Leadership and leprosy

Today: Numbers 11-13

Today's passage had a lot of interesting things to read, think and write about. I could choose to write about Joshua and Caleb's excursion to the Promised Land--I've heard lots of sermons on that. I could talk about God's provision of quail to His people--another interesting part of the passage. But I thought I'd write about a strange part of the passage I've never heard anyone teach about before--when Moses' sister was cursed with leprosy.

Let's take another peek at the story:

Miriam and Aaron talked against Moses behind his back

because of his Cushite wife (he had married a Cushite woman).

They said, "Is it only through Moses that God speaks? Doesn't he also speak through us?"

God overheard their talk.
Now the man Moses was a quietly humble man,

more so than anyone living on Earth.

God broke in suddenly on Moses and Aaron and Miriam saying,

"Come out, you three, to the Tent of Meeting." The three went out.

God descended in a Pillar of Cloud and stood at the entrance to the Tent.

He called Aaron and Miriam to him.

When they stepped out, he said,

"Listen carefully to what I'm telling you.

If there is a prophet of God among you,

I make myself known to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams.

But I don't do it that way with my servant Moses;

he has the run of my entire house;

I speak to him intimately, in person, in plain talk without riddles:

He ponders the very form of God.

So why did you show no reverence or respect

in speaking against my servant, against Moses?

The anger of God blazed out against them. And then he left.
When the Cloud moved off from the Tent, oh! Miriam had turned leprous, her skin like snow.

This is a weird story. First of all, we don't know everything Miriam and Aaron were exactly saying about Moses or his wife. Secondly, I think it was strange that Miriam--only Miriam--was cursed with leprosy. Why not Aaron, too?

Here are a few of the things we do know: God's just. God hears, sees and knows everything. Miriam and Aaron were not only Moses' siblings, they were also leaders. God grants authority to leaders and wants people to respect authority He has established.

Another thing we learn from this story? God doesn't avoid confrontation. In fact, in this passage, God demonstrated the value of straight-up communication--by talking with Miriam and Aaron directly, He addressed His concerns and challenged their thinking.

To some extent, He may have been modeling the behavior He wanted them to follow (see Matthew 18:15-17). Instead of gossipping and griping behind Moses' back, as leaders, Miriam and Aaron should have gone to Moses directly to address their concerns (if they had anything legitimate)--with a spirit of love and a desire to resolve differences and maintain unity (for their sake and for the sake of the people they led together). My gut (and some of the context of this passage) tells me that their backbiting really came out of jealousy--perhaps more Miriam's jealously than Aaron's. Maybe that's why He delivered the mysterious consequence of (temporary) leprosy to Miriam alone.

I don't know if the last few sentences are true--only God knows our motives. Maybe that's one of the key take-aways from today's strange story: God knows our hearts. How we think and speak about people--in this case, leaders--matters to Him.

Tomorrow: Numbers 14-15

Celebrating in the Desert

Today: Numbers 8-10

Can I be really honest and say to anyone reading this post that I am SO READY to move on from the year 2009?!? I should be grateful--it's not like the year was totally horrible to me. I still have my faith, an amazing family, some fabulous friends, a great church, my health, a job and a roof over my head. But 2009 felt like an emotional rollercoaster year--full of lots of changes that weren't all sunshine and roses. I'm still trying to see the bright side, hope for the best and believe God for better things ahead. But when you're in (what feels like) a Desert in your life, it can be tough to celebrate.

But perhaps that's why it's necessary.

In today's passage, I noticed that God's people were (literally) in that same place. Take a look:

Moses told the People of Israel

to celebrate the Passover and they did—

in the Wilderness of Sinai

at evening of the fourteenth day of the first month.

The People of Israel did it all

just as God had commanded Moses.

Okay, at first glance, we could just gloss over the significance of this passage. But think about it--Passover was a celebration that God spared His people's lives, that He took them out of slavery in Egypt. That's pretty cool. But if you were one of the Israelites at the time, you might have thought, "Okay, God. I'm grateful you took me and my family out of slavery--but into what?!? We're still stuck in this Desert." However, God instructed the people to celebrate and they did. Passover was a miracle. God was still worthy of celebrating, even though the full story hadn't been written yet. He intervened and saved people's lives--and even though they were in the Desert, they were free. They were breathing. And they chose to obey--and celebrate His goodness in the midst of that Desert. Maybe we should, too.

Tomorrow: Numbers 11-13

Gifts and dedication

Today: Numbers 7

Have you ever given (or received) a gift given out of obligation?

Gifts given from a sense of "I'm supposed to do this" are not fun for the giver or the receiver. There's no heart in them.

Like you and I, God likes to receive gifts given out of dedication. In this passage, a literal dedication (of the Tent of Meeting) was taking place. After the gifts were given according to His expectations, God showed up and talked with Moses.

Throughout the Bible, God celebrated people who gave gifts out of dedication--people like Jacob who built an altar to God, the wise men who honored Jesus after His birth, the widow who gave her last coins, and the woman who anointed Jesus with perfume before His death.

These givers gave different amounts. But they gave gifts not out of obligation, but dedication--out of LOVE.

Tomorrow: Numbers 8-10

The shortest post ever :)

Today: Numbers 5-6

God bless you and keep you,

God smile on you and gift you,

God look you full in the face

and make you prosper.

Tomorrow: Numbers 7

Serving in the House

Today: Numbers 3-4

Do you ever think about what it takes to set up and tear down a major event? Think about the last professional sporting event you attended...or maybe a concert. Someone likely used massive trucks or cranes and/or a huge team of people to set up sound, lighting, trusses, sets and more. Someone cleaned the stadium (hopefully) before the event and after. Someone organized the programs and set up the food.

Most of the time, these things go unnoticed. You think about the people actually playing the game or your favorite band singing all your favorite songs.

Do you ever think about what it takes to care for God's House? Imagine back in the Desert when God's House was a portable tent with massive curtains and rods and tables and candles and all kinds of things to set up and move...without the benefit of trucks and trusses.

