An Introduction to Joshua

Today's Reading:

• Joshua 1:1 - 2:24

Read Bible Passages Online

Joshua 1:1 - 2:24

Today is a monumental day, because today I started the book of Joshua.  Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Number and Deuteronomy as well as many parts of the New Testament- those are all books that I have at least read parts of here or there over the course of my life.  Joshua is one that I have yet to ever even begin to read.  Don't get me wrong - I know the most famous story of Jericho - but I have not yet read it.  So today I embark on a journey further into the Word of God; and I am very excited to do so.

Joshua was the appointed successor of Moses - he was the man who was to lead the people of Israel into the promised land.  He had the full support of the people he was leading (1:16-17) and they were ready to take the promised land for themselves. 

Joshua sent out two scouts to spy on the area around Jericho (2:1).  Those scouts met a prostitute named Rahab who had remarkable faith in the Lord (2:11).  Rahab hid the scouts from the king's men and helped them to escape the city after the gates had been closed.  In return the scouts agreed to spare Rahab and her family, so long as she remained true to her oath not to betray them.

Chapter two ends with the scouts recounting the fact that the people were already terrified of the Israelites (2:23).  It looks like I should soon be reading the account of the battle of Jericho.  I am very excited to continue my studies!

The Lord is my Rock

Today's Reading:

• Deuteronomy32:1 - 32:52

Read Bible Passages Online

Deuteronomy 32:1 - 32:52
Today's reading consists of the song that Moses taught the Israelite people.  This song is to remind them that the Lord is their God, and when the time comes that they are abandoned by the Lord, they will know why it happened.

The people would be abandoned because they would fail to obey the Lord as they should.  They will begin to worship foreign gods and forget the true Lord who was their "Rock".  There are many places in this song that the Lord refers to himself as the Rock.  The enemies had their "rocks", but those rocks were not as strong as the Rock. 

The capitalization is important here, I believe -- The capitalization of the word "Rock" when referring to the Lord implies it is a name, and one that belongs only to the Lord.  All the other "rocks" are just insignificant, common objects.  They might call themselves rocks, the people might think of them as rocks, but they are not THE Rock.  They are not the mighty Rock.  They are insignificant when compared to the Rock. 

I thought all of this was so interesting because I don't recall any previous reading where the Lord was referred to as the Rock.  I've only read 1/4th of the bible, so I'm hardly an authority here -- I just think this might be the first mention I've seen of it (or that I've noticed of it).  Of course I've heard songs and people say the Lord is my Rock, but like many other things, I was unsure of how it tied back to the bible.  I didn't know if was just something people said, or if it was written in the bible.  I hadn't given it any thought, really.  So the whole thing is just very interesting. 

The Choice Between Life and Death

Today's Reading:

• Deuteronomy 29:1 - 30:20

Read Bible Passages Online

Deuteronomy 29:1 - 30:20
Moses continued to prepare the Israelites for their journey to the promised land.  Moses told then that if they obeyed the covenant then they will prosper; disobey it and they will loose everything. 

Starting at verse 30:15 and continuing out the rest of chapter 30, Moses explains to the people that they need to make a choice of life and death.  Moses basically tells the people that they choose life by loving the Lord and obeying him.  The entire passage should be read, I'd like to quote it all here but it's too long.  Instead I am just going to quote the last verse (verse 20):

"You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him.  This is the key to your life.  And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."

Love the Lord with all your heart and all your soul, and obey him.  These things bring us life, blessings and provision.  To me, the choice is easy -- I choose life!

Laws of Festivals, Judges, Trials, and Appointed Kings in Deuteronomy

Today's Reading:

• Deuteronomy 16:1 - 17:20
• Proverbs 12:8 - 9

Read Bible Passages Online

Deuteronomy 16:1 - 17:20
 Moses told the people which festivals they were to celebrate each year.  These festivals were to be celebrated at the single place God chose for his sanctuary -- the people would have to travel there.  These festivals were: Passover, Festival of Harvest, and the Festival of Shelters.

Moses also informed the people of God's instructions for dealing with idol worship, disagreements, lawsuits and more.  The people were to appoint local judges and officials to hear cases.  Should these people be unable to decide, the case was to be brought to the Levitical priests to decide.  Should a person be found guilty, their punishment must be carried out exactly as stated by the judge's sentence. 

People who worship idols or natural elements (sun, moon, etc) were to be put to death, but only if at least two witnesses saw them.  Those witnesses had to throw the first stones before the rest of the community could join in.

The people were also told requirements for a king, if they were to appoint one.  First of all, the people must make sure that the Lord has chosen the king.  The king must be an Israelite and must live humbly as a king.  He shouldn't build himself a fortune, and he should keep the instructions written on a scroll to read daily so that he would stay true and humble to both the citizens and to the Lord.

It's interesting to see the parallels between our democratic society today and the society the Israelites were to be a part of.  It's always reassuring that the Lord insists on fairness out of the leaders and the judges, and that there must be multiple witnesses if someone was going to be convicted of a crime with a death penalty.  No one said that the Lord our creator had to attempt to be fair to us.  Yes, I know life isn't fair -- but the Lord lays basic rules in attempt so that people be treated fairly.  The Lord created us all -- what if He wasn't concerned with our treatment, with how we treat others?  I am truly thankful that we have a Lord who is concerned with our fair treatment.

