#225 Alien Ways

So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded.”

2 Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. 3 They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. 4 So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing 5 and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.”

6 Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, 7 because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work. Exodus 36: 1-6 NIV

I knew a man once, and a rare individual he was. It was often that someone would intervene with words to tell him enough, but everywhere he looked he seemed to find some need to which his charity could be employed. Many times the same men who said, "enough", could have well eased the burden by shouldering some of it with him. Many times the same men would later call him, when his services would be to their benefit. As a teenager, it shamed me into helping him, but I dare not say I shared his enthusiasm. Here we witness a whole nation, that with a heart to give and return to God those things that He has given them, must be restrained. It is of their freewill, not under the sword of tax or tyranny, and that can well be felt and known, because those entrusted with the gifts are the ones saying, "enough". We have but rare glimpses of this, men realizing the strength of their company rests mostly on the contributions of others, people concerned more with the emptiness of their neighbor's pantry then the latest celebrity gossip or trends. The rest of us will sit around and talk of such things, pointing out the problems of society, yet those men and women do not have so much time for complaint. There is far too much to be done, they are thankful that there are dishes to do, blessed to mow the neighbor's lawn for her, since her life is far more valuable to them than the inconvenience of her invalid. Those people realize that it is an issue of the heart, that compassion cannot spring forth of legislation, and that while greed may be rampant and the norm, they have somehow yet managed to change a small piece of the world around them. 

The desire of the righteous is only good, But the expectation of the wicked is wrath. 24There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. 25The generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will himself be watered.…Proverbs 11:23-25

for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.' 44"Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?'…Matthew 25: 42-44

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. 27Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1: 26&27

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#224 All Kinds

30 Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 32 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 33 to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts.34 And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 35 He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers. Exodus 35:30-35 NIV

God gives to each of us gifts, and where we might perceive lack, he is yet fully willing to make us capable or send help to complete the work He has set before us. It is interesting, that those chosen are also employed to the actual work, and they will also give the instruction. It's easy to be overwhelmed when we think everything hangs on us, but that is pride, no one is so capable in all things. No one knows all things other than God, who created them. I praise God for the gifts He has bestowed upon others, yet I should not be so thankless as to envy their talent or spurn what God, has in His sovereignty, given to me. 

so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;…Romans 12:5-7

Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 10As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1Peter 4:9-11

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#223 Help Me Feel

4 Moses said to the whole Israelite community, “This is what the Lord has commanded: 5 From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of gold, silver and bronze;6 blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; 7 ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather[a]; acacia wood; 8 olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; 9 and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.

10 “All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded: 11 the tabernacle with its tent and its covering, clasps, frames, crossbars, posts and bases; 12 the ark with its poles and the atonement cover and the curtain that shields it; 13 the table with its poles and all its articles and the bread of the Presence; 14 the lamp stand that is for light with its accessories, lamps and oil for the light; 15 the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; the curtain for the doorway at the entrance to the tabernacle; 16 the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its poles and all its utensils; the bronze basin with its stand; 17 the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard; 18 the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard, and their ropes; 19 the woven garments worn for ministering in the sanctuary—both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests.”

20 Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses’ presence, 21 and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments. 22 All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the Lord. 23 Everyone who had blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen, or goat hair, ram skins dyed red or the other durable leather brought them. 24 Those presenting an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to the Lord, and everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the work brought it. 25 Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun—blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen. 26 And all the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goat hair. 27 The leaders brought onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. 28 They also brought spices and olive oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense. 29 All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the Lord freewill offerings for all the work the Lord through Moses had commanded them to do. Exodus 35: 4-29 NIV

All who are willing, and as it unfolds none are left incapable, but all have received either the gold and silver of the monetarily blessed, the animal skins of those blessed with livestock or the abilities of a craft. I have watched men and women for a long time now, and there is a certain sort that still convicts me. It is rare to find them among them men of rank or high position. There is no task that need be done that they do not do, and that with joy, especially if it means serving others. They often work by the hour and for so much less, but yet they give in sweat, legs and back, so much more. It's because of them I have to stop crying, stop pretending and admit that there are men not just my equal as regards our common birth, but my greater as regards their works. One of the hardest things for me to admit is that I do the opposite of what I know. Mentally I can say that right and wrong do not depend upon my feelings or emotions, nor does it rest with the stirring stories of others. If I don't feel like doing the right thing then the problem is not with the thing that must be done, or should be done; the problem is with me. The Bible says that the heart is deceitful above all things, since the fall, we have needed no one to deceive us, we deceive ourselves. Now, with a change of heart, we become willing and moved by a new set of emotions that respond to the truth and grow into the service of the Lord. 

