Wanderings

Finally finished the book of Exodus. There were so many things that piqued my interest. Things like acacia, and how much a talent was (75#)? When the report talked about “talents” of gold, my mind was boggled doing the math. Remember, these people were slaves who when they left Egypt asked for and took gold and silver from the Egyptians who had seen God’s mighty power at work.

Not only did the Israelites bring gold out with them, they gave offerings to be used in building the Tabernacle. Just imagine if you will, that they gave 2175 pounds of gold. At today’s value of gold (approximately $1000 per ounce), that would be $34 million dollars – from slaves! Remember, this was not all the gold they took out of Egypt, just their offerings to build the Tabernacle.

That was based on the account at the end of Exodus where all the work to make that portable building was completed. This was the record. The repetition was that at the end, all the work was just as God had commanded Moses. Somewhere, I had mentioned that if you think God is not interested in the details of your life, you are sadly mistaken! When you take a look at the book of Exodus, you can’t miss the details. God gave Moses not just the dimensions, but very clear instructions on how the Tabernacle was to be build, down to almost the last nut and bolt (okay, so they did not have nuts and bolts back then, but I think you understand).

What’s most amazing about this, and really repetition is the phrase “just as the Lord had commanded.”

That was the key to their accomplishments – doing what God said to do! Whenever they failed in their trek through the desert (that’s coming) or in the centuries ahead, it was because they did not do what God said. You don’t have to believe me, you can read it for yourself. As you read through Exodus 39 and 40, you find it repeated over and over.

Doing what God says is not difficult, it’s just that we make it difficult. Perhaps it’s because what God wants of us (we think) will make us look ridiculous, or not politically correct, or not in touch with the times, community or family. But God does not call us to meet the criteria of the world or our civilization. He called us to do what He says. As difficult as that might be, He leaves us no room. He does not “suggest” or “ask” us to do something. His words are “do this.”

So, at the end of our lists, will you and I be able to put “just as the Lord commanded“?

Reading through the Bible has gotten me to Exodus. Forget the fact that I do not remember all the names that were in Genesis. That trip through Genesis was fun though! Names, numbers, places and lots of history. Many names of places took me to the computer to look for “where is that?” It’s interesting that the battles still rage over exactly where something is or was. Eventually archeology will make a great discovery under the sands or earth and we will know.

What I find of even greater interest (just the way my mind works) is that so many of the places mentioned in the Bible have actually been found. And even with all those places being documented after years of “there is no such place,” people still dispute what the Bible says. For me, it’s just more questions to ask when I get to heaven. Who knows, maybe by then, it won’t make any difference.

So, here I am working my way through Exodus, and seeing the amazing display of how stupid people can be. Just think about it – we keep on cheering our sports teams on, even in the middle of a 5-10 year losing streak. But there were the Israelites, coming off an exit that scared all the people around them. Everybody heard about what the God of the Israelites did, and didn’t want anything to do with “those people.” After all, “if their God could beat the living daylights out of the mighty Egyptians, we don’t want to mess with them.”

Okay, so their natural enemies didn’t want to challenge them, but leave it to the people who got delivered to turn around and “dis” that same God. It’s biting the hand that took care of them – “did you bring us out here to get us killed.” “You forgot to bring any food Moses, and we’re hungry.”

Kinda like us – we forget too quickly what wonderful things someone has done for us and complain about the little nagging thing they forgot to do. You know, maybe they didn’t even think that they had to do that. Makes me think of Paul’s words, when he was challenge believers to “think on (remember)” the good things in Philippians 4. Too soon we forget, and maybe that is because we did not work at a constant remembrance of the good that we have or got.

That’s right, the whole book. Many of my friends are in the process of reading through the Bible this year, but I got started late, so just decided to take the list and see where it went. Needless to say, my schedule (when I started) had over a month to go just to catch up. Then, there was the double readings every day. So, my decision was just to start reading.

Discovered some very interesting things in Genesis, and did not try to get bogged down in searches or “why” type things. Usually we read parts and parts as story, with no connection other than “it’s from Genesis.” Yes, we read the creation story and Noah and Joseph, but they seem so separated.

My reading was continuous. So many bits of good news, and there were times when I stopped to find a map just so I could get a little centered. Almost makes me want to be an archeologist, searching for the places mentioned. After all, there are few if any maps from that long ago. It would be like a treasure hunt. I can almost see it now, stumbling into the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite, or Joseph’s tomb (perhaps a pyramid) in Egypt.

But the real catch came in the last chapter. Usually when we think about prophecies about Jesus, they come later in the Bible, but right there, Jacob (aka Israel) said “(from Joseph) is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel.” (Gen 49:24) What an awesome reminder that even that far back in time (over 5000 years ago), God was already planning great things for ME! Not that it was for just me, but we each need to claim His promise for ourselves.