Although we may not always think about these tasks of service, God does. In today's passage, He designated people precisely for the tasks of what I call "set up and tear down." It's not glamorous (believe me, I've helped set up pipe and drape, chairs and tarps for worship services in school gyms before!). But our service in the House--whatever it is--matters to God. If you're responsible for sweeping the floor or pulling out the tarps, do it with care. If you read a story to the children, do it with a heart of love. If you sing on the worship team, give it your best. If you greet people at the door, smile with joy (even if you aren't a morning person!).

No matter what you're doing, you may be tempted to think "No one notices--they don't care if I'm here or not." Don't think that way. You're serving God. You're helping in His House. And believe me, He definitely cares about the fact that you're doing it...and how you're doing it. Serve the House with excellence.

Tomorrow: Numbers 5-6

What a difference time...and Numbers...can make

Today: Numbers 1-2

I'll be the first to admit that I wasn't exactly thrilled about starting the book of Numbers today. Don't get me wrong--I love God's Word. But it felt weird to be starting this book...of all days...on Christmas.

But as I started reading it, I thought about the significance of this book. Remember reading about Abraham and Sarah--the older couple who couldn't have kids for YEARS? Take a look at these verses from today's passage:

These are the People of Israel, counted according to their ancestral families.

The total number in the camps,

counted troop by troop,

comes to 603,550.

Following God's command to Moses,

the Levites were not counted in with the rest of Israel.
The People of Israel did everything the way God commanded Moses:

They camped under their respective flags;

they marched by tribe with their ancestral families.

Did you catch that? The descendants of the couple who had a very difficult time even conceiving a child totalled...over 603,550!?! Wow. I don't know about you, but to me, that's an inspiring, "look what God can do" moment. What may seem like a small start (Abraham and Sarah had one child together) could turn into an entire nation. When they had Isaac, Abraham and Sarah knew they had a miracle. But they didn't fully comprehend the magnitude of God's promise fulfilled.

As I think about Christmas today, I think about Jesus--a baby born in a manger. It was a miracle. But it probably seemed like a small, humble start (even to Mary and Joseph). But God's promise fulfilled was bigger than a baby in a manger--He saw millions of faces, He knew millions of names, millions of lives that would be changed forever. It started with the promise of a baby. But the magnitude of that promise fulfilled has been multiplied...with time and numbers.

Sometimes we see a fraction of what God does. The fractions are miracles. They're worth celebrating. However, I believe that maybe we should start believing for the increased magnitude that only God can do. We can have faith to celebrate the magnitude before we see it, to hope that it comes--that the seedlings of God's promises fulfilled today could grow things so significant that change many people's lives forever. With God, all things are possible, of course. But I think that many times we don't always see the full picture in a single generation--He uses time and numbers.

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus today, I hope you remember that power of promises fulfilled. Merry Christmas!

The promise for obedience

Today: Leviticus 26-27

It's Christmas Eve and rather than a long post of my writing, I thought tonight we could focus on the promises in this passage for those who obey God. I also saw some cool parallels to the Christmas story...I'll highlight them along with some of my other favorite parts. :)

"If you live by my decrees

and obediently keep my commandments,

I will send the rains in their seasons,

the ground will yield its crops

and the trees of the field their fruit.

You will thresh until the grape harvest

and the grape harvest will continue until planting time;

you'll have more than enough to eat

and will live safe and secure in your land.
"I'll make the country a place of peace—

you'll be able to go to sleep at night without fear;

I'll get rid of the wild beasts;

I'll eliminate war.

You'll chase out your enemies and defeat them:

Five of you will chase a hundred,

and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand and do away with them.

I'll give you my full attention:

I'll make sure you prosper,

make sure you grow in numbers,

and keep my covenant with you

in good working order.

You'll still be eating from last year's harvest

when you have to clean out the barns to make room for the new crops.
"I'll set up my residence in your neighborhood;

I won't avoid or shun you;

I'll stroll through your streets.

I'll be your God; you'll be my people.

I am God,

your personal God

who rescued you from Egypt

so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians.

I ripped off the harness of your slavery

so that you can move about freely.

This Christmas (and hopefully always!), I'm thankful for a personal God who walks with me. Let's remember to celebrate Him this season. Merry Christmas!

Tomorrow: Numbers 1-2

Side by side: Eye for an eye

Today: Leviticus 24-25

I thought I'd do something a little different today and highlight two parallel passages (one from the Old Testament and one from the New) to see what insights we might find. Here's a section from today's reading:

"Anyone who hits and kills a fellow human

must be put to death.

Anyone who kills someone's animal must make it good—

a life for a life.

Anyone who injures his neighbor

will get back the same as he gave:

fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth.

What he did to hurt that person will be done to him.

Anyone who hits and kills an animal must make it good,

but whoever hits and kills a fellow human will be put to death.

And no double standards: the same rule goes for foreigners and natives.

I am God, your God."

I feel like this passage presents a sense of God's just nature. He wanted His people to follow the Golden Rule and if they didn't, the punishment could "fit the crime." I thought it was interesting that in two places, there was a distinction made between animals and humans (not necessarily the common logic of our time) and that a version of the death penalty was established for taking human life. Personally, I think it's because all human beings are "made in the image of God"--our lives are highly valuable to Him. Animals (though still highly valued--more in this passage as assets to someone's livelihood) do not have that same distinction.

Compare today's excerpt with what Jesus said in the New Testament:

"Here's another old saying that deserves a second look:

'Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.'

Is that going to get us anywhere?

Here's what I propose: 'Don't hit back at all.'

If someone strikes you, stand there and take it.

If someone drags you into court

and sues for the shirt off your back,

giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it.

And if someone takes unfair advantage of you,

use the occasion to practice the servant life.

No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously."

To me, this passage exemplifies God's grace and generosity. He wants His people to exhibit the same spirit--to stop getting caught up in pettiness (the "tit-for-tat stuff").