Proverbs 12:8 - 9

8  A sensible person wins admiration, but a warped mind is despised.

9  Better to be an ordinary person with a servant than to be a self-important but have no food.

 It is better to be a sensible, ordinary person than a pompous, poor person with a warped mind!  Whenever you might think you're too ordinary, just remember the things that make you beautiful to God -- because those are the only things that truly matter.

How to Show the Lord your God that you Love Him

Today's Reading:

• Deuteronomy 11:1 - 12:32
• Proverbs 12:4

Read Bible Passages Online

Deuteronomy 11:1 - 12:32

11:22:  Be careful to obey all commands I am giving you.  Show love to the Lord your God by walking in his ways and holding tightly to him.

 Moses continued to talk to the people of Israel about obeying the Lord in their new land.  He told them where to worship (in a centralized location), and how to worship (how the sacrifices should be carried out, what can and can't be eaten), what to do once they reach the land (tear down all sanctuaries to false gods) and what not to do (worship false idol).

Moses reminded the people that the children had not experienced the same things that they had.  They did not see the mighty hand of God as he delivered the people from Israel, nor did they see his wrath as he opened the ground to swallow Dathan and Abiram.  Moses tells them to teach the commandments to the children, ensure they know them -- to write the commandments on their doorposts, and tie them to their wrists and foreheads.

The verse that stuck out to me the most was verse 11:22, written above.  This verse tells us to show our love for the Lord by obeying him and by leading the life he'd have us to lead.  That's a profound statement.  How many of us (myself included) profess to love the Lord wholeheartedly, yet intentionally disobey his commands for us?

I don't think that we are unable to love the Lord if we don't obey his commands -- plenty of children love their parents, even though they don't always obey them.  But I do think that, if we truly love the Lord, we should think about our actions. 

Suppose you are married, and you know that your spouse despises something you frequently do.  Let's say this thing you do really hurts them, and you can tell you have caused them pain.  Out of love you might stop doing the thing that hurts them.  But if you don't stop doing this thing, it not only hurts your spouse, but it can tear your relationship apart -- to the point where it feels irreparable and ends in divorce.

Our relationship with the Lord can always be repaired, no matter how far we have strayed from Him.  But when we consider sinning against the Lord, perhaps we ought to step back and think about how this hurts the Lord -- who we to love above everything else.  And if we love the Lord above all else, why are we intentionally sinning against Him?

Proverbs 12:4

A worthy wife is a crown for her husband, but a disgraceful woman is like cancer in his bones.

Wow, that's a powerful verse.  I haven't yet read anything about what makes a good wife.  I will have to pay attention for that topic as I come upon it in the future.

How Does One Fear the Lord?

Today's Reading:

• Deuteronomy 9:1 - 10:22
• Proverbs 12:2 - 3

Read Bible Passages Online

Deuteronomy 9:1 - 10:22 
Moses continues his monologue to the people of Israel.  Now that I think about it, this monologue makes a lot of sense.  Moses is addressing the second generation of Israelites.  Because the time is near for the people to enter the promised land, that means that almost everyone from the rebellious first generation has already died. 

It must have been odd for this generation.  They grew up in the wilderness, being led (quite literally) on a journey by the Lord.  They might not have realized the severity and oppression of the situation they had left.  They also might not have realized how rebellious their parents had been throughout the entire journey. 

So Moses continued to tell them their history.  He told them of their many rebellions.  He told them how he interceded on their behalf when the Lord was so angry that he was going to destroy them all.  Moses told them that it wasn't because they were good that the Lord was giving them this land - instead it was because the people in the land were more wicked than they, and the Lord had promised plentiful land to their ancestors. 

Moses concludes by giving them guidelines to live by.  In verses 10:12 - 13, Moses outlines what God requires from his people.  These four things are:

1. Fear the Lord
2. Live in a way that pleases the Lord
3. Love and serve the Lord with all your heart and soul
4. Always obey the Lord's commands

Looking at those four things, there is one that leaves me with a bit of wonder.  What does it mean to fear the Lord?  Should I literally be afraid of Him?  I don't think that would be possible for me -- I love and trust the Lord too much to literally be afraid of Him.  It doesn't seem that the words trust and fear go together.  Fear and obey, maybe -- obeying out of fear.  But trust -- how can one trust someone they are afraid of?

My study bible notes that fearing the Lord meant that the Lord "wanted his people to recognize their finiteness and unworthiness in His divine presence".  That does make more sense to me.  The people who lived in the presence of the Lord remained fearful of entering His presence if they were not purified, for the holiness of the Lord would instantly kill them. 

Every single one of us is completely unworthy of the Lord's salvation for us.  We are unworthy of His forgiveness.  Yet the Lord still loves us, and the Lord still provides for us!  It's truly amazing.

