Head-dibs

[July 2004 I went to Kenya, Africa to speak in two Pastor’s Conferences on the subject of Man, Sin and Salvation. At the end of each day I left just over an hour for questions: half the time were questions touching the subject of my lectures and the other half for “open questions” Here is one of the questions asked by a Bible student] Question:  “Men and women who saw God in the Bible: Why did they not all die?” “ But He said, ‘You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live! ’” (Exodus 33:20) Answer: First, consider those who did see God—how did they respond when they saw Him? They were instantly aware of their sinfulness, and God’s holiness and righteousness (to name a few. And notice also that each responded in an attitude of worship, bowing down): Abraham built altars, worshipping on his face; Isaac and Jacob set up heaps of stones as memorials when they saw the LORD in visions; Moses was told to remove his sandals for he was on Holy ground; only one priest could ...

Question: Exodus records the incident of the parting of the Red Sea by a wind that blew all night. How is this possible? Answer:  We can get an idea by observing this phenomenon recorded in England, where a 98 foot waterfall is reversed by high winds .

Ever think about the connection between Passover and Resurrection Sunday? Were you even aware there was one? Passover celebrates the release of the Hebrew nation from just over 400 years of captivity in Egypt and Resurrection Sunday ("Easter") celebrates Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. God planned that the one should have everything to do with the other. Long before Israel became a nation, God told Abraham that his descendants would be slaves then delivered after 400 years of captivity. The prophecy was fulfilled when God selected Moses (not Charlton Heston) to lead the people out--but under specific circumstances. God performed a series of miracles that would loosen the Egyptian hold on the captive nation of Israel. The circumstance is repeated many times in the Old Testament Book of Exodus: “that you may know that I AM the LORD.” One will find this phrase directed to Israel, to Egypt and to the nations throughout the rest of the OT. The final miracle involved th...

" My Presence shall go with thee ." (Exodus 33:14) Cherish no doubt of it, Ever abide in it, Travel about in it, Rest and reside in it, Walk in the midst of it, Work in the might of it, Let your whole life be lived Full in the light of it. (Beatrice Cleland)

Continuing my personal study of the life of Moses, I came across that famous moment of hesitation when he asks God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and that I would bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11). Interesting question. First, the question sounds philosophical, “Who am I?” Moses is an older man now, so is he really wrestling with identity? Is this mid-life crises? Perhaps there may be some allowance for this, and it may be permissible if it were not an excuse to obey God. You know, “Ok God, I worship you and all, but if you really want me to do something, I’ll be over here trying to figure out who I am.” God does not play the “I AM” game because He knows who you are and that’s enough for Him. Since He is the great “I AM,” who do you think you have to be to obey Him? The only way to answer what seems like a philosophical problem is to return to the creator who says to the one He calls, “you are not alone.” Second, the phrase, “who am I” is connected to two ...

Exodus 31 is turning out to be an inspiring passage of study around this Father’s Day, for here we find some leadership examples in two men specifically chosen and empowered by God for a specific task. Included with these men are the names of their fathers about whom not much is known, but we may infer a great deal from them by virtue of their just being mentioned. Their names remain timeless for a reason. Hur is Bazalel’s grandfather and has served as an assistant to Moses and Aaron. His name can be given two meanings by virtue of translation. First, there is the noun, “hole/hollow/a depression.” Now there is a difference in what is meant by “hole:” there is the hole of a cobra (Isaiah 11:8) or an underground prison (Isaiah 42:22) and there is a valley-kind-of-“hole,” such as the depressed place between two hills, like Gilead (Numbers 33:32). These are secondary definitions. The root word is a verb which means, “by or grow white, pale.” Here in this passage it is used as a proper ma...

We read in Exodus 31 that Bezalel's father was Uri, whose name literally means “my light.” A loose translation would be, “fiery light.” This is the same word used in Psalm 27:1 when the psalmist wrote, " The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? " Exodus 37:17-24 contains a partial record of all that Bazalel made for the tabernacle, and the list includes the lamp stand, described in meticulous detail. Exodus 25 tells this piece is to be made of what amount to over 90 pounds of beaten gold; that is, nothing is to be melted and poured into a mould, but formed by hand. While some translate this piece as “candlestick,” it was not a light-giver in the same sense as a candle (which melt away as they give light). This was a receptacle for oil, to be burned in the light-giving. The imagery here is rich, and deep, starting with the understanding that the oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit. The Scr...