So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.” (21:15–17)

"And that slave who knew his master's will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, 48but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more. Luke 12: 47&48

Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;…

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

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#222 Consider the Source

Moses assembled the whole Israelite community and said to them, “These are the things the Lord has commanded you to do: 2 For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a day of sabbath rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it is to be put to death. 3 Do not light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.” Exodus 35:1-3 NIV

I have made many excuses over the years for not pursuing those times of quiet, contemplation, worship and reverence of God. Usually I claim to be too busy, yet I seem quite capable of making time for television and other passive pursuits. There is nothing wrong with fishing, work or sports, and every good and wholesome pursuit can be done to the glory of God. It is the neglect of God, of His word, of the spiritual, the denial of such rest and priority that removes our preoccupations from their proper context, and places them before God as our religion. If all my rest is in front of the tv then all my information, my understanding begins to reflect a media that is without God. I soon forget that in six days God created the earth and that on the seventh He rested. My view of Him and His word becomes tied to the religion of the state, the media and created things. The Bible becomes an antiquated book of general ideas, that no longer apply to me in this age of enlightenment, where society has evolved past the need of God. But has it? Can it?

"See!" he said to all the people. "This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the LORD has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God." Joshua 24:7

…11"For the house of Israel and the house of Judah Have dealt very treacherously with Me," declares the LORD. 12They have lied about the LORD And said, "Not He; Misfortune will not come on us, And we will not see sword or famine. 13"The prophets are as wind, And the word is not in them. Thus it will be done to them!" Jeremiah 5:11-13

…7But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:7-9

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#221 Reflections

29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. 32 Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai.

33 When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. 34 But whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord. Exodus 34:29-35 NIV

In my life, there were men that I utterly despised, for they carried with them the laws of God, and they pressed, seemingly hard, the point that I was a transgressor. I had never met these men, but I knew the fiends that they must be, antiquated old men with an antiquated reading of Bible. They were not modern, nor did they care, all they seemed to fear was not spending enough time in the Word or not saying what God had said. When I met them in person, and it has been very few people that I can say this of, I was convicted and disarmed. They disagreed with me, but they didn't hate me. They were busy but they made time for me. I expected cigar store Indians, but as I scrutinized them, they did not carry that manufactured stoicism that I have come to know in corporations. Theirs was a love of God and patience for the lost that I had not known. I would much rather go fishing than listen to the bashing that these men so often received. I would much rather be left alone, and yet here it was, they prepared yet again, they humbled themselves once more. They pulled over the veil, hiding anything that may lead to arrogance, they gave without the recipient knowing from whence it came. These men did not run from insults or injury, but returned it with the kindness of the truth. I suspected they would have no emotion, but it was only because my arguments were founded in them. They were not without, but rather blessed with emotions that sprang forth from the truth. There is a counterfeit to this that tells people what they want to hear rather than what they need. It builds up the teller and attempts tear down God's decree. It makes me look great, sound caring and fit in with society as the cool Christian, but it is the exact opposite of what it claims to be. It tries to have a shining face, practices a sincere smile, but it is not the reflection of God, and it is not love as it proclaims. It is a mask with a shiny face painted on it. I have grown to love the other one, the one I hated, the one that reflects the image of Christ.

…17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.18But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17&18

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#220 Nothing, No one

18 “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread. For seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Aviv, for in that month you came out of Egypt.

19 “The first offspring of every womb belongs to me, including all the firstborn males of your livestock, whether from herd or flock. 20 Redeem the firstborn donkey with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem all your firstborn sons.

“No one is to appear before me empty-handed.

21 “Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.

22 “Celebrate the Festival of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering at the turn of the year.[b] 23 Three times a year all your men are to appear before the Sovereign Lord, the God of Israel. 24 I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your territory, and no one will covet your land when you go up three times each year to appear before the Lord your God.

25 “Do not offer the blood of a sacrifice to me along with anything containing yeast, and do not let any of the sacrifice from the Passover Festival remain until morning.

26 “Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God.

“Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.”

27 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” 28 Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments. Exodus 34: 18-27 NIV

This repeats the laws that were given before the abomination of the calf. Of special note to me is that this covenant secures the times of Godly pursuit and rest. Three times a year the men would leave home and appear before God. They lived amongst nations that would inevitably find this as a time of weakness, yet the promise was that as long as they were living before God, their enemies would not covet their land while they were away. The time of their own introspection and worship of God, the removing of their own motes, was more critical than their earthly possessions or pursuits. No one could even commit to do to them what God did not allow. You cannot have a relationship with God for another person. God, do not let me forsake my quiet time, lead me always to prayer, and may my light shine before men, as a testimony of your good works in me. 

