February 28 - Numbers 11-13: Drama in the Desert

Today’s Reading: Numbers 11-13

The Message

English Standard Version

Congratulations! You have reached the end of two months of reading the Bible through in a year! Only 10 more to go. Keep it up!

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God punishes the people for their lack of faith.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Israel wanted to return to Egypt because they missed meat. God punished them because they grumbled. Moses told God he was tired of shepherding the people. God gave Moses 70 helpers, but only once.
God piled three feet of dead quail at the people's feet.
Miriam and Aaron grumbled against Moses behind his back. God struck Miriam with leprosy as punishment.
God had Moses send 12 men into Canaan to scout the land. They saw the land was abundantly fruitful. Caleb wanted to take the land then. The others were scared and did not think Israel could defeat the Canaanites.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God punishes the people because they want to return to Egypt.

God does not punish the people because they want meat. He does not punish them for asking for meat. The reason He punishes them is because they expected God to be their holy vending machine. When their lives do not go exactly as planned, they complain and want to return to their old lives of slavery. It is as if the manna, the Red Sea crossing, and the Egyptian plagues meant nothing to them. God will not stand for ungratefulness from His Chosen People.

Moses is tired of being the people's prophet.

Moses is suffering burnout. He has been the leader of these people for only two years but in that time great things have happened, good and bad. Moses is tired of the roller coaster and wants out. God does not let him out, though. Instead, He gives 70 men to share in the burden, though only for a short time.

Aaron and Miriam are guilty of racism.

This is a difficult part of scripture. We would like to say that Aaron and Miriam are jealous of Moses' power and/or his ability to speak directly to God and leave it there. Unfortunately, they are also guilty of not liking Moses because he married an African woman. This also shows why Moses is a great man and the reason God could speak directly to him. But it also gives a bad mark to Aaron, the other person you wouldn't expect a major character flaw from.

God wants the people to see the strength of the Canaanites to witness what He will do.

The Israelites know God has given them the land. He has also told them what He will do to prepare the land. He has rejected the people living in Canaan because of their unrighteousness. But instead of seeing Canaan as a place with strong people groups and praise God for His justice and mercy toward Israel they instead cower away and believe they could not take the land. This will be a big issue for tomorrow's reading.

February 27 - Numbers 8-10: God Grants Temporary Extensions to Passover

Today’s Reading: Numbers 8-10

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

The people are making final arrangement to leave Mount Sinai.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

The Levites purified themselves for service to God. This was to fulfill the firstborn-dedicated-to-the-Lord requirement. Levites could serve in the Tabernacle from the age of 25 until 50.
God told the people to observe the Passover. He allowed those unclean or travelling to wait until the next month to observe.
God directed the Israelites via a cloud that would either indicate which direction to go or settle on the Tabernacle, meaning to stay.
The people were set and left in a certain order to ensure safety. Moses convinced his brother-in-law Hobab to travel with them and be their guide.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

The Levites must be ritually clean to serve God.

God required the Levites to come before God with completely shaved bodies. For a people who were not allowed to trim their beards, this was a dramatic difference. It set them apart as the ones who went between the people and God.

God allows for flexibility to accommodate those who are circumstantially unable to participate.

This is an important point to remember. God does allow for exceptions to the timetable, but these exceptions had to be for unforeseeable reasons. No one inside Israel who was clean could have an exception. God is not so rigid that His Laws cannot change to accommodate those who need change. God is not so flexible that any excuse will change his Law.

February 26 - Numbers 7: The Tribes Dedicate the Altar

Today’s Reading: Numbers 7

The Message

English Standard Version

Today is another day full of repetition. If you are pressed for time, read the first 17 verses and skip to verse 84. Everything in between is 11 days of the same offering. Today's post will be brief—I will only repeat a thought on oral culture in case you missed it earlier.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

The leaders of each tribe of the Israelites bring offerings for the new Altar to God.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

The Tabernacle was finished. Moses had leaders from the 11 tribes bring oxcarts to help the Levites transport the furnishings.
The Altar was ready. Each tribe brought a gift for the altar and a sacrifice: a silver plate and a silver bowl filled with flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, a gold vessel with incense, a bull, a ram, a goat, two oxen, five rams, and six lambs for an animal sacrifice.
Moses entered the tabernacle and God spoke to him in a voice between the cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Repetition is used as a pneumonic devise to help with memorization.

(Repeat of three days ago)
The Law of Moses, although written down, was not passed on to the people through copies of a written document. It was passed on through oral teachers speaking to their family and friends. According to tradition, to attend the Jewish equivalent of a seminary, a student would have to quote the entire Pentateuch from memory. Pneumonic devices like repetition of the sentence

On the _______ day, _____ son of ______, the leader of the people of _________, brought his offering. His offering was: a silver plate weighing three and a quarter pounds and a silver bowl weighing one and three-quarter pounds (according to the standard Sanctuary weights), each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a Grain-Offering; a gold vessel weighing four ounces, filled with incense; a young bull, a ram, and a yearling lamb for a Whole-Burnt-Offering; a he-goat for an Absolution-Offering; two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, and five yearling lambs to be sacrificed as a Peace-Offering. This was the offering of _____ son of _____. (The Message)

would serve as a help to memorize the entire section.

February 25 - Numbers 5-6: God Protects Women and Blesses His Chosen Nation

Today’s Reading: Numbers 5-6

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

A man's word is not worth more to God than a woman's word.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God told Moses to enact the law on lepers and unclean people.
God provided a test for a woman's adultery. The jealous husband would bring her to the priest who would make her drink a toxic tonic. If innocent, all went well.
God gave instructions on the Nazarite vow. This person would dedicate a certain period of time to God and would not eat any form of grapes (skins, flesh, juice, raisin, etc.) or cut his hair. This person also could not go near any dead person, even a member of his family.
God gave a blessing to the people.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

The test for adultery by a woman protected women from jealous husbands.

When Americans look at this text we are flummoxed. It makes no sense to us 1) why there would need to be a test and 2) why does the woman have to suffer? Because of this the text gets tossed into the "out there" pile. However, I want to provide a different view.
In the ancient world, a woman's worth was directly proportional to her ability to give birth to children. That is about all she had going for her. So if a man's wife cheated with another man the husband would never know if his children were truly his or not. If he wanted to have her condemned as an adulteress she would have no recourse. Ancient cultures would not consider women's accounts of events permissible in a court.  God's plan, however, stipulated that a man had to go to the priest first before having her stoned. This protected a woman in two ways: 1) a man would be too embarrassed to have his wife before the priest and then be found wrong and 2) she would be protected if she were innocent. God's test for adultery protected women in a way no human court could or would. The test in itself was made torturous both to prevent a man from putting his wife through it and prevent a woman from cheating on her husband.

The Nazarite vow is the closest thing people came to becoming a monk.

This vow would separate the man from everyone in social ways. He could not eat any form of grape—in essence, no alcohol. He could not be around a dead person. A person would only do this to dedicate a special time (or child as in John the Baptizer) for God.

God blessed His Chosen People

God is getting ready to transfer from law-giver to protector for a people on the move. So to bless them on their journey He put His Name upon them. And so today, I bless you as well in your journey through the Bible in a year.