So what does it mean to fear the Lord?  Honestly, I don't know yet.  I'll have to keep reading, and see what the Word of God says to me about this topic in the future.

Proverbs 12:2 - 3

2  The Lord approves of those who are good, but he condemns those who plan wickedness.

3  Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots.

 So what's worse than doing something wicked?  Planning it!  Have you ever planned something -- an event, an outing, a night out -- where you knew that you were planning to be sinful that night?  How that must anger the Lord when we plan in advance to sin. 

I find the second verse interesting -- I would not have linked wickedness and instability together on my own.  But it makes sense.  I am to handle each and every thing thrown at me in life better because I have the Lord in my life.  I know that the Lord is always there for me, no matter how dire the situation, no matter what I am going through.  He is with me.  He is my stability.  My roots are planted in Him, and they can't be up-heaved.  The Lord and my salvation are my stability.  Thank you, Lord!

Remember Where your Blessings Come From

Today's Reading:

• Deuteronomy 7:1 - 8:20
• Proverbs 12:1

Read Bible Passages Online

Deuteronomy 7:1 - 8:20
Chapters 7 and 8 of Deuteronomy convey a strong warning to the people of Israel.  In these chapters Moses summarizes the people's struggles with food and water on the journey to the promised land.  Moses reminds the people that the Lord provided them with manna and with water.  Their clothes did not wear out for the entire 40 years, and their feet never blistered or swelled in all of their travels.  The Lord provided for every single need of the Israelites for forty years.   

Moses tells the people what the land that will be theirs is going to be like.  It is going to be overflowing with food and water.  There will be wheat and barley, grapevines, fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey.  They will lack for absolutely nothing.

Moses also tells the people what their lives will be like.  The people will lead blessed lives.  They will be fertile -- we are told that there will be no men or women who are childless (7:14).  They are told that the Lord will protect them from illness and from the diseases that they suffered in Egypt (as a side note, I wonder what those are?).

Moses does have some warnings for the people.  Most of it involves not being drawn up into worship of other gods.  Some of the ways this can happen is by marrying someone who worships for other gods.  For this reason, the people are order not to intermarry with the people of the lands.  They are also told to tear down all the alters, destroy the alters, and to not covet any of the gold coverings of these idols. 

One warning struck higher with me than any of the others, though.  Moses tells them to be careful, when they are happy and wealthy, have fine homes and are prosperous, to remember where these blessings came from. 

The following is a clip from 7:17 - 18

He did all this so you would never say to yourself, 'I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy'.  Remember the Lord your God.  He is the one who gives you power to be successful ...

This reminds me that, even though we might have worked with our own hands to obtain our comfort and happiness, none of it would have been possible without the Lord.  We wouldn't even have the power to be successful without the Lord.  Those of us who are highly driven -- and like to attribute our success to being driven, need to remember that it was the Lord who made us this way.  Without the Lord -- we could be driven and we could work hard, yet not gain comfort in our lives.  These chapters are a nice reminder that we need to remember the Lord, even when we are sitting comfortable in our fine houses with plenty to eat.

Proverbs 12:1

To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.

This verse is a nice reminder to me that this entire bible study project is a lesson in discipline and correction.  After all, I want to study every single word of the bible so that I can learn -- learn how the Lord expects me to live for every minute of my life.  To learn how the Lord wants me to worship him.  To learn how the Lord wants me to treat others.  To learn how the Lord wants me to treat my children.  To learn the history of my religion.  To learn to future of my religion.  To L-E-A-R-N. 

But it's hard to have learning without correction.  While I'm learning all these things, I must apply them to my life and correct my ways.  I must love correction.  And my reward is the wisdom that I gain each and every day, and the ways I change my life to be more pleasing to the Lord.  Thank you, Lord, for giving us your Word.  Thank you for correcting us.

Cities of Refuge; Manslaughter vs. Murder

Today's Reading:

• Numbers 33:40 - 35:34
• Proverbs 11:23

Read Bible Passages Online

Numbers 33:40 - 35:34
The Israelites made camp across from Jericho.  The Lord spoke to Moses, detailing how the land should be divided.  Each tribe, with the exception of the Levites, would be given a piece of land proportional to the amount of people in the tribe.  The largest tribes were given the most land and the smallest tribes were given the least amount of land.  The Levites were to be given 48 towns with pastures to live in and raise their livestock. 

Six of these towns were designed to be cities of refuge.  If someone were to accidentally kill another human being, they could flee to one of those towns and await trial.  Inside a town of refuge, a person was safe from blood vengeance if they had accidentally killed another person.  Should that person leave the town of refuge before the high priest died, they would not be subject to protection from the victim's relatives.  If they lived in the town until the high priest died, they would be allowed to return to their own property without fear of retaliation. 

The Lord makes a big distinction here between manslaughter and murder.  Manslaughter is the accidental killing of another person.  Manslaughter could only occur between people who were not enemies, and the actions could not be deliberate.  If two people were enemies, or a person deliberately struck them -- be it with a weapon or their own fist -- and that person died, then they are guilty of murder.

