Today in the Bible reading plan, Exodus 3-6 was to be read. These chapters got me to thinking about one of the main themes of the entire book, knowing God. Exodus is a book with a big theme about coming to know God through personal experience. In the reading today we see 2 different people who either have come to know God through personal experience or are about to come to know God through their personal and even violent experience with Him.
Moses in chapter 3 gets to meet God in the bush, somewhat face to face and hear His voice. Moses gets to know God by His personal intimate covenant name, I AM WHO I AM (the LORD and also YHWH). This personal meeting with God sets the stage for Moses the rest of the story as he now acts and becomes a mediator between the LORD and His covenant people. Moses begins to know the LORD now in chapter 3 at the burning bush, but as the story progresses He finds out so much more about God and His revealed character like; His holiness, patience, covenant love, longsuffering, compassion, hatred toward evil, justice, and majesty. Today's reading marks the beginning of the journey for Moses to come to know God through experience.
Pharaoh in chapter 5 also begins his journey into coming to know of God through personal experience. In 5:2 Pharaoh states, "Who is the LORD that I should obey Him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go!" Pharaoh is defiant in the fact he does not know I AM and he think he is the I am. But as we will see in the next 3 days of reading, Pharaoh gets to know of and about some of the character of the LORD through his personal experience and interaction with Him.
So who's personal experience in knowing God would you rather have, Moses or Pharaoh? And does your life and obedience match which person you would rather be?
Monday, January 19, 2015
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Starting Exodus
Today in the Bible reading plan we read Exodus 1 and 2. Finally, we get to another book of the Bible and read about new characters in the story. Here are some initial thoughts to keep in mind as the book of Exodus is read through in the next 3 weeks.
First, Exodus is the second part of a much larger narrative and story. The larger narrative and story is called the Pentateuch, which in the English Bible is Genesis through Deuteronomy. That means Exodus just carries over many of the same themes, topics, and truths from Genesis. It should catch our ear that the first lines in Exodus sound similar to many of the same lines found in Genesis with the genealogy stuff.
Second, Exodus is a bi-fid book. This means the book, unlike Genesis structure, can now be split into 2 parts. The first part of Exodus is chapters 1-19 and the second part of the book is 20-40. The first half of the book is narrative and the second half of the book is Law. Follow this 2 part structure as we read through the book. Many of the stories and narratives found in the first 19 chapters will be taught about and revealed in Word in the Law portion of the book.
Finally, this bi-fid structure means that after chapter 19 is read the narrative style and chronological order should be throw out the window. Chapters 20-40 take place on or at the foot of the mountain and happen at different times and the events get mixed up. The story now goes more for theological points connected rather than narrative connected.
Just some point to keep in mind as we begin to read and enjoy the book of Exodus.
FYI- My favorite character in the book of Exodus is Bezalel
First, Exodus is the second part of a much larger narrative and story. The larger narrative and story is called the Pentateuch, which in the English Bible is Genesis through Deuteronomy. That means Exodus just carries over many of the same themes, topics, and truths from Genesis. It should catch our ear that the first lines in Exodus sound similar to many of the same lines found in Genesis with the genealogy stuff.
Second, Exodus is a bi-fid book. This means the book, unlike Genesis structure, can now be split into 2 parts. The first part of Exodus is chapters 1-19 and the second part of the book is 20-40. The first half of the book is narrative and the second half of the book is Law. Follow this 2 part structure as we read through the book. Many of the stories and narratives found in the first 19 chapters will be taught about and revealed in Word in the Law portion of the book.
Finally, this bi-fid structure means that after chapter 19 is read the narrative style and chronological order should be throw out the window. Chapters 20-40 take place on or at the foot of the mountain and happen at different times and the events get mixed up. The story now goes more for theological points connected rather than narrative connected.
Just some point to keep in mind as we begin to read and enjoy the book of Exodus.
FYI- My favorite character in the book of Exodus is Bezalel
Friday, January 16, 2015
Reading Genesis 45-47
In the daily walk devotional today the word Sovereignty is talked about. This is a big word, with a simple meaning, that has an amazing picture that is connected to a comforting word. The daily walk asks us to make our own definition of Sovereignty, so let me explain what I mean in the sentence above by giving you my definition first.
First, I define sovereignty as: God exercising His perfect total power over His creation showing His rule and reign over all that He has created, including me and my "small time" events and circumstances. Yes this is a wordy definition but sovereignty is a big word that can have complexity to it but it does have a simple meaning.
