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- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Ex. 22-23
A few quick notes and observations about some of these laws:
- Theft and destruction of another’s property always required repayment above and beyond whatever was taken or lost. It’s as if the offense itself required as much or more than the property involved. Interesting.
- It seems that judges often had to rely on God to reveal the truth. I pray for such discernment!
- I love how offenses against the vulnerable – widows, orphans, and the poor – were punished by God Himself. God said of such people, “they will no doubt cry to me, and I will certainly hear their cry…I will listen because I am gracious.” (Ex. 22:23b, 27b).
- All firstborn sons – people and livestock – were to remain with their mothers for seven days, “but on the eighth day,” God said, “you are to give them to Me.” (Ex. 22:30b). That gives some insight as to why they circumcised the male babies on their eighth day.
- “Do not show favoritism to a poor person in his lawsuit.” (Ex. 23:3). And, conversely, “You must not deny justice to a poor person among you in his lawsuit.” (Ex. 23:6). The circumstances of the situation, not the status of the people involved, are the deciding factor in justice.
- Observing the Sabbath was as much to give rest as it was to take it. “Do your work for six days but rest on the seventh day so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave as well as the resident alien may be refreshed.” (Ex. 23:12).
Ex. 24
I always think of Moses as being the only one who stood in God’s presence. But that really isn’t so. It’s just that there were different levels or degrees of proximity to God among the people. God revealed Himself and spoke to all the Israelites, as mentioned yesterday. Then, there were 73 or 74 besides Moses who went part way up the mountain and worshipped God from a distance. They saw Him and ate and drank within view of Him.
I say 73 or 74 because I am confused as to where and how Joshua fits in to all of this. Though God said that Moses alone was to approach the LORD, Ex. 24:13 says, “So Moses arose with his assistant Joshua and went up the mountain of God.” I don’t know if Joshua was one of the 70 but drew one level closer to God without standing face to face with Him as Moses did, or if he was sort of counted as one with Moses, like his shadow.
Whatever the case, I get the impression that there is so much more in this mountain experience than what we immediately recognize. I think it says something about our relationship with God, both through the Law and through His Chosen One. And I think it says something about God’s plan for that relationship. Though I don’t understand the picture God painted with all of this, at least I sense it is there. Maybe someday I’ll see that picture clearly.