The two passages don't contradict, but rather complement each other. I know Jesus encouraged people to follow the Golden Rule principles in the New Testament. And I also believe that He showed value for human lives--even those who were outcasts from society or treated badly by others (e.g. women, children, Samaritans, poor, tax collectors, etc.). Likewise, although Jesus encouraged His people refrain from hitting back, He also knew God designated authorities in civil governments to punish those who committed crimes, for example.

I hope that through our side-by-side comparison today that you were able to see the multi-faceted nature of who God is. It's kind of a paradox: God's simple enough for children to understand and love Him, but He is also so complex that no human being can fully grasp all that He is.

Tomorrow: Leviticus 26-27

Remembrance days

Today: Leviticus 22-23

I don't know if I've said it yet on this blog, but I lived in Canada for four years.
One of the (many) cool things about Canada that I'll always remember is a holiday called...well...Remembrance Day. It's a day in November that most of us in the States refer to as Veteran's Day--a day to remember the sacrifices of our armed forces (the holiday really started to commemorate veterans of World War I).

What's different about the Canadian observation of the day is that it's very visible--over half the of the population wears red poppies, put them on their backpacks, pins them on their coats--in honor of the country's vets. (Note: In case you're interested, they wear poppies because of a poem called "In Flanders Fields.") I thought the visual representation of support for those who served was really cool. It also made it easy to remember the holiday and those who served.

Do you know that God likes "Remembrance" days?

It's something I definitely noticed in today's passage. Take a look:

The seventh day is a Sabbath,

day of total and complete rest,

a sacred assembly.

Don't do any work.

Wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to God.

In addition to describing the Sabbath, this passage outlines several holidays God designed for His people to remember Him and what He did for them.

As I'm writing this post, Christmas is barely three days away! And as much as I LOVE my family, spending time with friends, a break from work and giving (and receiving) gifts, Christmas is first and foremost a time to remember a day when the world was changed forever. It's a time to remember the history-altering event when a little baby in a manger was called Emmanuel--God with us. Think about that. God came to be with us, to walk with us, teach us, to help us and heal us. That baby grew up and changed the world--but more surprisingly, the baby born over 2,000 years ago in a stable cared enough to change me. That's a miracle worth remembering this season and always.

Tomorrow: Leviticus 24-25

Creating opportunities for the poor

Today: Leviticus 19-21

Last night I saw my church's annual production Scrooge the Musical for about the billionth time (no lie--I've probably seen it annually since I was about four--back when my family didn't even attend the church that produced it!). Like many of Charles Dickens' works, "A Christmas Carol" tackles issues like poverty, greed and the exploitation of the poor (in Dickens' writing, it's often children--ala Tiny Tim).

Have you ever thought about how the poor are exploited today?

I realize that's a big, loaded question. But I think that, like in Dickens' time, it's because of greed. It's greed that causes companies to think so much about the bottom line that they outsource labor to people (sometimes children) in developing countries, paying pennies on the dollar for hard work. It's greed that keeps people saying, "I don't have enough to give" to non-profits (and the people who benefit from their donations), while simultaneously filling their homes with more "stuff" they don't need. And it's greed that keeps many of us from thinking about how we can really help the poor...not just through donations, but by creating jobs for those who are able to work.

I thought this part of today's reading was interesting:

When you harvest your land,

don't harvest right up to the edges of your field

or gather the gleanings from the harvest.

Don't strip your vineyard bare

or go back and pick up the fallen grapes.

Leave them for the poor and the foreigner.

I am God, your God.

This idea is interesting for a few reasons--God was teaching His people to be unselfish, to leave a portion of their crops (their wealth) for the poor to harvest. However, the poor weren't given the grain that the owners had already harvested. They had to go out and glean the fields themselves.

If you own a business or work for one, think about what the "gleanings" from your organization could be. What's a task or an untapped revenue source that could be an opportunity for the poor? I believe that if you (or your company) think creatively about what you can do to innovate and build opportunities for others, you will reap some rewards. The rewards might come from God in eternity or in other areas of your life. But once you start thinking creatively, I think our Creator is big enough to give you other ideas to build your business...

Tomorrow: Leviticus 22-23

Life--just a little (or a lot!) different

Today: Leviticus 16-18

In the Pacific Northwest (where I live), there's an insurance company (PEMCO) that markets itself specifically to people who live there--people like "Sandals with Socks Guy," "Relentless Recycler," or the "Super-Long Coffee Orderer." The tagline is, "We're a lot like you--just a little different."

I think God would love for all His people to live by that description--to be just a little (or a lot!) different because He's in our lives. Take a look at this passage:

Speak to the People of Israel.

Tell them, I am God, your God.

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.

Obey my laws and live by my decrees.

I am your God.

Keep my decrees and laws:

The person who obeys them lives by them.

I am God.

In this passage, God was instructing His people not just to live like those around them...to get sucked into sin. He wanted the people to obey His instructions--to live by them.

If you live your life just like everyone around you, you won't stand out. A life that's a little (or a lot!) different is a life that makes a difference. But it starts with obedience.

Tomorrow: Leviticus 19-21

Offerings from the poor

Today: Leviticus 14-15

All right--so today was another one of the Leviticus passages with more laws and instructions. I hope you're sticking with me (and this reading project we're on together) because these are the kinds of passages that test our persistence. :)

One of the things that I noticed today was God's instruction for poor people giving offerings. (See these verses for example.) Did you notice that? It was interesting to me because God didn't say, "Well, if you're poor, you don't need to bring anything." He also didn't say, "If you're poor and can't afford the offerings, too bad. You can't be clean before Me." And He didn't say, "If you're rich, give some of your extra money to the poor, so that they can give offerings to Me." Interesting, huh?

God's system of giving is really unique and pretty cool, I think. He asks that we all do our part. He wants us to be obedient. But He does not ask us to give more than we're capable of giving...and He doesn't ask us to take on the responsibility of giving on behalf of others. No--each of us is responsible. We have an opportunity to give the best we can. And He deserves our giving, our effort and our hearts.

