TUESDAY NOTES: De-Numbing Numbers

Do you like numbers? Some folks like numbers. They grow up to be accountants, math teachers, scientists, etc. They enjoy calculating probability and formulating solutions to different mathematical problems. It is likely that they also enjoy reading the book of Numbers from the Old Testament.

For most people, Numbers isn’t the first book they would choose for casual reading. You mention the book “Numbers” and they go numb. The first few chapters deal with counting the children of Israel, organizing the encampment, and assigning priestly duties. The common bible student looks at the text with dread.

Be careful. Don’t allow your prejudices to taint the great applications hidden in these seemingly boring texts of the Old Testament. Don’t allow your disdain for math and numbers to cause you to “write off” this book. The first three chapters have some great applications for us. (My apologies to the young adult class who has already been exposed to the following applications). Consider some lessons we can learn from Numbers 1–3.

God is at the center of everything. This application should be obvious from every text we read. One might recall Dan’s lesson a few weeks ago entitled “It’s all about God.” God is always at the center. Or, at least He should be. The camp arrangement of Israel is symbolic of this reality. God was quite literally at the center of everything. As the four companies of Israel encamped in a square formation, it was the dwelling place of God that filled the center of that camp. Historians have discovered that Ramses II used a similar formation with the armies of Egypt keeping his tent at the center of the formation. The purpose was to remind everyone who they served and who they were to protect. In Egypt, it was Ramses II. In the Sinai Wilderness, it was Jehovah. God is always at the center. We should keep Him at the center of our life.

We must protect the holy things. It is interesting to note that the Levites surrounded the Tabernacle. What was the purpose? They were the last line of defense for the holy things. If a stranger was able to break through the camp, the Levites were to kill him (Numbers 1:51). Foreign nations knew the key to defeating a people was to remove their deity. The square formation not only served as a reminder of who Israel served, it also put the most important items in the camp in the most protected location. Today, we should protect what is holy. That’s why we don’t mock sin. That’s why we don’t tolerate others who make fun of God or mock His church. We stand up for what is right. We defend what is holy. We protect all things holy.

Every person must fight for God. The numbering process in the beginning of Numbers isn’t about a general census of the nation. The purpose of the numbering was to organize the army of God’s people. The only people counted were men between the ages of twenty and sixty who were capable of fighting. But notice that every man between those ages was expected fight—every man. Today we must all be willing to fight for God. Our enemy is seeking us (1 Peter 5:8). He is attacking us to discredit God. We must fight. And none of us can afford to take one moment off from the battle. Every person must fight for God.

There are numerous other applications we could make—God’s constant guidance, a realization that details do matter to God, etc. But these three simple applications make the point. While Numbers may appear to be a boring and difficult read, the reality is that we can find great information to help remind us what life is about. All of these things are written for our learning (Romans 15:4). May God help us to cast off our preconceived ideas about these great Old Testament books and learn from them so we can serve Him better.

TUESDAY NOTES: Handle With Care

It’s legalistic. It’s nothing more than a list of specifically detailed commands. The reality is the laws in Leviticus 11–15 seem to be downright “picky.” It’s sections of the Law of Moses like this that make us stand back, point, and say, “That Law was downright impossible to keep!” It’s also this type of text that bores us and tempts us to skim over and get past in our personal study. But it’s important! Don’t read past the “picky” commands of Leviticus and deem them unnecessary.

What was the purpose of these types of commands? Why did God take such time to be detailed in the organizing of the sacrifices? Why did He spend so much time outlining the dietary restrictions? Why did He deal with the uncomfortable subject of bodily fluids?

My friend Rick Healy shared a statement with me from a commentary. It said, “If Exodus is about getting Israel out of Egypt, then Leviticus is about getting Egypt out of Israel.” Wow! That’s profound. The laws and restrictions found in the Law of Moses were purposefully laid out with one goal in mind: take Israel from being a band of Egyptian slaves and mold them into being God’s Special People.

The sacrifices were different than any other culture of the time. They served as a stark contrast to the pagan multi-god worship practices of the day. They accomplished the goal of separating the Israelites out as a special people who were distinct in comparison to all other people. They also established God as a God that could be compared to none. Rather than imitating the worship of other cultures, Israel was worshipping in a distinct new way commanded by their God. No one could point and say, “You’re just copying us…”

The dietary restrictions also separated the Jews from the rest of the world. Perhaps that is one of the reasons Daniel and his friends refused to eat of the king’s table (Daniel 1). Daniel viewed the king’s food as a source of defilement (v. 8). The Jewish diet not only created a healthier lifestyle avoiding potential disease, it also sanctified a nation, or set them apart.

