Day Twenty-One
Day Twenty-One -- Exodus 17-20
Read these wonderful chapters at http://www.bible.com/ or read it to the left with the BIBLE READER. It's a short reading and it has some really interesting things to say.
So, let's get started. I want to thank my buddy for doing the devotional yesterday, she does a fabulous job.
She left off with the story of Moses walking through water, and not just walking through it, but separating the sea so he could actually walk straight through it without getting wet. Amazing!
After Moses escaped the Egyptians, his people were finally free. They were free to do anything they wanted... as long as they followed God. Except, when they were living in Egypt, (even though they were laboring day and night for the Pharaoh,) they still had a steady source of food and water in Egypt.
They separated from Egypt, and they were all on their own, all beside themselves, all alone with their lonesome. You get the point. The fact is, even though they were free from Pharaoh, they were hungry, and thirsty, and stranded alone in the desert with a leader who claims to be "with God."
They questioned the leader (Moses) over and over again, coming to him like sick little puppies that need something. Like, food for instance. They doubted God over and over, questioning whether or not he was with them after all. They cried and complained to Moses, who then contacted God, who then provided food for the people in the desert. Talk about a food-chain. Get it? Food chain?
I guess it wasn't that funny.
Anyway, God eventually did miracles to provide for the Israelites... and they rightfully accepted the help. Easy enough.
But then, they'd grumble some more to Moses and ask for other things, things they originally had in Egypt. They were such babies. Anyway, Moses didn't think anything of it, and did the same thing each time, asking God to save his people, and to provide for their needs, which God, in turn, did.
God even helped them win battles against other lands. Moses had to hold up his staff for an entire day, in order to keep his people winning. If he let his arm drop, they would start to lose. Talk about exercise! I've noticed that Moses must also be a pretty strong dude.
Another thing I noticed when reading was everything was named because of something. Babies were named after events or qualities, and places were named because of what happened there. Now, that doesn't mean if a battle was won, then the place was called Hereiswherewewonabattle. It's not. But back then, things were named for a specific reason. I wish things were like that today.
America was named after some explorer named Amerigo Vespucci. That's pretty lame, if I may say so. I think we shouldn't be called Americans, but Vesspuccians. It sounds much cooler :)
So, yeah. Back to the story.
One day, Moses' father-in-law came to visit him, and Moses told him all of the problems his people were having. But, with a little help from him and God, that their needs were met.
Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, was appalled. He was all "That's too much work, Moses! God is strong, and independent, and mighty. You don't need to try and fix these whiny people's problems all by yourself. Tell God he needs to lay down the law and tell these people to pray to GOD for their needs instead of complain to you about them!"
Moses was like, "Hey, you're right!"
He went to God on a mountain called Mount Sinai and told God of the problems he was facing, and once again, God provided. He told Moses to gather everyone and have them wash their clothes and meet at the bottom of the mountain for a meeting. Not only will they be told how to solve all of their problems, but they will be told how to do so by GOD. That's amazing.
The people were anxious to be told how they could fix everything, so they obeyed Moses and God and did exactly what they were told.
God met with them, in the sky, behind a huge cloud in the heavens. He spoke down to them, and laid out 10 laws that should be followed within the people. Everyone should follow these laws, and their community will be a better place.
Little did they know that one day, these laws would become The Ten Commandments, and will lay the basics for Christianity. (Christianity didn't exist back then, it comes when Jesus was born... later in the Bible. If you want to learn more about that, you can always read ahead, but according to Bible's plans, we'll start talking about Jesus' birth on day 314... a few months away.)
These are the laws that God set out for them:
Read these wonderful chapters at http://www.bible.com/ or read it to the left with the BIBLE READER. It's a short reading and it has some really interesting things to say.
So, let's get started. I want to thank my buddy for doing the devotional yesterday, she does a fabulous job.
She left off with the story of Moses walking through water, and not just walking through it, but separating the sea so he could actually walk straight through it without getting wet. Amazing!
After Moses escaped the Egyptians, his people were finally free. They were free to do anything they wanted... as long as they followed God. Except, when they were living in Egypt, (even though they were laboring day and night for the Pharaoh,) they still had a steady source of food and water in Egypt.
They separated from Egypt, and they were all on their own, all beside themselves, all alone with their lonesome. You get the point. The fact is, even though they were free from Pharaoh, they were hungry, and thirsty, and stranded alone in the desert with a leader who claims to be "with God."
They questioned the leader (Moses) over and over again, coming to him like sick little puppies that need something. Like, food for instance. They doubted God over and over, questioning whether or not he was with them after all. They cried and complained to Moses, who then contacted God, who then provided food for the people in the desert. Talk about a food-chain. Get it? Food chain?
I guess it wasn't that funny.
Anyway, God eventually did miracles to provide for the Israelites... and they rightfully accepted the help. Easy enough.
But then, they'd grumble some more to Moses and ask for other things, things they originally had in Egypt. They were such babies. Anyway, Moses didn't think anything of it, and did the same thing each time, asking God to save his people, and to provide for their needs, which God, in turn, did.
God even helped them win battles against other lands. Moses had to hold up his staff for an entire day, in order to keep his people winning. If he let his arm drop, they would start to lose. Talk about exercise! I've noticed that Moses must also be a pretty strong dude.
Another thing I noticed when reading was everything was named because of something. Babies were named after events or qualities, and places were named because of what happened there. Now, that doesn't mean if a battle was won, then the place was called Hereiswherewewonabattle. It's not. But back then, things were named for a specific reason. I wish things were like that today.
America was named after some explorer named Amerigo Vespucci. That's pretty lame, if I may say so. I think we shouldn't be called Americans, but Vesspuccians. It sounds much cooler :)
So, yeah. Back to the story.
One day, Moses' father-in-law came to visit him, and Moses told him all of the problems his people were having. But, with a little help from him and God, that their needs were met.
Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, was appalled. He was all "That's too much work, Moses! God is strong, and independent, and mighty. You don't need to try and fix these whiny people's problems all by yourself. Tell God he needs to lay down the law and tell these people to pray to GOD for their needs instead of complain to you about them!"
Moses was like, "Hey, you're right!"
He went to God on a mountain called Mount Sinai and told God of the problems he was facing, and once again, God provided. He told Moses to gather everyone and have them wash their clothes and meet at the bottom of the mountain for a meeting. Not only will they be told how to solve all of their problems, but they will be told how to do so by GOD. That's amazing.
The people were anxious to be told how they could fix everything, so they obeyed Moses and God and did exactly what they were told.
God met with them, in the sky, behind a huge cloud in the heavens. He spoke down to them, and laid out 10 laws that should be followed within the people. Everyone should follow these laws, and their community will be a better place.
Little did they know that one day, these laws would become The Ten Commandments, and will lay the basics for Christianity. (Christianity didn't exist back then, it comes when Jesus was born... later in the Bible. If you want to learn more about that, you can always read ahead, but according to Bible's plans, we'll start talking about Jesus' birth on day 314... a few months away.)
These are the laws that God set out for them:
In a few days, you'll learn why they were on an actual slab of stone... this was an actual picture taken so many years ago. Justtttttttttt Kidding. Ha ha ha.
The message for today is that these^^^ are the rules in which we all need to live by. It's the reason God put us here, to follow these rules and show others how to follow Jesus. Whether you're big or small, a Jesus Freak or a beginner, it's important to learn these rules, and try to apply them in your life.
He didn't say these rules to be ignored. Try and be a better person, and try your best to succeed in these laws!
Go in Peace!
Comments
LOVE,
CARLY