the problem was the Roman Empire.  Followers of Jesus were often told that they had to renounce their loyalty to Jesus and declare their loyalty to Caesar alone.  When they refused, some of them were thrown to the lions or burned at the stake.

                Since Christianity was legalized in the Roman Empire it has faced challenges in many parts of the world at different times.  In the 17th century Christian missionaries in Japan were killed for their faith.  In the 1930’s Christians in Germany who failed to support Hitler faced severe persecution and some, most notably Dietrich Bonhoeffer, were executed for resisting Nazism.  Christians in Communist China and the Soviet Union experienced incredible persecution during most of the 20th century.  There are places in the Islamic world today where Christians who attempt to proselytize Muslims face the threat of execution.

                Every generation of Christians since the first century could look at what was happening in the world and see the potential for the end of the world.  Jesus’ own disciples asked him right after his resurrection, before he ascended to God, “Is it NOW, Lord?” (Acts 1:6).

                2020 was a really challenging year with Covid, racial division, murder hornets, wildfires and hurricanes.  I had a lot of people asking me if I thought the end of the world was coming.  Perhaps you’ve wondered that yourselves.

                Matthew 24 is a great place to go when you start wondering if this is the end.  Like a woman who is going to have a baby, she may have “birth pangs” for a long time before the baby is actually ready to be born.  The same is true with the coming Kingdom of God.  I think every generation of Christians experience some amount of persecution or “natural” disasters or other tragedies that leave them wondering if the end could be near.  Just as Braxton Hicks contractions are God’s way of preparing a woman to give birth by having her muscles practice for the big event, God permits every generation to experience a certain amount of trials and tribulations to help prepare God’s people for the final “great push” that will occur right before Jesus returns.

                Jesus himself said that no one knows exactly when he will return.  He said that even he doesn’t know.  That is something that only God knows.  What Jesus does say to his disciples then and to us today is that we need to stay ready, we shouldn’t fall asleep in our faith.  He warns that as troubles and persecution increase and as the world becomes a less loving and more violent place that many of his followers would fall away:

                “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:10-12).

                Jesus might come very soon. I can’t predict when.  All I can do is make sure that I’m ready whenever he does come.  I must make sure that I stay faithful and don’t turn away even if the persecution gets really bad.  I think Christians living in the United States are getting ready to face some real persecution in the near future.  In fact, I think we already are.  There is a lot of pressure to conform to the changing norms of society.  Cancel culture will not have any respect for Christianity.  Some of the things that the Bible teaches about how we are supposed to live, particularly in areas of morality, sexuality and gender norms are considered anathema by the current progressive climate.  As people place more value on becoming “woke” more followers of Jesus, young and old will be persecuted if they fail to change their values.  Remember, Caesar doesn’t like to be rejected as God, neither does the devil, and neither do the progressive elites.  In the wake of the coming persecution Jesus our Lord tells us to “stand firm.”

-Pastor Jeff Fletcher

(originally posted January 24, 2021 for SeekGrowLove)

Reflection Questions

  1. Make a list of what Jesus warns us of in Matthew 24. How does it help to know what to expect?
  2. How can you guard against the deception of false christs and false prophets?
  3. Have you already seen a bit of the increase of wickedness and the love of most growing cold? Has it affected you personally? What temperature is your love? 
  4. What can you do today to help prepare yourself to stand firm to the end? What can you do today to help prepare others to stand firm to the end? 
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The Big Ten

Old Testament: Exodus 19 & 20

Poetry: Psalm 27

New Testament: Matthew 23

Today’s reading of Exodus 19 & 20 is probably one of the most familiar passages in the whole Bible for it includes the Ten Commandments.  It is important to understand the context of these commandments.  God entered into a covenantal relationship with Abraham and Abraham’s descendants through Isaac and Jacob and Jacob’s sons who became the twelve tribes of Israel.  God promised to bless and provide for his people and in exchange His people promised to be faithful and obedient to God and worship God alone.

After 400 years of slavery, Israel has grown from 12 sons and their immediate family to millions of people.  These people, God’s covenant people, will be settling in a land where they will need to live in community.  They are no longer slaves.  They are now responsible to live in that community in peace and productivity.   They need help to know how to live together.  God provides His people with the structure of how to live together as God’s people.  The Ten Commandments and subsequently nearly 600 additional laws were all designed to help them be healthy and blessed representatives of God to the rest of the world.

God loves all people.  We must never falsely believe that God only loves certain people.  God considers all human beings His children and loves them all.  God wants to be in a right relationship with all of his children; however, many are disobedient and have no willingness to be in a relationship with God and many deny that God even exists.

So God needed to start with one group of people and prepare them to be a special, chosen people who would bring the knowledge of God to others.  Exodus 19:5-6 says, “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’

Israel was to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.  A priest is one who helps connect people and God.  God would go on to designate priests in Israel to help the people connect with God, but His expectation for Israel was that the whole nation serve as priests to help other nations connect with God.  Because the whole nation was being set apart by God to be priests for the world, they needed to live holy or set apart lives.  There were behavioral expectations that they were to follow.  They had to be exclusively loyal to God, they could not murder, steal, lie, cheat, they were to be respectful and honoring of parents and not misuse God’s name.