All of God’s Laws had a purpose. Often we focus in on the secondary purposes. We look at the healthy benefits of the laws concerning food and fluids. We discuss the benefits of the sacrifices and offerings providing for the priesthood. While those are benefits, perhaps we should consider they were not the greatest purpose of the Law. The greatest purpose of these Laws appears to be the sanctification of a nation. They set Israel apart as God’s chosen people. They established the children of Abraham as a nation who worshipped only Jehovah.

So what do we learn? After all, Paul said these things were recorded for us so that we could learn from them (Romans 15:4). God’s law today has a purpose. It cleanses us and sanctifies us. It is the Word of God that has separated us from the world. It was that “form of doctrine” that converted us from being servants of sin to being slaves of God (Romans 6:17–18). In other words, the Gospel of Christ is about getting the world out of Christians.

That’s why it is important to be obedient. It is a sign to the world around us that we serve a different God and we are a different people. It does matter what we do. That means we should approach the Gospel the same way the Israelites looked at the Law: Handle With Care.

The Lesson of the Bow Tie

My new bow tie.

I made a recent purchase that excites me. I just bought my first bow tie. It’s not just any bow tie either. It’s an orange and white striped bow tie—UT Vols orange. I have the regular neck tie with the same striping. Now, I have a bow tie to match. I’m anxiously waiting its arrival.

I asked some friends about bow ties. The overwhelming answer was, “No. Don’t do it.” Bow ties get a bad rap. People don’t seem to like them for some reason. The only reason I can find is that it’s a rare eclectic accessory. No one wears bow ties unless they are attending a formal event. That’s not exactly true. Our favorite pediatrician in Nashville always wore a bow tie. Gordon Gee, former chancellor at Vanderbilt and current president of The Ohio State University, always wears a bow tie. But those examples are rare.

The reality is that we live in a world where the neck tie is standard. To borrow the cliché excuse of teens everywhere, “Everyone else is doing it.” A trip to your local department store reveals as much. There are tables and racks full of standard neck ties. There may be one little round rack on the corner of the table holding the bow tie selection. On Ebay there are over 30,000 neck ties to chose from compared to just under 1700 bow ties. We live in a neck tie world. I’m breaking the mold. I’m going to wear a bow tie in a neck tie world. I’m not converting completely to bow ties all the time but I’m not afraid to “rock” the bow tie occasionally. In other words, unlike some I have the courage to wear a bow tie!

I couldn’t help but think of a spiritual application as the peer pressure of my friends attempted to convince me to avoid the bow tie. Isn’t that what happens to us often when it comes to doing the right thing? Perhaps it’s an activity that we shouldn’t do. We take a stand but our friends keep calling to us, “Come on. Do it. It’s only once!” Maybe it’s something you need to do and your friends want you to make a different choice. “Don’t do it…you should do it.” What do we do? It takes courage to stand up against peer pressure and do the right thing. It takes courage to say no to wicked and sinful activities. Paul encouraged us to refuse taking on the same mold as the world around us (Romans 12:1–2). There is a courage-requirement in that text.

Perhaps that’s why we struggle so often. When the world around us is being entertained with sinful things, it takes courage to stand against it. When the world around us believes moderation is the only requirement, it takes courage to say abstinence is the answer. When the world around us says doctrine doesn’t matter, it takes courage to say God cares what you think, teach, and practice. Our friends, family, neighbors, loved ones, and co-workers are all stand a few feet away saying, “Come on! Do what everyone else is doing. Don’t be different. Don’t stick out. Don’t you want to look just like us?” It takes courage to say, “No. I don’t want to be like you. It’s okay to be different!”

Please understand that I don’t think wearing a bow tie or not wearing one is a moral decision. But it is a good illustration of the daily struggle we have. Spiritually speaking, are willing to wear a bow tie in a neck tie world?I dare you to be different!