Tomorrow: Leviticus 16-18

Clean and unclean

Today: Leviticus 11-13

All right...did you stick with the reading today?

It was tougher than most, I'll admit. Lots of commands and instructions for defining clean and unclean food and people. Thankfully, today, most Christians do not live under the religious nature of these laws--thank God for the New Testament and Christ's fulfillment of the law!

A few things stood out to me today. First, how holy and perfect God is--and the big gap that separates us imperfect human beings from Him. Secondly, I was thankful for God's grace and gift of salvation that "bridges the gap," so our eternal destinies are not based on following laws or not. Jesus fulfilled the law and if you have chosen Him as the leader and Lord of your life, you can walk in the freedom of His forgiveness. Beautiful.

As I read this passage, I also thought of Jesus' work with people in the New Testament. For example, how He interacted with lepers. According to the law, lepers were unclean people--people to be basically banished from their homes and families. Lepers were outcasts. They couldn't DARE come close to a Temple or a priest after being declared "unclean."

Contrast that with Jesus--God Himself--who walked up and physically touched lepers to heal them. Quite a different picture, right? Before Jesus, the lepers really couldn't connect with people except those who were also deemed unclean. Jesus' care and His simple touch changed that. It first gave them dignity and kindness. Then it changed their health, social status, and their eternal destinies forever.

Tomorrow: Leviticus 14-15

Aaron's second chance

Today: Leviticus 8-10

Do you believe in second chances?

God does. It's definitely one of His characteristics shown throughout the Bible. If you already read today's passage, you may wonder why I'm writing about this topic today...since we read another passage filled with rituals and animal guts. However, one of the ceremonies in these chapters was Aaron's ordination as a high priest.

Maybe you're still puzzled by my initial question. Aaron was Moses' brother. Even in the movie "The Ten Commandments," he's the good guy next to Moses who talks with Pharoah and helps Moses lead the Israelites out of slavery. All true.

But Aaron was also involved in a MAJOR debacle that almost cost his life and the lives of all the Israelites. In Exodus 32, Aaron did something that was a major slap in the face to God Himself--he made an idol. He led the people in worshipping a false god. Yet in this passage, the former idol maker/worshipper is anointed to the highest spiritual role of his time. God makes Aaron the spiritual leader of a nation. Whoa--talk about a major turnaround!

I love a verse in today's passage that sums up God's forgiving heart. His desire is for us to come near to Him. He's a God who gives second chances:

"To the one who comes near me,

I will show myself holy;

Before all the people,

I will show my glory."

Tomorrow: Leviticus 11-13

Sin, kidneys and animal fat

Today: Leviticus 5-7

If you like read about sin, kidneys and animal fat, you found the right place!

Seriously, those were some of the topics addressed in today's passage. Did I mention how thankful I am that gory animal sacrifices are no longer part of our relationships with God? :) Instead of writing about the kidneys and animal fat, I thought I'd write about some of the interesting things this passage has to say about sin.

First of all, sin is sin. (Note that's not in the passage, but evident in Scripture.) All people sin. One of the hard things for us to wrap our minds around is the fact that to God, a sin like murder is as bad as lying. All sin can separate us from God--but obviously, different sins have different real-world consequences.

We sin by doing some things and we sin by NOT doing others. Here's an example from today's passage:

If you sin by not stepping up

and offering yourself as a witness

to something you've heard or seen in cases of wrongdoing,

you'll be held responsible.

I really like this verse, actually--because it's a call to action for people to stand up for what's right and against injustices. If I've seen or heard about something wrong (like human trafficking, unethical behavior at work or hungry kids in South Africa), it's my responsibility to speak up and to do something about it.

The hard thing? That's a lot of responsibility! Doing all the right things and not doing all the wrong things is impossible for human beings. The good thing is that God knows you and I could never handle it--we weren't meant to handle the weight of sin ourselves.

Tomorrow: Leviticus 8-10

Gory and great sacrifice

Today: Leviticus 1-4

I have to admit something: Leviticus and Numbers (our next few books of the Bible) may be my least favorite. I always thought they were drier than the other books.

Until I read today's passage. Yes, it contains requirements for different forms of sacrifice. But they're definitely not boring! As I read today (maybe it the realness of The Message version?), I realized just how...well...gory this passage is. It describes rules for dealing with different types of animal blood, guts and bodies. I can't imagine what it would have looked like to visit the Tabernacle in the desert. How did it smell? Like a butcher shop? Eww.... Maybe we just don't want to know. :)

It's definitely interesting to think about. All of those gory scenes had a purpose, though. The continual sacrifices of animals and grains paid for people's sins. Thank GOD we don't have to do animal or grain sacrifices today. Because of Jesus' ultimate sacrifice, we are free from these rituals.

However, I wonder how many people take what Jesus did for granted? Because we no longer have the visible animal or grain reminders of our sin, do we see the greatness of Jesus' sacrifice for us? Because we are not mandated by law to bring sacrifices for forgiveness of our sins, do we forget to even ask for forgiveness? Do we forget to thank God for his great gift of grace?

Perhaps. However, our neglect could never discount the greatness of His sacrifice. We may not see (or smell) gory sacrifices regularly, but that doesn't take away from the fact that the ultimate price was paid on our behalf. Thank God for that.

Tomorrow: Leviticus 5-7

Seeing signs of God's presence

Today: Exodus 39-40

Sometimes I wish that God's direction and messages to me were a bit more obvious. It would be amazing to hear the audible voice of God say things like, "You should live here" or "You should be friends with this person" or "You should pursue this career." That would be cool, wouldn't it?

In this passage, we read about how God provided visible signs of His presence and guidance for His people through a cloud and pillar of fire:

The Cloud covered the Tent of Meeting,

and the Glory of God filled The Dwelling.

Moses couldn't enter the Tent of Meeting

because the Cloud was upon it,

and the Glory of God filled The Dwelling.
Whenever the Cloud lifted from The Dwelling,

the People of Israel set out on their travels,

but if the Cloud did not lift,

they wouldn't set out until it did lift.

