Burr! It is cold out there! I hope everyone is staying warm on these very blustery winter days!
As we looked at today’s text, we might be feeling as if we are experiencing deja vu. Didn’t we read this already? Yes . . and . . . no. Remember this is the second time that Moses is going up Mount Sinai. So the conversation starts again. With many of the same words. I suppose we ought to get used to it, and a bit of warning, there will be plenty of moments of repetition as we continue our Year of Scripture together.
On a lighter note, and since we are all stuck inside trying to stay warm, here’s a few videos that come from The Bible Project which give a pretty good summary of the Book of Exodus. Each one is about six minutes long. I’ve also included their comic strip on the stories of Exodus. Enjoy!
Wow, there is a lot to unpack in Chapter 32 alone!
Moses seems to be gone forever.
The people probably think he died up on the mountain.
The seek Aaron’s guidance in revealing their “gods”
The Golden Calf is made.
God get’s mad!
God wants to destroy the people.
Moses gets mad!
Moses destroys the Golden Calf, and breaks the tables of stone.
There is mass slaughter among the people.
Moses goes back up the mountain to start this process all over again!
Worshiping the Golden Calf
Talk about drama. If this were live action, we’d all be sitting at the edge of our seats to see what would happen next. Some quick observations / questions:
Why didn’t Aaron get punished? Shouldn’t he have known better? Shouldn’t he have guided the people back to God when they started asking for another “god” to worship? He was priest and leader after all. One would think he would have known better. But no . . . he goes right along with it. “These are your gods” he cries out (v. 4) and then later implies “I had nothing to do with it. It just came out of the fire.” As if! Come on Aaron you should have known better. Yet, there is no punishment for Aaron, how odd.
How about God’s emotions? God says to Moses: “Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely . . . now let me alone so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, and of you I will make a great nation.” Then, in response, Moses says wait a minute God, these are your people. Your promise. This is on you! I love it. Mild, timid Moses. The one who pleaded with God, ” I am not eloquent in my speech,” takes on God! Way to go Moses!
And one of my favorite verses in scripture (in the weird and gross category) “He took the Calf that they had made, burned it with fire, ground it to powered, scattered it on the water, and made the Israelites drink it! Good stuff! Yummy!
What a chapter! Keep reading on with me. Next up Exodus 33-35.
Moses goes up the mountain and receives . . . the instructions for building the Tabernacle!
The Tabernacle of GodThe Tabernacle of God
There are a few things that always impress me about the building of the Tabernacle:
Everything is donated! The Israelite give out of their generosity the finest of treasures. Material, gold, silver, bronze, wood, and on and on the list could go. All of it donated out of the generosity of peoples heart. Later we’ll see that they gave so much, that Moses had to tell them to stop. What a great problem to have.
Everything is portable! The entire thing, from tent coverings, to the Altar of Sacrifice, to the Ark of the Covenant, was portable. As the Nation of Israel would move from one location to the other, the Tabernacle would be torn down, packed up, and moved on, leading the what to their next home!
Everything is super detailed! God tells Moses the specifics. Length, width, height, material, shape, decoration patterns. It must have been a sight to behold!
Everything is covered in blood! Ok, well not everything, but pretty close. We aren’t talking horror scenes from a movie or anything like that, but there is blood none the less. Sprinkled, splattered, spread with a thumb, on everything from the priest’ garments, to the horns of the Altar and everywhere in between. For me, it’s one of those traditions that I’m glad we don’t keep any longer. Not sure I’d want to be the one wearing vestments covered in blood, or the one required to do the splattering
Pressing on to see how the book of Exodus comes to an end. Read with me chapters 30-32.
I made an interesting observation while reading through this passage. Typically, we think of Moses on the top of Mount Sinai, chisel in hand, recording every word that God has given. This isn’t necessarily the case, at least not as I read things last night. In chapter 24, Moses is “called up” to the mountain, and given the two stone tablets (24:12). Not quite the image that most of us hold on to.
Same could be said about the tablets themselves. Typically, we think of them having the Ten Commandments on them. Nothing more, nothing less. Here again, in my reading, I am led to think differently, as the implication is that God gives the tablets with the law and the commandments. That being the case, all the odd and various laws of the last several chapters would have been recorded as well. Never really thought of it that way.
Lastly, the point of all the laws? (My wife and I had a good laugh as we ready thought a few of them!) Rhyme and Reason. Respect and Order. All of these would be a simple answer, but I would like to think there is a bit more to it than that. Think back with me to chapter 18, when Jethro and Moses are reunited after the Exodus. One of the suggestions Moses receives from his father-in-law is to establish various judges over the people so that Moses was not overwhelmed by case after case. Now, with God’s divide guidance and laws given, the judges could rule justly from one case to another. What a gift!
Now if only I could avoid boiling a kid in it’s mother’s milk (23:19b)!!! I hope you chuckled at that one, I did!
I am the LORD your God, you shall have no other gods Do not take God’s name in vain Honor the Sabbath and keep it holy
Honor your father and your mother You shall not kill You shall not commit adultery You shall not steal You shall not lie You shall not covet your neighbor You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.