TUESDAY’S NOTES: Israel’s Young Bull

When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” So Aaron said to them, “Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.” —Exodus 32:1-5

As a child, I never quite made the connection between the golden calf (more accurately a young bull about three years old), Israel’s desire for a god, and Jehovah. I had always seen this story as a demonstration that Israel wanted to participate in pagan idolatry and leave Jehovah all together. The text from Exodus 32 actually tells us a different story. Notice the statements made by Aaron. In v. 4 he says, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” In v. 5 he says, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.” It was Aaron’s intention (and subsequently that of the people of Israel as well) that the golden calf would represent Jehovah God.

Where did this idea come from? Why a young bull?

The concept of needing a physical god to see comes from a lack of faith. Faith is the ability to believe in what you cannot see, touch, feel, etc. (Hebrews 11:1). Israel could not see Jehovah. They could not shake hands with Him, bow down to Him in person, hear His voice, etc. They lacked the faith needed to see Him. This happens again after the period of the judges when the people ask for an earthly king. God tells Samuel their petition for a king was a rejection of Him as King (1 Samuel 8:6–7). They wanted a king they could see. They didn’t have true faith that allowed them to fix their eyes on a Spiritual King.

Why a bull? An extremely light study into Egyptian pagan culture reveals that bulls played an interesting role in this choice. Earlier we looked at the Egyptian pagan gods in relation to the ten plagues sent by God to convince Pharaoh to release the Israelites. The Egyptian gods were fashioned in the image of animals. More than one was in the image of cattle. Hathor, the goddess of love, was identified with the sky and is described as being “cow headed.” Apis, the sacred bull of Memphis, was called the “second life of Ptah.” Ptah was the creator god in Egyptian culture. One recovered image from Egyptian culture shows The Celestial Cow which pictures all of the gods working in unison to uphold the Egyptian culture, illustrated as a cow. For years, the children of Israel had been bombarded with the cattle based imagery contained in the pagan Egyptian worship. Now that they are released from Egyptian bondage and are serving Jehovah, they seek to mold Him into the shape that is most familiar to them.

What’s the application for us today? If we are careful, we can make the same mistake. The lack of faith caused the people to have a desire to mold God in the image they wanted. They remade God. Often, people today remake God into a different image than who He is. Why do we ignore the justice and wrath of God and solely focus on His grace and love? Because our faith isn’t strong enough to accept God as He is. As a result, we mold Him and craft Him into the image that is more pleasing and accepting to us.

There is also a true danger in incorporating the culture around us into our religious practices. Israel took the religious culture from Egypt and integrated it service and worship to God. Obviously this was displeasing to God. We should learn that just because traditionally we have witnessed a certain style and practice of worship and service does not mean it is acceptable to God. Our own experiences are not justification for our behavior. We must search the scriptures and see what God’s will is and obey that alone.

While we would never melt down jewelry and mold a calf to worship today, we certainly can be guilty of the same transgressions. May we always serve God in total obedience and true trusting faith.

TUESDAY’S NOTES: Avoid the Wilderness Mindset

The exodus of the Israelites serves as an example to us today. Paul draws the illustration for us clearly in 1 Corinthians 10. Consider the text there:

Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.-1 Corinthians 10:5-12

The apostles says, “…these things happened to them as an example…” An example for who? They are examples for all mankind. The Spirit guided the writers of the Bible to records these Bible stories to guide and direct men. Consider the great lessons learned from the mistakes of the wilderness wanderers.

• They followed after idols. Paul’s description of sitting down to eat and rising up to play is a reference to the children of Israel feasting before the calf in Exodus 32. Paul warns Christians against modern idolatry in passages such as Colossians 3:5, “Put to death…covetousness, which is idolatry.” Learn from the Israelites. Avoid covetousness-or idolatry.
• They indulged in sexual immorality. In Numbers 25 over 20,000 fell due to the licentious contact with the daughters of Moab. Christians are to avoid sexual immorality just like Israel. While we have no fear of a plague, we do fear the judgment.
• They continually complained. Paul used the word “grumble.” Christians are told to do “all things” without complaining (Philippians 2:14). The Israelites complained about every single part of their lives and even asked to return to Egypt’s slavery.

What is the application? These things were written for our instruction. Obviously we understand the instruction. We should avoid idolatry, avoid immorality, and stop complaining. As a general evaluation, how are Christians doing on avoiding the wilderness mindset?

