Symbolic Cleansing

Symbolic Cleansing

Exodus 19: ¹⁰ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. ¹¹ And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. ¹² You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. ¹³ Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow; whether man or beast, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come near the mountain.”

 

¹⁴ So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes. ¹⁵ And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not come near your wives.”

 

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GOD told Moses to tell the people to wash their clothes and get ready for HIM to come down on the third day.

 

My Observations:

• GOD seemed to be symbolically preparing the people to represent the cleansing of sin by having them wash their clothes.
• GOD seemed to be announcing that JESUS would come down from the cross in three days in this parallel number of days.
• GOD warned the people that they should not take HIS presence lightly otherwise they would be put to death.

 

Clean clothes represent spiritual purification, forgiveness and redemption through JESUS CHRIST. In the book of Revelation, we see the people who have cleaned their clothe4s in the blood of the LAMB. The three-day delay from the time Moses had the conversation with GOD until the time HE would arrive, parallels the time JESUS was crucified and when HE arose from the dead.

 

GOD does not seem to be addressing a mindset in this passage; rather, HE was demonstrating what JESUS would do. No one was allowed to touch the mountain when GOD was on it. While GOD is everywhere, there are specific places where HE declares boundaries for a specified time.

 

GOD declared this symbolic act as holy and reverence of HIM was HIS expectation. HE even told them not to procreate during this holy time, possibly because JESUS was to be the new life. This was all about GOD and HIS plan to redeem mankind.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the washing of the clothes?
• What symbolic gestures can you do to signify what GOD has done for you?
• Have you forgotten who GOD is and what HE has done by limiting beliefs?

Agreement to Follow GOD

Agreement to Follow GOD

Exodus 19: ⁷ So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the Lord commanded him. ⁸ Then all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord. ⁹ And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever.”

 

So Moses told the words of the people to the Lord.

 

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Moses did a lot of walking at the age of eighty. He went up the mountain to hear from GOD and was told to obey HIS voice and keep HIS covenant. Moses then walked back down the mountain and told them what GOD said. The people agreed to follow GOD.

 

My Observations:

• GOD was establishing Moses as the person HE would talk to.
• The children of Israel did not know that GOD was about to change their mindset.
• Moses was now established as a judge, priest and leader of the children of Israel.

 

The first five books of the Bible are called the Torah or the Pentateuch. These books, written by Moses,  include Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. GOD dictated to Moses what HE wanted to be revealed and remembered. In this passage, GOD is establishing Moses as the one who would bring the Law to humans.

 

Moses also had the task of announcing JESUS, without knowing he was doing so. The words of the Law would never go away, however, the Law would be fulfilled in CHRIST, who never broke a single Law. Over 600 laws would be given in the upcoming chapters and books. The people agreed to follow the laws and did not know what they were agreeing to.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about his travel up and down the mounting, exchanging conversations between the children of Israel and HIM?
• Have you ever agreed to follow GOD but found yourself reluctant when you truly discovered what it meant?
• Can you seen that loving one another fulfills all the law and that should be your pursuit versus trying to be perfect?

Be a Special Treasure

Be a Special Treasure

Exodus 19: In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. ² For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain.

 

³ And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: ⁴ ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. ⁵ Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. ⁶ And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

 

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Three months into the journey, GOD led the people to Mount Sinai. Moses went up to speak with GOD who told him that if the people would obey HIM and keep HIS covenant, then they shall be a special treasure to HIM.

 

My Observations:

• GOD brought the people out of Egypt without their power being used or their sin being addressed.
• GOD provided a condition that reached beyond sin management.
• GOD said everyone and everything is HIS and the children of Israel would be viewed as special to HIM.

 

Sometimes I forget that everything GOD made is HIS. Every person, every place and every thing is GOD’s. When I limit GOD to how well I can keep the commandments, I begin to think that GOD is a lousy ruler who sets impossible standards and blames me for not being able to keep them.

 

GOD seems to be pointing to JESUS. Keeping HIS covenant was the last thing on the children of Israel’s mind throughout the Bible. GOD had to intervene to make sure JESUS came as a human to save mankind. The children of Israel did in fact become a special treasure because JESUS was born and did complete HIS purpose of dying for our sins.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about whet HE said on the first trip up Mount Sinai?
• Have you fallen into the trap of trying to manage sin, thinking you can manipulate GOD into getting your way?
• Can you look beyond sin management for a minute to praise GOD for HIS leadership, despite your sins?

Move From Micromanaging

Move From Micromanaging

Exodus 18: ¹³ And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. ¹⁴ So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?”

 

¹⁵ And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. ¹⁶ When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

 

¹⁷ So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. ¹⁸ Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. ¹⁹ Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. ²⁰ And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. ²¹ Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. ²² And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. ²³ If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.”

 

²⁴ So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. ²⁵ And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. ²⁶ So they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moses, but they judged every small case themselves.

 

²⁷ Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way to his own land.

 

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After hearing the complaints of the people. Moses fell into the trap of thinking he had to solve every problem for the people by himself. Jethro watched Moses and provided wise counsel.

 

My Observations:

• Moses may have felt alone, so he took it upon himself to speak to GOD about every matter concerning the millions of people he was leading.
• Jethro saw that Moses was trying to do everything alone and provided wise counsel to get some help.
• Moses listened to Jethro and appointed those who feared GOD, were truthful and who did not covet.

 

Feeling responsible for everyone’s wellbeing is a great quality of a leader, But, as Jethro pointed out, taking on too much responsibility for everyone is not a good thing. Moses was probably speaking to GOD in a one at a time fashion. He would hear one problem then race to GOD, then turn around and ask for another problem to solve.

