The Ten Commandments is the epitome of wisdom literature, on the surface they read as straightforward easy to understand laws, but meditating on them leads to deeper twists and turns that cause us to evaluate how society works and our place in it. These are not laws to help me govern the behavior of others they are wisdom to help me govern my own behavior.
Text for the Week: The People and the Name
Scripture: Exodus 20:1-11 Then God spoke all these words: 2 I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 You must have no other gods before me. 4 Do not make an idol for yourself—no form whatsoever—of anything in the sky above or on the earth below or... Continue Reading →
Text for the Week: Getting Ready
Scripture: Exodus 19:9-15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, in order that the people may hear when I speak with you and so trust you ever after.” When Moses had told the words of the people to the Lord, 10 the Lord said to Moses,... Continue Reading →
Text for the Week: Getting Others Involved
Scripture: Exodus 18:13-27 13 The next day Moses sat as judge for the people, while the people stood around him from morning until evening. 14 When Moses’s father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, while all the... Continue Reading →
Text for the Week: Presence, Protection, & Provision
Scripture: Exodus 17:8-16 8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some men for us and go out; fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses told him and fought with... Continue Reading →
Text for the Week: When Questioning Becomes Quarrelling
Scripture: Exodus 17:1-7 From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 The people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel... Continue Reading →
Text for the Week: Enough for the Day
Scripture: Exodus 16:13-26 13 In the evening a flock of quail flew down and covered the camp. And in the morning there was a layer of dew all around the camp. 14 When the layer of dew lifted, there on the desert surface were thin flakes, as thin as frost on the ground. 15 When the Israelites saw... Continue Reading →
Text for the Week:The Song of Salvation
God’s purpose is always to bring the people through death to greater life. How did Israel respond to this and how should we?
Text for the Week: The Blood will be Your Sign
Scripture: Exodus 12:1-13 1The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2 “This month will be the first month; it will be the first month of the year for you. 3 Tell the whole Israelite community: On the tenth day of this month they must take a lamb for each household, a lamb... Continue Reading →
Text for the Week: Mercy in Judgment
Scripture: Exodus 9:13-28 13 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and confront Pharaoh. Say to him, This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go so that they can worship me. 14 This time I’m going to send all my plagues on you, your officials,... Continue Reading →