The Cloud of God was over The Dwelling during the day

and the fire was in it at night,

visible to all the Israelites in all their travels.

You'd think that seeing visible signs of God's presence would make it very easy for people to follow His guidance. You'd think that it would be easy for them to trust Him.

And you'd be wrong. Even with obvious signs, the Israelites doubted God and often struggled to follow Him.

I don't know about you, but I don't have many visible signs of God's presence. And I think it's even rarer for Him to give obvious signs pf His presence to big groups of people (for example, I haven't heard reports of the big visible cloud or pillar of fire showing up at a church lately).

This could be my own theory, but I wonder if it's because God wants us to really trust Him. By definition, you don't need faith in something you can see plainly. However, I still believe that God provides signs of His presence and guidance...you just have to look for them.

Yesterday stood out to me for several reasons, but one being that I felt like I was getting the same repeated message (in a few different ways). At church, I saw clips from "The Family Man" and our pastor talked about the power we have to choose what's important to us. We choose how we spend our time and money. We choose what we think about. And at pivotal moments, we make destiny-altering decisions (like Nicolas Cage in the movie who chose to leave on a plane for a London internship at an investment firm versus staying with the woman he loved). At lunch, I had conversations with friends about career and life choices leading to the question, "What's really important to you?" Later, we saw "Up in the Air" with George Clooney--a movie about a guy whose views of life and work are challenged. It was as if God was saying (or shouting?) to me, "Your work is not your life. Choose what's important. Choose Me and what I'm calling you to." Even the fact that I read this passage today (one I've thought of or heard at previous life-altering moments) seems like another sign that God is promising His guidance.

I'm not suggesting that you (or I) read too much into things. It's entirely possible to do so. But I am saying that sometimes God speaks through things that may not seem obvious. His signs today are not always visible--but that's where your faith and trust in Him comes into play. Or in the words of one of my favorite questions (from The Truth Project): Do you believe that what you believe is really real?

Tomorrow: Leviticus 1-4

"No more gifts. Seriously."

Today: Exodus 36-38

"We're no longer accepting gifts today," he says with a sparkle in his eyes. "We have everything we need and more!"

Normally, he would tirelessly ring a bell in front of your local Target or Safeway. His red bucket would chime periodically with the sounds of change. But this year, he's stopped ringing the bell. The bucket is nowhere in sight. Why? The Salvation Army has received more money than it needs or even knows how to spend.

"There aren't any more families in need. There's no more human trafficking in the world. Drug and rehab centers are fully funded and functioning for participants. And through your contributions, we've even made it possible for every child in public schools to learn how to play a musical instrument. No more gifts. Seriously."

I REALLY wish this story were true. How incredible would that be?!?

Sadly, many non-profits continue to see need for their services increase, while contributions decrease. I realize that many of us have been hit by the effects of the economy. Or maybe we've got school loans, mortgages, bills, insurance, rent, cars, etc. to pay. We all have excuses. But if you're reading this post on a computer somewhere, my guess is that you are far wealthier than you think (first, you're reading and secondly, you're near a computer and electricity). You're probably very rich compared to 80% of people in the world who live on less than $10 a day.

What could happen if you and I chose to be more generous? How could our churches change? How about our communities? What would happen on this planet?

I realize my questions may seem a bit "pie in the sky." But an equivalent to the Salvation Army scenario I described above actually happened (at least once). In today's passage, we read about the generosity of God's people toward His house:

All the artisans who were at work making everything

involved in constructing the Sanctuary came,

one after another, to Moses, saying,

"The people are bringing more than enough

for doing this work that

God has commanded

us to do!"
So Moses sent out orders through the camp:

"Men! Women! No more offerings for the building of the Sanctuary!"
The people were ordered to stop bringing offerings!

There was plenty of material for all the work to be done.

Enough and more than enough.

Can you imagine? What would it be like if you heard a pastor say, "Today, we're not taking up any offerings. This church has everything it needs. Our city is filled with people who know God. Everyone in the world has heard about God and His love--and they've seen it in action through their healthy and vibrant communities."?

I would LOVE to see that scenario happen some time. Wow! What a statement of love that kind of giving would be. Many of us would be thrilled to see the sick healed, to see children in poverty grow into healthy, educated adults who know that God loves them. It would be a miracle. But frankly, miracles often require us to take practical steps--in these cases, we might have to first give generously. I believe it's possible (especially if God's involved!). It happened before, why not make it happen again?

Tomorrow: Exodus 39-40

Changed by God's presence

Today: Exodus 33-35

Has your life ever changed in a pivotal moment?

I think most of us have had a few of them. Sometimes, they're shared with our communities. Most people in my parents' age range remember where they were when John F. Kennedy was shot. Most Americans today remember where they were on September 11, 2001.

Most of the time, life-changing moments are personal. Couples can often remember how and when they met. Parents remember the day their child was born. Many of us can recall our first days at college or a new job.

Can you remember a life-changing moment with God?

As I read today's passage, I was struck by the power of Moses' encounter with God. Because of a moment in God's presence, he looked like a totally different person. He had a glow. He probably had a new sense of confidence in who God was and who God was to him personally. God called him to lead His people with courage and strength.

In another portion of this passage, there are verses describing people who were filled with the Spirit of God. These same individuals were mentioned earlier (see Exodus 31). What's interesting is that Exodus 31 was the first time that term "filled with the Spirit of God" was used in Scripture. I know that's a life-changing kind of experience...but who experienced it? Not Moses himself, but some skilled artists and craftsmen. Interesting. These guys experienced a special God-moment for a purpose--God gave them skill and knowledge to make exceptionally beautiful things (I'm thinking maybe artists like Michelangelo had the same encounter to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel!).

These are different examples, but one common thread is the fact that life-changing moments with God often happen for a reason. Perhaps because God's calling you to do something. Perhaps He's calling you to lead or create. Or maybe, you just need a sense of His peace and confidence. The next time you experience God's presence, know that you can walk away changed--remember that your encounter might have a purpose.