Chapter 35 states multiple times that a person must be put to death if they have murdered another person.  The exception here is that there must be more than one witness for this person to be put to death (35:30).  I love how this verse takes into account the deceitful, sometimes evil nature of humans.  Or, even if a person is not intentionally lying about what they saw, they could still be mistaken. 

The thing that I gain the most out of this chapter is that the Lord is telling us that human life is to be cherished.  To deliberately end another human being's life can only be redeemed by the murder of the person who did it.  Chapter 35 also tells us that no ransom is ever to be accepted for the life of another human being.  Even those people we deem least worthy of living are cherished.  Life, human life, is truly sacred.  I plan to make the most of this human life of mine that the Lord so cherishes.

Proverbs 11:23

The godly can look forward to a reward, while the wicked can expect only judgement.

I don't have much to add to this promise, except that I will always strive to be the godly and not the wicked.

God is Fair; Moses Prepares to Die

Today's Reading:

• Numbers 26:52 - 28:15
  
• Proverbs 11:16 - 17

Read Bible Passages Online

Numbers 26:52 - 28:15
God told Moses to divide up the land among tribes.  The divide should be proportional to the population -- so larger tribes received more land than the small tribes, but all was in fair proportions. 

In the beginning of chapter 27, we see a complaint brought before Moses regarding the provisioning of land.  The daughters of Zelophehad were upset because he had died without a son, and thus the remaining family was not entitled to any land.  Moses brought this before the Lord, who said that the daughters should receive their share of inheritance.  Should there be no sons and no daughters, then it goes to his brother instead -- and so on. 

The point I got from these things is that our God is a fair God.  Always, he is fair.  He is fair in punishment (an eye for an eye), He is fair is equal proportions of land; He is fair in that he had multiple tiers of sacrifices that depended on what the person could afford; He is fair when requiring that we all tithe 10%, instead of a set amount that many cannot afford; He is fair in that the family is entitled to inheritance; He is fair in punishment (an eye for an eye) -- He is fair.  He is a fair Lord.  The world is not fair; this life is often not fair -- but the Lord is fair!  I am thrilled that our Lord is a fair Lord.  Thank you, Lord for being fair to your children!

Later in Chapter 27, the Lord tells Moses that he will soon die like Aaron.  Moses asks the Lord to appoint a new leader and the Lord chose Joshua.  Moses transferred some of his power to Joshua, and prepared the people for the change in leadership.  The reading ends with instructions for daily, weekly, monthly and bi-monthly sacrifices. 

Proverbs 11:16 - 17

16  A gracious woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth.

17  Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you.

Gaining wealth sounds great to so many people.  There are only a select few of us who would not like to gain more wealth than we already have.  But it's not worth it if we're gaining that wealth while being ruthless, or by being cruel.  Wealth is fleeting, this life is fleeting.  Kindness, graciousness, wisdom -- those are the traits we should long to acquire.  The Lord will provide for our needs, and we might even gain wealth that we can enjoy during this first life. But if we're going to gain wealth, lets do it the right way.  Let's be kind and gracious to others, share knowledge and wisdom, and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all those around us.

Moses and Aaron are Forbidden to Enter the Promised Land; Obedience to the Lord

Today's Reading:

• Numbers 19:1 - 20:29
  
• Proverbs 11:8

Read Bible Passages Online

Numbers 19:1 - 20:29
I knew that both Moses and Aaron died before reaching the promised land.  I thought that was because of the judgment against that entire generation to die in the wilderness.  It turns out, however, that Moses and Aaron earned their own judgments for disobedience to the Lord.

In chapter 20 we are told that the people of Israel arrived in Kadesh, which was a camp in the middle of the wilderness of Zin.  There was no water there, and once again the people began moaning familiar phrases (why did you bring us here to die?!) to Moses and Aaron.  The two brothers went to seek the Lord's presence for an answer on what to do.

The Lord told Moses and Aaron to speak to the rock in front of the people, and water would pour forth (20:8).  The people were gathered, but instead of speaking to the rock and demonstrating the Lord's power, Moses instead shouted angrily at the people.  He said: "Must we bring you water from this rock?" (20:10).  Moses then struck the rock twice, and the water gushed out.

I was shocked when I read this, for this really was serious disobedience.  The Lord wanted Moses and Aaron to show His power to the people, to speak to the rock and bring forth the water.  Instead, Moses and Aaron gathered the people, yelled at them, struck the rock instead of speaking to it, and attributed the water to their power, instead of the Lord's. 

This is another example of when God slams a door on someone.  Moses and Aaron, for their serious disobedience, were to die in the wilderness and never enter the promised land.  What a horrible price to pay for their sins.

God forgives us of our sins through Jesus Christ, there is no doubt about that.  But I firmly believe that does NOT mean that you will escape being corrected for your sins.  Let's say you commit murder, and your heart is truly repentant, and you take that to the Lord for forgiveness through Jesus Christ.  You will be forgiven, you will not face an eternal judgment of hell for the offense.  But that doesn't mean that you won't face man's death penalty for your sin.  Likewise, if God has promised you something, yet you fail to obey what He has ordered you to do, God might shut that door for you.  It doesn't mean you're not forgiven, but it might mean that your path forward towards what you are working for vanishes completely.