Now we are completing what God began in Israel.  Through Christ we have entered into a covenant with God.  We are now the covenant people, we are called to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.  That is the Church’s role.  And God expects us to live lives of holiness as we are set apart to serve God.  As you read through the many laws in the Old Testament, recognize that some applied very narrowly to the Nation of Israel and do not necessarily apply to us.  Dietary laws and sanitary laws were important in Israel at the time they were given but are no longer applicable.  However, some of the laws which pertain to morality have been reaffirmed by Jesus Christ for the Church.  In other words, as Christians we are free to eat pork and worship on Sundays, but we are not free to practice polygamy or murder.

God is truly a God of grace and mercy, but God is also a God who hates sin and punishes sin.  In this way we are still to live in fear of the Lord: Exodus 20:20 “the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”

Jeff Fletcher

(originally posted Feb 5, 2020 for SeekGrowLove)

Reflection Questions

  1. Looking at each one of the Ten Commandments, what can you learn about God? Why do you think He included each one in this list?
  2. Which of these commandments do you need to look at more closely in your own life? What will help you abide by them better?
  3. Looking at Matthew 23, the scribes and Pharisees Jesus was speaking about had worked hard at following the Ten (and additional commandments). But Jesus was not pleased. What were their problems? How can you avoid these problems?
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Fight-Pray-Watch-Write

Old Testament: Exodus 17 & 18

Poetry: Psalm 26

New Testament: Matthew 22:15-46

Sunday I said I love a good underdog story. It just so happens I also love a good battle story – and the Bible does not disappoint. There are many great battle stories in God’s word, including one in today’s reading in Exodus 17 of young Joshua (this is the first time he is mentioned in Scripture) battling the Amalekite army that attacked the Israelites.

My favorite kind of story though are the faith stories. How did God come through and save the day – again? What was needed and how did God deliver? Who was praying, where, and who witnessed the answer to prayer? And, how did they praise God for the answers sent? And – once again – the Bible does not disappoint. 

In fact, the battle story of Joshua vs. the Amalekites is also a great faith story. For while we have Joshua leading his very first battle with an army he put together in a day, we also have Moses holding the staff of God on the top of a hill overlooking the battle below. The action on the battlefield is just part of the story. It is the intercession on the hill which is pivotal in the outcome below. ”As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were wining, but whenever he lowered his hands the Amalekites were winning.” (Exodus 17:11) 80 year old Moses wasn’t on the battlefield but he was so important in the events of the day!

The trouble is – fatigue and weariness set in and his arms were getting heavier and heavier. He couldn’t hold up his arms any longer. He couldn’t do it alone. Intercession for the army below was not a one man job. Luckily, Aaron and Hur were on hand, saw the need, and stepped up. They provided a stone for Moses to sit on and with Aaron on one side and Hur on the other, they propped up Moses’ weary arms so that his hands remained outstretched toward heaven. 

And at the end of the day (and it did take all day) the Israelites beat back the Amalekites. And it wasn’t just because of the Joshua and his soldiers. And it wasn’t just because of the steadfast intercession of Moses, Aaron and Hur. It was a direct result of all of those AND mostly due to a mighty God who gave the victory. Moses realized this and he gave the glory to God as he built an altar to God and called it, “The LORD is my Banner.”

Does your prayer matter? Yes! There is great power in prayer and too often we take it much too lightly. We might mumble off a few sentences about, “Dear God please be with _____ and help her with ______ today.” But, when was the last time we let prayer and intercession order the events of our day, inconvenience us, or even cause a bit of pain? 

What could be changed if we take more seriously the job of lifting our hands to the throne of God? Realizing that prayer is not a one man job, who can we involve in praying with us? If you are currently on the battlefield, who can you ask to lift up hands in prayer for you and the victory you are fighting for? And how will you give the glory to God for sending answers and showing his goodness, power and love. 

I am thankful these stories have been written down to for us to learn and remember. And, I love that God told Moses to write the events of that day long ago down for Joshua to remember. How often do we forget how God displayed His goodness and power in our own lives and through the intercession of others? What great faith stories have you witnessed – perhaps as the warrior on the battlefield or perhaps as the intercessor on the hill? Will you write it down?

-Marcia Railton

Reflection & APPLICATION

  1. It is not recorded what specific words Moses may have been praying aloud or silently. In fact the word pray is not included in this passage. Do you think we might focus a bit too much on what words we say in prayer when God is more interested in our heart and arms uplifted to him (not just physically, but spiritually lifting needs to him with a devoted heart)? 
  2. There were a lot of questions in the devotion to contemplate. Which ones do you want to spend more time on?
  3. This has been on my mind for awhile now – so today is the perfect day to ask for your help! I would love to compile a collection of written faith stories from warriors and intercessors who have seen the One True God provide the victory – in both big and small ways: the keys were found, the prodigal son returned, the need was met in unexpected ways. Do you have a story you would write down to be shared? If so, please reach out to me so I can read and share your story! You can leave a comment below or find me on facebook or email me at grow16br@gmail.com. 
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