God bless you and keep you, God smile on you and gift you, God look you full in the face and make you prosper. (6:24-26, The Message)

February 24 - Numbers 3-4: God Prepares a Travel Party

Today’s Reading: Numbers 3-4

The Message

English Standard Version

Today's reading is about God organizing how the people would transport the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant. Except for 3:40-51, feel free to scan through today if you are behind or get bogged down in the details.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God prepares the people for travel.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God gave an important job to the Levites: transportation of His Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant. The job was organized by family—each family carrying different parts of the Tabernacle. Aaron and his sons were to cover all of the holy objects before anyone could walk in the Tabernacle to prevent the movers from seeing the objects.
To fulfill God's requirement that the first male offspring of a woman or animal be given to God, God allowed the Levites to stand as a substitute. The Levites would be dedicated to God instead.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God chose the Levites to be dedicated to Him for His service.

God required the firstborn child to be dedicated to Him. Since this was given to the existing nation, He allowed the Levites to serve as a substitution for those born in Egypt. This meant they would be free to perform all the tasks God required to forgive sins, give sacrifices peace offering, thanksgiving offerings, etc.

February 23 - Numbers 1-2: God Commissions a Census, Organizes the War Party

Today’s Reading: Numbers 1-2

The Message

English Standard Version

Today we begin Numbers. The first 10 chapters deal with the Law of Moses then have narratives mixed in with laws for the remaining chapters. It leads us to Moses' final speech to the people of Israel in Deuteronomy. Let's begin!


Today's reading is very technical and repetitious; however, it prepares for what comes ahead. Feel free to scan through today if you are behind or get bogged down in the details.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God is preparing the people for war.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God commissioned a census of all men over 20 years old who were able to go to war. There were 603,550 over the ten tribes and the two half-blood tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.
The Levites were not counted as warriors. They were to be the keepers of the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant.
Each troop was ordered to camp in a certain way around the tabernacle and march in a certain order.
The Israelites did just what God asked.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God is showing the people how small they are compared to the other nations.

God later will punish a king for taking a census of the warriors in Israel. However, God commissioned this census for Israel. The reason is simple—He wants the people to realize that He will win their battles for them. The Israelites are not the strongest country. But this is moot, because God will defeat their enemies. When God is on your side, there is no need to take an opinion poll. His side will win in the end.

Repetition is used as a pneumonic devise to help with memorization.

The Law of Moses, although written down, was not passed on to the people through copies of a written document. It was passed on through oral teachers speaking to their family and friends. According to tradition, to attend the Jewish equivalent of a seminary, a student would have to quote the entire Pentateuch from memory. Pneumonic devices like repetition of the sentence

The line of _______: The men were counted off head by head, every male twenty years and older who was able to fight in the army, registered by clans and families. The tribe of ______ numbered ______. (The Message)

would serve as a help to memorize the entire section.

February 22 - Leviticus 26-27: God Finishes the Laws at Sinai

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 26-27

The Message

English Standard Version

Congratulations! You have finished four books of the Bible! You have also finished over half of the Pentateuch. Let's get through today and we'll begin Numbers tomorrow.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Even God's patience would not be infinite. If the people disobeyed Him, He would punish them.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God warned the people: if they obeyed, they would live comfortably. If they committed the same sins as the people in Canaan, they would be likewise punished. God brought the Israelites out of Egypt to be their God.
People could vow a person's work to God. If a person wanted to give an animal or field to God they could receive compensation. However, to buy back the animal or field the person had to add 20%. This could not be used to stop a person's execution or prevent sacrifices.
This ends the commands God gave the people at Mount Sinai.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God would be with His Chosen People—provided they were wholly His.

Israel's final warning goes back to the beginning—they were to be different than the people who came before them. God promises if they do these things He will be with them and, in the words of Job's Accuser, place a protective hedge around them. However, if they did not obey God's laws He would do the same to them as He is going to do to the current tenants of Canaan. God's blessings are infinite—but they are only for those who are holy, meaning wholly for God.

February 21 - Leviticus 24-25: On Blasphemy and Sabbath Years

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 24-25

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God's heavy punishments were meant to prevent people from committing horrible acts of aggression.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

A half-Egyptian Israelite cursed God. Those who heard condemned him and the congregation stoned him. God required that anyone who injured another person would be required to suffer the same injury—even if it meant death. This law was for anyone inside Israel's borders.
God told the people to let the land to rest on the seventh year. God would provide enough on the sixth year to sustain the people.
On the fiftieth year all land would return to its original family and all slaves were to be released.
Israelites were not to make a profit off the poor.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God will not allow his name to be cursed in his land.

This is the lesson Israel received from the Israelite with an Egyptian father. No one—including foreigners—were allowed to curse God's name on God's land. But what is also important to see is that God required the people who heard the man curse God to condemn him before he was executed.

God wanted the earth to have a year of rest.

God not only wanted the people to rest every week he also wanted the land to rest every seven years. This would both allow the land to rejuvenate (before the popular use of fertilizers) and allow the people to show their faith in God. God promised he would bless them so great on the sixth year that they would never starve during or after the rest. God will bless us before and after we pledge to obey His will.

God protects the poor from onerous interest.

God would not allow His Chosen People to exploit the situation of the poor. He required them to loan without expecting interest.

The Jubilee served as a reset button for the Israelites.

The land would return to the original owner's family. Israelite slaves were to be set free. Debts were forgiven. However, God did require all prices to be set based on when the Jubilee would happen. God would not cheat the land buyers anymore than he would cheat the people who received the land back.

February 20 - Leviticus 22-23: On Priests and Festivals

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 22-23

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

The priests were to be a people set apart for service—a holy people among a holy nation. Feasts were to help pass on the common history of the people.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God decreed that any offering was holy and could only be eaten by priests and their dependents. Anyone who was unclean had to wait until they were clean before eating. Any offering had to be quality stock, not a dumping of weaklings. God warned them, "Do not tempt me. I am the God who brought you out of Egypt."
God organized several festivals to commemorate certain times of the year or events of the past: Sabbath every week, Passover followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread, harvest, Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Booths.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

The priests were to be the holy people among a holy nation.

(Picking up with chapter 21 from yesterday) The Israelites were to be set apart for God. At the same time, the Levites were to be set apart from the Israelites to be the go-betweens for the people and God. This means the priests were held to a higher standard from the normal Israelite. However, because they were set apart God would allow them to focus entirely on being the representatives of the people for Him. This is why they were allowed to take the sacrifices offered and use them to feed their families. However, only those who depended directly on the priest—wife, non-married (or widowed) children, slaves—were allowed to eat. The hired worker or the married child could not eat. They were not (or no longer) set apart for service and could spend their time earning a living.

God required a grain offering of the first fruits to engender a faithful spirit.

Just as God would not accept animals with defects or abnormalities, God would not allow His Chosen People to wait to make sure they had enough to cover their expenses before making an offering. This required faith that the harvest would not be ruined before they could finish harvesting it. They could not enjoy the fruits of their labor until they had thanked God for giving it to them. When giving, give thanks to God before anything else.
This is why my wife and I give a percentage of our income as it comes in. We do not wait to see if we have enough for our expected expenses. It might seem this would make the month more stressful. But it does not. Why? Because when we give to God first we live by faith. God has given it to us and we first thank Him for having it come to us before we use the money for ourselves.