Chapter 20 saw the deaths of Miriam and Aaron.  I assume that I will soon be reading about the death of Moses also, as well as the deaths of an entire generation of people, all held back from the promised land for disobedience to the Lord.  The Lord loves us and forgives us, but we can't forget that we must be also obedient to the Lord, especially when He has told us exactly what we need to do.  We must follow the path he has set for us.

Proverbs 11:8

The godly are rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.

With the judgment imposed upon Moses and Aaron in today's reading, it might seem to some that God didn't rescue them -- that instead He let them fall.  I don't believe that at all, because the Lord still rescued Moses, Aaron, Miriam and all of the Israelite people from the land of Egypt.  He led them out of slavery and He met their daily needs; despite all their moaning, disbelief, lack of faith and disobedience.

The Lord will still rescue us from our troubles, but not always from our disobedience.  It's an important distinction to continue to make, one that I want to continue to remind myself so that I remain obedient to the Lord.

Are All Sins Equal?

Today's Reading:
• Exodus 17:8 - 19:15
• Proverbs 6:27 - 35

Read Bible Passages Online

Exodus 17:8 - 19:15
Moses and his people are now in the Sinai wilderness.  The first account of today's reading tells of how they fought the armies of the Amalekites.  The bible states that Moses told Joshua to gather an army to fight the men while Moses, Aaron and Hur climbed a mountain top. 

I'd like to stop briefly here for a quick question: Who is Joshua?  I think this is the first I have seen him mentioned.  I wonder if he is the same Joshua as is written in the book of Joshua?  I imagine he probably is, I just don't yet have a good enough frame of reference of the bible yet.

Moses had the task of raising his staff over his head as the battle raged on.  Whenever he lowered the staff his people would start to lose, and whenever he raised it they would again be winning.  The bible says that Hur and Aaron helped Moses keep his arms up as he became too tired.  Can you imagine?  Try keeping your arms up in the air for 15 minutes with nothing in them -- you would get extremely tired.  But the bible says that Moses held his staff above his head until sunset when the people of Israel won the battle.

Then Jethro (the father in law of Moses) came to visit Moses in the wilderness and to bring Moses his wife and children back.  I don't know at what point they were sent away, I don't recall reading anything about them being sent off. 

It also seems that Moses was trying to handle all the problems of the 600,000 men (plus women and children!) all on his own.  Jethro saw this and suggested to Moses that he teach others the decrees of God and then appoint leaders to groups of 1000, 100, 50 and 10.  Moses implemented that suggestion.  I imagine he was quite relieved after that point!

The story ends as the people of Israel prepare for God's coming to the base of the mountain.  God said that He would let all the people hear Him speak to Moses.  The Israelites were to spend the next three days in preparation. 

Proverbs 6:27 - 35
We read here that adultery will not be left unpunished by man.  Verses 31 and 32 say that thieves might sometimes have excuses -- they will have to pay back what they have stolen -- but they still might have an excuse (for example, they were starving).  But the adulterer destroys himself and will be utterly disgraced with shame that will never be erased (6:33).

I would like to note here the comparison between the sins of thieving and the sin of adultery.  I find it highly interesting how a distinction is made between the two, with the adultery being the higher crime. 

I know that other distinctions are made elsewhere in the bible for sins and their punishments; some come with death, others do not.  So there are levels of severity in sin.  This is significant to me because I have come from the thoughts that all sins are the same -- someone who steals is no less bad than someone who murders another.  I am not so sure that is the truth anymore. 

Of course any and all sin keeps us from the Lord and that is why we need the blood of Jesus Christ.  I realize that without question.  But I'll have to decide throughout my reading if sin has tiered severity -- not just in the eyes of humans, but in the eyes of God.

The 10 Plagues of Egypt; Laziness is Bad for the Soul

Today’s Reading:
• Exodus 10:1 - 12:13
  
• Proverbs 6:6 - 11
  

Read Bible Passages Online

Exodus 10:1 - 12:13
The plagues continue.  These were the plagues I previously read about:

1. A Plague of Blood
2. A Plague of Frogs
3. A Plague of Gnats (or some insect that was not a fly or a locust)
4. A Plague of Flies
5. A Plague Against Livestock
6. A Plague of Boils
7. A Plague of Hail

Today I read about the remaining three:

     8.    Plague of Locusts
     9.    Plague of Darkness
     10.  Death of the Firstborn Son

The reading stopped before the tenth plague was actually carried through. The Israelites were making the preparation by slaughtering the young male animals and smearing the blood over the door jambs. 

I knew animal sacrifices were required to cleanse the people from their sins.  What I'm just putting together is the fact that it truly does take blood to cleanse people of sins.  In the Old Testament that was the blood of animals but it was never really sufficient.  The people had to slaughter animals all of the time to atone for their sins. 

