Oh my gosh, I can't believe it's been so long since I last posted. I'm already done with Exodus; it went by fast. If you are following the plan we are now into Leviticus. This post will discuss Exodus as a whole. Since I'm covering an entire book I will only focus on the passages I bookmarked while reading. The first thing I bookmarked was 4:24, "One the way to Egypt, at a place where Moses and his family had stopped for the night, the Lord confronted him and was about to kill him." The next verse basically points out that it was because his son was not yet circumcised, but then his wife hurriedly did the job with a flint knife so God decided to leave them alone. I just wanted to know if there was any warning before this, because it didn't really seem like it. Though, I guess I was also somewhat surprised his kid wasn't already circumcised, so idk. Still, it seemed to come out of nowhere in the reading. I just found it interesting because here God has Moses going to Egypt to free His people, and He almost thwarted His own plan by killing Moses. Intense.
Footnote on the plagues here; I just read something introducing an idea I had not thought of before. Apparently some scholars see the plagues as a form of warfare against the gods of Egypt. Each plague confronting a different Egyptian idol. For example, the plague on the Nile River opposed the Egyptians' river god, the plague of darkness attacked Ra, the sun god, the plague on livestock countered the sacred bull, etc. I think this is a pretty neat observation and makes the individual plagues much more significant.
Ch. 12 seemed to get a lot of bookmarks, so I shall discuss that now. 12:23, "For the Lord will pass through the land to strike down the Egyptians. But when he sees the blood on the top and sides of the door frame, the Lord will pass over your home. He will not permit his death angel to enter your house and strike you down." NLT. Death angel (NLT), the destroyer (NIV, ESV, KJV). This death angel/destroyer interests me. Is this God controlling a grim/the grim reaper figure? Is death an actual angel that works for God? Death, as an actual being...forgive me, now I'm just thinking about the TV show Dead Like Me... But, it does seem to be an actual being that God has control over. Is it morbid if I think this is cool? I guess it makes sense. Something/someone actually bringing about death instead of it just happening; it's an interesting concept. And is this always the case with death, or just when God wants to bring about death on His new time table such as in Exodus? Hmm, must not think too much on this.
To finish with Ch.12, I can't help but wonder if we are suppose to continue the celebration of Passover as Christians. Most Christians do not, and it is reserved for Jews, but why don't we? In 12:17 It talks about it being a permanent law for us, and that we are to celebrate the day from generation to generation. In 12:24 it says, "Remember, these instructions are a permanent law that you and your descendants much observe forever". Rob likes to say it is because we are not Israelites. But, there are other references that state foreigners that join the Israelites are to adopt their customs. Which leads to a whole new set of questions on what we are to follow today and what no longer applies. Oy vey! Now, my student bible has some insight into the passover bit it seems, with some commentary. I think I will quote it and let you take from it what you will.
"Much later, Passover night would take on an even broader significance. During one particular Passover feast, as thousands of Jews were bringing their choice lambs to Jerusalem, one man was selected as the Passover lamb for all humanity (1 Corinthians 5:7). The words "When I see the blood, I will pass over you" (12:13) came to convey a whole new meaning. Today, though Jewish people still celebrate Passover, most Christians do not. Rather, that ceremony has been incorporated into a new one called the Eucharist, or the Lord's Supper, with Christ representing the Passover lamb. Although much of the ceremony's content has changed, one thing has not. The Lord's Supper, too, memorializes a time of pain and of bloodshed, a time of freedom and deliverance. It, too, was God's act alone. He gets the credit." (The Student Bible NIV, Zondervan).
I tried to indent this quote since it was so long, but blogger doesn't seem to let me format very well, sorry. We aren't fancy here. Okay, so maybe for the Passover, we have turned it into the Lord's Supper being the focus. But, then I wonder about the seemingly obsessive nature of God insisting the bread not have yeast. Not just here with the Passover, but many other parts of Exodus and Leviticus talk about yeast being bad. So then I start wondering about that! I guess I just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing, but sometimes it's hard to figure out what that is.
Okay, you know what. No one is going to read this because I always write wayyyy too much. I have decided to stop here at Ch. 12 and make this a two parter. What was I thinking covering a whole book in one post? Maybe one day I will get my blog caught back up with where I am in the reading lol. Love you all!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Finishing Genesis
Hopefully if you are reading the Bible along with me you are following the YouVersion site for the daily assignments. I have been doing great about keeping up with the actual reading, but when it comes to blogging consistently enough to give you a proper heads up on what to read when, I somewhat produce nothing but fail sauce. Apologies.
Now, with all that being said, since I do keep up with the actual reading bit, I am going to write about everything I was going to write about on Sat, but add in Mon, Tues, and Wed (so I will finish up Genesis). Sorry if you have to play catch up. Hence forth you will know that I am hopelessly flawed and mayhaps that will invite an element of flexibility into our relationship. If you follow the YouVersion schedule and just read my posts as they are posted, we should be just fine.
Genesis 30 in today's day and age would be straight up insane. Two wives, sisters, fighting over the time and love of one man. Also, they both decide to offer up their servants as pawns in the "I'll make more babies than my sister" game. It's crazy. It's crazy that Jacob seems to just add fuel to the fire too. But, as we will see, Jacob tends to play favorites. He gives more love to Rachel (granted that IS the girl he wanted to begin with and the aforementioned jerk face father-in-law basically suckered him into taking her sister Leah first) and this causes the animosity between the sisters. He later favors Joseph over his other sons, causing jealously here too, so much so that the other sons sell Joseph into slavery just to be rid of him.