Tomorrow: Exodus 36-38

The gods we make

Today: Exodus 30-32

The chapters in today's passage raised an interesting question: Why do people worship gods they make?

It seemed really weird that Aaron built a golden calf and all of the sudden, the Israelites thought it was a god. Don't get me wrong--I've seen precious metals worth salivating over (hello, Tiffany!). But the last time I walked by Tiffany, Ben Bridge, and The Shane Company, I didn't see lines of people bowing before the windows in worship. No one was singing the praises of platinum. No one was praying to an engagement ring (notice that I said "to"...I'm sure some of those girls were praying "for" a ring!).

Today, most of us don't worship gods we make...or do we?

Yes, there are people who still worship statues. Some worship paper gods (most frequently, a god called money). But there are even more people who worship man-made ideas. Some worship other people (have you ever seen one of those Twilight premieres?). Others worship their kids, themselves, or their jobs. Frankly, it's pretty easy to find people who worship gods they make...and perhaps I've even done it myself at moments.

If you saw me praying and bowing at a Tiffany window, you'd think I was crazy. It's goofy to worship a god someone made. Though jewelry may be beautiful--and valuable--it's not inherently sacred. Neither are our ideas, paper, tasks or peers. God is God for many reasons. One of those reasons is because He supersedes human beings and even this planet. He's all-powerful, all-knowing and eternal--characteristics that compare to no person or thing. You can't make God because He made and loved you first.

Tomorrow: Exodus 33-35

The details (and freedom) of worship

Today: Exodus 28-29

When was the last time God told you what to wear to worship Him...down to the details of your underwear? Anyone?

I didn't think so.

That's exactly what really happened to the priests we read about in today's chapters, though. (There are lots of other details mentioned, but the wardrobe choices definitely got my attention.) Similar to our last few days of reading, God gave very detailed instructions for those who wanted to worship Him.

As I read this passage, I thought how much many modern day Christians take for granted. Because of Christ, we have free access to God--we can worship Him in our homes and cars. We can talk to Him as we sit in cubicles or ride commuter trains to work.

That's pretty incredible when you recognize that at the time today's passage was written, most people couldn't talk to God directly. At all. Even the priests had to go through very labor-intensive procedures to worship. They followed God's precise instructions...or risked losing their lives. And animals were sacrificed on altars as offerings to pay for the sins of people.

We don't have to do those things today because of Christ's ultimate sacrifice. Yet often, we take His gift...and the freedom we have to worship...for granted. I'm not saying that worship today should be an "anything goes" kind of thing--the Bible has a lot to say about worship. But our free access to talk with God wasn't free. It came with a price. And for that, I am truly thankful.

Tomorrow: Exodus 30-32

It's His house, after all...

Today: Exodus 25-27

When you own your first home, you take a special kind of pride in it. I remember when my sister and I bought our house about five years ago--it felt like such a big accomplishment! I'll be clear--we weren't rich by most North American standards...she worked at a non-profit and I was just beginning my career in marketing. We were both single women under the age of 25. We saved our money, tried to spend wisely and were able to buy our home without borrowing a dime from our parents.

I remember the first summer we were in the house. It felt different to mow the lawn because it was our lawn. It felt awesome to fix things like light fixtures in the house--because it was our house. And it felt amazing to decorate our home for Christmas for the first time--just the way we liked it. (I still feel that way about decorating...not so much about lawn mowing.) :)

When I read today's passage, it reminded me of that feeling. God gave instructions for His people to set up His house--just the way He liked it. Today's chapters also reminded me of what we learned yesterday: God is into details. He provided very specific guidelines for the design and construction of His house and all the key elements included (I kind of felt like I was reading the first edition of "Building God's house: For dummies"!).

Reading these chapters illustrated God's value for excellence. He likes it when people give their absolute best for Him--via their offerings, hearts and skills. Honestly, if anyone deserves our best, it's Him. And if any place should be a place of excellence, it should be a church--because it's His house, after all.

Tomorrow: Exodus 28-29

The God in details

Today: Exodus 22-24

I'm pretty sure that God has interesting perspectives. He's definitely into big-picture stuff...you know, like creating the universe and developing a plan to connect (and reconnect) with human beings. But as the saying says, "God is in the details." Today's passage really illustrated that for me.

It might have felt a bit tedious or irrelevant for you to read God's instructions for how His people should handle goat thieves and the like--but this passage shows us that God cares about things that might seem pretty miniscule. God notices when goats are stolen. In today's terms, that would be the equivalent of saying, "God notices when your money is stolen via online identity theft." Pretty amazing, right?

One of the things I found most touching in this passage is God's care for widows and orphans--a group of people who, even in the 21st century, are often overlooked and neglected by society (imagine how they were treated back in the ultra-patriarchal society of the Old Testament times!).

God wants to see justice. He gives instructions for dealing with those who wrong each other. God doesn't just see what happens, He cares about what goes on in people's lives...and more importantly, He cares about people. God's definitely into details.

Tomorrow: Exodus 25-27

Love God. Love people. That's it.

Today: Exodus 19-21


"Love God. Love people. That's it."


I remember hearing this quote for the first time at Trinity Western University, the Christian college I attended. It was always attributed to Professor Paul Hughes, a Religious Studies professor there. I don't know how I heard it because I never took a class from him. I tried to Google the quote today to determine its origination. Interestingly enough, the most frequently identified speaker was none other than my future husband...uh...Hillsong United's Joel Houston. :) But whoever said it paraphrased Jesus Himself when He discussed the two greatest commandments (see Matthew 22).

The quote seems so simple...but how does it connect to the ten commandments we read about in today's passage?

Leave it to another Trinity prof (I think it was Dr. Martin Abegg...) to point out the fact that all of the ten commandments tie back to one of these two "greatest commandments." If you're really loving people, for example, you're not murdering, lying or stealing from them. Likewise, if you really love God, you don't worship any other gods (people, things or ideas that are contradictory to Him). You honor God by spending time talking with Him and learning about Him (keeping the Sabbath).