Second, the simple meaning is basically: God has totally control with perfect power. Wow, this simple meaning then taken out of my bigger definition has some clarity to it. But this simple definition totally separates God from His creation and everything in it. This then is an amazing picture.
Third, this amazing picture shows that God is the controlling factor in everything not man. God is above, beyond, and totally separated from the creation that He controls and shows His power in. That means we as humans, though we think we do, do not control very much of anything. God has complete control and in His power controls all circumstances, even to the simplest action like the falling of a snowflake. This then is connected to a very comforting and encouraging words called, God's decrees.
I define God's decrees as: the eternal plans of God so that, before the creation of the universe, He determined to bring about everything that happens. That not only means that God controls everything perfectly, but He has a plan and design for everything perfectly in a perfect way. That should give us great comfort in the fact that nothing, every, happens by chance and is everything ever is dictated and controlled by God in His plan before the creation of the universe. That means before Creation, God planned to put Joseph in prison, before creation, God had in His plan for 9/11 to happen, and before Creation God planned for me to be His child and a pastor. Wow! I know this will bring up many other questions about free will and choice but as a child of God, His plan and decree put forth by His Sovereignty should bring us great comfort in knowing He has a plan, nothing takes place by chance, and we are in His plan and perfect control. So when the cancer word or natural disaster takes place, in our lives, we can have comfort in knowing God in His decree with His sovereignty has got it covered and we can rest in that.
*Any questions on this see me, email me, call me, or facebook me since this is a lot to digest.*
First, I define sovereignty as: God exercising His perfect total power over His creation showing His rule and reign over all that He has created, including me and my "small time" events and circumstances. Yes this is a wordy definition but sovereignty is a big word that can have complexity to it but it does have a simple meaning.
Second, the simple meaning is basically: God has totally control with perfect power. Wow, this simple meaning then taken out of my bigger definition has some clarity to it. But this simple definition totally separates God from His creation and everything in it. This then is an amazing picture.
Third, this amazing picture shows that God is the controlling factor in everything not man. God is above, beyond, and totally separated from the creation that He controls and shows His power in. That means we as humans, though we think we do, do not control very much of anything. God has complete control and in His power controls all circumstances, even to the simplest action like the falling of a snowflake. This then is connected to a very comforting and encouraging words called, God's decrees.
I define God's decrees as: the eternal plans of God so that, before the creation of the universe, He determined to bring about everything that happens. That not only means that God controls everything perfectly, but He has a plan and design for everything perfectly in a perfect way. That should give us great comfort in the fact that nothing, every, happens by chance and is everything ever is dictated and controlled by God in His plan before the creation of the universe. That means before Creation, God planned to put Joseph in prison, before creation, God had in His plan for 9/11 to happen, and before Creation God planned for me to be His child and a pastor. Wow! I know this will bring up many other questions about free will and choice but as a child of God, His plan and decree put forth by His Sovereignty should bring us great comfort in knowing He has a plan, nothing takes place by chance, and we are in His plan and perfect control. So when the cancer word or natural disaster takes place, in our lives, we can have comfort in knowing God in His decree with His sovereignty has got it covered and we can rest in that.
*Any questions on this see me, email me, call me, or facebook me since this is a lot to digest.*
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Genesis 41-44- What's up Judah again?
Today in the reading we read through the section of the story of Joseph where he gets vaulted from the prison to Pharaoh's right-hand-man to the meeting and testing of his brother's. Chapter 44 is focused on the change now in Judah. When we last saw Judah 2 days ago in chapter 38, he was a sinful pervert who could not control his house or himself.
But God, has done a great work in the life of Judah and now shows the change in Judah's character and compassion for others. Of note is the fact that Judah's speech in 44:18-29 is the longest speech in the Bible by any of Jacob's sons. This speech through Judah, marks the turning point in the relationship of Joseph with his brothers. Judah displays great humility in referring to Joseph as "my lord" 7 times and to himself or the family as "your servants" 12 times. We must remember that it was Judah who had the idea to sell Joseph into slavery and now Benjamin, the "favorite son" was on the cusp of being sold into slavery also. So what does Judah do this time? Judah volunteers to stay in Benjamin's place in slavery. Here is my version of what Judah is saying to Joseph...
"My lord, I know, I did not sin against you by stealing the cup. But this young boy cannot bear the punishment for this offense against you. So please, credit me with this boy's sin, punish me in his stead, impute the offense you have against this boy on me. My lord, please allow me to take his place and serve the punishment for his crime."