God protects the poor.

Don't forget it.

February 19 - Leviticus 19-21: God Calls His Chosen People to Holiness

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 19-21

The Message

English Standard Version

There are several repeats of laws previously mentioned. However, this is not a section to skip. If you wish to understand the Old Testament and how the Old Testament informs the New Testament this is one day that you should read completely. I would love to comment on everything but I will focus on general principles instead. Give your thoughts on specific laws in the comments below. I'd love to know what your thoughts are.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God is giving "light unto the nation" laws. These were laws intended to separate Israel from the people who came before them and polluted the land.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God's people were to be holy because their God was holy.
God repeated several laws. He expanded on some and summarized others. They were to leave parts of fields for the poor and foreign. They were to judge based on rightness instead of wealth, protect their neighbor, stay away from divination or sorcery, respect the elderly, and treat the foreigner equally as a native. They were to be holy.
Anyone who performed child sacrifice was reject by God and must be executed. Both partners were to be executed for sexual sin.
Priests had specific laws beyond the other tribes.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

These laws are given to the Israelites to be a holy people, a light unto the nations.

This is a very difficult post to write. The reason is simple—of all sections of scripture these chapters (including yesterday's reading) are the go-to area to discredit the Bible. No one sells "Leviticus 17-21" merchandise or tattoos it on their body. Some of the laws are unpopular and do not make sense taken out of context.
However, as I mentioned yesterday, these laws do not come from a vacuum. They are specific laws designed to make the people different from the people who polluted the land before them (repeated in 20:22-23) and holy, meaning they are an example to the nations around them of how God sets things right on the earth. These laws were not universal laws forced upon the world. They exhibit how God sets things right in the world through His Chosen People. This is why I believe they are important for God's Chosen People today to know, even if we are not under the same law per se.

God protects the poor and the foreigner.

I want to reiterate this point (and will every time God mentions it). God's people help the poor and treat the foreigner as an equal. They were to leave their fields with grain to provide food for those who had no fields of their own. They were not to oppress the poor—or judge unjustly in their favor. They were to give the foreigner (most likely a refugee) the same treatment as a native. God sets things right on the earth by having his people help the poor and refugee.

Laws against mixing two things (mating animals, woven materials) are to symbolize their (w)holiness to God.

These laws are often shown to be ludicrous. However, understanding that the Law of Moses is meant to separate the people from bad influences changes how these laws are meant to help the people. They provide visual symbols of their wholeness to God alone. They are to have no other god and their lifestyle mirrors that wholeness. There could be no mixing of gods that they served and there was to be no mixing of crops, animals, and clothing fibers in their life.

The laws about priests were to show the purity of God from all things not set right.

These laws speak of holy living but also staying away from the effects of the curse. This is why those who were deformed could not present an offering. God would not be reminded of the curse placed on the world because of man's sin.

February 18 - Leviticus 16-18: God Provides a Scapegoat for His Pure People

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 16-18

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God is both telling the people how to live and why he has rejected the people currently living in Canaan.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God spoke to Moses telling him how Aaron should perform the annual sacrifice for the sins of the people. There would be two goats—one to be killed and the other to be released as a scapegoat.
God gave warnings against sacrificing to other gods. If anyone ate blood they were to be cut off from the community.
God told the people not to act like the Egyptians or the people in Canaan. These included certain sexual partners and offering children to gods as sacrifices. Anyone who did these things would be cut off from their community and their land.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

The scapegoat took the sins of the people into the wilderness.

All my life I had been told the people needed to remember their past sins every year, like rolling out a carpet with all of the past stains there. However, God set the sacrifice for the sins of the people so that the people knew their sins (which were not taken away completely) were no longer with them. So each year they would bring the sins that they committed during that year. God always gives a scapegoat that will bear the sins of the people into the wilderness.

Blood = Life

God is very clear—blood represents life. No one is to eat the life of another animal. Blood gives life literally within our veins and figuratively by washing away sins. That imagery will stay throughout the entire Bible.

God wanted the people to have drastically different sexual (and sacrificial) lifestyles than the others around them—pure lives which did not pollute the land.

Chapter 18 is very thorough but also self-explanatory. God places the impetus for these instructions at the beginning and the end:

Don't live like the people of Egypt where you used to live, and don't live like the people of Canaan where I'm bringing you. Don't do what they do." (v. 3, The Message)
Don't pollute yourself in any of these ways. This is how the nations became polluted, the ones that I am going to drive out of the land before you. Even the land itself became polluted and I punished it for its iniquities - the land vomited up its inhabitants. (vv. 24-25)

The people in these nations had polluted the land by their sins and God would punish the people. God will reject a people if they do not set things right and expects his Chosen People to live lives in stark contrast to those who do not set things right.

February 17 - Leviticus 14 and 15: On Healed Lepers, Infected Houses and Happy Couples

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 14-15

The Message

English Standard Version

Today's reading deals with unpleasant bodily functions. It may not be for the squeamish.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

(Repeated from yesterday)
Today we see how God protected his people from disease and other germs.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

If a person with leprosy was cured, the person went to the priest for a test and a sacrifice. If the person was too poor another type would be accepted.
If a house had a fungus, the priest gave a test. If it failed, part of the house or the entire house, depending on the situation, was destroyed.
If a person had a discharge then they were unclean until the discharge stopped. If a couple had intercourse during the day they were unclean until evening. Anything the people touched during the day was also unclean and should be washed.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God protected the people from disease.

Leprosy and other ailments could spread easily. This is why God gave rigorous tests to make sure the person was clean and everything they touched was washed. This would destroy the germs and bacteria and prevent them from spreading.

God gave the poor a different sacrifice if they could not afford the regular sacrifice.

God protects the poor. He will not prevent them from healing because they cannot afford the proper animal. What a God!

February 16 - Leviticus 11-13: Cleanliness is Next to ... Sacrifice (in Leviticus)

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 11-13

The Message

English Standard Version

Today we are reading about leprosy and tests to check for leprosy. It can be very confusing. So if you find yourself getting bogged down, tell yourself there won't be a test and you are not under this law. Look for what it says about God instead of the detailed actions.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Today we see how God protected his people from disease and other germs.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God gave the Israelites guidelines on which animals to eat (clean vs. unclean). All unclean animals' carcasses were not to be touched. Anyone who touched them would be unclean themselves until the next day. Anything that touched the carcass was unclean and needed to be either washed or broken, depending on the item.
New mothers were unclean for a period of time which depended on whether they had a boy or girl.
God gave many instructions on leprosy and how to diagnose, treat, and distinguish it from other ailments. Those who had the disease had to live outside the camp.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God's list of unclean animals were unclean because they could give the Israelites diseases if not cooked properly.

God's list was not a hodgepodge of random animals. The animals on each list are animals that we consider clean and unclean today. We get around the issue by cooking unclean meat thoroughly. God wanted to protect his people from complications of contaminated meat by keeping them away completely.