Are we truly avoiding the problem of idolatry? When Christians miss assemblies to go to a sporting event or vacation, can we truly say we are putting God before everything else? When children miss bible class to finish their homework, can we truly say we are putting God before everything else?

Are we truly avoiding sexual immorality? It’s scary to realize that many young people who attend the assemblies on a regular basis are involved in dangerous practices that can easily lead to sexual immorality. Too many Christian homes have been damaged and destroyed by the infidelity of one or both spouses.

Have we stopped complaining? Christians could certainly complain less. We’ve all heard the complaints-someone doesn’t like the preacher’s lesson, someone else is upset with the song selection, another member doesn’t like any of the teachers for the quarter, another person complains that the elders don’t do enough for them, and the list goes on and on.

As we’ve been studying through Exodus and you compare the wilderness wanderers to Christians today you begin to wonder if we have learned the lessons. Have we gained from their example? Do we understand the dangers of repeating their mistakes of idolatry, immorality, and complaining? Learn the lessons today. That’s why God has preserved them for us!

TUESDAY’S NOTES: Consecrated Priests

The consecration of Aaron and his sons in Exodus 29 is often overlooked like many of the passages in the Pentateuch. At first glance they are boring, ritualistic, and confusing. They are commonly read void of any application to the reader. To count them as worthless required readings would be a mistake. This text, like many other neglected Old Testament passages, is rich with application.

Aaron and his sons were to be consecrated so that they could serve Jehovah as priests. Their Levite heritage had already qualified them for this service but they were not ready to fulfill their roles until they had been consecrated. The word “consecrate” means “to make or declare to be sacred, by certain ceremonies or rites; to dedicate to God” (Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary of American English). What did God require of Aaron and his sons to be declared sacred?

1) They were washed with water most likely at the laver in the courtyard of the Tabernacle. The outward washing was a symbol of their inner cleansing of the mind and conscience.

2) They were dressed in the priestly garments. They were robed in the clothing that God has ordained as the holy attire reserved for the priesthood.

3) They were anointed with an oil compound of olive oil and spices. This anointing appears to be similar to the anointing of Christ following His baptism. It was indication of the working power of the Holy Spirit.

4) A bull was sacrificed as a sin-offering. Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull as acknowledgment of their sins. Killing the bull was an admission: “We deserve to die, but God in His grace accepts the death of this creature instead of my death.” The blood placed on the horns of the altar signified the power of the sacrifices. Parts of the bull were “smoked” on the altar as a sweet smelling aroma offered to God. The wastes of the bull (flesh, dung, etc.) signified the sin and were burned outside of the camp. The parts representing the sin were inappropriate to burn on the altar of God or even inside the camp of His people.

5) A ram was offered as a burnt offering to Jehovah. This ram was offered entirely to God indicating the total destruction of sin to the sinner. The sprinkling of the blood about the altar indicates offerings must be made where God has designated. Apart from the altar of God, this gift would simply be blood. Offering on the altar made it holy.

6) A second ram was killed and the blood was applied to Aaron and his sons. The blood applied to their ear represented that they would always hear the word of God. The marking of an ear also signified servitude (Exodus 21:6). The blood applied to the right toe signified that the priest would always walk in the paths of God. The blood applied to his right thumb signified that he would always use his hands to do the work of God. This blood was then applied to the altar and the priests linking the priesthood to the responsibilities of the altar and signifying that sacrifice was their only hope for acceptance to God. The priestly garments were also “cleansed” by the blood (Heb. 9:22).

7) The “wave offering” came next signifying that the priests were given the authority to handle sacred offerings and bring them before the Lord.

8 ) Finally, the flesh of the ram used in the consecration was boiled by Moses and Aaron and his sons ate it at the door of the tent of meeting. The flesh that had been used to make atonement for Aaron and his sons in order to become priests was eaten by them.

The process at first glance can be ritualistic and meaningless. But consider the parallels to us today. We should remember that we have now been made priests (Revelation 1:5-6, 1 Peter 2:4-10). Consider how we have similarly been consecrated for the priesthood:

• We become priests by being washed in water and sanctified (1 Peter 3:21-22).
• Upon being washed our clothes are washed by the blood of the Lamb so we can be clothed in white garments appropriate for priestly duties (Isaiah 1:18).
• We are anointed with the “gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
• Jesus was offered as our sin offering once for all (Hebrews 7:27, 9:13-14).
• Jesus was offered as God designated according to His will and pleasure (Isaiah 53:10, Luke 22:42).
• Jesus was offered once to die for our sins so that the sacrifices of rams and bulls would not be required for our consecration today (Hebrews 9:27-28).
• Every week, we partake symbolic of the flesh and blood that was offered for our atonement and consecration as priests (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

It is important to notice that the seemingly “boring rituals” of the Old Testament have great significance. The relationship between the actions required under the Law of Moses and the grace offered through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ are undeniable.