When we come across passages such as Exodus 31:1-11 there is a tendency to survey the names, decide that we can’t pronounce them, and conclude there is no redeeming quality in passages such as these. We move on to something with more action, more adventure. We fail to remember this is God's Word, His special revelation to us. The New Testament reminds us that God's Word is inspired. This means there is value, even in passages such as this. Here in Exodus 31, God chose for himself workers whose sole responsibility was to take that which is in the heavens and deliver it to the people. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had already moved through Egypt killing the first born in that final plague while simultaneously preventing the Destroyer from coming in (literally dwelling with the people that night). This same God is going to dwell in their midst. Scary thought, huh? Now, God was going to make a way through these men for His people to enjoy Him now that He had delivered His ...

Mortimer Adler gently explains " How To Mark A Book ." Dr. Warren Larson answers the question, " Is Islam Violent or Peaceful ?" Best-selling author, pastor, and Columbia International University graduate Robert J. Morgan was the keynote speaker during the 2010 Christian Life Conference at CIU: " Don't Give Up On People " Ex 1:1-5 " Don't Worry about Fame and Fortune " Ex. 1:6-23 " Put Your Burdens in the Bulrushes ." Ex 2:1-10

"In yer FACE!" Does that sound familiar? Not so long ago in a galaxy, well, right here, we used to hear this term used in derogatory ways, “in yer face!” The phrase connotes a retaliatory “same to you and more of it” kind of attitude. Now it is more commonly heard as trash-talk in the venues of sports and games. It’s a prideful insult, “getting’ all up in it [the face].” Doing Hebrew studies a few years back I learned that Exodus 20:3 (commonly translated as “You shall have no other gods before me”) really reads in a surprisingly contemporary manner. From the Hebrew we read, “No there will be or become from you gods of another kind [according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against upon above, over from upon, from over] my face.” In other words, “You will have no other god in my face.” Will it suffice to say we are to simply have no other gods besides the one true God? No. We are ...

As part of our daily family devotions, I’ve been reading Spurgeon’s “ Morning and Evening .” For me, each reading is like eating steak and though I read at the beginning of the meal, I sometimes feel so full spiritually I never have seconds (the Spurgeon Diet? No pun intended ). This one was from yesterday morning—don’t plan on reading it quickly (you must chew your food). It may help if you read the passage in context . ************ “ The iniquity of the holy things ." Exodus 28:38 "What a veil is lifted up by these words, and what a disclosure is made! It will be humbling and profitable for us to pause awhile and see this sad sight. The iniquities of our public worship, its hypocrisy, formality, lukewarmness, irreverence, wandering of heart and forgetfulness of God, what a full measure have we there! Our work for the Lord, its emulation, selfishness, carelessness, slackness, unbelief, what a mass of defilement is there! Our private devotions, their laxity, coldness, neglect...

Didja hear the one about the young preacher who wrote home to his preacher dad about the problem he was having? The son had just been called to a church in a university town. He told his dad that every time he preached and started to say something about science, he remembered that a scientist was in the congregation. When he spoke about history, he remembered that a history professor was present. He was also intimidated because of the English professor and the mathematician. “Dad, what am I supposed to do?” he asked. His father wrote back and said, “Son, just preach the Bible. They won’t know a thing about it.” [i] What does that have to do with the price of tea in China? Nothing. I just thought it was a good story. Summary of Exodus 17-20: Moses is instructed to strike the rock at Horeb for water, and then Israel prevails in battle against Amalek. Now that the people are so many and need to learn to live with one another as God’s people and not slaves, Jethro (Moses’ father-in-law) ad...

Some Christians in Africa sing this hymn: “In the beginning was God, Today is God, Tomorrow will be God. Who can make an image of God? He has no body. He is as a word which comes out of your mouth. That word! It is no more, It is past, and still it lives! So is God.” For the first time in history, we read of people who are labeled as God-fearers in Exodus 1. Note the scripture points out twice that these people are two Hebrew midwives. Two midwives birthing a nation. Here are two women sold out to their task for God, to see His plan is carried out. This is astounding. By the time we reach this point where the nation is Israel seems to be a threat to the Egyptians there are already: 1) a great number of people; and 2) leadership who forgot their heritage. This is significant because we are already a couple of hundred years or more down the line when these two midwives appear. I find it significant to note how the midwives feared God. I find it also significant to note also how they shar...