There's a lot of interest in the Ark of the Covenant (see link), but what's inside it is more important--it's where Moses put the ten commandments.
A March, 2007, USA Today article claimed 60% of Americans can't name the five of the ten commandments.
A Kelton Research study asked 1,000 Americans and found 14% could name all ten, but 25% could name the ingredients in a Big Mac.
Last year, I asked my 7th graders and found that 1 out of 26 could name nine of the ten, the rest couldn't even name that many.
How about you?
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
"All that the Lord has spoken we will do"
Reading yesterday (Ex 19-21) and today (Ex 22-24), I see that the Israelites said this three times: Ex 19:8; 24:3, and 24:7.
I've heard several preachers preach that this was bad; this was a foolish thing for them to say; that this was the wrong thing for them to say; that they were depending on themselves and should have been depending on God; that they said this, but within 40 days were worshiping a golden calf.
I disagree.
God was making a covenant with them, He gave them commandments. Their response should not have been "we can never obey these." The logical response was, "you're God, we're your creatures, you tell us what to do, we will agree to do it." And that is what they said. And God didn't reprove them for saying that, He didn't say "you said the wrong thing." He just went ahead with the program, He spoke the law and wrote it on stone and gave it to Moses.
Yes, the people (and us today) needed to understand that we can only obey with God's power, grace, only after crucifying self and having Jesus live within us.
But at the Exodus, they were just learning about God. He gave them His law at the beginning of their nationhood. And they said, "Whatever you say, Lord."
I think that is a good response.
I've heard several preachers preach that this was bad; this was a foolish thing for them to say; that this was the wrong thing for them to say; that they were depending on themselves and should have been depending on God; that they said this, but within 40 days were worshiping a golden calf.
I disagree.
God was making a covenant with them, He gave them commandments. Their response should not have been "we can never obey these." The logical response was, "you're God, we're your creatures, you tell us what to do, we will agree to do it." And that is what they said. And God didn't reprove them for saying that, He didn't say "you said the wrong thing." He just went ahead with the program, He spoke the law and wrote it on stone and gave it to Moses.
Yes, the people (and us today) needed to understand that we can only obey with God's power, grace, only after crucifying self and having Jesus live within us.
But at the Exodus, they were just learning about God. He gave them His law at the beginning of their nationhood. And they said, "Whatever you say, Lord."
I think that is a good response.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
God's omniscience vs. free will
God said, "I will harden Pharoah's heart" (Ex 7:3; 14:4). So, did Pharoah have a choice?
There are a number of what I call "mysteries" in the Bible, things we just can't understand. And this is one of them. The Bible is clear that God knows everything (see Is. 46:10) AND that men and women are free to choose to live God's way or reject God's way (see Deut. 30:19, Josh. 24:15).
If God knows what we're going to choose, are we really free to make our own choice? It stretches the mind to grasp how that works. If you've figured it out, please share!
In this passage, it seems that God knew Pharoah's heart, He knew what Pharoah would choose, and He announced it ahead of time. God could have said, "I know that Pharoah's heart is hard and I know what he'll do--he won't let the Israelites leave." What do you think?
There are a number of what I call "mysteries" in the Bible, things we just can't understand. And this is one of them. The Bible is clear that God knows everything (see Is. 46:10) AND that men and women are free to choose to live God's way or reject God's way (see Deut. 30:19, Josh. 24:15).
If God knows what we're going to choose, are we really free to make our own choice? It stretches the mind to grasp how that works. If you've figured it out, please share!
In this passage, it seems that God knew Pharoah's heart, He knew what Pharoah would choose, and He announced it ahead of time. God could have said, "I know that Pharoah's heart is hard and I know what he'll do--he won't let the Israelites leave." What do you think?
Sunday, January 18, 2009
"Who Am I?" Exodus 3:11
A favorite Christian artist of mine is Casting Crowns. They do a song called "Who Am I?"
The chorus goes:
"I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours."
That phrase, "Who Am I?" is found only six times in the KJV: the first time is in Exodus 3:11, spoken by Moses. Four more times it is said by David, and once by Solomon.
Re-read those lyrics, we are nothing at all. Yet God hears us when we talk to Him. Praise His name!
The chorus goes:
"I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours."
That phrase, "Who Am I?" is found only six times in the KJV: the first time is in Exodus 3:11, spoken by Moses. Four more times it is said by David, and once by Solomon.
Re-read those lyrics, we are nothing at all. Yet God hears us when we talk to Him. Praise His name!
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Comments on Genesis 1-20
Here are some things I've read many times, but jumped out at me this time through:
Gen 1:30 - God's original plan, for both humans and animals, was to eat vegetarian! Not that shouldn't be surprising, for He is against death, but I don't remember seeing this before. Scientists talk about how some animals are carnivores and some are herbivores, but this indicates God's original plan.
Gen 4:19 - Lamech was the first polygamist--why would he do that? He was also a murderer (verse 23).
Gen 4:26 - "men began to call on the name of the Lord" -- SDABC says "In this time a more formal worship was begun." Vol 1, p. 244.
Gen 6:2 - A common question is: Who were the sons of God that married daughters of men? The "sons of God" were His faithful followers, who were intermarrying with women who were not followers of God.