 

Jethro knew Moses was getting bits and pieces of GOD’s law and he suggested that Moses teach others what GOD said to him. There was no formal law at this point. I believe the HOLY SPIRIT led Jethro to give Moses this wisdom.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the wisdom from Jethro?
• Are you trying to do everything yourself and are not asking for help?
• Is it time to ask GOD to bring you the help you need to fulfil HIS vision?

GOD’s Deliverance Celebrated

GOD’s Deliverance Celebrated

Exodus 18: ⁷ So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and kissed him. And they asked each other about their well-being, and they went into the tent. ⁸ And Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. ⁹ Then Jethro rejoiced for all the good which the Lord had done for Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. ¹⁰ And Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. ¹¹ Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them.” ¹² Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and other sacrifices to offer to God. And Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

 

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Jethro and Moses had not seen each other for a while so the conversation was about catching each other up on daily affairs. Moses told Jethro about the amazing things GOD did in the short time he was gone. The 430-year reign of tyranny of Egypt had ended.

 

My Observations:

• Moses told Jethro about the plagues, chase and rescue from the Egyptians.
• Jethro may have believed in gods, similarly to the Egyptians.
• Jethro praised the one true GOD for delivering the children of Israel out of the hands of the Egyptians by sacrificing a burnt offering and “other” offerings.

 

Just hearing the stories about what GOD did, converted Jethro into a full believer. For decades, Jethro believed in gods, but the one true GOD was now recognized. Moses told Jethro about the conversations with GOD. I bet they talked for hours.

 

Jethro probably hung onto every word of Moses. He may have asked follow on questions that Moses delightfully answered. The Egyptians were famous because of GOD. Joseph was placed in Egypt to sustain them during the famine. Egypt did not know that GOD had a plan to tear down the mindset that any human could be a god. HE also was preparing the way for JESUS to be recognized as the KING of kings.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the conversation he had with Jethro?
• Have you looked back on all the things GOD has brought you through?
• Is it time to take a moment to celebrate what GOD has done in your life?

 

Wisdom of a Father-in-Law

 

Wisdom of a Father-in-Law

Exodus 18: And Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people—that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. ² Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back, ³ with her two sons, of whom the name of one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land”) ⁴ and the name of the other was Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”); ⁵ and Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of God. ⁶ Now he had said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.”

 

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After being asked to lead the people out of Egypt, Moses reluctantly left his family. For months, Moses obeyed GOD through plagues, protection and provision. Word got back to Jethro, Moses’s father-in-law, about all the things GOD had done. Jethro brought Moses’s family to him.

 

My Observations:

• Jethro was the first father-in-law mentioned in the Bible.
• Since there was no “law” regarding marriage and divorce at this time, Jethro may have meant the term to mean, “father by oath to my given daughter.”
• Zipporah had previously reacted in a peculiar fashion when she had to circumcise her son.

 

A lot happened in the few months Moses was gone. Egypt fell, the children of Israel rebelled and they were attacked. Jethro seemed to be led by the HOLY SPIRIT to bring Moses his family. He “heard of all that GOD had done” and responded by bringing Moses his family.

 

This shows me that Jethro believed in GOD and wanted Moses’s family to experience GOD. Jethro showed wisdom and went out to meet Moses at the same mountain GOD originally called Moses to be HIS leader.

 

Jethro had lived in the desert for years. He and his family were able to sustain themselves with little effort. BUT GOD did not bring the children of Israel out of Egypt to learn the ways of the Midianites. Moses felt like a stranger amongst them. GOD brought them out of Egypt to worship HIM as GOD. Jethro saw the value in doing so.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about Jethro bringing his family to him?
• Do you recall when someone provided sage wisdom to you?
• Do you need to be reunited with people who may or may not believe in GOD’s power?

First Fight for Freedom

First Fight for Freedom

Exodus 17: ⁸ Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. ⁹ And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” ¹⁰ So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. ¹¹ And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. ¹² But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. ¹³ So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

 

¹⁴ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” ¹⁵ And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; ¹⁶ for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

 

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After dismantling Egypt, GOD took the people into the desert where they ran into no food, bitter water and now a group of people were coming up against them. The Amalekites came to fight the Israelites. Moses asked Joshua to gather men to fight. Aaron and Hur helped Moses keep his arms up so the Israelites would win the fight.

 

My Observations:

• GOD allowed Amalek to try to fight the Israelites.
• Joshua makes his first appearance in the Bible with Moses asking him to gather some men who could fight.
• GOD seemed to be preparing Israel to get out of the mindset that everything would be handed to them and that they had to fight for the freedom they begged for.

 

Freedom comes with a cost that the Israelites did not want to pay. They begged the LORD to be released from Egypt because of the cruel treatment. But soon after their release, they complained about food, water, and comfort. They wanted a fantasized Utopia rather than to side with GOD.

 

They dreamt of an easy life similar to the garden of Eden. BUT GOD was busy trying to save mankind and knew there would be opposition. I believe GOD allowed this fight and was involved supernaturally to show the Israelites they needed to fight, versus having everything handed to them. When Moses held up his hands, the Israelites would begin to win. When he dropped his hands, the Amalekites would begin to win.

 

GOD could have easily wiped out this army, but seemed to want to show Israel that they needed to be involved. They had to form an army that they had not thought of. They had to help Moses because he could not do this by himself. GOD was changing the mindset of the people. HE helped them fight for freedom. There would be many detours and fights before getting into the promised land.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses of the fight against the Amalekites?
• Is GOD allowing difficulties in your life so you have to fight for something?
• Will you be strong and courageous to fight for what GOD has promised you?