When the people of Israel were at Sinai, God told Moses to set boundaries around the mountain. This was the place where God would meet the people, where they would hear him and receive his word. Yet, for all but Moses, it was to be at a distance. One day, people were bringing their kids… Continue reading The true and better Sinai
Tag: Moses
Are you washed in the blood?
Imagine if you had been stood amongst the people as Moses spoke and then demonstrated the covenant by sprinkling or showering you with blood from the sacrifices. We tend to be queasy about blood, ancient people were less so. The blood was significant and significant because it was not just something happening in the distance… Continue reading Are you washed in the blood?
Not consumed
Here’s my summing up talk from an all age service looking at Moses and the Burning Bush (Exodus 4-5). A sign and a sending
A hungry and thirsty people
Bitter-Sweet As the people move on from the Red Sea crossing, they search for water but find none in the desert for three days, until they come to a place they name Marah, the name is a play on the Hebrew for bitter. There is something off about the water, it tastes bitter. The people… Continue reading A hungry and thirsty people
Magicians and Miracles
Why were the Egyptian magicians seemingly able to replicate the miracles that Moses performed? There are a few possibilities. It could be that they were dependent on demonic power. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians that there is real demonic power that sits behind idolatry. Alternatively, it may have been that they were tricksters, their… Continue reading Magicians and Miracles
De-creation and the Egyptian plagues
In Genesis 6-9, we see that God’s judgement on a sinful and wicked world is also an act of de-creation. Where the creation of Genesis 1-2 had seen forming and structure so that light was divided from darkness and sea from land and sky, we see a descent into chaos as the form and structure… Continue reading De-creation and the Egyptian plagues
The firstborn
God announces to Moses that there is just one more plague to come and then Pharoah will let the people go (Exodus 11:1). Before he announces the plague, Moses instructs the Isralites to go and request silver and gold from the Egyptians. YHWH ensures that the people find favour with the Egyptians and additionally, Moses… Continue reading The firstborn
The judging of Egypt and Pharoah
God sends Moses and Aaron back to Pharoah with Aaron to act as Moses’ spokesman just as prophets speak for God to the people. Again, he explains his plans and purpose to Moses. They are to call on Pharoah to let the people go from Egypt but he will not, his heart will be hardened. … Continue reading The judging of Egypt and Pharoah
Let my people go
Moses and Aaron now go to address Pharoah, as instructed, they tell him that YHWH-God commands him to let the Israelites go a three-day journey into the wilderness to celebrate a feast. The king’s response is that he has not heard of this YHWH and he has no intention of letting his slaves off their… Continue reading Let my people go
Application from the burning bush
There are lots of nuggets along the way in these two chapters. Particularly, I’m struck by the following. First of all, there is the example of Moses. It isn’t a good example here. He responds to God’s command and even to God’s promises with doubt and resistance. There is a particular warning for leaders in… Continue reading Application from the burning bush
Faithroots 