Gen 6-9 - The flood. My "Open Bible" says Genesis is all about four events (Creation, The Fall, The Flood, The Division of the Nations) and four men (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph). That's an interesting organization of the book.
Gen 12 - Who was the first Jew? Abraham, who is called by God in this chapter. Some Christians believe that all of God's interaction with the Jews is not relevant to our lives today. However, there is much we can learn from Abraham, the first Jew. God called him to be a father of a great nation, and he obeyed, leaving his family, his home,
Abraham's lies - He just doesn't seem to learn, lying about his relationship to Sarah two times! (See Gen 12:11-20 and chapter 20).
Did you know? Abraham and Sarah both laughed at the idea that they could conceive a child--Sarah in Gen 18:12, Abraham in Gen 17:17. What do you make of that?
Gen 1:30 - God's original plan, for both humans and animals, was to eat vegetarian! Not that shouldn't be surprising, for He is against death, but I don't remember seeing this before. Scientists talk about how some animals are carnivores and some are herbivores, but this indicates God's original plan.
Gen 4:19 - Lamech was the first polygamist--why would he do that? He was also a murderer (verse 23).
Gen 4:26 - "men began to call on the name of the Lord" -- SDABC says "In this time a more formal worship was begun." Vol 1, p. 244.
Gen 6:2 - A common question is: Who were the sons of God that married daughters of men? The "sons of God" were His faithful followers, who were intermarrying with women who were not followers of God.
Gen 6-9 - The flood. My "Open Bible" says Genesis is all about four events (Creation, The Fall, The Flood, The Division of the Nations) and four men (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph). That's an interesting organization of the book.
Gen 12 - Who was the first Jew? Abraham, who is called by God in this chapter. Some Christians believe that all of God's interaction with the Jews is not relevant to our lives today. However, there is much we can learn from Abraham, the first Jew. God called him to be a father of a great nation, and he obeyed, leaving his family, his home,
Abraham's lies - He just doesn't seem to learn, lying about his relationship to Sarah two times! (See Gen 12:11-20 and chapter 20).
Did you know? Abraham and Sarah both laughed at the idea that they could conceive a child--Sarah in Gen 18:12, Abraham in Gen 17:17. What do you make of that?
Questions
Please post any questions you have about what you're reading as comments to this post. I will do my best to answer them. The most helpful resource I have to answer Bible questions is the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary. I have one at home, and there's another in the church office in Valdosta.
Read the Bible through in 2009
I am challenging all my church members (and anyone else reading this) to read the Bible through, from Genesis to Revelation, in 2009. Adventists used to be known as "people of the book" and had a reputation that they knew, studied, and followed their Bibles. But I meet many Adventists who are not very familiar with God's Word.
So, my main New Year's Resolution will be to read my Bible through and encourage as many others as I can to read theirs through, too.
I will be including a link to a day-by-day reading guide soon. This will help us keep pace (we're doing this together!), and I'm encouraging members to discuss what they're reading. I will also be preaching on passages from the previous week's reading, so let's keep in step.
May God bless each of us as we read, study, and meditate on His Word. "The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple" Psalm 119:130.
So, my main New Year's Resolution will be to read my Bible through and encourage as many others as I can to read theirs through, too.
I will be including a link to a day-by-day reading guide soon. This will help us keep pace (we're doing this together!), and I'm encouraging members to discuss what they're reading. I will also be preaching on passages from the previous week's reading, so let's keep in step.
May God bless each of us as we read, study, and meditate on His Word. "The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple" Psalm 119:130.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Old Blogs Never Die
Well, you can see that I haven't posted anything for a couple of years. But the blog is still here! We used this blog to discuss our Sabbath School lesson "back in the day."
But now we'll revive it to discuss our current project: Reading the Bible through in 2009. I plan to have a daily reading guide posted soon, and I will post my thoughts on what we're reading. I encourage you to post questions, comments, and thoughts on our daily reading of the Scriptures.
Why do I call it "EL = KJ"? Because one of the most important things I've learned about God, and Jesus, and life is that Eternal Life equals Knowing Jesus. The experience of Salvation goes hand in hand with the relationship with Jesus that we must have. Jesus said "I am the Way"--and His desire and plan is for us to come closer to Him in a loving relationship day by day. I base this on John 17:3, which is my blog's address: john 17 verse 3 or john17v3.blogspot.com/
I welcome your participation and fellowship in reading God's Word together and I pray that each of us may come to know Jesus better through "eating" His Word.
But now we'll revive it to discuss our current project: Reading the Bible through in 2009. I plan to have a daily reading guide posted soon, and I will post my thoughts on what we're reading. I encourage you to post questions, comments, and thoughts on our daily reading of the Scriptures.
Why do I call it "EL = KJ"? Because one of the most important things I've learned about God, and Jesus, and life is that Eternal Life equals Knowing Jesus. The experience of Salvation goes hand in hand with the relationship with Jesus that we must have. Jesus said "I am the Way"--and His desire and plan is for us to come closer to Him in a loving relationship day by day. I base this on John 17:3, which is my blog's address: john 17 verse 3 or john17v3.blogspot.com/
I welcome your participation and fellowship in reading God's Word together and I pray that each of us may come to know Jesus better through "eating" His Word.
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