We are priests! We should be impressed by God’s goodness to us today. We should be thankful He has deemed us priests under the Gospel of Christ. We should be aware that we have indeed been cleansed and consecrated for a holy duty. May God help us to do our priestly duties as we offer our lives as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2).

TUESDAY’S NOTES: More Than Enough

Imagine it is next Sunday morning and one of the elders makes the following announcement: “The elders have met and determined that the collection is too much. You have been giving much more than the work needs here. Since there is no way we can scripturally administer all of these funds, we are asking you to stop giving until further notice. There will be no more collections until the need returns.” While that sounds too good to be true, it actually happened once.

“…all the craftsmen…said to Moses, ‘The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that they Lord has commanded us to do.’ So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, ‘Let no man or woman do more for the contribution of the sanctuary.’ So the people were restrained from bringing, for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.” –Exodus 36:4–7

Israel is often used as the “poster child” of what not to do—especially during the Exodus. They are often seen complaining about food and water, accusing Moses of leading them out of Egypt to die in the wilderness, and failing to trust in God. While the Israelites were certainly guilty of failure at times, their example of giving is one we should not overlook.

God had given specific instructions for building the Tabernacle. He had carefully delivered a blueprint with every detail. Included in those instructions was a detailed “shopping list” for building materials: gold, silver, bronze, fine linens, animals skins, etc. The people were expected to give those items and they did. As seen in the text from Exodus 36, they gave “much more than enough.”

It is important to note why the children of Israel were able to supply the needs for the Tabernacle so easily. Prior to their abrupt departure from Egypt following the final plague, the children of Israel asked their Egyptian neighbors for silver, gold, and clothing as Moses commanded them. The Egyptian people granted those request because God had given the Israelites favor in their sight. In fact, the text says, “They plundered the Egyptians” (Exodus 12:35–36). The Israelites left Egypt wealthier than they could have ever imagined. But, their wealth was not delivered to them in order to make them a prosperous people. God blessed them with earthly wealth in order to carry out the instructions that would soon come regarding the Tabernacle.

Many of God’s people today are a prosperous people. We are blessed with well furnished homes, multiple cars, filled closets, overflowing pantries, stocked financial portfolios, etc. Is it possible that we fail to see the point of our blessings? The Israelites were blessed for a purpose—to carry out the work of the Lord. Is it possible that is the purpose for our blessings? I am convinced it is the very reason we are blessed.

There are some who attempt to do away with the weekly contribution. Their presentation centers on 1 Corinthians 16:1–2 as they assert the collection was only “need based” in its design. I agree. The collection was on necessary when a need was clearly present. The question is whether there is a need or not. Here are three reasons the need is greater than ever before.

• There are request for support received weekly at congregations for men who are diligently working for the Lord. These men have stepped out in faith and risked the welfare of their family to preach the gospel as they wait on other congregations to help supply their needs. Many churches are having to turn down these requests because they just don’t have the funds to help.
• Many congregations outgrow their meeting houses. While that is a reason to be overjoyed that the church is growing and souls are being saved, it also creates great anxiety. Buildings are more and more expensive to build. Many congregations can only secure the funds through financing which then requires the local body to pay off large loans over an extended time. This causes a great financial burden on the church.
• The economy is hurting which means many Christians are struggling financially. Some are losing their jobs. This creates a greater benevolent need in each local church. Some churches are struggling to meet the financial needs of their members. They simply lack the funds.

The needs are great. But we are a propserous people—even in the midst of a bad economy. God has blessed us greatly. Israel was given their gold and silver to provide for the Lord’s work. The same is true for us. I wonder if God is as pleased with the way we spend our blessings as He was of Israel. I wonder if we are giving “more than enough.”