Okay, back to the feuding sisters for one moment. I can't resist, I have to type out one of the verses to give you a taste of what I'm talking about..."But Leah angrily replied, 'Wasn't it enough that you stole my husband? Now will you steal my son's mandrakes, too?' Rachel answered, 'I will let Jacob sleep with you tonight if you give me some of the mandrakes' (Gen30:15) LOL! Oh my 30 was a fun read.
Gen 31 was interesting when Rachel sat on the idols her father was looking for and refused to get up to reveal them, using the excuse of being on her period. Not too terribly important, but I found it interesting so it goes into my blog lol.
Gen 32, I now see where the terms Israel and Israelites come from. Gen 32:28 - "Your name will no longer be Jacob," the man told him. "From now on your name will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won."
Now, I want to talk about Reuben a bit. This is encompassing different chapters. I want to look at something here. First Reuben actually decides to sleep with one of his father's women. Nothing is done about it at the time really, but later when his father is about to die he is told he no longer will get to have the benefits of being the first born. Basically his father had remembered this sin and decided to punish him for it. Then another time Reuben is among his brothers that are plotting Joseph's death, but if it hadn't been for Reuben who suggested putting him down in a cistern alive instead, the other brothers very well might have killed Joseph. A different brother then later decided to sell him (without Reuben knowing this). Reuben had intended all along to come back and get Joseph out of the cistern and not let him die, but when he came back and found he was gone he was struck with grief. Here we see Reuben as a decent brother, perhaps the only friend Joseph had at the time.
Later when he sees Joseph in Egypt, he seems to be the one who really "gets it". He is torn up over it and takes on responsibility for Benjamin too, so really I kinda felt like Reuben was an overall good guy. Esau seemed like a good guy too. But, like Esau, Reuben's blessings go to a younger brother. I'm seeing a pattern. Idk why Joseph was surprised when his dad gave Joseph's younger son the better blessing over the older...hello, that's just what this family does. Issac was picked over Ishmael too if you recall. Lots of firstborns getting the shaft. If I were male, and part of this family line at the time, I would be extremely worried.
Okay wow, I'm writing too much and I'm trying to cover way too much material. This is why I need to blog more often (note to self, learn lesson). I will end it for now. Go read some for yourself. There was too much good stuff in there to write about it all. See you in Exodus.
Now, with all that being said, since I do keep up with the actual reading bit, I am going to write about everything I was going to write about on Sat, but add in Mon, Tues, and Wed (so I will finish up Genesis). Sorry if you have to play catch up. Hence forth you will know that I am hopelessly flawed and mayhaps that will invite an element of flexibility into our relationship. If you follow the YouVersion schedule and just read my posts as they are posted, we should be just fine.
Genesis 30 in today's day and age would be straight up insane. Two wives, sisters, fighting over the time and love of one man. Also, they both decide to offer up their servants as pawns in the "I'll make more babies than my sister" game. It's crazy. It's crazy that Jacob seems to just add fuel to the fire too. But, as we will see, Jacob tends to play favorites. He gives more love to Rachel (granted that IS the girl he wanted to begin with and the aforementioned jerk face father-in-law basically suckered him into taking her sister Leah first) and this causes the animosity between the sisters. He later favors Joseph over his other sons, causing jealously here too, so much so that the other sons sell Joseph into slavery just to be rid of him.
Okay, back to the feuding sisters for one moment. I can't resist, I have to type out one of the verses to give you a taste of what I'm talking about..."But Leah angrily replied, 'Wasn't it enough that you stole my husband? Now will you steal my son's mandrakes, too?' Rachel answered, 'I will let Jacob sleep with you tonight if you give me some of the mandrakes' (Gen30:15) LOL! Oh my 30 was a fun read.
Gen 31 was interesting when Rachel sat on the idols her father was looking for and refused to get up to reveal them, using the excuse of being on her period. Not too terribly important, but I found it interesting so it goes into my blog lol.
Gen 32, I now see where the terms Israel and Israelites come from. Gen 32:28 - "Your name will no longer be Jacob," the man told him. "From now on your name will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won."
Now, I want to talk about Reuben a bit. This is encompassing different chapters. I want to look at something here. First Reuben actually decides to sleep with one of his father's women. Nothing is done about it at the time really, but later when his father is about to die he is told he no longer will get to have the benefits of being the first born. Basically his father had remembered this sin and decided to punish him for it. Then another time Reuben is among his brothers that are plotting Joseph's death, but if it hadn't been for Reuben who suggested putting him down in a cistern alive instead, the other brothers very well might have killed Joseph. A different brother then later decided to sell him (without Reuben knowing this). Reuben had intended all along to come back and get Joseph out of the cistern and not let him die, but when he came back and found he was gone he was struck with grief. Here we see Reuben as a decent brother, perhaps the only friend Joseph had at the time.
Later when he sees Joseph in Egypt, he seems to be the one who really "gets it". He is torn up over it and takes on responsibility for Benjamin too, so really I kinda felt like Reuben was an overall good guy. Esau seemed like a good guy too. But, like Esau, Reuben's blessings go to a younger brother. I'm seeing a pattern. Idk why Joseph was surprised when his dad gave Joseph's younger son the better blessing over the older...hello, that's just what this family does. Issac was picked over Ishmael too if you recall. Lots of firstborns getting the shaft. If I were male, and part of this family line at the time, I would be extremely worried.
Okay wow, I'm writing too much and I'm trying to cover way too much material. This is why I need to blog more often (note to self, learn lesson). I will end it for now. Go read some for yourself. There was too much good stuff in there to write about it all. See you in Exodus.
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