Amazing what a little reading can do for you. There were mornings when I did not want to stop reading because the story went on and on – “what’s next?” kept creeping into my mind. I’m glad the book is still available for us to read, and that I live in a country where that can happen without having to hide or be ashamed. Better yet, I’m thankful that He still speaks to us through old words – all we have to do is open our minds and let him speak.

Some would ask "Who cares?" Others would probably wonder who "He" is, and others would wonder what this was about.

Mostly, it's about feeling that no one cares – you know, that feeling you get when there are too many things to do for too many people in too little time, and there isn't going to be any time left for "ME?"

That's when we need most of all those words from I Peter 5, where Peter reminds us all that when it looks like life is going down the tubes or we just don't have enough of whatever it is that brings a little joy and happiness in our lives – then is when you need a helper. Then is when you and I need to end our pity party and let the ultimate party planner take over.

The image/vision that comes to my mind is when the supermarket bagger asks if you "need help out?" Most of us shrug our shoulders and mumble "No" and go on our way. In our minds, we have all kinds of imagws about what people will think about us if we ask for help. Worse yet, we'll either look old, infirm or just plain wimpy for letting someone help us. We cannot bear the thought of "not being able…" and other people knowing or seeing that we are may not so able.

Maybe that is the crux of the matter. We are afraid to let other people see that we can't do everything. "Why, they might think less of me."

What Peter says in verse seven is actually the culmination of verses five and six where he talks about pride ("I am the greatest…") and humility. When you look back to verse 6, he says "exercise a little humility – let people know you ain't the greatest thing since sliced bread. When you do that under the great, fantastic, awesome direction of God, then He will shine a light on you at the right time so people can see how great you are." (my translation)

Therefore, put all your cares and concerns about whatever on HIM – let Him figure out the "how" and "when" and "where" about your life, so you can get on with it and just keep moving.

He (God) isn't going to do all this for you because you pay Him, or hire Him, or contract with Him. It's because He loves you. Period! And it's His love that makes Him care about you – meaning He wants the very best for you.

As long as we carry all that baggage about us on our shoulders, we keep him from carrying it for us. I can remember being on board ships when they "cast off the lines." If you have ever been on a little boat, and someone cast the line to you as you left the dock, you knew there was no way you could get back on your own. The currents or wind carried you away from the dock. You were loose!

That's what this verse is all about – letting go! Can you? Will you?

Remember when you used to get in trouble with your mom or dad. First choice for what to do was go somewhere and hide. Friends, neighbors, basement, treehouse – just get away somewhere, and hopefully mom or dad would cool down. Then, there was the dreaded Principal who's path you dared not cross.

As we grew older, we found that there were others who's path we dared not cross or world we better not mess with. Yes, there were the neighborhood bully (male or female). And then, there was the old man or lady down the street who seemed to have it in for all the kids in the neighborhood.

Then all of a sudden, you were out on your own and there was the dreaded boss, almost like a slave driver. At least that was the feeling you got every morning as you prepared to head off to that "awful place" called WORK. You trudged in prepared to face not only the boss, but the customers and co-workers who's demands on your life outweighed the rights you may have thought you had.

Got to one of the shortest books in the Bible – Philemon. All twenty-five verses of it. So, the thought occurred to me as I started reading, that this should be a no brainer.

NOT!

Here was Paul, in prison in Rome, along with Mark, Demas and Luke. In comes this slave (yes, there were slaves way back then – still) who had stolen from his master Philemon. Who knows what he took – that was not the important thing. What was important, was that he got to Rome and must have looked up Paul and paid him a visit. He knew Paul, because his master was someone whom Paul knew from Colossae when he was ministering there.

So, here's this guy Onesimus (the slave), who knows he's in trouble and he pays a visit to Paul, and probably tells him what he has done. Paul ministers (works?) with/to him enough that he becomes a Christian – gives his life to Jesus. Scary!

It was scary, because as Christians, we are supposed to "make it right" with those we have harmed. But Onesimus is probably a lot like us. You know…"I can't go back and tell them I'm sorry, or that I did them wrong." Almost as though admitting we did anything wrong will instantly erase our relation with Jesus.

Not true!

What Paul was doing in this little letter to Onesimus was laying it all on the line. Read verse eight through seventeen. Paul takes a shot across the bow when he says "I…could order you to do what is proper, but instead I appeal to you…"

YOu have to ask yourself, "what is proper and right?" Read on, and Paul passionately reminds Philemon that Onesimus should be reconciled to him, even as we Christ followers are reconciled to God – not because of how good we are, but because of how good and loving God is.

Paul kind of puts it all on the line when he says to Philemon, "Okay, you see me as a partner with you, then accemp him (Onesimus) just like you would accept me."

If you had been robbed, mistreated, spat upon (so to speak) like Philemon, what would you say to Paul?

On the other hand, if you were Onesimus, could you say "I'm sorry – please forgive me"?

Hard choices aren't they?