TUESDAY’S NOTES: Follow the Pattern

At first glance, there appears to be little application from the twenty-fifth, thirty-fifth, and thirty-seventh chapters of Exodus. The subject matter ranks in relevance slightly ahead of the seemingly endless genealogies found in the Old Testament. These three chapters contain the listings of specific materials, required skills, and building plans of the tabernacle and its furniture. What possibly can we learn from such a text? While there is more than one application from this text, there appears to be one that stands our more than the rest. Consider the following passage:

“Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.” -Exodus 25:9

There are a few things to notice from this simple verse. First, notice that God says there is a “pattern.” He had a pattern, or blueprint, for every single part of the tabernacle. Nothing was coincidental or arbitrary. Every part was specifically designed and engineered by God Himself. God is, and always has been, a planner. In our classes we teach our children the following statement: “Before the world began, God had a great plan.” God’s plan included not just the future reconciliation with man but also Israel as a chosen people, Jesus as a chosen Savior, the apostles as chosen messengers, the church as a chosen body, etc. No part of God’s plan and providence has ever been “by accident.” There is a pattern.

Second, God says, “…so you shall make it.” Notice the simple pronoun “you.” It was God’s plan but it was up to the people to follow the plan, or obey it. Could God have made the tabernacle miraculously? Absolutely. Could God have led the people by the cloud to a hidden storehouse of gold, silver, bronze, skins, fabrics, etc. for the building of the temple? Certainly. Could God have worked through the hands of untrained men to build the tabernacle giving them the ability to craft it apart from themselves? Yes. But he chose to do none of that. Instead, God gave them the commandments and said, “You shall make it.” They had to obey God. God has always expected man to obey His direct orders. What good would the pattern have done had Israel not obeyed? It would have been worthless.

Third, notice the word “exactly.” I’m not a skilled etymologist but I think I have a pretty good grasp on the word “exactly.” It is the strict adherence to a standard. There was no room for error. The Ark was made of acacia wood-not oak or gopher wood. Its length had to be two and a half cubits-not three. Every part of the planning of the tabernacle and all of its contents were to be followed exactly. The artisan making the Ark couldn’t say, “This would look better with four cherubim than two.” God made no allowance for personal interpretation.

It’s odd to compare the mentality of God compared to what many say it is today. The mainstream religious world’s image of Jehovah in the twenty-first century has changed Him into some kind of a softy. The religious experts today say the pattern doesn’t matter. God’s planning has ended. Now man has the liberty to follow whatever pattern he chooses. Many also say that man ultimately isn’t accountable. He doesn’t have to do anything. God is complete control and mankind has no choice. There is no “you shall make it” expectation today. Many in the religious world also teach the concept of an “exact” expectation by God is just foolishness. The truth is too complex and difficult to follow exactly. God designed it purposely to allow us all to interpret passages ourselves. And if, for some reason, my interpretation is different than yours then we are all fine because after all we’re just loving God and serving Him to the best of our ability.

Has God changed? Has He softened in old age? Has His expectations of mankind been altered so that He is convinced man has all the answers through private interpretation? And if that is so, then why not give Israel those same liberties? The Hebrew writer said, “Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). God does not change. His expectations of man have not changed. The covenant has changed. The sacrifice has changed once for all. But the expectation by God that “You shall follow the pattern with exact precision” has not changed.

We should all learn from Exodus 25:9 concerning God’s expectations. Learn here. If we wait until we are before Him in judgment, it will be too late.

TUESDAY NOTES: Do Not Curse Your Leaders

So many laws found in the Old Testament are missed in our readings. Lengthy readings quickly become boring and mundane. Important commands with great applications are missed because they are overlooked by the reader. There is a text in Exodus 22 that seemingly falls into that category:

“You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.” -Exodus 22:28

In the midst of the great book of Exodus with all of its commandments, laws, restrictions, and rituals there is a one sentence verse with tremendous power. In common language today this would read, “Don’t verbally abuse God and don’t verbally abuse your leaders either.” It appears that Moses is almost equating the verbal abuse of leaders with a verbal attack on God Himself.

A careful reading of the New Testament would show us that despite a change in covenants, God’s desire appears to be the same. Consider some of the New Testament principles about how we view and handle those in positions of leadership above us:

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God…Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” -Romans 13:1, 7

“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work” -Titus 3:1

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior” -1 Timothy 2:1-3

Today the same principle applies. It is obvious that God should not be the target of verbal abuse, or reviling. Most would agree with that. But the concept of honoring our leaders is often difficult to grasp. It is not unusual for individuals to disagree with civil leadership-whether it is on a local, state, or federal level.