Who does that sound like???
But God, has done a great work in the life of Judah and now shows the change in Judah's character and compassion for others. Of note is the fact that Judah's speech in 44:18-29 is the longest speech in the Bible by any of Jacob's sons. This speech through Judah, marks the turning point in the relationship of Joseph with his brothers. Judah displays great humility in referring to Joseph as "my lord" 7 times and to himself or the family as "your servants" 12 times. We must remember that it was Judah who had the idea to sell Joseph into slavery and now Benjamin, the "favorite son" was on the cusp of being sold into slavery also. So what does Judah do this time? Judah volunteers to stay in Benjamin's place in slavery. Here is my version of what Judah is saying to Joseph...
"My lord, I know, I did not sin against you by stealing the cup. But this young boy cannot bear the punishment for this offense against you. So please, credit me with this boy's sin, punish me in his stead, impute the offense you have against this boy on me. My lord, please allow me to take his place and serve the punishment for his crime."
Who does that sound like???
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
What's the big deal?
"What’s the big deal...isn’t worship ultimately about God? Is it really necessary to render a pastoral approach to the worship leadership ‘gig’"?
This was a question I was asked today in my worship class. Here is my initial response to it.
First, I want to recognize that this is a loaded question. To fully answer and explain all of the part to the pastoral approach in worship would take at least one book if not multiple volumes to follow. I would like to spend a few words on the practical matter of the pastoral approach to leading worship.
Yes, worship is about God, for God, and to transform us more and more into the image of God in the form of Jesus Christ. That being said, God has created each of us uniquely as David describe in His Psalm about God forming him in his mother's womb. So we each in the church have different passion, desires, likes, preferences, and thoughts on how to worship and be transformed through this worship. I imagine it like a futbol team in that all the members of the team have different skills, traits, and abilities than others. That is why on the team each player has his different task to fulfill in the game; some to be defenders, others to be possessors, and finally some to score the goal. If the coach of the team did not have every player in mind for the game plan and overall control of his team it would not succeed in reaching the win. It would be a bunch of players running around not working together and having severe issues. This is the same for the pastoral approach to worship. The church is a flock and needs a "little shepherd" to move it unified in one direction, that being true God honoring worship, and accomplish the task and goal of the community. So the Pastor must to like the coach and know the worshippers, how they desire and worship best, and how the content and culture work together in context. If there was no pastoral approach there would be a bunch of people worshipping but not together unified as a community worshipping God together as a community and the goal of that community would fail.
I know this answer seems a little practical but I think it is a good place to answer and begin a discussion of the big deal of pastoral leadership in worship. The need for a "leader" to unify the community in the same direction who ahs a heart for Jesus and knows his people.
Yes, worship is about God, for God, and to transform us more and more into the image of God in the form of Jesus Christ. That being said, God has created each of us uniquely as David describe in His Psalm about God forming him in his mother's womb. So we each in the church have different passion, desires, likes, preferences, and thoughts on how to worship and be transformed through this worship. I imagine it like a futbol team in that all the members of the team have different skills, traits, and abilities than others. That is why on the team each player has his different task to fulfill in the game; some to be defenders, others to be possessors, and finally some to score the goal. If the coach of the team did not have every player in mind for the game plan and overall control of his team it would not succeed in reaching the win. It would be a bunch of players running around not working together and having severe issues. This is the same for the pastoral approach to worship. The church is a flock and needs a "little shepherd" to move it unified in one direction, that being true God honoring worship, and accomplish the task and goal of the community. So the Pastor must to like the coach and know the worshippers, how they desire and worship best, and how the content and culture work together in context. If there was no pastoral approach there would be a bunch of people worshipping but not together unified as a community worshipping God together as a community and the goal of that community would fail.
I know this answer seems a little practical but I think it is a good place to answer and begin a discussion of the big deal of pastoral leadership in worship. The need for a "leader" to unify the community in the same direction who ahs a heart for Jesus and knows his people.
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Genesis 38-What's up Judah?
*Breaking News*~We interrupt your regularly scheduled story of the man of integrity, Joseph, to bring you a breaking story on the man of not so much integrity Judah.