God protected new mothers and new babies from diseases.

Babies do not have a well-functioning immune system until they are four to six weeks old. This law allowed mothers and babies to stay away from the community with their communicable diseases for the amount of time needed.

God protected the people from leprosy and made the tests rigorous enough that no one would be falsely removed from camp.

This is an important part to bring out. God did not require the person who had a white spot leave camp forever. He put a quarantine system in place where the person was able to heal. For the time, this was advanced medicine.

February 15 - Leviticus 8-10: Aaron is Made Priest, Loses Two Sons

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 8-10

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

We must separate holy times from non-holy times.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God told Moses to show the people that Aaron and his sons were His chosen priests.
On the eighth day, Moses told the people to prepare a sacrifice for God would appear to them. Fire came down from God and consumed all of the sacrifices. The people bowed in reverence.
Nadab and Abihu presented a strange offering to God. God burned them alive. Aaron and his remaining sons were commanded not to drink alcohol because they were to be holy.
An argument flared between Moses and Aaron based on sacrifices. Aaron assured him they obeyed God and Moses was satisfied.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God wanted the Israelites to know that Aaron and his sons had God's stamp of approval.

God wanted to make sure the people knew that Aaron and his sons were set apart for His service. This is important because later they would not challenge his position. True leaders are given authority from God, not from their own will.

God once again shows His Power to the people.

God wants the people to see His Power and Greatness. So he decides to show them all a portion of his Greatness by bringing fire from the heavens to consume their sacrifices.

Nadab and Abihu show the danger of alcohol in worshiping God, not the specificity of worship.

I had been taught that this story shows how we must worship God in the exact method He prescribed or God would not be happy with our worship. This is not true. Although God does care for how we worship Him (the argument between Moses and Aaron came because Moses was worried the other sons were guilty of not obeying God's commands) God's instructions for Aaron and his sons afterwards are,

When you enter the Tent of Meeting, don't drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons, lest you die. This is a fixed rule down through the generations. Distinguish between the holy and the common, between the ritually clean and unclean. (10:9-10, The Message)

God is not a drunken-orgy God (as the other gods of the day). God is a holy, upright, setting-all-things-right God. When worshiping God abstain from alcohol. When drinking alcohol, don't proclaim to be worshiping God. We must separate times designated as holy from other times.

February 14 - Leviticus 5-7: On Sacrifices (part 2)

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 5-7

The Message

English Standard Version

Happy Valentine's day! May you feel the Love of our Creator above all others today.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Cleanliness is more than ritualistic cleanliness.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God continues to give instructions on how to give sacrifices. Sin sacrifices were to be given even if you did not know that what you were doing was wrong. Anything that touched the sacrifice must be holy. The meat could be eaten until the third day. If anyone ate of it on the third day they were excommunicated from the community.
These were the instructions for the different sacrifices given.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

A person could be unclean or guilty without knowing what they were doing.

God made these laws because he wanted to set all things right on the earth. Because of this, transgressions of the Law were taken seriously. Even if a person did not know that what they were doing was wrong they were guilty. However, they were only required to sacrifice an offering to God and were not greatly punished. Ignorance of how what you do sets things wrong does not absolve your guilt.

God requires holiness in rituals.

Everything used in sacrificing needed to be holy. If something was not holy then the sacrifice was not helpful to the person. Holiness means set apart for God. Our sacrifice (our lives) must be holy to God to be acceptable.

Anyone who ate meat on the third day was cut off from their community.

This doesn't sound as bad to us. We can go from town to town, city to city, congregation to congregation and no one will ask if we were cut off from our previous group. However, being excommunicated from Israel meant that person's entire social structure, their protection from people who would do them harm, and help when in need was gone. This was a disastrous situation that anyone would want to avoid. Why would God do this? Anyone who is not fully committed to God setting all things right on the earth should not be part of his Chosen People. The Elect are people dedicated to God. Those who are not dedicated to God can be bad influences and can turn others away from their dedication. This is why God cuts people off for what we would consider small sins.

February 13 - Leviticus 1-4: On Sacrifices (part 1)

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 1-4

The Message

English Standard Version

Today we start Leviticus, the book of laws given at Mount Sinai. Leviticus contains very few "stories," so prepare for many days of shorter posts.

If you are behind in your reading, parts of Leviticus are scan-able. Do not think that Leviticus is unworthy of reading! There are great truths in this book that I will try to point out here in the blog.

Onward!

Thought to Guide Your Reading

All offerings were to be without defect, meaning they had to be the best of the flock.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God spoke to Moses and gave him instructions on how different types of offerings were to be given: whole-animal burnt offerings (both mammals and birds) and grain offerings. Then God used that foundation to discuss two offerings: peace offerings and sin offerings (for the common people, priests, and leaders of the people).

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

A note on sacrifice.

Repeated from February 8
Before we look aslant at this "violent" culture that killed animals for their "bloodthirsty" God, we must remember that the ability to eat meat without killing it yourself is a dramatically new phenomenon. No matter what type of humane way it came to you, at one point the animal died and was processed, most likely by a human. Because we have removed ourselves from this process does not make it barbaric to kill an animal.

Religious rituals are important to God.

This is an entire book dedicated to being holy before God. It presents different offerings that the people were to follow detailed rules. It is chic today to get away from rituals and focus on free-form worship/service/etc. Much of this comes from the overemphasis of rituals. What we must understand is that God cares deeply for how His People worship Him. God presents specific rules for sacrifices because when His people to worship Him in His way God can set things right through His People. It may not seem logical, but by faith we trust that this is happening.

Animal sacrifices were to be "without defect."

The Israelites were not able to use sacrifices as ways to get rid of their defective stock. If an animal was born with a defective leg, it could not be sacrificed. A farmer could not forget God, take his herd to market, and bring whatever was left as his sacrifice. God will not settle for our thoughtless, last-minute sacrifices. He requires that we give up something valuable to us when giving to Him.

Sin sacrifices were for prevention of sin not punishment for sin.

God requires an entire bull to be sacrificed when a person sinned. This bull could have fed an entire family for days, used for warmth, and/or sold to buy other goods. But instead because they went against God's way they were forced to give up that meat, warmth, and money. They would have to watch as this defenseless animal was slaughtered because they did not set things right. God wanted this scene to serve as a deterrent for sin. God's punishment for sin is meant to prevent us from going against Him not give us our just desserts.

February 12 - Exodus 39-40: God Moves In

Today’s Reading: Exodus 39-40

The Message

English Standard Version

Congratulations! You made it through three books! Only 63 to go.

Today finishes the chronicle of the Israelites building what God commanded them to build (Exodus 36-40). Do not skip this section, but remember you aren't going to be tested on the specific aspects of the Aaron's high priest garb or the Tabernacle.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Moses completes what God commanded him to do.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Sacred clothes were made for Aaron to wear as he went before God in the Tabernacle. This concluded the work done as God commanded.
On the one-year anniversary of the Israelites leaving Egypt, God had them erect the Tabernacle. The Ark of the Covenant was placed inside and all of the furniture was put in place. God came down and inhabited the Tabernacle in a cloud. This cloud would guide the Israelites during their sojourn.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

The Exodus from Egypt is completed—God now resides with Israel, a free nation of people.