It wasn't until the blood of a sinless man -- Jesus Christ, Son of God Himself -- was shed that there could truly be salvation for the people.  For the sins of the Egyptians and the Israelites (because they had been living with the Egyptians for 400 years and didn't really know the Lord either) the Lord required a blood sacrifice.  The Lord had shielded the Israelites from the plagues of animals and insects and weather and darkness, but only blood could satisfy the Lord when it came time to take the firstborn sons.  

Proverbs 6:6 - 11
These verses from Proverbs talk about lazy people.  It says that we must work if we don't want to live in poverty.  God truly means for us to work.  It does our bodies and our souls no good to sit around and be idle all the time.  I enjoy my rest and my time off -- we all need R&R -- but I do know that if I spend too many days doing nothing but lying around I really begin to feel bad about myself.  I don't like being so busy that I don't have time for myself, but I enjoy the fulfillment of knowing that I did something productive with my day.  When I feel good about myself, I aspire to do better.  I aspire to lead a fulfilling life and the most fulfilling life I can live is a life for Jesus Christ.

The First Seven Plagues of Egypt; Save Yourself from the Debts of Others

Today’s Reading:
• Exodus 8:1 - 9:35
• Proverbs 6:1-5

Exodus 8:1 - 9:35
Today's reading covers a portion of the plagues.  In the last Exodus reading we saw the first plague which was all water from the Nile river turned to blood.  The next six plagues were covered today.  Here is a list of the plagues that I have so far read about:

1. A Plague of Blood
2. A Plague of Frogs
3. A Plague of Gnats (or some insect that was not a fly or a locust)
4. A Plague of Flies
5. A Plague Against Livestock
6. A Plague of Boils
7. A Plague of Hail

It's hard to comment on such a tremendous display of power against the Egyptian people as they were washed by plague after plague while the people of Israel remained untouched.  I certainly wouldn't want to be an Egyptian who was suffering for the Pharaoh's sins.  Not that the Egyptians were anywhere close to innocent; they did not know the Lord.  I imagine quite a few were ready to turn and follow the Lord long before the plagues were done being rolled out. 

The important thing -- the point of the entire set of plagues -- was for God to show the Egyptian people who the real God is.  These people had been worshiping the Pharaoh and had no knowledge of the real God until the Lord came in an showed the Egyptian people that He was mightier than anything they had ever known before. 

In verse 9:20 we are told that some of Pharaoh's officials headed the warning against the seventh plague and brought their household and livestock to safety, so I believe that is some indication that part of the Egyptian people were paying heed to this Lord whose power they were learning.

The Pharaoh kept relenting and saying that he would let the people go but then he would recant his promise each time the Lord lifted the plague from the land.  At the end of the seventh plague the Pharaoh finally comes out and admits that he was wrong and that he had sinned (9:27).  As soon as that plague was lifted, the Pharaoh once again changed his mind. The Pharaoh didn't keep his promises, but the Lord always keeps His, and so the plagues were sure to continue.

Proverbs 6:1-5
These first few verses of Proverbs 6 talks about saving yourselves from the debts of others.  It says that if you are trapped by an agreement of another then you are at that person's mercy and you need to have yourself removed from that situation as quickly as possible.

We are lucky that we live in the United States.  Here you don't get jailed for having debts you cannot pay, but that is not true elsewhere.  I don't really know when or where this particular Proverb was written and what the laws of the time were, but I am pretty sure that debt was usually a sin punishable by imprisonment until paid off completely. 

These days you can ruin your financial life by securing another person's debt.  I don't think these verses are telling us that we should never help another person out, but I do think that we are being told to be weary when we do so.  There's a difference between helping others and ruining yourself to do so.  If you ruin yourself to help someone, how will you then be able to be a blessing to more people?

Conclusion
Reading the bible is like reading a self help book, a history book, a biography, a horror story (think about living during those plagues) a drama and a soap opera (think Rachel and Leah and Jacob) all at the same time.  People who think that the bible is an old stuffy boring book obviously haven't read enough of it.  I can't wait to see what unfolds next.

Nile Turns to Blood; Held Captive by Our Own Sins

Today’s Reading:
• Exodus 5:22 - 7:25
• Proverbs 5:22 - 23

Exodus 5:22 - 7:25
Moses no longer had the support of his own people whom he was fighting for.  Moses complained to the Lord but the Lord promised Moses that He will avenge the people, and by the time He was done all of Egypt will also know the one true God. 

Moses and Aaron went to the Pharaoh and turned the staff into a serpent.  The Pharaoh's magicians were able to do the same thing but the Lord's staff swallowed the staff of the magicians.  The Pharaoh still refused to believe so next Aaron turned the entire Nile river into blood.  It also says that all water from the Nile -- even that which was stored in pots (7:19) was turned into blood.  Once again, however, the magicians were able to do the same thing and they also turned water into blood.  The reading ends by remarking that it had been seven days since the Nile had been turned to blood.

I have to wonder about the Pharaoh's magicians.  Their power obviously doesn't come from the Lord, and we know that Satan is quite powerful, but we also know that he's not a fraction as powerful as God is.  When the sorcerers turned their staffs to serpents, their serpents were quickly swallowed whole. 