Sometimes people overcomplicate what it means to live for God. They get legalistic. Rigid. But Jesus encouraged people to come to Him as little children. I have yet to meet one rigid kid. :) Kids jump on people (and things). They have fun. They get messy. They ask questions. They laugh.

To be fair, I do believe that God deserves our highest respect and honor--even in this passage, He proclaimed death for people who disobeyed Him. However, ultimately, God is love. He wants us to get to know Him and to love Him with all our hearts--and He wants us to love others. That's it.

Tomorrow: Exodus 22-24

The staff strikes again

Today: Exodus 16-18

Are you ever amazed by people who use regular things in creative ways?

If you've ever seen a Food Network special on cake decorating, you know what I'm talking about. Chefs take sugar or chocolate and construct absolute masterpieces. They build edible sky-high castles with working moats and bridges. They construct colorful parrots and giraffes out of sugar. These designers challenge the status quo thinking of what seems possible...using things found in most homes across America.

In today's passage, God uses Moses and his simple shepherds' staff to perform some miracles once again. Moses struck a rock with the staff--and water miraculously appeared. At another point in the story, God helps the Israelites defeat an enemy in battle, as long as Moses' staff is raised. These are two different uses for the same staff--both different from how the staff was used before.

As I read today, I thought about the "What is in your hand?" post and passage earlier this week. God is creative enough to continually use the same tool in multiple ways. If you used something "in your hand" a few years ago, it doesn't mean you're done. God may want you to use that tool again...and perhaps in a completely different way. I think our role in the process is to look at the "tools" we have, remain openhearted, listen to God's direction and obey. He's the creative Master who can use the "ordinary" in extraordinary ways.

Tomorrow: Exodus 19-21

The chase...and the path to promise

Today: Exodus 13-15



God keeps His promises. It's a common theme I've definitely seen so far throughout this project and reading the Bible together. But today's passage illustrated how sometimes the path toward a promise fulfilled can look a bit different than most human beings would like...in fact, it can look frightening.


Today we read about the Israelites' escape from Egypt and how God miraculously parted the Red Sea. That's what most people remember most about the story. I've heard, read and seen it a hundred times (hello, Charlton Heston and "The Ten Commandments" movie!). Usually, I focus on the miracle. It's pretty amazing, right?


However, I think some lessons from this passage are not about the miraculous parting of the Red Sea. I think we could probably learn something about God (and ourselves) from the Egyptians' terrifying chase through the desert.

God promised His people that they would be set free, loaded up with riches from Egypt and led to the Promised Land. He promised to be with them. They were thrilled to be on the path toward a promise fulfilled. Things happened just as God said--they were released by Pharaoh and loaded down with treasures from the Egyptians.

Then something changed...Pharaoh's mind. His army of skilled soldiers and battle equipment charged into the desert after the Israelites. (I don't know about you, but I would be horrified if an army of trained soldiers surrounded my defenseless family!) The Israelites had their children with them. They felt trapped--they felt that Moses and God duped them. They were scared and angry, too.

But God never promised the Israelites (or us, for that matter!) that the path toward His promises would be easy. It may look scary at moments--totally different than what we ever wanted or imagined, but it could be a path that leads us to a miracle.

Remember this: Before the Red Sea, there was a chase. The path toward promise isn't always paved...but God's Presence is always there.


Tomorrow: Exodus 16-18

The Rescuer

Today: Exodus 10-12

If I described someone as a "rescuer," what would you picture?

Would you envision a firefighter? Chuck Norris? A knight in shining armor? A military officer? A soup kitchen volunteer? A drug rehab therapist? A couple of mice from a cartoon who attempt to help a young orphan girl escape dangerously mining for a diamond (I'm totally dating myself here!)?

Have you ever been rescued?

One interesting thing about rescuers is that many times, they're underappreciated. Their efforts are often unnoticed, unrewarded and unaccepted. And there are some people who ultimately choose not to be rescued even when rescuers are willing to help them.

In today's passage, we read about a few people who chose that path (like Pharaoah and many of his Egyptian leaders). They rejected God's rescue plan for His people...which ultimately, cost them a lot. God gave them opportunities (at least 10, to be exact)...but they chose not to follow His direction--I think largely because of pride. To be rescued, you must first recognize that you need some help, that you don't have all the answers. That takes some humility.

Let's take a look at a portion of God's rescue plan for His people:

Moses assembled all the elders of Israel.

He said, "Select a lamb for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb.

Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the bowl of blood

and smear it on the lintel and on the two doorposts.

No one is to leave the house until morning.

God will pass through to strike Egypt down.

When he sees the blood on the lintel and the two doorposts,

God will pass over the doorway;

he won't let the destroyer enter your house to strike you down with ruin.
"Keep this word.

It's the law for you and your children, forever.

When you enter the land which God will give you as he promised,

keep doing this.

And when your children say to you, 'Why are we doing this?'

tell them:

'It's the Passover-sacrifice to God

who passed over the homes of the Israelites in Egypt

when he hit Egypt with death

but rescued us.'"

God's rescue plan here is very interesting. He could have chosen to just save the Israelites--I mean, He knew who they were without the blood on their doorways, right? But He required them to take a few little steps of faith--to follow His very specific instructions. They had to first believe they needed to be rescued and accept His plan in order to be spared by a sheer act of grace.

Tomorrow: Exodus 13-15

Signs and the wonder...of a stubborn heart

Today: Exodus 7-9

"There is a stubbornness about me

that cannot bear to be frightened by the will of others,

my courage rises with every attempt to intimidate me."
- Elizabeth Bennett, Pride and Prejudice

Stubbornness is an interesting characteristic--it's one that can be used for good or evil. Some stubborn people have this determination to beat the odds, fight for causes they believe in and stand up for themselves and others. That's admirable.

My sister has that kind of stubborn in her, I think. She has this compassionate nature and desire for justice that often puts her in a place of saying things like, "That's just not right!" The good kind of stubborn can be developed into courage, like what is described in the quote from Elizabeth Bennett above.