The book began with Pharaoh wanting to kill the Jewish boys at birth because his slaves are becoming too numerous to control. It ends with God moving into a beautiful tent that the free nation of Israel built with gold and other precious objects. This ends the Exodus and begins a new phase of life for Israel—the chosen nation of God. This is the theme of Exodus—Israel is God's Chosen People.

February 11 - Exodus 36-38: Bezalel and Ohilab (with Others) Build the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant

Today’s Reading: Exodus 36-38

The Message

English Standard Version

Today and tomorrow (Exodus 36-40) chronicle the Israelites building what God commanded them to build. Do not skip this section, but remember you aren't going to be tested on the specific aspects of the Tabernacle or the Ark of the Covenant. If you need to, use these days to catch up (read both in one day) or review some of the other posts from the past month. Type the link like this (or copy, paste, and insert the correct numbers): grahambates.blogspot.com/2013/mm/dd.html.

I will have shorter posts these two days.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

The people were so generous Moses had to ask them to stop giving freely of their own possessions.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Bezalel and Ohliab and others built the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant. The people continued to give offerings for construction. The workers asked them to stop giving because they had all the gold and other materials needed for construction.
They constructed the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant exactly the way God asked for it to be done.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God gives skills and know-how for more than didactic teaching.

One thing I hope you do not miss when scanning these chapters is that Bezalel, Oholiab, and the other workers were gifted by God to do what they did. They were gifted architects, metal smiths, weavers, etc. God gifts his people in more ways than teaching. If you are gifted in something, God can use you in that.

The people gave more than what was needed because they saw how God had blessed them firsthand.

This is a cool section of scripture. How often does this happen? Not very. How often do charities, churches, and other aid groups have to beg for money/items to help? Very often. But I was struck at why these people were so eager to give. This is why I think they gave—they saw God free them from slavery in Egypt and wanted to thank Him. It's as simple as that. When people see God setting things right in this world they want to give. Churches should make sure that specific examples of God setting things right in the world is prominent and give time for others to give examples of how God is setting things right in their life. Although examples from far-off places are encouraging, feeding a church with these alone will not do. People need to see God working. We can't see how God built a hospital in another continent (unless you visit that continent!).

February 10 - Exodus 33-35: God Prevents Split Allegiances

Today’s Reading: Exodus 33-35

The Message

English Standard Version

Much of today's reading repeats what has already been written in Exodus. For this reason, I want to give a longer explanation of a point that is essential for understanding the rest of the Old Testament.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God decides the best thing for the Israelites is if He did not go with them into Canaan.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God repeats his promise that he would drive out the Canaanites because of their idolatry and give the land to the Israelites. Now, however, He would not personally go with Israel—for their safety. The Israelites mourned the decision.
God repeated His covenant with the Israelites to Moses. Because of this, Moses' face glowed and he wore a veil to hide it. Moses wanted to see God's glory and God allowed this request.
Moses, after writing the covenant on tablets, repeated it to the Israelites. They accepted and took an offering for materials to build the tabernacle.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God decided not to enter Canaan with the Israelites because He would have destroyed them.

This is a strange thing to say. God is removing Himself from their travel party because he cannot stand their backbiting, grumbling, and quickness to give up on Him. He knows that His patience goes only so far. What a sobering thought. God is not among us for our own protection.

God drove out the people living in Canaan to keep Israel safe from temptation.

This is the reason he tells them,

Stay vigilant. Don't let down your guard lest you make covenant with the people who live in the land that you are entering and they trip you up. Tear down their altars, smash their phallic pillars, chop down their fertility poles. Don't worship any other god. God - his name is The-Jealous-One - is a jealous God. Be careful that you don't make a covenant with the people who live in the land and take up with their sex-and-religion life, join them in meals at their altars, marry your sons to their women, women who take up with any convenient god or goddess and will get your sons to do the same thing. (34:12-16, The Message)

God demands full allegiance to setting all things right on the earth through Him. He requires his people to stay away from people with different allegiances to prevent having split allegiances. This is the reason he forbid marrying the women of Canaan. It wasn't for racial purity. The people of Canaan were probably the descendents of Abraham. The reason was because He knew they would cause the men to give up their allegiance to God (and eventually they would).
This point is essential for understanding the rest of the Old Testament. God's only care for Israel was for full allegiance to His way because His way is the only way things are set right on the earth. The entire Law of Moses was given to help them stay focused on that goal. All of God's dealings with the nation of Israel dealt with their allegiance to God. God cannot set all things right on the earth when His people have split allegiances.
How does this translate to today?
First, don't marry someone who doesn't have full allegiance toward God setting all things right on the earth. There is too much temptation to change allegiances. But remember, just as God's commandments were not about racial purity this is not about denominational purity. It's about our God being a jealous god. God will not share us with any other entity or thing. We should keep ourselves pure from anyone that could influence our allegiance away from our Creator who is setting all things right on the earth.
Also, groups of Christians we call the church should not include people who are not fully committed to God. Let me reiterate—this isn't about denominational purity or racial purity. It's about the church having full allegiance to God. God does not want his people making covenants with people not focused on God setting all things right on the earth because the temptation to leave their allegiance would be too great.
Visitors are welcome (God makes several references to "strangers" and "sojourners" within Israel). However, eventually visitors should either choose to align with God to set all things right on the earth or leave for a lack of common ground. Strangers and sojourners could become part of Israel, but they had to become one of the Chosen People. I cannot see how churches can stay God's Chosen People when they allow those who are not fully committed to God to join them. If God did not want that for His people then He does not want that for his people now.

February 9 - Exodus 30-32: Aaron Leads the People to Sin and Gives the Lamest Excuse

Today’s Reading: Exodus 30-32

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God gives Moses the opportunity to be the father of a great nation. He turns God down.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God gave instructions for an incense altar inside the tabernacle. Each family gave a shekel to prevent punishment during a census—no matter whether rich or poor. God had them make "holy oil" for the priests. He wanted Bezalel and Oholiab to create the tabernacle, altar, and ark. God repeated the Sabbath command.
Fearing Moses was deceased, the people begged Aaron for a god. Aaron made a calf from their gifts of gold. The people bowed down.
God offered Moses Abraham's blessing. Moses refused. Instead, he destroyed the calf and purified the camp. God also punished Israel.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Everyone paid the exact same amount in the Atonement Tax.

This is a strange tax. God required it because he would otherwise punish the people for taking a census. That is odd. What is not odd or strange is that God required each person to pay the exact amount. He is explicit that no person is to pay more than half a shekel and no person is to pay less than half a shekel. Although part of me wants to bring out a political lesson from this, I have to remind myself that the Old Testament is not a grouping of parables. I cannot make any lesson I want out of the text. So I won't.

Designers can have God-given talent.

God personally chose Bezalel and Oholiab. He gave them His spirit so they could do what he had chosen them for. God-given ability to set things right is not limited to worship or "churchy" things.

God is serious—the Sabbath is to be holy!