It also says that the sorcerers managed to turn water to blood, but it doesn't say to what extent.  I know they weren't able to turn the mighty Nile and all water anywhere that came from it into blood.  I know that the Pharaoh's heart was hardened, for God said quite a few times that he hardened the Pharaoh's heart (7:3 is just one example). 

It's still hard for me to imagine that people can see what they see, know what they know, yet still stubbornly insist that God does not exist, or, if He does exist, it doesn't matter or apply to them.  Oh well.  It's not my job to understand these other people.  I know what I know, and I am learning what I can, and sharing with others the things I am learning.  But I certainly will never be able to help someone find God whose heart has been hardened! 

I guess that I would first need to pray that the person's heart been softened so that they might feel the truths of the words spoken to them.  I will start with a prayer in the name of Jesus Christ for anyone who runs across my blog that their hearts will be softened, and that, at the very least, a small fire of longing to know the truth will be light inside of them, so that they might seek these truths for themselves.  Amen.


Proverbs 5:22 - 23
These two short verses in Proverbs tell us that we will be held captive by our own sins like ropes that tie us down, and if we have no self control then we will be lost because of foolishness.  These verses were in reference to extramarital affairs but the application goes far beyond just that. 

I know that every time I sin I feel myself distanced further from God.  If I keep sinning then I keep distancing myself further and further, and eventually I will become lost.  Take heed not to become lost, but if you are, just remember that it is never too late to cut those ropes that are holding you down.  And you don't have to do that by yourself -- you have the power of the Almighty Lord to help you.

Moses and Aaron Confront Pharoh

Today’s Reading:
• Exodus 4:1 - 5:21
• Proverbs 5:15 - 21

Read Bible Passages Online

Exodus 4:1 - 5:21
At the close of the last Exodus reading Moses was protesting his ability to do God's will and lead the people out of Egypt. The Lord had equipped Moses with his special staff, the one that turned into a serpent when thrown to the ground.  God also showed Moses how to cover his hand with disease and then make it whole again.  The Lord told Moses that if he dumped water from the Nile onto the ground that it would turn into blood.  Still, Moses continued to object to the task the Lord have given him until the Lord decided to name Aaron as the speaker for Moses.  Finally Moses had no more excuses and had to undergo his mission to speak to the leaders of Israel and to the Pharaoh.

Moses had no problem convincing the elders of his people.  They rejoiced in the fact that God was finally going to lift them up out of the suffering.  The Pharaoh, on the other hand, was outraged -- after all, who could this "God" be that was greater than he?  As a result of his anger the Pharaoh punished the people of Israel by having them work even harder than before.  This greatly angered the Israelites and turned them against Moses and Aaron.  This is where the reading stops for the day.

In the middle of this reading there was a small passage that really baffled me.  It was during Moses's return to Egypt with his family.  Seemingly out of the blue it says that the Lord confronted Moses and was about to kill him.  Then Moses's wife Zipporah immediately circumcised their son, and the Lord left Moses alone (5:24-26). 

I am wondering if I overlooked something earlier in this book, or if maybe there's more information elsewhere in the scripture that explains this?  I guess my assumption would be that the Lord had commanded Moses to circumcise his son at some point, yet Moses refused or delayed it?  It just seems odd because I didn't see that there was any reason given for God's sudden anger at Moses, and the very first reaction of Moses's wife was to circumcise their son.  Perhaps I'll find another piece of scripture at some point that clears this up for me.  I just felt like it came out of nowhere.

Proverbs 5:15 - 21
This is a continuation of the last reading from Proverbs (5:7 -14) where we were warned that extramarital affairs will destroy our lives.  In today's reading we are strongly cautioned to keep sex within our own marriage.  The man is told to let his wife be enough for her, to enjoy the sanctity of marital relations and not to share that with anyone else.

The Life of Moses, Extramarital Affairs

Today’s Reading:
• Exodus 2:11 - 3:22
• Proverbs 5:7 - 14

Read Bible Passages Online

Exodus 2:11 - 3:22
In my last reading of Exodus I met Moses -- first as an infant and then as a child (undisclosed age) when he was handed back to be raised by the princess.  Today I met Moses as an adult.  Again the age is undisclosed, but the study notes in my bible estimate (based on other bible references I have yet to read) that Moses was about 40 years old. 

As an adult Moses decided to visit his people and witnessed the brutality of their slavery firsthand.  Moses then took matters into his own hands and killed a guard that had beaten a Hebrew man.  When Moses later tried to socialize with some fellow Hebrews they responded quite poorly.  They accused him of trying to be their prince and their judge (2:14).  I guess their response was understandable; after all, Moses had led a life of privilege even though he was a Hebrew.  What did he really know of their suffering?  And who was he to just come down, kill a guard, and think that he can make it all better?

Pharaoh learned that Moses had killed the guard and tried to kill Moses.  Moses then became a fugitive and fled to Midian.  There he rescued some girls who were trying to water their father's flocks.  Moses settled with that family, married one of the girls, and had children of his own.  Moses lived that life for around 40 years (again, estimate from my study bible and I have not read enough to back it up).