But stubbornness can also be problematic.

My parents tell this story about disciplining one of my sisters and I when we were little. When I misbehaved as a preschooler, all they had to do was put a frowny-faced sticker on the fridge. I would burst into tears--absolutely devastated--and admit my wrongdoing. When I was older, it morphed into conversations where words like "I'm really disappointed in you..." would do the trick (one of the worst possible things anyone could ever say to me!).

But my sister was different. Mom and Dad could threaten to spank her or ground her for life and she would look at them with sarcastic determination as if to say, "Is that all you've got?!?" When she was older, the girl debated and stood her ground...even when she was totally wrong. Luckily, as she's matured, the bad stubborn traits have dissipated (and on the flip side, I've developed more of the good kind of stubbornness, too).

In today's passage, we read about a guy with a seriously stubborn heart (in the worst possible way!)--Pharaoh. What's amazing to me is that even when the miraculous signs and wonders of God are right in front of his face, Pharaoh's heart remained stubborn. It was almost as if he was like an obnoxious little kid in the back of a minivan on a long road trip, covering his ears and shouting in an annoying, sing-song voice, "I CAN'T HEAR YOU! I CAN'T HEAR YOU! I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"

Ugh.

But in all fairness, how many people are like Pharaoh? I think most of us have had moments where we've messed up--and instead of admitting we were wrong or asking for forgiveness (from God or people), we are like that obnoxious kid. We'd rather continue on in our own stupidity than listen to reason from wise people or the Word of God. Instead of opening our eyes to see the facts or even miraculous signs from God Himself, we pretend to be content in our blindness.

Many times, our stubbornness turns us into obnoxious children or cold, hard-hearted people like Pharaoh. Instead, let's be stubborn in a different way--by courageously choosing to live in child-like wonder of wisdom and miracles.

Tomorrow: Exodus 10-12

What is in your hand?

Today: Exodus 4-6

There are some things you hear, see and read that can totally shape or change your life.

For me, one of those pivotal messages came while I was in high school from my pastor, Kevin Gerald. I think the message was titled, "What is in your hand?" (if not, that's how I remember it anyway!).

It was a message based on today's passage. Once again, Moses has several "Why did you pick me, God?" moments (like we discussed yesterday). But here's part of the conversation we'll talk about today:

Moses objected, "They won't trust me.

They won't listen to a word I say.

They're going to say, 'God? Appear to him? Hardly!'"
So God said, "What's that in your hand?"

"A staff."
"Throw it on the ground."

He threw it.

It became a snake; Moses jumped back—fast!
God said to Moses, "Reach out and grab it by the tail."

He reached out and grabbed it—

and he was holding his staff again.

"That's so they will trust that God appeared to you,

the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob."
God then said, "Put your hand inside your shirt."

He slipped his hand under his shirt, then took it out.

His hand had turned leprous, like snow.
He said, "Put your hand back under your shirt."

He did it, then took it back out—as healthy as before.

I won't even attempt to recreate the message of my pastor or any other great leaders who have taught on this passage. But I'll highlight a few of the things that stood out to me today:

• God asked Moses, "What is in your hand?"
  It's a really simple question...and I wonder if God continually asks it to people throughout the world today. God has a purpose for each life He's created--and He's equipped all of us for that purpose. If you know what your life's purpose is, maybe you should ask yourself the question to determine how you can get started on it. And if you don't know exactly what your purpose is, ask the question anyway--it might help you to figure out what your purpose is.
  
• Moses' staff was in his hand.
  To Moses (a guy used to working with sheep), a staff was a tool that he used everyday. It was ordinary. It was probably something he didn't view as valuable or significant. What are the things like that in your world? Maybe they're not things...but skills you have, something about your background, a hobby...something you've got that you probably don't even notice most of the time?
  
• God gave not one, but two signs for Moses--more than Moses asked for. That says something (pretty cool!) about who God is.
  
• God used what was in Moses' hand...but he also used the hand itself. This makes me think of a few things--sometimes God will use not what have you have, but who you are. I also thought that it could signify that sometimes we're called to put ourselves (literally) on the line...not just our money, skills or intelligence--but our lives, our time, our bodies--to go after what God calls us to.

Tomorrow: Exodus 7-9

Why did you pick me, God?

Today: Exodus 1-3


Have you ever had one of those moments when you absolutely knew you were supposed to do something...but you had doubts at the same time?

You may have thought that the task was so important that someone else should complete it...someone else with more experience, talent, brains, time or influence. You may have thought that the task was important, but wondered, "Does it need to happen now? Or would it be better if I took the 'wait and see' approach? Things happen for a reason, right?" Right?

But the feeling in your gut won't just go away...maybe because it's God at work. And if is, it's better to listen.

In today's passage, Moses had a "Why did you pick me, God?" moment when God asked him to talk to Pharaoh. Let's take a look:

Moses answered God, "But why me?

What makes you think that I could ever

go to Pharaoh and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?"

"I'll be with you," God said.

"And this will be the proof that I am the one who sent you:

When you have brought my people out of Egypt,

you will worship God right here at this very mountain."

Then Moses said to God,

"Suppose I go to the People of Israel and I tell them,

'The God of your fathers sent me to you';

and they ask me, 'What is his name?' What do I tell them?"

God said to Moses, "I-AM-WHO-I-AM.

Tell the People of Israel, 'I-AM sent me to you.'"

God continued with Moses: "This is what you're to say to the Israelites:

'God, the God of your fathers,

the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob sent me to you.'

This has always been my name, and this is how I always will be known..."

I love how the Bible has some very real people. I mean, Moses was hearing the voice of God from a burning bush for goodness' sake--and he still had doubts. God's response is amazing, though--He promised to be with Moses and He even gave Moses the words to say.

I think God's response to Moses is really the same response He offers when He calls us to do something. So if you think that feeling in your heart is God (and it's aligned with what His Word says), then rest in the fact that He will be with you...and can help give you the right words to say and the steps to take to tackle your challenge.

Tomorrow: Exodus 4-6