God is dead-set on the Israelites having a day of rest. It is in the Ten Commandments and this is the third time it is mentioned in the Law. God is adamant—everyone needs one day of rest during the week. Breaking the Sabbath is punished by exile or death. God told them to either take a day off a week or lose everything. This is a big deal. Rest one day of every week to keep things right with yourself.

The people wanted a god because they thought Moses was dead, not because they were horrible, terrible, no-good, very-bad people.

When Moses climbed the mountain, a great cloud came over and made the entire mountain look like it were on fire (chapter 24). They feared Moses had died and they were then alone. When people feel alone, they do desperate things. So they made Aaron create a god for them.

Moses turns down Abraham's promise.

God was willing to make Moses the father of a great nation. But Moses—the one all of the people grumbled against—stood up for them and begged God to spare their lives. This should show how wonderful Moses was. Moses' want to make things right ranks along with Abraham.

Aaron gives what might be the lamest excuse I have ever heard.

As noble and great Moses shows himself to be, Aaron's excuse as to why they were worshiping the calf is politician-esque.

Master, don't be angry. You know this people and how set on evil they are. They said to me, 'Make us gods who will lead us. This Moses, the man who brought us out of Egypt, we don't know what's happened to him.' … I threw [the gold] in the fire and out came this calf. (32:22-24, The Message)

God required the blood of his own people to atone for cheating on him with another god.

This is a difficult passage to digest. Moses not only killed some of the people for worshiping the calf, he had the men kill their own family, their own friends, their own neighbors. This was to show God they were more dedicated to God than anything else. Being committed to God setting all things right on this earth requires severing ties with those who do not.

February 8 - Exodus 28-29: Aaron is Set Apart for Diplomatic Relations with God

Today’s Reading: Exodus 28-29

The Message

English Standard Version

This is the last day of a group of technical laws for that specific generation. Today's reading is about the High Priest's clothes and the consecration sacrifice. So use today to catch up (read yesterday's and today's in one day) or review some of the other posts from the past month. Type the link like this (or copy and paste): grahambates.blogspot.com/2013/mm/dd.html.

I will have shorter post today. It is not objectionable to scan through these chapters, but make sure you aren't breezing too quickly—there are some good gems here.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God is making Aaron prepared to meet Him. Aaron must be dressed differently and ritually clean to stand out from the others.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

It was time for God to prepare Aaron and his sons to become his representatives to the Israelites. God gave specific instructions on making beautiful and glorious clothes for Aaron to wear. These clothes would represent the twelve tribes coming before God.
Aaron and his sons needed to be ritually clean. So God provided a way for them to be clean.
When these were finished, God would inhabit the tabernacle and the people would know that God was the one who took them out of Egypt.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

The Sanctuary and the Chest were to remind the people that God, their god, lived among them.

Repeated from yesterday's comments.
Although God would never "live" there as other gods were thought to live in their temples, this sanctuary would be the place where God would come down and speak to Moses from time to time and would be his "home" while the Israelites lived in the wilderness. But the most important reason for this to be built was what it represented. The Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant were to remind the people that God resided among them. God came to them. They did not need to trek to far-away regions to speak to their God. He would be with them.

Aaron's clothes were to symbolize glory and beauty.

This is an interesting choice for God. Aaron's robes would symbolize the God that they served. God is beautiful and worthy of glory.

A note on sacrifice.

Before we look aslant at this "violent" culture that killed animals for their "bloodthirsty" God, we must remember that the ability to eat meat without killing it yourself is a dramatically new phenomenon. No matter what type of humane way it came to you, at one point the animal died and was processed, most likely by a human. Because we have removed ourselves from this process does not make it barbaric to kill an animal.

February 7 - Exodus 25-27: God's Instructions on the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant

Today’s Reading: Exodus 25-27

The Message

English Standard Version

Today and tomorrow (Exodus 25-30) are technical laws for that specific generation. Today's reading is design-oriented with design-y language. So use these days to catch up (read both in one day) or review some of the other posts from the past month. Type the link like this (or copy and paste): grahambates.blogspot.com/2013/mm/dd.html.

I will have shorter posts these two days. It is not objectionable to scan through these chapters, but make sure you aren't breezing too quickly.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God wants the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle to be made through a voluntary offering.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God wanted the Israelites to build a Sanctuary and a Chest to remind them of his presence. The people were to present offerings of fine materials for construction and God gave specific instructions on how it was to be built.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

The Sanctuary and the Chest were to remind the people that God, their god, lived among them.

Although God would never "live" there as other gods were thought to live in their temples, this sanctuary would be the place where God would come down and speak to Moses from time to time and would be his "home" while the Israelites lived in the wilderness. But the most important reason for this to be built was what it represented. The Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant were to remind the people that God resided among them. God came to them. They did not need to trek to far-away regions to speak to their God. He would be with them.

God wanted his people to build the Sanctuary and Chest from voluntary offerings.

God created manna for the people every day. God created water from rocks. God turned staffs into snakes. He turned water into blood. God could have created a sanctuary in the exact fashion he wanted overnight and presented it to the people. But that's not what God did. God wishes for his people to respond to his gifts and blessings with thanksgiving. They would prove their thankfulness by giving voluntary offerings of fine material. Then they would prove their faithfulness by constructing them as God had instructed.
This is important when thinking about charity and taxes today. God could give everyone in the world everything they needed now. But he doesn't, relying on charity and taxes to do it. I am not against taxes per se, but I do want to remind everyone that God wants voluntary offerings because they come from the heart. Compulsory taxes may be used to help the sick, poor, widow, orphaned, and needy but they do not help the giver become more like God. If we want to set things right in the world with God we need to encourage others to change their hearts and give of what they have.

February 6 - Exodus 22-24: God's Chosen People Must Be Holy

Today’s Reading: Exodus 22-24

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

These laws are made to set things right between each of the people. As you read each law, ask yourself the question, "How does this make things right?"

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God gave rules regarding the following: the theft of animals; of grazing land, and of property entrusted to friends; stolen virginity; sorcery; idolatry; bestiality; the treatment of strangers, orphans, widows, those in debt, and Israelite leaders; giving; lifestyle; perverting justice (for or against the poor); Sabbath days and Sabbath years; and festivals.
God would send His Angel to punish the ones who worshipped other gods in Canaan. He would give Israel their land. They were to prevent any influence to worship other gods.
Moses and Joshua went before God to receive tablets of the Law. They were gone forty days.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God mandated that foreigners were not to be mistreated.

God uses the fact that the Israelites were foreigners in the land of Egypt as the reason they were not to mistreat a foreigner. This is crucial to understanding God's mindset. God sets things right by treating all people the same. No one is outside his protection.

The people were to be holy.

This is a law that will be repeated over and over. God wants people wholly devoted to Him (holy). These are not so much physical issues but spiritual ones that have physical aspects to them. The first example is not being a scavenger. God provides for His people. They do not need to eat animals that were killed by wild animals. Holy people live clean lives and stay away from things associated with evil. What that looks like for people today should be agreed to in each community.

God abhors favoritism—for or against the poor.

