The readings for days 11 to 15, from Monday 18th February, are:
Exodus 12:1-30
Exodus 16
Numbers 21:4-9
1 Kings 8:1-21
Jonah 1-4
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13 comments:
After last weeks readings which focussed on sin and our need for a saviour I found todays reading a relief.Not just because it acts as a 'Trailer of a saviour' but because it points to how God is consistent in the way he acts yet at the same time how he upped the stakes with Jesus.
When I read this mornings passage what struck me was the reference about Jesus' blood. Was this a coincidence after the sermon that
Derek gave? Or had he cheated and read it first and then did the sermon ?(i dont think this happened). Or was it God speaking to us.
The latter I think, and how powerful it was too.Great passage and also the commentry
Not sure that I see the direct link to Jesus in todays reading. I eman I know Jesus is the bread of life but i'm not sure that manna is bread.
What did strike me as I read, especially when combined with Andrew's excellent sermon from numbers last Sunday is how like modern day life the Israelites journey through the desert is. Aparently the journey they took is possible to complete in 11 days. The fact they took soo much longer was down to their weak faith in God. Andrews sermon showed a people putting faith in their own a fears over God. Todays reading shows them grumbling over food. Both show a people placing limits over what God can do. God is so much more than we percieve. Todays reading shows he cares for our needs and how he wants us to focus on him (hence the Sabbath rules). Its shows a people in despair having their needs met in a way they couldn't have predicted. Do we limit our relationship with God by pannicking when things don't go as we expect?Do we have an expectation of the unexpected when it comes to Gods solutions?
Sometimes a passage appears to contradict the teaching of the bible. With the bronze serpent is God really advocating the use of statues and icons? The Catholic and Orthodox Churches would say so. I think the difference between the golden calf and the bronze serpent is that the calf was itself an object of worship while the serpent was a solution a problem that the Jewish nation got itself into. And so it must be with the cross. Sin caused seperation from God and Christ brought us back, and the Cross symbolises that.
I've got to agree with malcolm on this one todays reading. Gods solution does seem a little like icon worship.Exept of course God doesn't set up any ritual for worship or instruct them do behave like it is him.That said you could see the potential for it being abused in that way. For me the passage reads like sin leading to punishment leading to the people being reminded of Gods authority. I agree with the EJ book that God provides the solution in this passage but am sceptical of the link to salvation with Jesus. Arguably the truth of both is that through refocussing on God we are spared of the consequences of our sin. But the situation in Numbers is a specific sin leading to a specific punishment leading to a specific solution. If they were to steal, for example, looking at a bronze snake would be of no use. What Jesus did on the cross saves all who believe in him from the consequences of all sin.
I would agree with james's analysis of the differences between the bronze snake and the cross. The snake was solution to a local problem, whereas the cross was a greater solution to an universal problem, and the two events are clearly not on the same level. Nevertheless, at the risk of reading too much into the Bible, the Old Testament appears to have many pointers to the work and sacrifice of Christ and this could be one of them.
What an interesting discussion about whether or not the Bronze serpent was an icon. I suppose God was helping them understand, using their frailty. We are studying Mark's gospel in Growing in God and I was struck by how Jesus commented on their lack of understanding. We must try His patience I think!
Phew! Todays reading seems nice an uncontraversial. As EJ makes clear without the temple being where God resides alot of Jesus' actions make less sense.
Also I like the way that unlike yesterdays reading with all its Bronze snake busisness the Israelites have built the temple to focus on God and have done so in a way that pleases God. Something i'm glad we're doing when we consider what to do with the RBC building
Today's reading - the completion and dedication of Solomon's temple - reminded me of an earlier reading (Day 5 of Essential Jesus). 1 Peter 2:4-5 reads:
As you come to him, the living Stone — rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him — you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house
Solomon and Israel celebrated the Temple, and it sounds very impressive as a spiritual 'house'. They had been given this task by God and now he revealed something of his glory in their presence.
The book reminds us that this points to Jesus, and how we come to a person not a place. 1 Peter points to each of us being a 'temple', where God's presence is also revealed, because of what Jesus has done and is still doing.
This was another 'trailer' idea to me: the Old Testament anticipates Jesus as our Saviour, the one who works in us by his Spirit, builds us together, and reveals his craftsmanship and glory through what he builds.
Jonah IS a great story, and Jesus does use it (Matt.12) to illustrate something of his role and his resurrection, but isn't the bigger point from Jonah's story (rather than coming from the angle of Matthew's Gospel), that God wants to save even the enemy, the Ninevites?
In terms of understanding Jesus as God's amazing Saviour, Jonah shows us that people need to repent, that God can change lives, and wants to save. In fact, ONLY God can save (Jonah 2:9). Jonah's helplessness in the fish, and his heart-felt cry, shows us our need. We need God to save.
So disobedient, stubborn Jonah, who can't see God's love for the 'enemy', anticipates Jesus - obedient, willing, wholeheartedly loving the 'enemy' so much he would die for them, for us.
The link to Jesus is there in Jonah, but I guess the EJ book made the link in a different way to where I would start. It's good to hear different perspectives, so thanks to other bloggers for sharing your thoughts and questions so far.
We think this has been an interesting week. Amazingly, our small group on Wednesday studied part of Ephesians, and we discussed the Temple, and the fact that Jews once believed that God lived in the inner sanctum, away from his people. In his letter, Paul was reminding the Ephesians that Jesus' death 'broke the barrier' between God and men,and we remembered how the veil in the Temple had torn in two when he died on the cross, thus representing our future access to God because of what Jesus had done for us. What a saviour! How interesting that the very next day, our discussion was echoed in our EJ reading!
And now today.....Jonah. I have so often wondered what I would have done in his shoes, and I have quite a fear of the sea and any sort of hefty fish. It's just so good to know that whatever we have to face, our Lord is there with us to help us through; even if we are trying to avoid him at the time!! (I just hope that I don't have to be swallowed by something nasty in the process, thanks very much, especially underwater.)
What I've always liked about Jonah is that in many ways he's the exact opposite of Jesus. God gives him a mission, he does a runner. On the boat and in a crisis he hides his faith...and yet other people who previously weren't followers come to believe. He's inside a big fish and whilst he praises God he doesn't seek forgiveness...and yet God saves him. God demonstrates his love to a repentant people and Jonah ...grumbles. Jonah's story gives me hope because almost because of his huge failings Gods will is done and Gods mercy is demonstrated. God is amazing. If he can work through a loser like Jonah he can work through a loser like me. What a great thing to realise at the end of the week:)
What struck me with this weeks passages is that god actively cares for his creation. Most Gods of other faiths keep aloof from mankind. Yet our God is always there, not to control us but to provide guidance and support.
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