1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. 3And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."…Matthew 4:1-3

It is also an interesting contrast that Moses appears before God for 40 days as mediator of the law, and Christ will later be tempted for 40 days as the keeper and fulfillment of the law, which will lead Him to the cross. When we are being tested, when we are most busy, tired or hungry, do not forsake the grateful heart, praise of God, nor the telling of the Truth. 

6Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1Peter 5:7

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#219 Wherewith

10 Then the Lord said: “I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the Lord, will do for you. 11 Obey what I command you today. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 12 Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you. 13 Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles.[a] 14 Do not worship any other god,for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

15 “Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land; for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you and you will eat their sacrifices. 16 And when you choose some of their daughters as wives for your sons and those daughters prostitute themselves to their gods, they will lead your sons to do the same.

17 “Do not make any idols. Exodus 34: 10-17

Forsaking all others. Just like the vow or agreement I have heard at so many weddings, so is the demand of a jealous God. We cannot worship God in truth if we have set any one or thing before Him. We cannot logically proceed down the path of truth if we have tried to make our own image. Even if we say it is an image of Him, He does not so descend. Why God continues to show this people mercy, and not let loose the full extent of His wrath towards sin, it is a mystery. Yes, God is love, merciful, Holy and righteous, but when we carry out the question to the fullest extent of our sight, we find a people of no inherent good. They are depraved like all of mankind. They have been set apart by God's own design and to His good pleasure. 

2 Do not be conformed to this world,[a] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Roman 12:2 ESV

The law does not empower men to change. Israel would prove, time and time again, how easy it was to return to the mindset of death and idolatry. They could not resist to be as those around them, those seemingly free, unrestrained by the laws and mandates of God. The demand often heard in this day is that the church be handed over to the culture, and it is with much pomp, emotion and politically correct good intention, that we submit and return to the shackles of such misguidance. 

19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. John 15:19

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#218 Eyes and Ears

The Lord said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones,and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. 2 Be ready in the morning, and then come up on Mount Sinai. Present yourself to me there on top of the mountain. 3 No one is to come with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain; not even the flocks and herds may graze in front of the mountain.”

4 So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the Lord had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. 5 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. 6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

8 Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. 9 “Lord,” he said, “if I have found favor in your eyes, then let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance.” Exodus 34:1-9 NIV

With or without the tablets, the law of God stands, and here in the renewing of the covenant with Israel, the tablets are made anew. The law has been perfect in demonstrating that we sin, yet imperfect in providing life to those dead in it. The Lord proclaims Who He is to Moses. He is compassionate:

(Matthew 9:12-13 NIV) On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. {13} But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

He is gracious: 

3 a Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as b He chose us in Him c before the foundation of the world, that we should d be holy and without blame before Him in love,5 e having predestined us to f adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, g according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, h by which He 1 made us accepted in i the Beloved. 7 j In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to k the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and 2 prudence, 9 l having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure m which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of n the fullness of the times o He might gather together in one p all things in Christ, 3 both which are in heaven and which are on earth - in Him. Ephesians 1:3-10

He is slow to anger:

Romans 5:20

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,

 

He opposes sin:

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men[a] because all sinned—Romans 5:12

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV 

When we cannot keep it; we decide to either destroy it, rewrite it, pretend to live it, or create a drama with this fallen creation, called Lucifer, wherein we see ourselves as good and he the only villain. The law is for the lawless. The more we disdain it, the more we put ourselves under it. God does not change. "Although, this is a stiff-necked people," Moses repeats the Word's of God and his prayer is for God to go with them, not because they are special or deserving, but because they are sick and in need of a physician. 

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#217 Exodus 33: 12-23 Face of Death

12 Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

14 The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

17 And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”

18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”

19 And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

21 Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.” Exodus 33:12-23 NIV

Moses entreats not only for himself but also on behalf of the people, and always within the context of God's words and promises to them. He does not assume rights outside of this, and there is no indication of superiority or special knowledge. In fact, he asks the Lord, "if you are pleased with me, teach me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you." 

For You are great and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God. 11Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. 12I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And will glorify Your name forever.…Psalm 86:10-12

Moses wants to see God, and has already known of Him by His wondrous acts and miracles, but would like to know Him face to face. It is a normal response, to want the cloud of mystery removed and to stand before His majesty. Many people today demand it as part of their argument against a living God, a designer of all that appears designed. He does not owe Moses anything, nor can those, whose very breath and code rely upon a Creator, ever make claim to such demands by merit. He will have mercy upon whom He wills, for there is no one owed anything but the wages of sin, except one in Whom there was no sin. That part would answer the rest of Moses question today, "whom you will send with me?" 

"But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. 37"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38"For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.…John 6:36-38

Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." 9Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father '? 10"Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.…John 14:8-10

Hear my cry, O God,

listen to my prayer;

2 from the end of the earth I call to you

when my heart is faint.