We all know God loves the poor. Jesus gave a beatitude about the poor. But God sets things right on earth through justice. So if they are being oppressed, they should receive justice. But if they want to take from the rich for themselves, justice must prevent them. Notice God says, "When there is a dispute concerning your poor, don't tamper with the justice due them." (23:6, The Message). Either way, justice must be done. I find application of this when discussing the rich—especially in politics. Justice cannot be done by exploiting the rich any more than exploiting the poor.

God punished the people of Canaan for worshipping other Gods. God wanted the land pure to prevent syncretism.

God wanted to drive out the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites not because the Israelites were His Chosen People but because these people groups would not submit to Him. God told the Israelites

don't worship or serve their gods; don't do anything they do because I'm going to wipe them right off the face of the Earth and smash their sacred phallic pillars to bits. (23:24, The Message)

He did not want these groups to stay in the same land but be driven out.

Don't make any deals with them or their gods. They are not to stay in the same country with you lest they get you to sin by worshiping their gods. Beware. That's a huge danger. (23:32-33)

We must keep ourselves away from people who worship other gods because we must be wholly for the Creator of the Universe.

February 5 - Exodus 19-21: God Gives the Foundation for the Law of Moses

Today’s Reading: Exodus 19-21

The Message

English Standard Version

Today's reading begins the laws section of the Law of Moses (the first five books of the Old Testament are called the Pentateuch or the Law, but everything before today has been narrative). For the most part, the summaries will only touch on each topic, since attempting to summarize each law would take more than 100 words each day.

This section is notorious for ending many people's attempts at reading the Bible through in a year. This is the major reason I wanted to do the blog. The Law of Moses earns a lot of respect when read as a whole. It is when we take singular laws out that it become antiquated. So keep reading along with me as I guide us through the sea of detail known as the Law of Moses.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God begins the Law of Moses by reminding them who He is.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Three months later, God reminded the people, "I am the god who took you out of Egypt and your slavery. If you obey Me, you will be My Chosen People and I will be your god. You will be a holy nation of priests.
Israel accepted God's invitation.
God began their instruction, "When I come to you, do not step on this mountain or die." God made Moses return to make sure everyone knew where the border was.
God gave the Ten Commandments, laws regarding slaves, and laws about the death of a human or a work animal.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God prefaces all of the laws with a reminder—I brought you out of Egypt.

A few years ago, when I began reading the Bible as a whole instead of a conglomeration of verses, I went back and looked at the Ten Commandments. What I had never read before was this part, "I am God, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of a life of slavery" (20:2, The Message). What a revelation! God is not some random deity wanna-be who wows them with magic tricks. God is the one who took them out of their slavery! Before God tells you what to do, he reminds you of how he has earned your trust. This is essential for any person teaching the scripture. We have no right to teach how the Bible should inform life until we show why God is worthy of leading us.

God will make Israel a great nation—if they obey Him.

Make sure you catch that part:

If you will listen obediently to what I say and keep my covenant, out of all peoples you'll be my special treasure. The whole Earth is mine to choose from, but you're special: a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. (19:5-6, The Message). 

God could have chosen any nation in the world. He could have chosen the Chinese, the Mayans, Incas, Navajo, or one of the many African tribes. But he did not. He chose the descendents of Abraham. This promise that they would be his special treasure was predicated on one important return: they had to be obedient to God. The church today can only be God’s special treasure if they listen to God and keep their promise to obey. Unfortunately, this part was neglected and Israel would eventually forget their part of the covenant. Sometimes I am afraid the church does the same.

God made Moses return to the camp just to make sure no one would accidently step on it.

What a strange thing for God to do. Many people try to say God is a vengeful god in the Old Testament. All he wants to do is punish his people. But that is not true at all! Just to make sure no one would be executed God makes Moses return from the mountain to reinforce the barrier. What an awesome God!

The Ten Commandments provide the foundation for the entire law.

The Ten Commandments are the base requirements for setting all things right on this earth. The laws together could serve as the entire law, but God will flesh them out more in the books to come.

The first part of law he fleshed out is slavery.

The Ten Commandments set the backbone of the entire Law of Moses. The next section—the first part God explains in detail—instructs what to do with slaves. (Remember, slavery at that time was not based on race as in the USA.) Slaves were to be treated with respect and not treated as mere property. You may not agree with the laws today (especially if the beaten slave lives for a few days the owner does not need to be punished) but for the time it gave radically more worth to slaves, women, and the poor than any law of its time.

God's laws on murder gives humanity to the victim and grace to the accidental culprit.

Notice that if the person accidently kills another the punishment was not death. If their animal accidently kills another person they were not punished with death. However, if the death was premeditated or the animals was known to be dangerous the punishment was death. Humans are made in God’s image. Anyone who kills another person is worthy of death. God’s law provides stiff penalties for evil acts but grace toward accidents. If only our laws could be nuanced in this way and our leaders wise enough to see the differences.

February 4 - Exodus 16-18: God Tests Israel's Loyalty

Today’s Reading: Exodus 16-18

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God is testing to see if Israel will follow Him.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

The Israelites grumbled because they had no food. God instituted a test telling them to collect manna every morning and save none of it overnight. On Fridays they were to gather enough for two days. Saturday would be a day of rest. A few did not listen. Their manna went bad overnight. Some tried to gather on Saturday and found none.
God also gave the people water when they grumbled.
Amalek fought Israel and were wiped off the map.
Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, was impressed by God's greatness and praised God. He also helped Moses establish courts to judge the people.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God tested the people with the daily manna collection.

It seems almost petty that God would require the people to jump through those hoops—go out and collect every morning, collecting enough for that day only, saving none of it for the next day, twice as much on Fridays, none on Saturdays—just so they could survive in the wilderness. But God is explicit. These are not instructions. They are a test. He is testing their faithfulness. He is preparing them for the Law of Moses. God uses mundane (sometimes unrelated) tasks to test our willingness to His goal of setting all things right on the earth.
I think of things Christians are asked to do: praying without ceasing, meeting with the saints on Sunday, taking the Lord's Supper every Sunday, giving as we have been given. These may seem like small things—even non-essential parts of God setting all things right on the earth. But they are God's way of testing whether we are fully committed to Him setting all things right on the earth. This is one reason I encourage people to attend worship on Sundays (as I hope you did yesterday).

The daily manna collection engrained reliance on God.

At first, the manna collection seems silly. If God is going to provide for the Israelites he should simply put the correct amount in their bowls and make it simple. Why would they need to go out every day? Couldn't God create a manna which lasted weeks? It's unnecessary work. But upon closer inspection, the daily collection provides the people with a lesson—God cares for you and will provide for you. What an amazing way to teach a people to rely on God. This lasted 40 years! Every day God would provide for them or they would starve. There wasn't a third option. God uses everyday tasks to help us be fully reliant on Him.

The Amalekites fought Israel and God punished them with annihilation.

This is a short, quick, and to-the-point story. The Amalekites fought Israel and Israel defeated them. But God makes an interesting proclamation that He is at war with the Amalekites for fighting His chosen people. God is at war with any group that would harm his people.

Jethro, not a priest of Israel, praises God for what He did for Israel.

