It took less than a day of reading to get a deeper understanding of why one can study the bible for a lifetime and still glean new things. In truth a lifetime is not enough. As Saint Augustine said, "The bible is shallow enough for a child not to drown, yet deep enough for an elephant to swim. Each verse opens up a new thought, a new question, a new understanding of what God has done and sometimes a confusion of why He is doing it. In moments of questions research is good but there are times where I need to submit to His authority remembering what A.W. Tozer said in his book Pursuit of God, "God will not hold us responsible to understand the mysteries of election, predestination, and the divine sovereignty. The best and safest way to deal with these truths is to raise our eyes to God and in deepest reverence say, "O Lord, Thou knowest." Those things belong to the deep and mysterious Profound of God's omniscience. Prying into them may make theologians, but it will never make saints."
Exodus 9-14
"Pharaoh, Pharaoh, oh baby let me people go. Uh! nah nah nah nah nah nah nah I said Pharaoh, Pharoah..."
I know I am not the only one who was taught that song at church camp, walking like an Egyptian and singing like I knew exactly what I was talking about. I don't want to use an ugly word, so I won't, but read between the lines when I say stuff is about to get REAL up in Egypt. Ten plagues. Ten different items ranging from some of the most annoying bugs, to disgusting water, to loss of livestock and crops and ending with the loss of lives.
Never before had I noticed that "let my people go" was not the end of Moses' sentence. He in fact , each time, says [in God's stead of course] 'let my people go SO THAT they may worship me" This was not just a physical oppression the Israelites were under, but a religious one as well. Because it was detestable to the Egyptians the Israelites were not able to fully worship God with the offerings they long to give that he so rightly deserved.
Over and over again God hardens Pharaoh's heart after a plague is released so that Pharaoh will not let them leave. It's hard to read that part at times, hard to realize that the God who shows mercy can also withhold it. He is Just and the fact that I am still sitting here today completely forgiven because of His Son magnifies that sacrifice all the more. I do not deserve it. But I do notice, that it isn't until after Pharaoh gets what he wants that he changes his mind about letting them leave. A lesson perhaps, or a caution even, that we cannot only ask God for mercy when things aren't going well and then go back to our old ways when things are as we like them.
As the story goes, they were released, almost 2.5 million people left that area in a day, more if you count the Egyptians that went with them. And on their journey God was with them, not just in spirit but in a very visible way, as a cloud in the day and a pillar of fire at night. He was guiding their front and leading them on and when the Egyptians pursued he went behind them instead, much like a father here on earth would push his child behind his back to get inbetween the danger and his love.
Were they scared? Wouldn't you be. But here is where we are reminded again of God's protection, His faithfulness, His unending love. "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lored's salvation that he will accomplish for you today...The Lord will fight for you, and you must be quiet." The Israelites could have used their number and might to try to stave off the Egyptian army coming, but that was not necessary. God with His power saved each and every one of the Israelites and destroyed each of the Egyptians with Red Sea. And at the end of it all, after seeing what they had seen, they believed in the Lord.
Luke 11-18
Is it ok to have "favorites" in the bible? It makes me feel bad to think I have a favorite story, or book, or person. I mean it's THE BIBLE, it's like all good for me. But if it IS ok to pick favorites, these stories in this section of Luke would qualify for that list.
First up is the reminder that God will give good gifts. I tend to think His goodness is only shown through the struggles and that what He sees as good and what I know will turn out to bring good does not actually look good from the beginning. It's hard, when you have been through tough stuff, to believe that He will give good gifts, that he does bring good gifts.
Next was the reminder of your eye being the lamp of the bible. "Be careful little eyes what you see..." Another popular song from childhood, this one brings more Truth then I ever really understood. When my eyes are healthy my whole body is full of light, when they are not my body is in darkness. So does this mean that I need to only look upon good things, beautiful things, clean things? Well yes, and no. It does not mean ignore the darkness around you it means make sure your eyes are focused on the light no matter what darkness you might be near. The light of Christ.
We move on to trusting the Holy Spirit to tell us what we need to say in the hours we need to say it and storing up treasures that can not be destroyed, the treasures of heaven. Then being reminded that fruit comes from cultivation from the gardener and that the Kingdom of God, like leaven in bread, works its way into all parts of you, impacts all parts of you. Because of this, because of the impact you can reach out to those who can not pay you back, those you need what you have, that you can simply give to without expecting something in return.
And now for the stories, these stories that do something that we still have trouble doing, celebrating repentance. We celebrate good choice, bravery, talent and perfection but what we need to celebrate is a repentant heart. A heart that makes it's way to salvation, that sees it's own loss and despair and reaches out to the One who can bring peace. That one sheep searched and celebrated when it's found. That son who is run to, hugged, and given a feast upon his return. Celebrate repentance, celebrate that which brings you to the presence of God.
Job 27-33
Another character shows up in Job this week. Elihu, who much younger has been silent the entire time, has heard every word and is compelled to speak. As he says "I thought that age should speak and maturity should teach wisdom. But it is the spirit in a person that gives anyone understanding. It is not only the old who are wise or the elderly who understand how to judge" but "I must speak so that I can find relief." In other words, he thinks Job's friends and Job are doing a pretty crappy job of explaining the character of God and understanding who He is and is therefore going to tell them what He thinks about where God is in all of this that Job is going through.
1 Corinthians 13-16, 2 Corinthians 1-3
Yes, this week had 1 Corinthians 13 in it. This passage on love, real love, is wonderful, but there were three new things I read in other parts of the week and pondered...a lot.
1) 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. Paul is talking about himself and all I can say is #goals. I want this to be true of me, pray that it is true of me, that HIS grace towards me will not be in vain, that His grace towards me will result in accomplishments for the Kingdom.
2)As Paul is closing out his letter he mentions a handful of people who have made a significant impact in his ministry and in the places he visited. He reminds the Corinthians to "recognize such people that have refreshed my spirit and yours." This hit me in two different ways. The first is that so many have refreshed my spirit that I need to thank and show appreciation to. The second is to actually recognize, as in pay attention to, or draw near to, or get to know, people who refresh the spirits of others. His people are everywhere, His Light is everywhere through others, look for them, recognize them. Recognize the refresh that comes from those He has placed on Earth.
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