Reflexion, A Spiritual Community

This last week I had a conversation with a young woman Afterward, I was impressed by her sincerity and compassion – she had been trying to explain her beliefs to her roommates • for awhile they had listened, but then began to raise objections • so she warned them, that we are living in the “end times!” ◦ and whoever doesn’t believe in Jesus will go to hell ◦ that pretty much ended their talk – to...

Does John give us a clue that of something special in this chapter? In the stories of Jesus, episodes are marked by a scene changes – for instance, there is usually a shift: • in time — After these things • place — Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea – here we find both in the first verse, so now the story gets underway • but then John inserts a notation regarding Passover ◦ Passover woul...

Last week Moses asked God for the ultimate experience Show me your glory – Let me look at you; see you as you are – he knew the truest way to know someone was to experience that person • Moses’ request was denied • nevertheless, God gave Moses all he had to give at that time ◦ and all that Moses was able to take without being obliterated

from the burning bush on, God has been revealing himself • if that was like sunrise, the light has been getting brighter • now it is so bright as blind ◦ my fear has to do with my inadequacy to present a revelation this awesome ◦ I want you to experience the fullness of what transpires in this passage – there are some big ideas here, but those are not all we are meant to see • people tell stories...

Our story today begins with an example of creativity gone bad – this episode is a mirror image of the previous seven chapters • it runs parallel to God’s instructions for the sacred tent ◦ only what is produced here is a grotesque distortion • the resources that were to be used for God’s tent– ◦ including the sacred objects, sacrifices, and service of its artisans and priests ◦ gets hijacked by pa...

Moses had climbed Mount Sinai and disappeared into a cloud on the summit – God invited Moses into his presence to assign Israel a task • he gave Moses instructions for constructing a sacred tent • God’s intention was to live among his people – the last two concerns addressed here are: Assigning a work crew for this extensive project Another reminder regarding the Sabbath

Today we’ll run through God’s instructions for preparing his priests to serve in his tent – a special class of ministers were needed to maintain the tent and perform its services • these chapters have to do mostly with their clothing and ordination • glorious and beautiful – tells us something about worship ◦ glory refers to God’s radiant presence ◦ beauty refers to what is proportionate and visua...

God introduces it by telling Moses to request donations from the people – “offering” refers to a specific sacrifice and how it was presented • it was “lifted” or “raised up” in the hands of the priest • so, giving was considered an act of worship, and the gift was considered sacred – one condition to their giving was that their hearts had to be moved to do so • this had to be something they wanted...

The chapters I asked you to read comprise the covenant-making ritual We want to link the idea of God’s “covenant” with “relationship” – there were other “social covenants”: political, commercial and relational • beneath the political and commercial covenants was a basic lack of trust ◦ in these contexts, covenants, contracts and treaties acted as guarantees • one of loveliest relational covenants...

1-2 Gateway to the Big Ten What is the rationale behind the Ten commandments? – first, their God is–I am Yahweh your God–and second, what he’s done–rescued you • he doesn’t follow this with description of his nature or a list of his attributes ◦ the Christian church has constructed a super-rational theology ◦ by extracting concepts from scripture and arranging them in categories • that is not how...

Before we jump into the story, here’s what you need to know This is one of the most significant chapters in the Bible – it does not reveal a whole lot about God, • but the information it does reveal is essential • God reveals himself–that is, his person–to Israel ◦ he also reveals who they will become ◦ Israel identity is derived from Yahweh and their relationship with him – this chapter is a turn...

God sponsored Israel’s spiritual health with three prominent resources: Prophecy, worship and wisdom – think: Isaiah, Psalms and Proverbs – in this chapter we come across two of those resources • but there’s an unusual twist • the person who officiates worship and gives wise counsel is not Moses ◦ in fact, this person is not even an Israelite ◦ he is Moses’ Midianite father-in-law, Jethro

Intro: Why are fastest speed limits in California and Arizona posted on our desert freeways? Most travelers try to get through desert as fast as possible – I would remind my children, we made desert journeys with out air-conditioning • my parents reminded us of horse-drawn covered wagons ◦ not that they ever traveled that way, but to give us perspective ◦ it didn’t work • we also learned that high...

I will sing to the LORD for he has triumphed gloriously; he has hurled both horse and rider into the sea. The LORD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him— my father’s God, and I will exalt him! Exodus 15:1-2 Intro: These verses begin Israel’s first psalm of praise However, it will be a long time before music becomes regular feature of their worsh...

If you desire God, many religious experts tell us to learn more and do more – are you reading your Bible enough? studying your Bible enough? is your doctrine sound? • praying enough? going to church enough? volunteering? (are you helping in the nursery?) ◦ are you tithing? supporting missions and other religious organizations? ◦ are sold out enough? (100% isn’t enough, you must be a fictitious 110...

After ten chapters of conflict and suspense, we come to the final showdown – but instead of rushing into it, the action is interrupted with an interlude (Ex. 12:43-13:16, which highlights Passover, the feast of unleavened bread and the dedication of firstborn males) • this is hard on us Attention Deficit readers • we feel bogged down with this “boring” stuff – but the magic of Exodus is, that it i...

Intro: People were constantly coming to Jesus for a miracle Some of them hoped he would heal them – others begged him to heal a friend, a servant, a child • in this same chapter a group of Jewish elders argued on behalf of a Roman officer, If anyone deserves your help, he does, for he loves the Jewish people and even built a synagogue for us (vv. 4-5) • when John describes first miracle Jesus perf...

While the Israelites were still in the land of Egypt, the LORD gave the following instructions to Moses and Aaron: “From now on, this month will be the first month of the year for you. Announce to the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice, one animal for each household. If a family is too small to eat a whole an...

The showdown begins The story of the plagues is told in cycles – specific themes (even exact phrases) are repeated Examples include: Let my people go, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, Pharaoh refused to listen, the Egyptian magicians did same with their magic arts, then they will know I am Yahweh/I will show them that I am Yahweh • also is also a pattern that links the first nine plagues The Nile wat...

ntro: At this point in the story, Israel is not yet a nation They are a slave people – their identity is tied to Egypt – oppressed and exploited, they cried out for relief • Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, has heard them ◦ he has stepped into the world to rescue them • at first he sent a request to Pharaoh to release them to him ◦ but Pharaoh responded by tightening his grip on his slaves – no...

Intro: This chapter breaks the flow of the story The scene changes, the pace slows down and the camera moves in for a close-up – we left Moses and Israel last week in a state of emergency • the initial excitement over being rescued has evaporated • instead of being freed, their oppression has been intensified ◦ Israel new-found hope is crushed and Moses is ready to walk away – in spite of all this...

1-5 Moses and Aaron have their first audience with Pharaoh In the message they delivered, they made slight modifications in the script they were given – it was reasonable for Pharaoh to ask, Who is Yahweh? • if Moses had just learned God’s name, we cannot expect Pharaoh to have known it ◦ Egypt had its own plethora of deities ◦ the Pharaoh himself was considered a deity • I imagine Pharaoh thinkin...