When we look closer at the Ten Commandments, we begin to realize that we have broken all ten. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism helps us to better under stand what I mean. While we may say, I’ve haven’t broken some of those, perhaps when we think of it this way, we might change our mind:
Put something before God? . . . broke that one.
Ever say OMG? . . . broke that one.
Ever skip a Sunday, to sleep in, go shopping . . . ? broke that one.
Mom, Dad . . . all I can say is sorry! . . . broke that one too.
Put someone down? Talk behind their back? . . . broke that one.
Steal a glance, have a lustful thought? . . . broke that one.
Borrowed something and never gave it back, or an idea you claimed as your own? . . . broke that one too.
Lying? . . . that one was easy, broke that one too.
Longed for that great something of your neighbor’s? Wanted a relationship like your neighbor has? . . . broke both of those. too.
10 for 10! Even me, as a pastor . . . I broke all ten. Gratefully, God’s law serves as a guide given in love. With full praise, God’s grace is given freely to redeem us from each and every mistake we make. What a blessing!
. . . and the people grumbled, and grumbled, and grumbled! Are you starting to notice a theme here?
“If only we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger!” Exodus 16:3
There are a few things to take note of here . Not much time has passed since the people have left the heavy hand of Pharaoh. Yet, their memory of days gone by has suddenly changed. Suddenly the people recall eating bread, gathered around the pot of soup, enjoying life, all while eating and drinking their. I certainly think not! They were slaves after all. Perhaps that was a distant memory of when Jacob first came to Egypt and they all settled in the fertile land of Goshen, but not now. More recently, we can recall the order to make bricks, without the hay supplied. More recently, we can recall the hardship and oppression. How quick the Israelites are to change their story.
The same holds true in chapter 17, when the people are thirst. What happens? They complain, again and again.
For every complaint, God has a response, that is kind and generous. Manna and Quail, food to live by for their wilderness journey. Water that burst forth from a dry rock, to quench their thirst. Care, love, and compassion. Indeed, even in our own complaints, our God is good!
Did you notice the parallels that take place before and after the events of the Exodus? For Egypt, every first born dies. For Israel, every first born must be consecrated. New life, redeemed life, freel life is soon at hand, but before that happens all the first born of Israel is to be set apart, designated as a gift to God. Children, livestock, even servant animals, all must be blessed/consecrated as a reminder of the great things that God has done in redeeming the nation of Israel.
From there, we move to the Red Sea where freedom is found as the waters are parted, and the people of Israel walk on dry ground to the other side. As they do, Pharaoh and his army give chase, only to find themselves stuck in the mucky sea bottom drowned as the sea waters returned.
Finally, victory is at hand, and what a better way to response than in song. I always knew that Miriam would sing and dance, but I was pleasantly surprised to read Moses’ song of thanksgiving in chapter 15.
“I will sing to the LORD, for his si highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea. The LORD is my strength and my defense; for he has become my salvation. He is my god, and I will praise him, my father’s God and I will exalt him.” Exodus 15:1-2
Even while victory is a hand, did you notice one other thing? What do the people do? They begin to complain. “What are we to drink?” “What have you done to us?” “Why did you bring us here?” The people that Moses has worked so hard to save, the people God has guided into freedom, never seem content with what is before them. I suppose we better get used to it, we are going to hear a lot more complaints before anything gets better. You’ll see what I mean, as we venture further in our reading.
The plagues come to an end, but at great cost for the people of Egypt. Imagine with me being an Egyptian, suffering through plague after plague then to wake up one morning to find everyone dead. At least that’s how it would be from the perspective of my youngest son, everyone in our family struck down, everyone but him.
Me, I’m a first born. I’d be dead.
My wife, a first born. She’d be dead.
Our oldest, obviously a first born. Dead as well.
Depressing, isn’t it? Absolutely!
Yet, for the people of Israel, this is God at work. This is God, revealing signs of power and might. This is God setting the people free. For the people of Israel, this is redemption, this is freedom, this is a new beginning!
Exciting, isn’t it! Most definitely!
After 430 years in Egypt, now it is time to inherit the Promised Land. Together let’s read on to see what happens next. On to Exodus 13 – 15.
As Moses encounters God in the the early chapters of Exodus, there part of the conversation between Moses and God that I never noticed before. I’m wondering if you noticed it? It’s after Moses makes all the excuses on why someone else should do what he is being called to do, after he returns to Jethro, and begins to set out to travel with Zipporah. God speaks,
“Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: Israel is my firstborn son. I said to you, “Let my son go that he may worship me.” But you refused to let him go; now I will kill your firstborn son.’” Exodus 4:22-23
Even as Moses approaches Egypt the fate of what Pharaoh and all of Egypt is about to experience is known and proclaimed . . . “I will kill your firstborn son.” Yet, despite heeded warnings, Pharaoh’s heart is continually hardened. And so the plagues begin:
Water is turned to blood Frogs cover the land Gnats take flight out of the dust of the earth Swarms of flies take over everything Death of the livestock Boils that cover humans and animals Hail Locust cover everything Darkness covers the face of the earth Death of the firstborn
Sounds horrific! For every hardship the Egyptians face, the Israelites go unharmed. For every plague enacted, the hardships for Egypt only grow worse. Why Pharaoh? Why? Why would you not let God’s people go? That question we will never know the answer too, yet one thing is certain, the awesome power of the hand of God is revealed as we read through these chapters.