When Moses was approximately 80 years old he saw the burning bush.  There he was told what his mission would be -- first to meet with the Israelite elders, then to meet with Pharaoh and demonstrate God's hand, and finally to lead the people out of Egypt. 

Moses was understandably baffled at this revelation.  It was a huge endeavor and a great responsibility.  The Pharaoh who tried to kill Moses had died but that didn't mean the new Pharaoh was any more favorable toward Moses.  The new Pharaoh hadn't changed the brutal slavery policies, so why would there be any reason to believe that Moses wouldn't still be a fugitive when he returned?  I also don't think there was any indication that Moses would be any better received by his own people.  He was a Hebrew, but he had lived apart his entire life, even after he fled the palace.

The reading leaves off before Moses actually accepts and undergoes the mission, but of course I know the ending to this story.  Even if I didn't know, Moses was a rescuer, that was easy to see.  The problem was that he went about it via his own devices, first by killing the guard and then by rescuing the girls.  Each of those actions had life changing implications -- for the first he became a fugitive and lost his life of privilege, for the second he gained a new home and new life.  Regardless, the true power to rescue his people, a power he arguably craved, could only come from God.  Finally, Moses was about to embark on the God-led mission to deliver his people out of the brutal slavery in Egypt. 

Proverbs 5:7 -14
This reading continues the topic of having an affair.  The bible strictly warns that you have much to lose -- you will lose your wealth and the fruit of your labors (a divorce would immediately result in a loss of much of your wealth) and the things you have achieved (how many public scandals have ruined people's careers?).  The bible even says you will suffer diseases (sexually transmitted diseases, I assume). 

The last verse tells of the public disgrace that will be suffered.  All of what was said here is true today -- even in our day and age when sexual relationships before or instead of marriage are quite common.  So heed the warnings! 

The bible doesn't say that it's a crime to be tempted, because how could you help the occasional thought that passes through your mind?  But it does say to stay far away from temptation's door (5:8).  In other words, keep yourself out of those situations.  If you actively keep yourself away from it then you won't succumb to it.  But if you keep putting yourself in that situation, how long do you think you will be able to resist it?  When is it ever worth what you're going to lose?

Baby Moses is Sent Down the River, Beware Immorality

Today’s Reading:
• Exodus 1 - 2:10
• Proverbs 5: 1-6

Read Bible Passages Online

Exodus 1 - 2:10
At the end of Genesis the Israelites moved to Egypt where Joseph was second in command the entire nation.  Pharaoh knew what Joseph had done for him and was good to him.  In time, however, that Pharaoh died and a new Pharaoh came to power.  He realized that the Israelites were dangerously prolific and soon outnumbered the Egyptians.  He ordered the Israelites to be slaves and worked them very hard.  That only backfired as the Israelites multiplied even more quickly.  So the Pharaoh gave his famous order to kill all sons born to the Israelites.

The Pharaoh first ordered the midwives to kill the sons but they refused out of fear of God.  He then sent the order that all of the sons of Israelites should be thrown into the Nile River.  Forget the fact that the Pharaoh does not know God -- but where is that man's conscience?  How can someone order such a thing and then later live with themselves?  I know that we as a people have a sinful nature, but I don't think the majority of those who never did and never will know God could do such a thing as that.

I would be interested to know how many people followed the Pharaoh's orders, and the measures they took to hide their babies.  Was there a safe age for a boy child to reach?  Let's say they managed to hide a boy for 2-3 years, was he safe at that point if they brought him out?  How long was this order under effect?

The final section of the reading is one of my favorite parts of the story of Moses.  Moses's mother left him in a basket on the banks of the river in hopes that he would survive.  Not only did he survive, but the princess herself found him and then paid the mother of Moses to raise and nurse the child for awhile.  It says that Moses was brought back when he was older to be adopted by the princess.

How old was Moses when his mother brought him back to the princess?  How old was the sister, who watched in the weeds and suggested to the princess a woman to nurse the child?  I know it was all God's work, but did the princess suspect or know that the woman was Moses's own mother?  Regardless, the bottom line is God is GREAT and through him all things are possible, and these passages contain but one small example of His great works.

Proverbs 5: 1- 6
These first few verses of the fifth Proverb warn men to stay away from immoral women.  The immoral woman has lips as sweet as honey and a mouth that is smoother than oil (5:3), but in the end she is poison, she is dangerous,  and her feet lead to death (5:4-5).  Of course this verse is written to the men, but it certainly applies to women as well.  It applies to the women who are tempted to have an extramarital affair as well as those who are doing the tempting.

In those days a person really could be put to death for adultery.  These days, in the United States, that doesn't happen as often, although crimes of passion do occur.  In some countries it's not uncommon for a woman to be put to death (by her own family even!) if it is found that she isn't a virgin when she gets married.  Regardless of whether or not one will actually be put to death for having immoral sex, in the end it's still your relationship with God that winds up tarnished.  You can be forgiven and you can be cleansed, but each and every sin keeps you from becoming as close to God as you could and should be.  In the end, it's you who loses out.