For example: this morning’s Commercial Appeal contains an article focused on the topic of government consolidation between the city of Memphis and Shelby County. What should my reaction be? Should I put down Mayors Willie Herenton and A.C. Wharton in every conversation that I can today? Should I speak evil and revile them as rulers at the local level? Certainly not! To do so would bring shame upon Christ because I have failed to respect the rulers that have been appointed by the authority of God (Romans 13). This does not imply that we are unable to voice or displeasure over issues and express our opinions on different matters. But we must not curse the leaders involved in those discussions.

Jesus is always the supreme example of godly living. As Jesus was being mistreated by the rulers who were rushing Him to injustice, how did He respond? “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23). Even as Pilate questions Jesus, the Lord answers with an admission of Pilate’s God-given power: “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above” (John 19:11). Jesus accepted the leaders over Him and refused to dishonor and revile them in the most difficult times.

As Christians, we need to be the example to the world concerning how we treat our leaders. We need to show honor when others think no honor is due. We need to show compassion and respect when we are tempted to respond with disdain. It is what our Lord did. And as His people, they should see Him in us. Can they?

Do not revile God. Do not curse those who rule over you. The command to Israel is a good reminder to us today!

TUESDAY NOTES: The Manna Test

And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. -Exodus 16:2-4

The manna of the wanderings in Exodus always fascinated me. I can’t imagine leaving the tent every morning to go gather up small grain the size of seeds that covered the ground like dew to make into cakes. I can only imagine that for those many years the manna cakes became boring and routine. I love a good cheeseburger. But I can’t imagine eating a cheeseburger every day for forty years. You almost wonder if there was a gift shop with “Miriam’s 101 Ways to Cook with Manna.”

Manna had a greater purpose than just feeding the children of Israel. It wasn’t just a way to fill their stomachs. It was a reminder of their dependence on God. It was a daily lesson on humility. From the beginning of the institution of the manna diet God said, “…the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not” (Exodus 16:4). What did God mean when He said He would “test them”?

He tested their ability to obey. Within the “Manna Plan” there were guidelines and restrictions. They were to gather enough for one day worth of eating (Exodus 16:16-19). This was a specific and exact instruction. It was also an instruction that some failed to keep (Exodus 16:20). On the sixth day, the people were to gather two days worth of manna to use for the Sabbath (Exodus 16:22-24). The manna did not rot and fill with worms on the sixth day. The amazing hand of God’s providence was clearly seen. But even with this command, some failed (Exodus 16:27). Notice the words of God after they had failed to obey: “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws?” (Exodus 16:28). God gave the manna to test the Israelites. Many failed the test.

As Moses prepares to die, he addresses the nation of Israel and reminds them of all of the things God had done for them and asked them. The collection of that address to the people is known as the book of Deuteronomy. Notice what Moses said about the manna:

And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. -Deuteronomy 8:2-3

Did you see the point of the Manna Diet? Moses said God did that so that “…He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Exodus 8:3). The manna was a test. Would Israel put their faith and trust wholly in the Lord? Would Israel listen to the commands? Would Israel obey His Law? We see that some of the Israelites failed to do so.

We should not be surprised. We often choose to follow the same pattern. God wants us to obey His Law today. He wants us to follow His Will. He wants us to listen to His Word. Yet, like the Israelites, we fail to do so.

God says the man is the head of the house. We turn to cultural standards and our own philosophy and say all are equal. God says to bear one another’s burdens. We follow the selfish standards of society and seek what’s best for “me.” God says to attend the assemblies and encourage one another until the Judgment Day. We come once a week and fill the remainder of our time with the pleasures of this world while we still can. God says we should love one another and not speak evil of our brethren. We gossip and backbite against one another. The list of our failures could go on and on.

Brothers and sisters, we look at the children of Israel and Exodus and we are amazed at their lack of faith and gratitude. We criticize them for failing to see what God had done for them. We judge them for failing to obey. Perhaps we should consider our own lives through the all-telling mirror of scripture. Are we any different?

God has sent the “bread of life” to us. Jesus is our spiritual manna. His words are our guidelines for today. This is a test just as the manna of old was. It is a test to see whether or not we will obey His commands. Are we?