Good morning and welcome to a Sunday morning reflection! Most of us in Northern Ohio are snowed in for the day. I also know there are many reading this blog from all over God’s creation, so welcome as we gather to pause and give thanks! At least here, the snow and wind have stopped, the sun is out, and it is absolutely beautiful. We still have frigid temperatures, so grab a cup of coffee or hot cocoa, and stay indoors!
Together (although apart) we gather:
Let’s pray . . .
Lord God, source of every blessing, you showed forth your glory and led many to faith by the works of your Son, who brought gladness and salvation to his people. Transform us by the Spirit of his love, that we may find our life together in him, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
A reading from the Gospel of St. John, the second chapter . . .
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
A brief reflection:
Jesus changes water into wine!
Jesus and his disciples are invited to a wedding. Lo and behold a problem arises . . . there is no more wine! What are we to do!
For the day and times that we are speaking of, running out of wine would have been humiliating. In our own day and times, perhaps the closest we could come was ordering a cake that fed 100, when there were 250 guests or more. For the host, this was bad news, this was embarrassing, this brought shame to the bride, groom, and the entire family
Now we don’t know why Jesus was there. We don’t know if there was some family relation. We can assume that there may have been some family relations since Mary, the mother of our Lord, was there. And what does she do? She ask Jesus to fix it. Actually, she doesn’t really ask, she simply states, “Do what ever he tells you.” From that, we get the miracle of the water turned to wine. And, not just any old wine, but an abundance of the finest wine anyone has ever tasted.
Like you, I’ve tasted some pretty good wine, and I’ve choked down some pretty gross stuff that was supposed to be wine. But rather than think of the taste and flavor, lets just think about the abundance. As the servants filled the six stone jars with water, lots and lots of ordinary, every day water, 150 gallons of water, by God’s divine guidance it becomes wine. That’s a lot of wine! Think about how far that would go! Think about how many that would serve!
Now most of us are more familiar with the average wine bottle. You know the ones that hold 750 ml., well imagine that by the gallon (that’s about 5 bottles), and then imagine that by the two gallon jug (that’s about 10 bottles). For us two gallons is a lot of wine, let alone ponder 150 gallons of wine, but in the country church I served many years ago, there was a family who made our communion wine in two gallon batches. Even at two gallons, it was a lot of wine! It would last for weeks!
What I remember most about those two gallon jugs was the day I broke one! I was planning on taking communion to our home-bound, and needed to fill my traveling communion kit. When I pulled the jug out of the cupboard, I bumped the latch that held the cabinet door shut, and the jug cracked! Then the wine began to flow . . . and flow . . . and flow. All over the carpet! Do you have any idea how far two gallons of wine flows? There wasn’t a sink. There wasn’t a trash can. All I could do was watch this enter two gallon jug drain out into the sacristy floor carpet. In the end a 6 foot circle of soggy, wine soaked carpet surrounded me! Rather than do visits, I ended up going home to pick up my carpet scrubber, to extract gallon after gallon of wine soaked carpet. Not one of my greatest moments!
What I remember most was the smell. When I returned with carpet scrubber in hand, there was a sweet aroma that filled the entire worship space. What I remember most was just how far that wine poured out, how far it quickly spread. What i remember most was how long I had to scrub and scrub and scrub before it was all out.
I like to think of that smell, the abundance, and the lasting effect as a sign of how God works in our life.
God’s love . . . is sweet! God’s love . . . it flows everywhere! God’s love . . . it sticks and doesn’t want to come out!
It is my prayer, that you always remember how sweet is the abundance of God’s love. I pray that you might realized that through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God’s sweet love is stuck on you and cannot be washed away. For that, let us ever give our thanks and praise!
Together we pray:
Let us pray . . .
For the sweet love you have give to us . . . we give you thanks and praise! For the abundance of grace you have poured into our lives . . . we give you thanks and praise! For everything you have blessed us with . . . we give you thanks and praise! For the snow that has fallen . . . we give you thanks and praise! For the warm cup of coffee or mug of hot cocoa . . . we give you thanks and praise! For the time to spend with family and friends . . . we give you thanks and praise! For the time of rest and renewal . . . we give you thanks and praise!
For those we are still longing to experience your love . . . we entrust them to your care! For those who only see the emptiness rather than the abundance of good things around them . . . we entrust them to your care! For those who struggle to stay warm . . . we entrust them to your care! For those who have no one to keep them company . . . we entrust them to your care! For those who are sick, ill, and hospitalized . . . we entrust them to your care! For our country in the midst of deep political divide . . . we entrust it to your care! For those who continue to wait for their pay check even after a long hard days worth of work . . . we entrust them to your care!
For all that you see, that we may need, we entrust to your care especially as we pray, Our Father . . .
First Lutheran Tiffin Ohio 44883 