Blessed be God who has delivered you from the power of Egypt and Pharaoh, who has delivered his people from the oppression of Egypt. Now I know that God is greater than all gods because he's done this to all those who treated Israel arrogantly. (18:10-11, The Message)

God brought Israel out of Egypt to show His mercy and greatness to the world. Jethro provides the first example of this coming into fruition.

Jethro helped Moses delegate judging the people by turning it over to well-qualified men.

I won't get into the managerial parts of the passage since many others do. What I want to point out is that he encourages Moses to look for "men who fear God, men of integrity, men who are incorruptible" (18:21, The Message) The New American Standard Bible puts it this way, "men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain." We should definitely use this standard when choosing leaders, whether political, religious, or organizational. Instead of using seniority or longevity, what should be important is character.

February 3 - Exodus 13-15: The Exodus from Egypt

Today’s Reading: Exodus 13-15

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God is now showing his power and might to the Israelites.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God required the firstborn of every animal to be killed in remembrance of the pass-over and the Exodus (children and donkeys could have a lamb substitute). During Passover they could not have leaven in their land.
God guided the Israelites into the wilderness. They brought the bones of Joseph.
Pharaoh gave chase, thinking the Israelites were wondering lost in the wilderness. The people, frightened, yelled at Moses. God opened the Red Sea and they all crossed on dry land. While Pharaoh gave chase, God closed the Red Sea over them, killing every person. The women sang songs of their victory.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God required the firstborn of all animals to be His.

This would serve two functions: help the people remember the great price God required the Egyptians to pay for their freedom and, in the case of their own children, provide the means by which the story would be passed down from generation to generation. In an oral culture, having a dedicated story-teller is the same as a librarian. The great things God has done for his people must be passed down from generation to generation.

God takes the Israelites down into the wilderness to protect his people.

The entire reason God brought them down the south road instead of directly across the straight into Canaan was to prevent war with the Philistines. As we will see later, the Philistines become a major enemy of the Israelites. God wanted to keep his Chosen Nation—fresh out of bondage—free of war.

The people have horrible short-term memories.

God had just given the Egyptians 10 plagues which almost wiped them out. He had killed the firstborn of every family in Egypt. Yet when they saw Pharaoh in chase the Israelites cried out to Moses. Unfortunately, this will be a continual problem with Israel. And this explains why God requires physical representations of His covenant—circumcision, festivals, and baptism. When God's people lose physical connection with God's community (for Jews—circumcision, for Christians—baptism and church fellowship) they forget their Covenant with God.

God proved His goodness—and his judgment—when he brought the waters down on Pharaoh and his chariots.

God proved His goodness to the Jews when he forever liberated them from Egyptian rule and his judgment when he punished Pharaoh for his stubbornness in both enslaving the Jews and not letting them go.

February 2 - Exodus 10-12: God Kills the Firstborn of Egypt

Today’s Reading: Exodus 10-12

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

(Repeat of yesterday's thought)
God is proving his power and ability to Pharaoh and the Egyptians.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

To show His power, God brought locusts. Pharaoh did not change.
God brought darkness. Pharaoh did not change.
God would bring a final plague to distinguish the Israelites as His Chosen People: kill the firstborn of every Egyptian family.
God told Israel to take a yearling lamb, slaughter it, eat it completely in one night (share if necessary), and place blood on their doorposts. He would kill all Egyptian firstborn.
After God killed the firstborn, Pharaoh changed.
God told the people to remember that day as Passover. All people who celebrated Passover should be circumcised and treated as native Israelite.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God's show of power is explicit: to show the Egyptians that He is God.

(Repeat of yesterday's comment)
All of the plagues come for one reason. God will show the Egyptians that He is the Creator of the universe and that He will be respected. Every time Pharaoh stubbornly refuses to obey, God punishes the Egyptian people more. Remember, whether Pharaoh is to blame for this or not is not the purpose of the text. Showing God's power is the purpose of the text. God's punishment is to convince others to respect Him, not to destroy a nation or people.

God is preparing the Israelites for 40 years of living with no income.

This idea comes from what would happen later when Jesus was born. God knows that the Israelites would be in the wilderness for a long time without having an income. To help them prepare for this he had the Egyptian people give them gold and silver. It seems like remuneration for lost wages during their time in slavery until you realize where the Israelites are headed.
Also lost in the magnificence of this dense passage is the little nugget that the Egyptian people liked the Israelites. Most people in any given culture are not evil/bad and any attempts to portray them as such should be punished. However, this did not spare the Egyptian people from the plagues.

The Egyptian people were punished alongside Pharaoh.

Why would God punish a group of people who liked and were willing to give to His Chosen People? This is very difficult to swallow. But, I believe the reason is simple. The common people are rewarded or punished by the righteousness or lack thereof of their leaders. This is why choosing leaders who respect God is essential. The nation will only go as far as their leaders can take them.

The Passover could only be observed by those initiated into the community.

Slaves could participate only if they were circumcised (the defining feature of Israelite men). Foreigners and travelers were only allowed to eat if they were circumcised (joined the community). However, all who observed were treated as equals. God shows no partiality. If someone wishes to be part of the Chosen People, they must join the Chosen People. All people inside the community enjoy the privileges of being Chosen. (Note: to me, Chosen ≠ Saved) This will be seen again and again when Moses gives the Israelites the Law.

February 1 - Exodus 7-9: Pharaoh Does Not Change

Today’s Reading: Exodus 7-9

The Message 

English Standard Version

Congratulations! You have completed one month of reading the Bible in a year! Only 11 more months to go.

If you are behind, do not fret. Continue reading two days' worth every day and you will catch up. You can do it!

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God is proving his power and ability to Pharaoh and the Egyptians.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Moses returned to Pharaoh to prove God's sovereignty.
Aaron's rod became a snake. So did the Egyptian magicians' rods and Pharaoh did not change.
God turned the Nile River into blood. The magicians did the same. Pharaoh did not change.
God brought many frogs. The magicians could not compete. Pharaoh wavered but did not change.
God brought gnats. Pharaoh did not change.
God brought flies. Pharaoh did not change.
God killed Egyptian livestock. Pharaoh did not change.
God gave Egyptians boils. Pharaoh did not change.
God rained hail. Pharaoh did not change.
None of the plagues affected the Israelites.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God presents Himself as the creator who will be respected.

One day after presenting Himself as "The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob," God has changed His introduction. He is the Creator of the universe and all must respect Him. This is because the Egyptians have no Promise with God. Their relationship comes secondhand through Joseph and Jacob's family. God presents Himself in the way the people know Him.

God's show of power is explicit: to show the Egyptians that He is God.

All of the plagues come for one reason. God will show the Egyptians that He is the Creator of the universe and that He will be respected. Every time Pharaoh stubbornly refuses to obey, God punishes the Egyptian people more. Remember, whether Pharaoh is to blame for this or not is not the purpose of the text. Showing God's power is the purpose of the text. God's punishment is to convince others to respect Him, not to destroy a nation or people. This is seen in the next point.

Some of the Egyptian people respected God and were spared.

By the time God brought hail to the people, some of the Egyptians respected God and sheltered their herds. God did not destroy them. All who respect God will be saved.