That is what chapter 38 does for us in the middle of the story of Joseph. The last section of Genesis, which starts in chapter 37 is about Joseph and his faith and integrity in the God of his forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But the writer of Genesis, Moses, throws in this story of Judah for us to read and ponder. The Judah in chapter 38 is there to contrast the Judah of chapter 44 along with the Joseph of chapter 39. Even more important for us to remember in reading this is the fact that Judah was in the line of David and Jesus. This man if sexual promiscuity and unfaithfulness is in the family tree of the Savior. By this unexpected interruption of the story of Joseph, Genesis and the original readers were kept in suspense. We must wait a little longer to discover what happens to our man Joseph after he is sold in the slavery.
But the story of Judah and Tamar is not irrelevant to the main course of the whole narrative. This was not added as a footnote but also teaches us the theology of Genesis and continues the themes and phrases of the rest of the story. It is concerned with how the promises of the descendants for the patriarchs should be fulfilled. It shows how the hard-hearted Judah was stopped in his tracks and then prepares us to meet a different Judah later on the in the story. It even gives us another set of twins in the picture of the younger overtaking the older. This story of Judah has a purpose and reason and when compared to Joseph begs to ask us the question.
Are we more like Judah or more like Joseph?
That is what chapter 38 does for us in the middle of the story of Joseph. The last section of Genesis, which starts in chapter 37 is about Joseph and his faith and integrity in the God of his forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But the writer of Genesis, Moses, throws in this story of Judah for us to read and ponder. The Judah in chapter 38 is there to contrast the Judah of chapter 44 along with the Joseph of chapter 39. Even more important for us to remember in reading this is the fact that Judah was in the line of David and Jesus. This man if sexual promiscuity and unfaithfulness is in the family tree of the Savior. By this unexpected interruption of the story of Joseph, Genesis and the original readers were kept in suspense. We must wait a little longer to discover what happens to our man Joseph after he is sold in the slavery.
But the story of Judah and Tamar is not irrelevant to the main course of the whole narrative. This was not added as a footnote but also teaches us the theology of Genesis and continues the themes and phrases of the rest of the story. It is concerned with how the promises of the descendants for the patriarchs should be fulfilled. It shows how the hard-hearted Judah was stopped in his tracks and then prepares us to meet a different Judah later on the in the story. It even gives us another set of twins in the picture of the younger overtaking the older. This story of Judah has a purpose and reason and when compared to Joseph begs to ask us the question.
Are we more like Judah or more like Joseph?
Monday, January 12, 2015
Genesis 32-36-God's Promise fulfilled
These 4 chapters focus a great deal on the relationship if Jacob and Esau and was written for the reason of comparing, contrasting, and showing them together in the story. Chapter 32 is a huge key to much of this section but I will be covering that chapter this coming Sunday so I would like to focus on a different question at the moment.
So why exactly is chapter 36 in the book of Genesis when it is a family tree of Esau and the story is about Jacob? This is a question that should have jumped out at us as we were reading the text today.
Remember, as I have already noted Genesis alternates accounts of the non-elect patriarchs, Ishmael and Esau, with accounts from the chosen line-Terah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The opening section in chapter 36 should catch us as it shows Esau had migrated out of the promised land for economic reasons. Once again, this section shows us how the promises and blessings from God are being fulfilled. Esau leaving the promised land has left it all to Jacob for his blessings. Rebekah had been told by God that two nations were in her womb and that the older would someday serve the younger brother. The emergence in chapter 36 of a nation of Edom from Esau shows the promise of both nations as is later recorded, Edom will be subject to a nation of Israel under King David. This chapter shows that even minor promises from God can and will come true. Wow! How much more certain is the fulfillment of the central promises of God then to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and US today!
So why exactly is chapter 36 in the book of Genesis when it is a family tree of Esau and the story is about Jacob? This is a question that should have jumped out at us as we were reading the text today.
Remember, as I have already noted Genesis alternates accounts of the non-elect patriarchs, Ishmael and Esau, with accounts from the chosen line-Terah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The opening section in chapter 36 should catch us as it shows Esau had migrated out of the promised land for economic reasons. Once again, this section shows us how the promises and blessings from God are being fulfilled. Esau leaving the promised land has left it all to Jacob for his blessings. Rebekah had been told by God that two nations were in her womb and that the older would someday serve the younger brother. The emergence in chapter 36 of a nation of Edom from Esau shows the promise of both nations as is later recorded, Edom will be subject to a nation of Israel under King David. This chapter shows that even minor promises from God can and will come true. Wow! How much more certain is the fulfillment of the central promises of God then to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and US today!
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