Lead me to the rock

that is higher than I, Psalm 61: 1&2

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#216 Outside

7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent.11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. Exodus 33:7-11 NIV

It is interesting that their issues are not resolved inside the camp. Anyone, "inquiring of the Lord", would not retreat inside themselves, for the heart is deceitful, and the answers from the most well meaning and reasoned of men fall for the same. There is this Moses though, and yet he is not the origin, but rather the mediator. The people follow with their eyes, standing at the entrance of their tents, anxious about the outcome of this meeting. God's presence is there, and they had drawn nigh to Him in repentance, and now Moses approaches God, with the hearts of a people, wishing to be reconciled. 

…5For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, 6yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.7However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.…1Corinthians 8:5-7

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#215 Do Not Remove Yourself From Me

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ 2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”

4 When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments. 5 For the Lord had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.’” 6 So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb. Exodus 33: 1-6 NIV

God will keep his oath to Abraham, and the people may go on ahead to this earthly blessing, but the eternal God no longer wishes to abide with them. Our hearts are hard, like the stone tablets in which the law must be chiseled by the finger of God; we choose the ornaments of sin. They are carried outwardly by this people, but inwardly all men have these idols of the heart. Whatever I lift up in my mind, I must now justify in my heart, so that I can remain self righteous. But what happens when what I hold up is found detestable by God? What happens when I try to enter eternity with these ornaments, and have attached myself to that which He is infinitely opposed to? God doesn't care you say. Hath God really said, you say. He has, and here He has said it since Genesis, and has demonstrated His judgment on sin. Now the punishment for this people is not immediate death, but He will remove His presence from them. 

Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour.46About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"47And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, "This man is calling for Elijah."…Matthew 27:45-47

9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,[a] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2Peter 3:9

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#214 Crafting gods

19 When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain. 20 And he took the calf the people had made and burned it in the fire; then he ground it to powder, scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it.

21 He said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?”

22 “Do not be angry, my lord,” Aaron answered. “You know how prone these people are to evil. 23 They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’ 24 So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”

25 Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. 26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him.

27 Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’” 28 The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. 29 Then Moses said, “You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day.”

30 The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.”

31 So Moses went back to the Lord and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. 32 But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.”

33 The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. 34 Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin.”

35 And the Lord struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made. Exodus 32:19-35 NIV

"What did these people do to you, that you led them into such a great sin?" Wow! Surely he must have been beaten or at least threatened, for the keeper of the law, the head priest, to have turned from God and lead the people in the way that they requested. No, it is the squeaky wheel that decides the religion of the state. Few in our country or time recognize that such man based religions rise and take mandate all the time. Born of desire, emotion, not bound by sound logic or the truth, but always in the face of God, Who existed before any government or religion. It was Aaron's job, his duty to stand firmly on the Word of God, not to see the law as open to interpretation or clever handling. He was popular for a moment.

15Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. 16Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. 1Timothy 4:15&16

A great many lessons to be learned here, but rest assured, my heart was as hard as yours when I came to this in my youth. "Whoever is for the Lord, come to me." The warning is of old, the fall, the just nature of God, the flood, plagues and God's mercy to those in whom He calls out to save in all these things. They are no longer a people ignorant of God or His stand against sin, and the call goes out, choose ye this day whom you will serve. The Levites rallied to him, and Moses directs them into this mob and they lay waste this rebellion. They are directed in such a way as to make no exception for respect of persons. When I read this as a young man, I was angry and there was no candy coating for such a judgment. So, I took Aaron's road, and I agreed with all of society that the God of the old testament was harsh and His followers were brash. I hated anyone who wanted the Book to be sealed and suggested that I was a sinner and an enabler. 

3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 They are “the two olive trees” and the two lamp stands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.”[a] 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die.6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

11 But after the three and a half days the breath[b] of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them.12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.”And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.

13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14 The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon. Revelation 11:3-14

"Then blot me out of the book You have written." Moses loves his people and speaks to God out of his own understanding. We can say it's foolish and that understanding the logical end, he would never want what he is saying. He is human though, and how many of us when faced with only telling the world of sin and judgment, shrink from our duty. In this dispensation of grace, we appeal to grace based most often on emotion, and the belief that there is a kind of human goodness that supersedes the judgment of a holy God. We think we are doing our "friends", neighbors and family some great service by staying silent, denying the truths of God and suggesting contrary to His assessment, that no worries, you have a good heart.  The only difference now as to then, is that Christ has come and fulfilled the law, God's word has not changed, and so Christ had not only to die but also live that which we could not. The law for us is certain death; it only reveals that we are incapable.

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